Giving up the dreaded weed

[Mal 54]

Well it's seven days today since I had my last ciggy, unfortunately I have become allergic to the patches, my rear end looks like a domino board except the squares are bright red, and driving me mad itching.
Anyway, been to the doctors today, they have now given me an inhaler, hope that helps, without any side effects. Plus itch relief cream.
So I need plenty of help from all you none smokers please

[davvo]

I gave up over 7years ago its the best thing i ever did, keep up the good work!. ps if you need anything scratching i'll be round later.

[carol bozward]

im into my third week of giving up the 'weed' gave up for 3 months last year, but fell off the wagon. I am on the patches again,they do work, until you go swimming and one of my grandchildren, thought it was a plaster and pulled it off!! i would be interested to know how the inhaler/nasal spray works, you spend a lot of time talking to yourself when you are trying to give -up. like.. i will smell better, won't cough like a hyena in a morning, my grandson won't keep telling me 'its bad for you nanny'.. and just feeling like a second-class person...I am using the NHS support programme, you attend every week or once a fortnight, to have your carbon intake measured, mine was 28% 3 weeks ago, now 2% which classes me as a non-smoker now. The apppointment only takes about 10 mins. the clinic prescribes patches, nasal spray, zyban, etc., etc., your choice. 4 weeks @21mg, 4 @ 14mg, then 4 weeks @ 7mg. for two (14) patches you just pay the normal perscription price.... but today has been a bad DAY, felt depressed today and weepy, missing my nicotine friend/devil.
so good luck, remember, nicotine is 3 times harder to give up than herion.

CarolB

[Wendy50]

I'm well into week six of giving up. On the patches too, and they make me a bit itchy, but no rashes. It's not been easy, but I feel like I'm getting there (most of the time). Has anyone tried the 'Click2Quit' website? There's a forum on there for people who are giving up. Good Luck everybody - it'll be worth it in the end!:D

[Mal 54]

Thanks Carol and Davvo for replying, good for you Davvo, I would be interested to know how you managed to give up and stay a non smoker.

carol, I am currently under the supervison of the nurse at the doctors, the patches are great, and have helped me, but the red raw itchy skin they have left me with I cant cope with, especially at night when I get hot thats when they really drive me nuts itching, anyway hopefully the cream will sort that out.

The inhaler I start tomorrow, will let you know how I get on. I'm allowed 12 cartridges a day, each cartridge allows you 20 mins of puffing, but you can spread those 20 mins out as long as you like. The point is a ciggy doesnt last 20 mins. Hopefully, I won't need to use 12.

I can't have Zyban because i'm on blood pressure tablets, my son kicked the habit with Zyban though, he hasnt smoked for about 12 months now. He did say the Zyban made him feel dizzy and gave him terrible night mares.

I was only on the 14mg patch, because I didnt smoke 20 ciggys a day, plus i'm only small. The nurse thought the 21mg would be too much.

I must admit I felt weepy this morning, mainly because I was tired. Sunday was also a bad day, I felt really horrible.

Like they say, don't give up giving up.

Carol we shall have to keep in touch and help one another.

[davvo]

Dear Mother, it started with a sore throat it got that bad it hurt just to swallow water- the doctor said i had a throat infection and put me on antibiotics-it was 5days before i felt better - of course at first i thought i had the big C. Thank god i did'nt ,i chucked my fags in the bin it frightened the life out of me- not surprisingly fear is a big incentive to pack in, so don't stop trying i tried dozens of times you'll get there- best of luck.:thumleft:

[HW tenpin]

I wish you all, the very best of luck, helping each other get over the lows.
Please keep us in touch with your efforts.
Whatever the fors or against smoking I think they have had a rough deal from the non-smoking lobby. almost fanatical, whatever the outcome of the vote tonight it is a loss of one more Freedom of Choice.

And on a lighter (no pun) note

Please do not use your patches to roll up your fag ends, it will make you cough.

[Hils]

I gave up smoking 2 years ago but must admit for the previous few years I was only smoking duty frees and when they ran out I gave up until the next lot. I had one ciggy on my birthday last Dec and one New Year's Eve but apart from that it doesn't bother me any more plus I feel a lot better. Also even buying duty frees costs money so I think in � signs when I see ciggies for sale and think of the money I'm saving. Good luck to you all who are trying to give it up, it's not easy and takes a lot of will power but you really will feel better if you succeed.

[shufty]

I gave up just over a year ago and havent touched one since. I still get cravings from time to time but I can ignore them without too much problem.

I went for the cold turkey method which I found easier than anything else I'd tried before but I know people who have used the "cigarette" inhaler and others who swear by the Alan Carr books.

[HW Chris]

I gave up 7 years ago. I was only young but I was on 20-30 B&H a day and had been smoking for about 4 years. I went out for a xmas do with my worklot at the time and had already had a heavy night the night before. I one evening I managed to consume 40 fags and 10 hamlet... on top of alot of whiskey.

A bit like Davvo but mine was self inflicted. I spent the next week feelnig terrible then I realised I hadnt touched a ciggy all week. So I just carried on from there.

I had tried twice to give up for 3-4 months at a time however, all my friends at the time smoked so I always went back to the weed.

Good Luck Mother It is the best thing you will ever do and not just for your sake either.