Champix day 11, Smokefree day 1
My final Journey to freedom... continued (for earlier in my journey see previous post.)
This is day 11, and I haven't smoked all day. I just haven't wanted to, which is amazing. There are cigs in the drawer because my husband is a Champix week behind me and it hasn't bothered me at all.
I haven't felt nauseous today, probably because I had toast before my morning tablet, and by taking the evening tablet after my meal I have avoided nausea for the last few days. The nausea is definitely worse on an empty stomach and I think smoking makes it worse. But that's just from memory, because I've stopped. :D
My quit day was initially day 8, but that came and went with me still smoking. I tried not to worry (I'd read to give it time for the tablets to take effect and do their job) and so I didn't beat myself up about it, just carried on taking the tablets. By day 9 I was putting my smokes out half way through, and on day 10 I was really starting to think, what's the point, they're not doing anything for me. On Day 11 I just thought, I don't really want one so I won't have one, and with a bit of conscious intent, keep that up all day.
I normally go home for lunch (so I can smoke) but I changed my routine to avoid the temptation of the cigarette drawer in a moment of 'reward thinking' after a stressful morning at work. Instead I walked to the shop and bought a sandwich and some fresh fruit and sat and ate it on a bench by the river. The sort of life non-smokers live, rather than the furtive, unhealthy dash to smoke in secret that used to break up my working day.
I know it's early days but I feel incredibly optimistic. I'll keep you posted with my progress.
That is great Thisisit! so proud of you...you must be feeling the same way. I am also thinking of other things to do now that I no longer smoke. the latest is walking and starting to watch what I eat. I've head off 3 mornings this week with headphones on and the pedometer counting to see if I can walk further each time....my goal is 10,000 steps....today did 8,000...whaa hoo!
This site is incredibly useful too for tips...love to pop in for inspiration from others on their journey.
continued success.....keep us posted! xxx
Welcome to the world of non smokers! It's a tough journey sometimes, but so worth it! Within a week you will start to feel your breathing improve and it's such a glorious feeling that it will incent you to go on. Fight through the urges, drink loads of water and just be totally proud of yourself! All the best to you!
Well done Thisisit! I am following the exact journey you are and today is the first day in 15 years that I have woke up and not smoked a cigarette before my day begins. I too have used champix and like you found that I wasn't ready by day 8 or 9 but did notice i didn't want them as normal. I was basically making myself smoke them in the last week because I thought I needed them. I have tried to stop before and heard nasty things regarding champix but it seems to be working fine for me. I am glad I have found a site like this because I am sure we can bounce off one another on our journey!! Good Luck everyone
Today, I also have not smoked. They are outside in the cold, in a desk. I have played solitaire instead. I am not allowed champix. I am using combination NRT therapy. I sip a lot of soda water on my smoke-free days. I'd like to keep it up tonight and keep going tomorrow.
Thanks so much for cheering me on, Kam & quit. Today is 2nd day of not smoking and I might be finding it a little harder today - not that I want a cig as such, it's more a feeling of being at a loose end. I should start knitting or start a complicated jigsaw puzzle to dip into. It's all the time smoking used to take up - I need to find something else to do!
And Ian and Penelope - thank you for your good wishes too.
Good luck with NRT Penelope. Solitaire sounds like an excellent idea - I will try that myself!
Well done Ian! I shall follow your progress too - it does sound like we're at the same stage. I remember that exact same feeling of smoking because I thought I needed one. Once I realised I was ok without, it's been fine. Today, as I said, I've felt at a bit of a loss for what to do, but nothing awful. I'm just itching to be further along the process, and put it all behind me forever.
Hey thisisit, hope you are getting along ok! I know exactly what you mean when you say you are a bit at loose ends, it's kind of like a lost feeling and you think you should be doing something, but don't know what! Those are the gaps where cigs used to be. I started buying flavoured herbal teas, I'm trying them all! This has become my replacement for when I would normally have a cig, but still want a little down time. It's working for me, try and find something that you enjoy that can fill in those times for you. Believe me in another couple of days you are going to really start feeling better and that will get you excited to go on. You can do this!!
Thanks, Kam. I am still on track! Day 3 no problems, and I actually cut my Champix tablet in half this morning 'cos I didn't want the nausea. My H is worried I might be tapering off too soon but it's OK so far. Might only have half this evening as well - I do wonder how the same 1mg twice a day can be the right dose whether you weigh 8 stone or 18 stone! Also I've had disturbed sleep since upping the dose to 1mg, so could do with a proper restful night's sleep. Thanks for cheering me on!
I am smoke free 8 days now, I stopped on day 10 of Champix. Prior t my smoke free day, the 3 days before, I would light a cigarette every 3-4 hrs have 3 puffs and toss it. Champix has worked great for the cravings as I used to light up 5 minutes after waking up! that was the hardest one for me to get rid of and I did it!
As far as side effects go, I have been fortunate not to experience crazy dreams, insomnia nausea only occurs if I don't take it with solid food.
My only compliant is the fuzzy mental state and an almost flat non-reactive disposition I feel most of the time for about 6 hours after taking the pill.
I was considering coming off of it next weekend, but, after reading some of the posts, I may try cutting the dose in half and see how that works for me.