Re: Still here


Up to 2nd May, I was smoking between 5 & 10 a day, following a bust quit last year. The pharmacist said start on step 2 at 15mg for 6 weeks, so I did exactly that. Round about week 5 I had a slight rash on my left hip, but that did go away. Then I was supposed to go to step 3 for 2 weeks. The step down wasn't quite so painless as I'd been led to believe ... but really it was only a couple of days of feeling not-so-good, then it got okay again.

My only mistake with the whole programme was in trying to stop altogether too soon. As I went into the 2nd week of 7mg, I decided that since I was ill anyway (sinus infection) it would be a good time to stop because I wouldn't notice the difference so much. WRONG. On day 4 I had to start patching again, because I really wasn't coping well at all emotionally, and used them for another 11 days before feeling really okay about stopping. Altogether, I used the 7mg ones for 2 weeks & 5 days. Again, the first 2-3 days without haven't been the happiest of my life by a long chalk ... but again, its okay by now.

Oh, I was using the 24 hour ones. After the first 2 nights of very little sleep punctuated by extremely detailed dreams, I went back to the pharmacist for more advice. He said to try taking them off at night. Which I did and that improved the sleep thing no end.

I still have 2 7mg patches left. Kind of like an insurance, so if ever things get so bad again I think I'm hitting the total not-coping point .... then I can always put on a patch. It does get a bit tedious sticking bits of plastic on yourself, and I fully understand the urge to stop doing so as soon as possible ... but if I had one bit of advice to give, based on my experience, it'd be not to be in too much of a hurry to stop. Better by far to give it a couple of weeks longer to make sure the quit's well set for success, than to stop too soon & make yourself too vulnerable too soon :)



Two months, one week, one day, 9 hours, 49 minutes and 26 seconds. 694 cigarettes not smoked, saving £190.87. Life saved: 2 days, 9 hours, 50 minutes.





In message <1152583785.189353.39240@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, shinypenny <shinypenny0001@xxxxxxxxx> writes

That's good to hear, since I'm dreading the gibbering weeping digestive
system wreck thing myself. How long were you on each step?

Last time I didn't follow the instructions to the letter. I got cocky
and tried to taper down too quickly. Also, I kept reapplying the patch
in the same two spots and I developed a skin rash. This time, I intend
to follow them closer, though I'm figuring I'll stay on step 1 longer
than 6 weeks to get me through one certain upcoming vulnerable event on
my schedule.

Any tips would be great!

jen

Two weeks, two days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 36 seconds. 322 cigarettes
not smoked, saving $80.75. Life saved: 1 day, 2 hours, 50 minutes.


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Judy
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