Champix. Week Two.
Smoker for 18 years. 20 a day. My mother passed away in Nov 2012 from breast cancer that mastasised to her lungs - witnessed firsthand precisely what that is like. A woman who never drank or smoked in her life. I kept on smoking. Tried giving up. Tried NRT - no good. Tried cold turkey - worse. Finally decided ok this is it, off to the doctor I went, prescription for Champix in hand.
Week one was interesting. Truthfully didn't notice any real difference the first day, second day I just didn't feel like smoking and the three I did have I stubbed out halfway through (??) third day much the same. Day five and my husband (also on champix, taking the journey together) started talking about having to set a quit date, as you are supposed to do in week 2. He said Day 8. Being obtuse I said no and then spent all of day five smoking cigarettes that i didn't feel like having as if trying to prove some weird point to myself. Day 6, back to status quo of not smoking very much. I
Week 2. Into Day 8 and hubby quit. With him not smoking (and it being a weekend) I got to the end of Day 8 having only smoked two cigarettes.
Day 9. Changed my mind about it being my quit day. However agreed with hubby no further packs to be purchased. Actually didn't smoke ALL of Sunday. At ALL. Sunday night again felt the need to prove a point and smoked the three that were left in the pack, after hubby went to bed. Felt sick and utterly disgusted in myself, didn't enjoy them in the slightest, decided thats it. Enough is enough, really.
Day 10. Quit day. Champix is a weird one. The physical symptoms are so minimised compared to what I've experienced on NRT or cold turkey. Then, anything beats cold turkey. Hats off to anyone who can quit cold turkey, cos I'm not one of those people. Anyway Day 10 wasn't too bad, except I recognised in the evening once the kids were in bed and the house was quiet, that the evenings are my worst time, and my little rebellious streaks of week one made more sense as well - all occurring in the evening. Fought through it for awhile, then got thoroughly depressed, ate chocolate, had a shower and was in bed by 9pm. Figured I might as well sleep instead of sitting up feeling sorry for myself.
Day 11. Day 2 of no cigarettes. Had to visit sister in law today (smoker). Told her I didn't mind if she smoked and meant it. Truly didn't want one in the slightest. The smell of the smoke did appeal. Struggled again in the evening. Another early night. At least I'm well rested.
Day 12. Today. Day 3 of no cigarettes. Few moments of 'can't wait to relax after I get this done and have a cigarette', pang of regret when realised that it wasn't going to happen, then got over it. I've actually heard my brain automatically start to say 'you don't smoke anymore' which wasn't a conscious decision. The whole thing is freaking me out a bit quite frankly, I mean I enjoyed smoking, I wanted to stop but I also didn't if that makes sense, and now the thought of never having a cigarette again in my life doesn't bother me in the slightest. This champix is amazing stuff. Already concerned about what will happen when I'm off the champix though.
Anyway side effects. Nausea in the morning, very similar to morning sickness for those who have experienced pregnancy. Have found the pills make me a little dopey and not in the best frame of mind for driving in the mornings, so I've started having the morning one AFTER I get the morning driving out of the way. And taking the evening one a bit later. No weird dreams, in fact I've been sleeping extremely well, the deepest I've slept in a very very long time.
I'm very positive I can do this, I have to do this, but I'm also scared that I'll fail. Still - just keep it going I suppose. Thanks for reading.
Congrats Bec you'll do it....I also worried what I would do after I stopped Champix, well here I am 840 days off and still going strong..
I took Champix for 9 weeks. That was enough time for the nicotine to be well and truly out of my system. It was also enough time for me to stop associating certain activities with smoking. Like you, I was a little worried about life after Champix but it has been really easy. Sure I have had a few cravings but they haven't lasted very long and have been really easy to dismiss. Just keep doing what your doing and don't stress too much. One day at a time and you'll be thinking less and less about the smokes and more and more about how good you'll feel and how proud you will be of your achievment.
Hi Bec, 284 days for me and 3 months of Champix. I replaced my habit with drinking water which needless to say helped me to detox and creating a new healthy habit. Day by day is the best don't think to far in the future. I still get a "pang" but its nothing more than a fleeting thought. I can go to pub with my friends and they can smoke around me no problem at all.
Hang in there you're through the worst of it
Hey guys, thanks for the replies! Up to the end of day six today. Evenings are still my worst time. I find I'm perfectly ok so long as I'm busy, but once it's wind down time I'm still struggling. Its not that I have a physical craving for one, but more that I have no idea how to relax without them. Visited sister in law today and of course she smoked the whole day, I didn't want one, her smoking around me didn't bother me, but at the same time couldn't relax. Suppose that's something I have to relearn, I've smoked my entire adult life! (Ugh).