Tried everything and now on Champix
Hi fellow quitters,
I am 52 yrs of age and smoked my first cigarette when 11, something I am not proud of. Over the years I have tried to give up many times trying everything from NRT, e-cigs and even hypnotherapy, none worked for a sustained period. Realising my own mortality, I have finally decide that I need and want to stop smoking and have started Champix. I am on day 5 and feel no effects to date. My nurse has advised me not to set a quit date yet and will discuss this at my next appointment after 2 weeks. I am optimistic this time and will record my updates on here for motivation. Good look to all of you who are in the process of quitting.
i am surprised that u are still smoking as on my 3rd day taking champix i felt sick when i smoked so i couldnt smoke any more after my 3rd day on champix ,i am now 13 days smoke free,
Hi cadkenzie,
Things changed quite quickly after my initial post and over the weekend I smoked no more than 5 cigs. Today is my first day where I tried a cig but could not tolerate it and didn't bother. I found the afternoon challenging and had a number of urges to smoke but managed to resist. I start the full dose tomorrow and am a little nervous! I have had a constant dull ring in my ears since I started on the tablets and do not think I could tolerate it getting any worse. My sleep patterns have changed considerably with very vivid dreams causing me to wake at about 04:00, I then have broken sleep in about 20 minute cycles with a different dream in each causing me to wake after each cycle...strange.
When i read your first comment i could totally relate to what you said about Champix, i'm still at the stage where i find myself waiting for something magical to happen,( i need to work on my urges to smoke)
So congratulations to you on your efforts anyway your storey inspired me to keep at it, even through the crazy dreams LOL.
Good Luck.
Hi angelarms43,
I believe that Champix will work for you but I genuinely believe that the mid set also helps. My nurse talked about getting to the stage where you would light a cig and after a couple of draws the taste would make you decide to put it out and I think I had this firmly set in my mind, so when it happened I had already preconditioned myself to put it out.
Today work was very busy and tense and I definitely had the same old urges to have a smoke but managed to get through it which I now see as another small victory. In my thoughts I deal with the urges very aggressively, swearing at myself at how weak I mam being...seems to work...after all no one likes criticism even if it's coming from yourself.
Please stick at it angelarms43 because the fact that I know there are people like me going through the same things, gives me additional support.
Dear Dak - Thank you for your post. I am not allowed to use
champix or zyban beause of the anti-psychotic medications I am on. However I have been cutting down and for almost a year I cannot smoke a full cigarette. I share them we my Husband so the most I have is four puffs at a time. Sometimes when we are on patches we just refuse them. It is good to know that this is all part of the quitting process. Thanks
Hi Penelopejane,
Why not go fully on the patches and use another form of NRT to deal with the urges. From my experience the longer you keep puffing on a cigarette, the less chance you have of quitting for good. Clearly you have already done really well to reduce to the level you are now...but...why not take the full step and let us know how it's going.
Today I have been 8 full days cigarette free. My carbon dioxide levels have reduced from 34 to 5. Yes I still urges but I know the hit of nicotine is short lived whilst the daily success of not smoking is lasting.
Well still not smoking 6 weeks in and for the first time in my life I feel confident enough to say I will not smoke again. I do get the urge very now And then but it soon passes and I inwardly smile at the tempting little devil somewhere in my brain trying to get me to have one. I have reduced my tablets to one a day and this has had no effect on cravings etc and I feel it was the right move. Vivid dreams and lack of sleep continue but small price to pay.