The Giving Up Smoking Thread!!

suki43

Hi Jo!

Thank you for your Good Luck wishes and I return them to you!

I so need to quit smoking. I do enjoy it but over recent months I've felt more depressed knowing I smoke. I also want to get the nicotine stains off my teeth!

They do come off, but it's no use if I am still smoking!

I have my last pack today. I may persevere with the gum, but if the nasal spray helps with the odd bad craving then I'll invest in it.

I have tried patches, but they made my skin itch a bit and I was very conscious of having it on. With me, though, I need to do something in place of the ciggie, so chewing gum helps.

Last time I only lasted for 6 days, which is poor, but I did feel a lot better after this short time. More energised and a little of the freedom they talk about - ie. not being controlled by a habit.

So I shall be here most days now eager to read the posts and update you with my own progress.

I wish you the best of luck. Someone said previously, don't see a craving as a craving, but rather as a memory like "Oh I'd have had a fag now if I were still a smoker". I found this helped me.

Suki
xx

oops_a_daisy

Hi everyone :hello: and welcome Suki to the quitters :rotfl:

well I manage alright this morning when my friend and her BF came over to my house - i didnt mind when they smoked and I threw the ashtray out when they left. I was helping to sort out their bank charges so just kept myself busy doing that.

I like that quote Suki about the cravings being when you would have had a cigarette. Well done on deciding to quit and keep us posted with how you are getting on.

Glad to hear you are back on the wagon Jo I dont get the dizzyness with the patches ( Im naturally dizzy ) hope you manage alright with them

my silkquit thingy says I have saved nearly £50 :T that is going to make quite a difference - although I have probably spent £50 on chocolate in the past week

Have a good smoke free day everybody

pingua

I was just on the tesco clubcard deals page and they do the allen carr giving up days. Not sure if this is of any use to anyone. Just thought I would come here and tell everyone.

jo1972

Just a quickie from me, bout to go to bed gotta get up early tomorrow

Thanks pingua for the tip, I shall have a look when I get to work tomorrow

Oops, woohoo! £50 - that's amazing!! Well done not caving in when your friend and her bf came round, you were very strong!

Well, I've had this patch on since lunchtime and got a bit dizzy and felt quite stoned for most of the afternoon, but felt fine since. In fact I left work at 5.30pm which is a bad craving time for me....as soon as I shut the door on work I light up and smoke on my way to the station...but today I felt as though I'd just had one and didn't need one. I could've had one but didn't really feel the need. Feel really pleased with myself (thanks to the patch!). The only bad moment I've had really is when I'd just eaten tonight, oh and now, now that I'm thinking about it lol!!

Right off to bed, speak to you all tomorrow.

How are the rest of you doing?

Jo.x

FieryBlondeScot

:-( i wrote a loooong post last nite and then the pc crashed so here goes....

patches , gum and lozenges are buy one get one free at superdrug jus now

someone asked bout nasal spray? its been my life saver, the first few times it stings your eyes but it really is a wicked little nicotene hit and i realise its what keeping me smoke free

i get irritation the second i put the patches on but i perservere - at present i am covered in red squares as it stays red and itchy for days after but the alternative for me is relapse!

FieryBlondeScot

suki how did day one go?

jo - i got horrid dizziness around day 6 i think it was and overwhhelming tiredness, week 1 i was fulll of energy but week 2 was a killer, i think cos ur so focussed in week 1 on keeping physically and mentally busy it wears u out, it gets better tho, you get stronger and the cravings lessen... nothing that 10 profiteroles with thick chocolate sauce cant mend!

Vindaveen

Hi all,

Just a quick update, still going strong you'll be pleased to know. Went to smoking group last night (or should I say NO smoking group!!) He's signed us off for 2 weeks with 2 weeks worth of patches.
I don't find they irritate at all, suppose everyone is different, they do say not to put on same area day after day, I normally switch arms, but partner puts his under his sock on leg and changes each day ( bit difficult if female and do not wear socks )
One thing I do notice ( and this is normal ) is every now and then I get a dead arm for about 5 mins, it's like someone has punched me. The 1st time it happened I s**t myself as it was on my left and thought I was having a heart attack!!!
If you have the 24hr patch I always take them off one hour before going to bed as they can give you vivid dreams (some people experience nightmares)
I find the group works for me as you can chat and share experiences (bit like in here)

Jo well done - back on waggon
I really miss fag after meals, what I've tried is straight after meal, get up and do dishes/fill dishwasher if you have one, clean kitchen down - this keeps you mind off - may work for some.
I can't believe the crap you've had re the patches etc!! Have you called the NHS quit line, they will provide with local group/ I think you may have posted this already.
I know Wilkins do cheap patches here in Coventry.

Suki/Sea/Kathy - welcome to the group! Making the 1st step is the most important thing and you've done that, so congratulations. We can all share tips experiences, the more the merrier.

Take care all.

oops_a_daisy

Hi Vindaveen - glad to hear its all going well still. I put my patches on my BUM nobody see's the sticky patches there :rotfl:

Have you tried a different brand of patches fieryblondescot ? - I cant wear the clear ones but the 16 hour ones are ok for me.

how is everybody else doing ??

I have had quite a few bad cravings today the little voices in my head want a fag - havent given in though. I dont actually really want a cigarette, which is weird, its just something is missing. Plus I need to stop eating so much. Went for an annual check up at the doctors for asthma today - all went well but they weighed me and now I am wondering which is worse getting fat or smoking Im only half a stone off the weight that I was when I was pregnant with my DD and at this rate I will soon hit my highest :eek: will buy some chewing gum tomorrow to see if that helps.

All the best everybody

jo1972

Morning all!

FBS, the patches irritate me like hell when I first put them on, they itch like mad for about half hour or so then they don't bother me anymore, but when I take them off I also have bright red squares left all over me for a few days lol!! Thanks for the half price at Superdrug tip, think I might go there tomorrow and buy a load and sell on ebay

Vindaveen, glad you're still doing well, how's your other half coping?? Have you found it more difficult doing it together, do you both get moody or are you both pleased of the support?

Oops, glad you're still on track, you never did mention what happened at the vets

Well I put my second patch on yesterday lunchtime and felt completely stoned again for about 2 hours. I don't know when the best time to put them on is, it says first thing in the morning on the box but I have to drive my kids to the childminder and don't wanna drive stoned lol!! So I think I'll stick to lunchtime and try to make sure all my work's done in the morning (she says as she's sitting at work at 10.25am on MSE :rotfl: ) so I have an easy afternoon!!

I must admit that I had no problems yesterday, I did think about it but didn't actually want one, felt like I'd just had one so the patches must work (and I'm the most cynical person ever!), did have a few stronger cravings this morning on the way to work, they are the fags I enjoy the most - but not enough to make me buy any. Anyway if I'm stoned on the patch God knows what I'd be like if I smoked as well :eek:

Hope you're all having a nice day.

Jo.x

nothernmonkey_2

It's 16 weeks for me since I quit. I didn't set a date to quit, nor did I use patches or counseling etc - I just did it very spontaneously, and it seems to be working - mind over matter.

I can even drink in the pub and don't think about smoking - it's so weird how easy I've found it... I did invest £5 in Paul McKenna's book, not knowing how much of an impact that's had on me but whatever it is, it's worked. The book comes with a CD that you're supposed to listen to for 14 days, but I just read the book once and it seemed to do the trick. And no, I don't work for the publishing company or anything before you ask :-)

What more can I say? If you're finding it difficult, just think to yourself "why should I let this little white stick rule my life and wallet"... works every time for me! :-)

Good luck to everyone who is trying to (or already has) quit smoking, you won't regret it... just be positive and keep trying. Remember, you wasn't born with a cig in your mouth, so why do it to yourself?