The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

veronarona

If I didn't know you {{{Erme}}} I might think you were a fellow nutcase

Keep it simple! Especially on a thread where most readers don't know what the heck you are talking about.

I do admire the spreadsheets though :shocked:

UnderPressure

Hello everyone

I popped in here a few months ago full of good intentions, needless to say it all went pear shaped! In fact I did not even manage 1 day smoke free

I have tried it all apart from those vaporiser thingy me jigs and nothing has worked for me, I don't want to try any more of the replacement products as they are that "replacements" so really what is the point? After much research I went to see the Doc last Friday, had a chat with her and told her I wanted to have a go with Champix, after a few questions she agreed it was a great idea and wrote me a prescription.

I am on day 4, today is the first dose increase from 1, 0.5mg tablet in a morning to 1, 0.5mg tablet in the morning and then another in the evening, I switch onto the full strength 1mg tablets on Friday. So far so good still smoking like a trooper as advised, no side effects worth mentioning and for the first time feeling quite positive about the whole thing

I am going to pop in here every day now with an update, I have not set a date to actually stop in my second week yet, I was going to but from everything I have read online about these tablets you seem to know when you are ready so am going to see how I go. I am not going to go past 3 weeks without stopping, if I do not all of a sudden feel ready to stop then I will set a firm date in the 3rd week.

I would love to hear any pearls of wisdom any of you can offer and am looking forward to becoming a part of your club

choille

Hi Old Reekie - Agreed on how marvellous Sue was to us all & I too hope she's well - I'm worried about her.

Still in the caravan as we are doing it as we can afford to. Hopefully we'll get there this year & without borrowing on it.

Underpressure - I started on Champix & was tary in setting a quit date - felt scared, but took the plunge in the third week. I stopped the tablets earlier than usual, but I haven't wanted to smoke. I wish you all the best & if you have a cessation nurse as well as this forum they'll be really helpful. Sometimes you can feel sick after taking the double dose, but I did without eating & when I started having some breakfast first it settled down. I had some really crazy dreams & almost looked forward to going to sleep. They were so vivid & multi-coloured I miss them.
It's the best thing I did & really will surprise you how easy it is - honestly.

Lotus-eater

UnderPressure wrote: »

I have tried it all apart from these vaporiser thingy me jigs and nothing has worked for me, I dont want to try and more of the replacement products as they are that "replacements" so really what is the point?

Well since you ask.

It's a bit more like damage limitation. If you can give in cigs without them, then of course it's better. If you can't, then you are doing 2% damage instead of 100% damage and that is the attractiveness of them to some people.
There is a whole list of stuff you don't get and nicotine that you do. It's that simple.

I mean Champix can have some pretty nasty side effects, so some people might not want to try that.
Horses for courses.

smileytiger

Hi Guys

Had my last appointment with the stop smoking nurse tonight. I'm now a fully signed off non smoker according to the NHS:D

I found the champix really good - stopped on day 9 of tablets, but you definately need to have something to eat before you take them to avoid feeling a bit squiffy - but other than that i never had any side effects at all.

I've never felt so well and am amazed at how much better i feel & weirdly how long ago it seems since i was a smoker even tho it's only 12 weeks - just can't understand why i ever did it. Went out for dinner with OH last week for his birthday - he went out into the cold for a smoke & i was left thinking "more fool him" whilst i enjoyed my drink by the fire in the pub..lol

Good luck to those just starting on their journeys

hugs to all
Chrissie .xx

UnderPressure

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Well since you ask.

It's a bit more like damage limitation. If you can give in cigs without them, then of course it's better. If you can't, then you are doing 2% damage instead of 100% damage and that is the attractiveness of them to some people.
There is a whole list of stuff you don't get and nicotine that you do. It's that simple.

I mean Champix can have some pretty nasty side effects, so some people might not want to try that.
Horses for courses.

That actually makes sense, I had not thought about the replacement products that way.

I have read some of the horror stories about Champix, I am sure a lot of them will be genuine but there will also be a lot that have used it as an excuse to not give up............... saving face and not admitting defeat etc.

I am not too worried I know what to look out for and am confident things will go well, if not then I will stop taking them, I hope it does not come to this.

choille

Smileytiger that's wonderful. You must be so proud. I have so much admiration for people who do stop & their partners still smoke. I was lucky in that my OH never smoked. So really well done to you.

smileytiger

UnderPressure wrote: »

I have read some of the horror stories about Champix, I am sure a lot of them will be genuine but there will also be a lot that have used it as an excuse to not give up............... saving face and not admitting defeat etc.

I am not too worried I know what to look out for and am confident things will go well, if not then I will stop taking them, I hope it does not come to this.

There are horror stories about every kind of stop smoking gizmo or pill if you look hard enough. To be honest if we never did or ate or used everything that someone had had a reaction to - we'd never do anything;)
Champix are 'mind altering' drugs ( my terminology - not a scientific fact before anyone jumps on me) - so are not suitable for lots of people - specially people with any history or depression/anxiety or mental illness ( that's fact)- but many people, myself included had no issues at all. I haven't taken any for a few weeks now and i still find the idea of smoking revolting:D
Good luck .xx

green1970

33 days - ecigs

Did any food in particular stop the squiffy feeling, smileytiger or just food in general? How long do they recommend that you stay on it, just until you feel as though all cravings have gone or for a fixed period of time? Don't know much about that. The last time I tried to give up using medication was about 5 years ago and that was Zyban, Champix wasn't about then. Does it work in the same way, i.e. making smoking taste vile? Thank you.

smileytiger

green1970 wrote: »

33 days - ecigs

Did any food in particular stop the squiffy feeling, smileytiger or just food in general? How long do they recommend that you stay on it, just until you feel as though all cravings have gone or for a fixed period of time? Don't know much about that. The last time I tried to give up using medication was about 5 years ago and that was Zyban, Champix wasn't about then. Does it work in the same way, i.e. making smoking taste vile? Thank you.

I think there a bit like some other meds - you just need not to have a empty stomach before you take them - although it does say on packet that they are ok on empty stomach - i've not met anyone who hasn't felt yuk after taking them without food..lol

12 weeks is the recommended time to take them - i did about 8 or 9 weeks - just didn't need them at all - you start off taking them whilst still smoking and at some point after day 8 you stop smoking - you decide. (You start on a smaller dose and increase up so at day 8 you're on the full dose) I stopped day 9 - but had already reduced from my usual 30-40 a day to about to about 12-15 a day by then.
They don't make cigs taste vile - they just convince your brain you don't smoke (hence me calling them the 'mind altering' drugs:D)

At about day 5 or 6 i was lighting up and then thinking why did i do that?? - it's a bit surreal, but my OH smokes and i just looked at him and think yuk i used to do that. I truly believe that i am now a non smoker - i have absolutely no desire to smoke - don't even like the smell of it..so worked for me - i know people it hasn't worked for - but that's the genius of the human everyone different;)

Chrissie .xx