The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

tinyyorkshiregirl

Hello everyone,

Was wondering if I could join in this marvellous thread.
I have read alot of the discussions here almost on a daily basis. Not sure if you'e aware of the strength, you regular posters give/ have given to people like me who find you advice/experiences extremely helpful.

I apologise in advance for a very long post!!

I'm 40yrs old and have been a relatively consistent smoker of approx 20 a day for 20 odd years.

For the last year I had disliked smoking more and more, but never thought I could stop. I thought that was it. Once a smoker, always a smoker, regardless of the fact I knew all the dangers, and I was even ashamed to smoke. If I was walking down the street, and saw someone, I used to hide it behind me until I passed them, then carried on !!! (!!!!!!???)

However, the dislike for smoking got stronger and stronger, and suddenly, one day in early April, I had my light bulb moment. I begrudged paying £6.29 per day for 20 Silk Cut, and thought no, not gonna do this anymore.

I made an appt with my Doc, who's been with me through allsorts of rubbish in my life, and told him it had to stop, but I needed his help.

I had tried before (half=heartedly) with patches, but they made me go a bit loopy (if thats poss!!!!). I ended up cutting them in half, but still, it didn't really work. Looking back, I knew that my heart wasn't really in it.

I did really silly things like go all day without having a cigarette, but then reward myself with one at the end of the day !!!! (gees, can't believe I did that!!)

Anyway, he prescribed some Champix, and on the whole, its been ok.

Well, when I say ok, I stopped on day 9 and that was on April 20th. o I have been smoke free for two weeks and two days (yey!!!) In that way its been more than I ever dreamed. Its been a doddle. Never been tempted at all, which I'm really proud, but I think the side effects are really starting to kick in.

After a month of talking them (approx),I'm hoping someone can give me some advice.

The side effects I'm experiencing, (and I'm sorry, but its a bit personal), are I'm finding it v v v v difficult to go to the ladies (if you know what mean...)

For instance last Wed, I was feeling so bloated and uncomfortable. My clothes were so tight, I felt like a ten tonne tessy (as we say in Yorkshire!!)
I bought some laxatives, and without being too descriptive it took 5 tablets over three days to work. Things were then ok, but 4 days later, I got the same feelings. Took another 4 tablets over two days before they kicked in.

I'm not sure wether to keep taking the laxatives daily (whether thats safe), or stop taking the Champix (whether I'll start smoking again), or whether or not to just go back to docs to see if he can give me anything else to help.

Any ideas are welcome, and thank you if you made it to the end of the post!!!

larmy16

Hi TinyYorky

Well done on getting so far. Yep the old bowel thing does rear it's head for quite a few of us. Not sure about taking too many laxatives, but sometimes you just have to!!!

I am sure Sue will send you her marvellous email which has all sorts of advice on the physical symptoms. I think the general thing is fruit, lots of water and fibre?

All I know is that I suffered with this and now I don't. Regular as clockwork if that is not too much info.

Again, well done to you and welcome to the thread.

tinyyorkshiregirl

Aww thanks Larmy.

Have been eating breakfast properly for the first time in years, mainly to combat the 'sicky' feeling I got in the early days of Champix, but now because i 'need' to.

I've nearly finished a whole box of Bran flakes in a week!!!!
Also, gone off coffee a bit and now having hot water instead.

I suppose my body has been used to things being a certain way for so long, that I suppose its gonna take a hammering when things suddenly change.

I'll see how I go over the weekend ...

Thank you for the warm welcome.....

Sue-UU

I see you're on-line right now tinyyorkshiregirl, so although I've not been on here for a few days, not been too good, I'll respond to you asap.

Hi tinyyorkshiregirl and welcome to the "good health starts here" thread! Welcome also to MSE. Congratulations on having stopped for 2 weeks and 2 days, you've really done well and should be really proud of yourself!! I understnd your embarrassment about the 'problem', but honestly, you're not the only one to have suffered the same experience. Two quitters were here a couple of weeks ago with far greater problems in the same deparment than you're having. :eek: I don't know the full side effects of champix, but I do know that us quitting has some strange effects on our bodies, hardly any wonder after all the years we've done awful things to it though. Anyway, all's not lost, stick with it and be assured that the further into quitting you get the more normal your body becomes. Take laxatives for as long as you need them, but before taking them too regularly be sure to increase the amount of water you take. Whatever the amount you normally take, double it, it really helps. Also eat plenty of fruit, especially apples, another thing to take or inrease is cereal ...try "bran flakes", "allbran" or "fruit and fibre" and eat it every morning. The last and very effective tip is - plenty of excercise, especially very brisk walking as it 'moves' everything within the system.

No problem about the lengthy post, it helps us know you far better. All the very best TYG, you'll soon be feeling a lot better and so very healthy. Day by day, step by step will get you through just about the greatest journey of your life!! It's a fantastic goal!!

Sue x

Sue-UU

Oooops!:o Apologies TYG and Larmy, I didn't see either of your lower posts, I just saw TYG's and saw she was on line .....then saw both of you below! Sorry both, but well done TYG.

All the best.

tinyyorkshiregirl

Thank you so much Sue.
The only fruit I can't touch are strawberries, so will try apples tomorrow.
I'll also try harder with the water. I'm lucky in one sense, that I don't like fizzy drinks,etc

I was one of these women who had 3 coffees and as many cigs before I left the house in a morning (slap my forehead!!)

Its just so bl**dy uncomfortable, it questions why I'm doing this to myself. I do know why though.

I'm determined to stick it out....

larmy16

Another thing Tiny is that sometimes we have to rush that part of our lives and maybe what you need right now is a good book and an hour to spare and just wait. I deffo think our bowels react to us stressing about the whole thing and just tense up, and then it kind of goes back in - I know you know what I am talking about.

Good luck!!

Sue-UU

Very well done indeed Andrew! :TYou're being very wise indeed with the pills, a good safeguard though which all too often is all we need, a crutch to lean on. All that you said in your post makes perfect sense, that's the way I looked at it all that time ago ....and it worked for me!!

Many congratulations jammy dodger on 4 great months of pure freedom from fags and all they bring with them them.:T You've been amazing all through and now you're doing the sensible thing in getting out in the garden, one of the best therapies there is, wonderful news JD!!!!

Hi Em and it's great news that you're going to go for it!!:D Keep reminding yourself how you know longer get pleasure from them and press on from there. Wouldn't it be wonderful if your hubby were to follow your lead, maybe one day! If having some cigs with you get you through it all far easier, then so be it, a little like Andrew with his diazapam. On a bad day just keep right on reminding yourself that a ciggy will NOT make it any better, just gets you more stressed. BTW could you kindly put the amount of days not smoked for on the title bar of your posts, the method used also? Thanks Em and ~ please ~ go careful on the vinos, for your sake and your health!


MANY CONGRATULATIONS on your first year's success Larmy!!!!! :T:T:T:T:T:T :j:j:jYou've done marvellously and got through it, you're also providing so much incentive for so many others and sending the message that YES, this CAN be done!!!

Congratulations to you too FEE, very well done indeed, 4 months and (almost) 3 weeks is amazing, you're doing really, really great!!!!:T:T:T What some terrific stats to keep in mind too!!!

Hiya Pam and very many congratulations on such an accomplishment! That is brilliant news to read and 15 months is a GREAT time of having quit for!!! Thanks so much for coming back and letting us all know.

Oh dear powerful_Rogue, I was so sorry to hear about her having said no, but is the reason anything to do with your asthma perhaps? They seemed (to my mind, to be hinting towards it last week when you got your script for your inhalers. Still, onwards from here, which is all you can do for now, all the best with the patches which just may be ok, this time round. I wish you well, truly I do.

I'm finishing off with jammy dodger's words:

"It isn't easy, but believe me it DOES get easier stay strong and focused on the reasons why quitting is NOW the right time for you. Post on here, get it off your chest no matter how crazy you think your thoughts are it helps to share and have that support, read through posts, current and past of how others are fairing and share those experiences."

Also folks, have a look at these words from frugalpam: "If you are really determined to quit and see being quit as a gift to yourself rather than having 'given up' those nasty fags, then you should find it a whole lot easier. You're not depriving yourself of anything, other than poor health, a load of money, and smelling like an ashtray!"

Sue x

powerful_Rogue

Thanks for your replies

Popped down to boots on Friday for my meeting. She tested me on the breathing machine which read 13 - she said thsi was very good as it was low. I also had to choose a quit date - something I was expecting as I had been reading about champix!

Anyway, tomorrow morning is when I start! Tonight will be my last night of smoking before starting the patches in the morning. Ive also been reading Allen Carrs book. I know it wont apply because of the NRT, however I thnk it has helped quite a bit in making me cut down the last few days.

I know its late and probably may not get a reply by the morning, but should I put the patch on tonight before bed, or wait until the morning?

Sue-UU

Hi powerful_Rogue! So sorry no one was able to get back to you last night, earlier today either, it was a very busy and late one for me so I just wasn't able to come on the board. Anyway, I'm hoping that you probably put the patch on last night, either way it won't be the b all and end all when you put it on, the main thing is that you're starting the quit now and good for you!

Re Alan Carr's book, if it's doing you good then stick with it, as a crutch if nothing else. I think from what others have said, that it must be pretty powerful and so many have quit by that alone. Keep reading it whenever you feel the need and take on board anything you find helpful, it may even help further down the line when some folk get a 'bit of a wobble'.

I wish you all the best for a life free of stinking horrible fags, from here on it's a great new start PR, take it with both hands and look to the future! Don't forget to come on here and write down your feelings, good or bad, it really helps to get it out, and keeps your hands busy! How about saving the money not spent, it helps to be able to remind yourself of all that you're NOT spending and gives us all a really good boost. All the very best powerful_Rogue.

Quiet on here this last couple of days, signs of everyone doing well, I'm sure. Keep it up folks and remain strong.

Sue x