The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

Triciaxx

Kiwisaver wrote: »

My euphoria at the one week mark came down with a bit of a bump, I went to the pharmacy earlier to see about getting the reduced strength patches and they have refused me them, saying I haven't been on the high dose for long enough. They phoned me a Quit Advisor and made me speak to her.

Basically they say I have to stay on the 21mg for a full 8 weeks, because I was a heavy smoker (15 per day is heavy :eek:) and research shows........ blah, blah, blah..... that I will struggle on the lower dose. I told her that probably I should be the best judge of that but still the outcome is non-negotiable. Seven more weeks 'apparently' before I can reduce.

WHATEVVER!! It's no big deal I shall go to a different pharmacy and buy some or cut a bit off the 21mg. :rotfl: Any ideas why they specifically tell you not to cut them in half??

Congrats on the week, Kiwi. :T:T:T:j:j:j

Cut them into whatever size you like, it makes no difference as the nicotine is spread over them all. That's what I did when the 21 mg made me feel light headed. I think the manufacturers don't want you to cut them in half because they charge the same for lower strength patches and would not make as much money. :mad:

What I DID do though, was to carry the bit I cut off with me for a few days - just in case I didn't need it but that was because I had it with me (you can tell I'm strong on logic, can't you :rotfl::rotfl:)

I had a mental rant about stupid medical types who think one size fits all when I read your post. :mad::mad:

Maz As others have said, that's just a blip - can you work out what was the tipping point to lighting up? If you can it would be useful - forewarned is forearmed.;) Welcome on board :wave:. It's a bumpy old road for the first few miles but gets smoother.

Bigmog Welcome :hello: Well done, you :T We've had a few people discover by accident that they don't need the patches.

Welcome to Sheep-Ali as well. You are doing well. Follow Sue's advice on water, fruit and so on. Some of the weight will disappear once your body settles down to having no nicotine. Nicotine is an appetite suppressant and your body now wants food more often. If you can, try and eat little and often. They say it takes 20 minutes for the brain to catch up with our full stomachs so we may be eating more than we need at a sitting. I've found that having a small snack (try to make it fruit or veg but sometimes only a syrup buttie will hit the spot :cool:) during the morning and afternoon means I eat less at a meal - I'm fooling my own brain. :eek: Anyway, I'd rather be a little over weight than dead.

Penelope I know what you mean about housework. No dust bunny is safe from me at the moment. Cooking is my big thing and our freezer is bulging. I think my DH will be putting on weight as I quit :rotfl::rotfl:

Sailorswife I winced in sympathy at your bad back (not that it helped you ) Hang on in there. Rant, moan, complain on this thread whenever you need to - anything to avoid giving in. You are too far on the road to risk having to go through this again. We're all with you. :T

Congrats to everyone else as well - this thread is going to fast for me to keep up at the moment. :j:j

To those long time quitters like Nym, Jammy and Red, thanks for taking the time to post. It really does help to know that we have peeps who have blazed the trail and are willing to help us along and encourage us.

Special thanks to Sue who still gives us all such a lot of help and to Jo who started this whole stop smoking thread off back in the mists of time. :T:T:T

I'm off to make some more marmalade now - at 8.20 on a sunday morning . I've got more energy as well Topsy

We can do it TOGETHER

determined_new_ms

Hi everyone :wave: maz I just wanted to say I hope you're ok and are going to keep on trucking - remember relapse is all part of the cycle of change (look it up) and does not mean you've failed (for now - unless that's what you want which I sincerley hope isn't the case when you've been doing so fantastically!)

Topsy so sorry to hear your sad news, I hope you and yours are coping. I know what you mean about the energy though, literally this week it hit me I have the same energy levels I had 10 years ago :j not sure if its the not smoking or the running or what?

Kiwi - that is so shocking :eek: apparently you must assume a child role when you stop smoking in NZ then???? :rotfl:You do what is right for you, you know your body! They probably are in kahoots with the manufacturers!!!!

I had the "smoking dream" this morning, and it didn't freak me out when I woke up - is that bad (funny how I seem to to be at least a week behind everyone else with the common side affects! :rotfl:)

Happy sunday my lovely thread friends :A I wish you a wealth of smoke free happiness x

determined_new_ms

bottleofred wrote: »

Hi Maz,

You have not failed, you just hit a bump in the road. Don't be too hard on yourself as it's done now and can't be undone. Today is a completely new day and a new start. Having quit myself, I know how hard it is, but don't think too far ahead, just concentrate on one day at a time and do whatever works for you. Nobody in this life is perfect and don't ever let anyone tell you they are. Good luck for today and come onto the forum for support whenever you need it.

Red

aha we meet again red!

Det_Dawson

Hello

Just popping my head in to say hi.
This is my second attempt to quit the cigs, this time is going alot better than the last.
Can I just say how much reading this thread has helped me when times have got hard.
It's good to know I'm not the only one going through this at the moment.
Today has been fine so far, got some shopping from Tesco early & stocked up on ice lollies
Keep it up everyone & have a great smoke free day

bottleofred

determined_new_ms wrote: »

aha we meet again red!

Are you becoming my Stalker determined now ms?!!:rotfl:
Have a great Sunday whatever you do.

Red:beer:

determined_new_ms

bottleofred wrote: »

Are you becoming my Stalker determined now ms?!!:rotfl:
Have a great Sunday whatever you do.

Red:beer:

I prefer the talented mr ripley if you don't mind!

bottleofred

determined_new_ms wrote: »

I prefer the talented mr ripley if you don't mind!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Me too;)

triggerhappy_2

Just thought I'd pop in and say hello. I started smoking cessation groups last week and got a prescription for Champix on Friday. I felt what can only be described as weird the first day I took it, but I'm feeling back to normal now. I'm still in the period where you continue smoking, but I noticed when at the theatre last night that I wasn't desperate for a cigarette at the interval, and could have easily gone without which is a huge change, so something's happening!

My official quit date is 1/2/11. I'm absolutely terrified, but last night's experience has convinced me that the drug is doing its thing and the rest is just down to me having the guts to chuck away the tobacco and try to forget I was ever a smoker. Here's hoping!

rmplc

Hi all,

hope your all having a lovely, happy and smoke free weekend??

Kiwi, i can not see any problem with cutting them in half (unless they are the liquidy ones that you can get) if they are the plain bog standard ones with the gel sticky bit then go for it if you feel your ready for it I was supposed to be on champix for 12 weeks, i stopped taking them after 4 weeks because i didnt feel i needed them, i agree with what Tricia done/said, it may be woprth carrying the cut off bit with you for a few days just in case you need to stronger dose.

Determined, I also had the smoking dream last night (better kate than never lol) now i didnt have the best nights sleep, but i felt such a failure when i awoke this morning, i actually thought I had smoked, but then realised i hadnt :rotfl:

Hi Det Dawson, welcome to you, well done on having done 4 days already, you say this is your second attempt, if you dont mind me asking, how long was the first one for?

Hi Triggerhappy, I was a champix quitter, and have to agree the first day you kinda felt 'high' but that quickly subsided, you will notice as the days go by your smoking may get less and less, the taste of smoking may also change, for others it tasted horrible but i didnt have that.

The feeling of being terrified is completely normal, we all went through it, gicing up smoking is a major life change, a good one though, you feel so much healthier.

You may also find that you quit before your quit date, whenever you quit,make sure you dispose or give away all of your tobacco, and put away ashtrays etc, at this time you dont need any reminders.

I wish you all the best and Have a good day all

Ross
xx

triggerhappy_2

Hi rmplc, thanks for your advice. Good to hear from someone who's been successful with Champix

I can definitely imagine giving up before my quit date. At the moment it really feels like pure habit rather than needing to smoke.

I've booked my car in for a valet next Sunday to get all the tobacco reminders out of it (which it desperately needs!) and I don't have much in the house so it should be fairly easy to deal with. I'm looking forward to it, though not without trepidation!