Day 14 champix and still smoking ... Feeling weak !!!
Hi all, I've read so many of your stories the last couple of days and thought I'd throw mine here hoping I get to where you are eventually but also in case someone else is like me and struggling and you never know maybe one of you will be able to give me a light bulb moment.
A couple of months ago i went to Dr who gave me script for champix. It took me a while to fill it, a while longer to start them. I've had horrid nausea and tiredness but persevered but in the 2nd week shortness of breath. This could be related to something else so after speaking to pharmacist today I have switched another medication to rule that out and if I'm still like it after a few days have been advised to stop the champix.
That's not my dilemma though ... Well at least not yet. I'm on day 14 of the champix and still smoking. I feel like a complete failure. I spoke to the quitline for an hour today and was advised to maybe wait another week but to start delaying / cutting back / being more mindful of my triggers etc I felt great whilst talking and could really relate to everything that was said BUT now I'm still just feeling like I'm weak and I'm never going to be able to stop. I'm my own worst enemy and I'm exhausted from the conversations the 2 sides of me are having. I almost cheered when he said to wait another week as it was like someone was validating me to keep smoking even though what he said make sense. I'm all over the place right now and feel stupid that I can't even work out a plan to quit especially when I read others successes. I want to be one of those people that took champix and found it dare I say easy ! I know its not a wonder drug but arrgghhhh !!!! Could it be that I just don't want to stop enough ? Why is this so hard ? What if I have to stop the champix ... Nothing else has ever worked either ... At least not long term. Feeling messed up ... Did anyone else feel like this ? Or are feeling like this ?
No pill will work on its own but it should help...WILL POWER is your best tool and the more you want to stop smoking the easier it is...
Good Luck wish you well
Thank you for such an honest post and I relate to what you have told. I agree with Nodrah that no pill will every make it entirely easy - there is still a lot of determination required. I call it determination rather than will power because I lack will power but think I can be pretty determined.
My experience was that I was told by my doctor that I should stop smoking. I am 52 years old and had obviously heard that before. But something in me clicked and I knew this time it had to happen. I've tried before but haven't really gotten beyond two weeks. I think the best part of my plan was that I gave it four months. Others will disagree but, for me, it seems to have worked (cross fingers and hug a tree). The reason it worked was that I allowed myself anything I wanted during that extended period of time. Now, whenever I feel sad about not smoking anymore (which is quite often but not for long) I remember that I had given smoking a cracking farewell, never denied myself and so I now just have to live with not smoking. In a nutshell - giving myself the four months seems to have worked for me. Everyone is different though so do read through all the great stories on this website.
Don't feel messed up. Not smoking anymore is very, very hard. Walk a lot, breathe a lot and give yourself time (not excuses) to think things through. Best of luck and keep on visiting this website.
Thanks for your replies. I know that there is no miracle pill ( but how I wish ). Though some stories I've read have alluded to champix being close to one. I'm just struggling with the mental games of trying to give up smoking and the physical side effects of the champix I've been having.
Fullofhope I liked your determination vs willpower explanation and congratulations on your quit.
I did champix, make sure you are taking them correctly and wait another week and see if anything changes.. if not, get back to the doc, as they may not be for you - Champix only has a 30% success rate, but first you must want to quit, I think, if you're not there yet, just keep following others experiences, until you decide to make the choice - i am on quit attempt 7 or 8 - lost trak as I have tried so many times..
Good Luck.
I did champix, make sure you are taking them correctly and wait another week and see if anything changes.. if not, get back to the doc, as they may not be for you - Champix only has a 30% success rate, but first you must want to quit, I think, if you're not there yet, just keep following others experiences, until you decide to make the choice - i am on quit attempt 7 or 8 - lost trak as I have tried so many times..
Good Luck.
I did champix, make sure you are taking them correctly and wait another week and see if anything changes.. if not, get back to the doc, as they may not be for you - Champix only has a 30% success rate, but first you must want to quit, I think, if you're not there yet, just keep following others experiences, until you decide to make the choice - i am on quit attempt 7 or 8 - lost trak as I have tried so many times..
Good Luck.
Thanks DaveWA. The one thing I realised this afternoon was that everyone's journey is theirs. We are all different people with different experiences and what works for one won't work for another or even what didn't work this time doesn't mean it won't next. The thing we share is that we are on a journey with the same destination ... We just have to find the right directions there for us ( and sometimes there might stops or we might get lost and that's ok just as long as we keep trying to get there ). Best of luck with your quit.
I too have been on champix now for 2 months, Having tried so many things to stop smoking over the years. I have found Champix is the one Im going to rely on to get me there, well that and a lot of hard hours in front of me. 24 hours done, lol, doesn't sound like much but for me , I win todays battle :) . Tomorrow that's a new day. I hope that you too can find the strength to get through 1 day at a time,
Hi Helly and congratulations on 24 hours !!! That's awesome !!! I'm also going to go day by day. Today I just tried to go as long as possible and made it to 140pm which I know is nothing but it did give me a bit of confidence. My side effects today have been minimal and I'm hoping that's the way they stay. It's steange but I feel like the champix is starting to kick in for me and I'm a tiny bit excited that I might just be able to do this.
Hi Indigo, I am on the champix also and suffering with nausea etc, are you still on it now? Did it pass and have you had success?? I am feeing grotty as hell but have an update smokestop appointment Tues so going to perservere until then.
Hi ness, sorry for the late response but just saw your message. Hope you're hanging in there. Yes I stayed on it though I was very close to coming off it and even the pharmacist suggested that might of been the best thing but we agreed to give it a few more days and do glad I did. All the side effects eventually subsided and I am proud to say I haven't had a cigarette in 3 weeks. Good luck and hope you are feeling better.