My Quit Journey with Champix
I have been smoking since 17, now 26. I've tried quiting many times. Cold turkey, e-ciggs, patches, self-help books. Longest I've been without ciggarettes was about 8 months when i quit with patches and cold turkey. Lately I been feeling more and more fatigued and concentration at work has been low. Its affected me so much that even my sex life with my partner is suffering. At times, all I wanted to do is be alone with my ciggarettes and ignore the world. Yeah, i know...pathetic. So my quit journey begins again, but this time with Champix.
I like the idea of slowly cutting down, and slowly let champix dull the withdrawal symptoms. From experience, the withdrawal symptoms (both physiological and psychological(as experienced with patches) that really gets me. I get annoyed and aggitated easily, and end up having arguments with my partner, which then triggers the craving to smoke even more.
Today is Day 1 of taking Champix. So far so good. No side effects. Just a bit gassy. (maybe from lunch :P). My quit date will be in 9 days. By then, my partner will be away for 4 weeks overseas for work. So hopefully there will be no one to irratate towards. And hopefully by the time she gets back, ill be on the way to being a non-smoker again!
Wish u the best bro ..... me also quitted for 48 days now, it is not that much hard although i m facing feelings that i can't describe but however it is going on ..... smoke free life :D
Congrats.!!! Thinking this might be the way to go for Hubby. another holiday for me, or should i send him away:) Good Luck !
Thanks for the words of encouragement. They do help!
Day 2-3 has been quite normal, not feeling any side effects. I did feel anger during the night on day 2, but I had good reasons to feel so, but my reactions may have been a bit exaggerated. But physiologically, it hasn't effected me at all. Judging from the cigarette tracker, I have been gradually smoking a bit less, but could be well within noise. Hopefully by my quit day, my body would have been acclimated to champix and would really help in dealing the inevitable withdrawal symptoms. I'll definitely keep this web diary of my experience.
Cheers
Its now Week 2 of Champix. I've moved from 0.5mg to 1.0mg.
Here are my thoughts of Champix so far...
During Week 1, Side Effects were minimal or non-existent. Little bit of mood swing, especially anger. But managable and actually helps me look at how I can better deal with my emotions. As for its effect on smoking/craving. Nothing really, but I suspect week 1 @ 0.5mg is more to ease the body into Champix.
Week 2 (so far Week 2 Day 2). Last night I experienced something amazing. I had a ciggarette and I took 2 drags and did not want to take any more drags. It was an amazing feeling. It wasnt because I felt sick, nor was it a mental will power sort of thing. I just wasnt interested or wanted one. The same thing happened this morning. I lit one, took 2 drags and butted it out!!
My Quit Date is this saturday, and im really looking forwards to it. Im going to stick to the date because I know from experience from quitting before, if you try to rush it, then im most likely going to relapse. But my guess is, by saturday, with Champix and a little bit of will-power, I think I should succeed in quiting for good!
Keep you guys up to date.
Looks like Champix might work!