I had used the patches before and quit for three years. Like a dumb a** I started back. Now trying chantix. Seems to be working. I haven't reached my quit day yet, but I am "cutting down" on smokes until that day. It seems much easier with the pills. Sleeping seems to be a little of a problem however.
chantix does work,its only half the equation,the want to stop has to be there.
I found I got a bit tired with the chantix.I've taken it 47 days and have been smoke free 43 days.I only take half a pill in the morning and that has worked for me.
I have reached quit day. I actually smoked my last cig yesterday at 5pm. I ran out and decided not to buy another pack. So far so good. The pills really take the edge off. I remember gut wrenching cravings the last time I tried to quit.
I have stopped nicotine for 18 hours, 17 minutes and 54 seconds (0 days).
I've not smoked 23 death sticks, and saved $3.95.
I've saved 1 hour and 54 minutes of my life.
dav, great newsthat you quit again. Glad it seems easier for you this time around. can I ask.? after 3 years of quit, just smoking 1 cig made you crave cigs all over again? I am at 15 days and 2 hours quit. Has been tough getting here but now seems like cake walk. That JUST ONE CIG WON'T HURT DEMON still comes in my head but from your story I see he's a liar..lol..congrats to you and let us be a part of your journey..keep us posted...
With the pills, it seems easier. The urge is still there, I dare not smoke one. It more the habit than the physical addiction that makes me want to smoke. The Chantix takes the nicotine buzz away. If you smoke one, you won't get anyhting from it but a bad taste in your mouth. However, it's best to not smoke another one ever if you can help it.
Free and Healing for One Day, 21 Hours and 8 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 4 Hours, by avoiding the use of 56 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $9.73.
Free and Healing for Four Days, 17 Hours and 59 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 11 Hours, by avoiding the use of 142 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $24.58.
way to go..you made it through the hard days , it will only get better from here..keep it up..If you never pick up a cig again, you will ever have to go through those 4 days ever again..
I think I have it beat. Even forgot to take one of the pills to no effect.
Thanks for the support in this forum.
Free and Healing for Sixteen Days, 3 Hours and 2 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 1 Day and 16 Hours, by avoiding the use of 484 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $83.51.
I think I have it beat. Even forgot to take one of the pills to no effect.
Thanks for the support in this forum.
Free and Healing for Sixteen Days, 3 Hours and 2 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 1 Day and 16 Hours, by avoiding the use of 484 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $83.51.
WOW! 16 days! That is incredible! I wonder how bad the cravings are when you stop the Chantix? I thought I'd stay on it for a month before trying to get off. I'm on day 10 and still thinking about how much I enjoyed smoking. I don't want to go back to day 1 so I will continue my quit, but when will I stop obsessing?
liz
Hi liz, I was also0 so obsessed with cigs and my quit that I felt like I was crazy. This will pass. I still crave today but only at trigger moments. After eating is the big one. The craving is forgot about in about 3 seconds. Today is 31 days for me and I am here to promise you that it gets so much easier. Get nuts and chew on them they are good for you and help alo..stay strong you are doing incredible..
hi donna,
everyone is different but for me chantix works great with the quitting smoking. after i was on chantix for about a week everytime i had a cigarette it tasted so disgusting that i just dropped them. now for the side effects. keep in mind everyone is different but from what i have been through the nausea is worst. even the mention of food made me sick to my stomach. i didnt eat too much for a few days but then i heard that many people cut the 1mg pills in half and took half a pill 4 times a day. that seems to work for me, so far.
the most important thing to remember is that you will still crave the cigarettes but in my case the taste was so disgusting that it overpowered the cravings.
i also found that this website helps a lot for support.
good luck with quitting and remember to stay strong. its hard at first but everyday it gets better.
WOW! 16 days! That is incredible! I wonder how bad the cravings are when you stop the Chantix? I thought I'd stay on it for a month before trying to get off. I'm on day 10 and still thinking about how much I enjoyed smoking. I don't want to go back to day 1 so I will continue my quit, but when will I stop obsessing?
liz
Well, the cravings came back a little after stoping the pills. But, it was nothing like quiting with no help. After about a week or so after stoping the chantix, the cravings have basically gone away. They do come back from time to time, but I just remind myself that I am a non-smoker now. If you stop the chantix and the cravings are unbearable, I would say get a continuation for another 28 days from your doctor. I'm going to be honest, I don't think I'll ever stop thinking about smoking. After all it is a chemical addiction. Like losing a family member, you obsess about it at first, then time dulls the pain. You never forget them, but you still think of them from time to time. I still think about smoking from time to time, but, once again, I remind myself that I don't do that anymore. I just take a DEEP BREATH, and feel how good that feels. (taking a DEEP BREATH without the wheeze. hahaha).
Keep it up, you can do it.
Free and Healing for One Month, Three Days, 19 Hours and 34 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 3 Days and 15 Hours, by avoiding the use of 1044 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $180.43.
Free and Healing for One Month, Three Days, 19 Hours and 34 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 3 Days and 15 Hours, by avoiding the use of 1044 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $180.43.
davhamer,
This is the greatest post I have seen, too funny. I liked it so much I printed it and put it on my fridge! It's so true - that's what I love about it. I think sometimes we forget the facts when the cravings become very strong, so thanks for the reality check/reminder/fridge art.
Everyone,
I quit smoking 2 weeks ago, at times it is a major struggle, I would like to know when this will pass. When will I stop feeling like this is some form of OCD? I am completely obsesed at times. I have slipped 2 times in the past few weeks (tried not to beat myself for it). I had a few drags and put it out because it tasted so vile. So, why do I keep craving this crap - when I know it will only taste like crap? And the strange thing is, I went to a party this past weekend (where everyone was smoking) and didn't even want to smoke. Crazy huh?
I hear a lot of people discribing how they barely ever think of smoking and how wonderful life is.... I want/need that. I have also changed all my patterns. In the morning I would go outside, enjoy my garden and a cigarette. Now I longer go outside in the morning. I have also changed many other habbits. When will life return to normal? Any advice would be helpful. Until then I'll just keep staring at the fridge. lol.
Davhammer, WTG on over a month!!! And you're off the med, too. No more training wheels, dude ... awesome! The cravings/thoughts/urges for a smoke were very similar to you when I stopped the med. I found myself a little anxious, too. And I will admit I sorely missed those awesome dreams <sigh>. Congrats to you
Naturemomma, I'm sure the time will vary for everyone. But I promise it does get better. I started feeling good about my quit, feeling sorta "normal," somewhere between the month and two-month mark. But it is still a struggle at times. Not nearly as bad as earlier, but sometimes I do feel something is very much missing in life for me. I just keep on keeping on.
I also think that OCD feeling is very, very normal. Think about how many smokes you smoked a day, how many puffs there are to each smoke. That's a lot of time to fill, you know? The running you're doing is great. Try different stuff, too. I found that a big part of smoking for me (aside from the physical addiction) was occupying my hands and mind. Some folks like having something in their mouth, the hand to mouth thing. Those folks probably do well with straws or some other type of fake cig. Smokes kept my hands busy, so I need stuff to keep my hands busy now. The computer, hand held mindless video games (yahtzee!), a book, cross-stitch, a magazine. Experiment a little for yourself and try and find out what what psychologically you miss about smoking.
The trip to Puerto Rico is awesome. Do it. But you need to be giving yourself daily -- even hourly rewards this soon into your quit. Has your sense of smell returned? Enjoy the smell of fresh flowers in your home, nice candles, a new body lotion. Give your brain a reward with your sense of smell, things it was deprived of while you smoked. How about your tastebuds; are they waking back up? Again, more rewards right there. And I'm not encouraging you to pig out or anything, but enjoy food! Take your time and really savor every bite.
Your brain associated every puff with something good. Yes, the Chantix fills a big void, but it doesn't do all the work. You're going to need to recondition your brain to a whole new world of "something good" instead of puffs. Positive thinking is key. You're battling a psychological addiction at this point, a really hard one. Time for the big guns with daily affirmations, positive thinking and really appreciating all the things you lost out on being a smoker.
I'm a hair shy of four months quit, not even a puff, and I'm starting to feel like a nonsmoker. I'm definitely at the point where not blowing my quit is much more important than the quick thrill I might get from a smoke.
Just keep up with the positives. It's easy to in this town. Hardly anyone here smokes anymore. Can't smoke in the restaurants, you get nasty looks if you smoke at the entrance or exit, everyone's allergic to smoke. Just tell yourself how much easier life will be for you as a nonsmoker here. It's really true. You won't be lying to yourself.
Stay strong! Millions have done this. And you're right there with them.
stenolady - thanks for the pep talk.
You mentioned smell and taste buds - I have started noticing that smell is improving. I had surgery on my nose last year, I assumed I couldn't smell because of this, like they broke something. Now my smeller is waking up. And my taste buds also. Things I once liked, I don't anymore. And some things taste better than ever. Weird.
Good luck everyone, I'm proud of you all! I hope everyone enjoys a day of no dirty looks! heehee.
naturemomma
Day 9 here...still have a couple of smokes a day. It seems my worst time is in the morning and late evening. In the morning, while the house is still quite, other than the two golden retrievers, I have my coffee and check emails. It's the worst time. I had three smokes this morning. The day isn't bad but then again in the evening it hits again. I had two last night. That's why I just joined this message board. I need to hear from others who are experiencing the same.
I've been grouchy but I'm having very lucid dreams on the Chantix. It's hard to separate the dream state from reality while having the dreams. At any rate, I'll hang in with the effort and keep reading from all of you who are so inspiring, especially Velveeta (like the cheese?). Somehow I associate cheese as comfort food, so that's how I'll remember your name.
My goal is to be completely smoke free by 10/4, my 50th birthday, thus the quitby50 name.
Last edited by quitby50; 09-23-2007 at 05:57 AM.
Reason: repeated word
Quitby50, You have the same goal that I set for myself! I quit in March and turned 50 in June. I hope you attain that goal. I now go to the gym 5 times a week and am really enjoying that also. I put on about 15 lbs when I quit and was already 15 over before that. I have my work cut out for me but this is alot easier than quitting the smokes. I do not have to give up my favorite foods forever just a little while so I can take back control. Try writing in a diary for a little while in the evenings. Do something different and fun to take you mind off the smokes. Keep pressing on and I am cheering for you. Steno is also very inspirational and helpful with the hints. She turned me on to Turkey sausage!!
Thanks for your response. I guess we Floridians have more in common than the smoking habit. Thanks also for the advice on the journal. I had actually been thinking about resurrecting my old journal because I picked it up recently and reviewed my comments from ten years ago about being addicted to smoking. I thought, "Geez, I'm no further along..." I think tonight and tomorrow morning I'll try journaling during those weak moments.
I have wondered about the weight. I stay rather active, yoga, tennis, running and cycling, but I'm sure as the nicotine leaves my cells I will be gaining weight. The last time I was up 15 was six months after my daughter was born and that was incredibly hard to lose. Once again though, the gift will be worth it. My husband has lost 40 pounds in the last 4 months. He was on the "Medi" diet, essentially little or no carbs and a diet that most certainly would not work for me. I guess our goals are clear now, his, lose 50 by 50, and mine, quit by 50. I'm glad to hear that someone else was in the same boat as me and now it something of the past. ;-) Fingers and toes crossed that I too can become a "Senior Member."
way to go..you made it through the hard days , it will only get better from here..keep it up..If you never pick up a cig again, you will ever have to go through those 4 days ever again..
Re: Started Chantix now on day 5 
Re: Started Chantix now on day 5 
