Not even week 1 & I am delusional!
7 days ago I was prescribed Champix as I decided I had to quit smoking as I require open heart surgery. I was asked if now was a good time to quit by the doctor (I also have bipolar). He feared due to the stress, both mentally & physically it may cause complications in the lead up to my surgery. Mind you I don’t know when the surgery will happen but I have decided to be prepared. So in conjunction with a low dose of my normal anti depressant medication which I have only recently started again after years of not needing it, I started the Champix. Day 1 I felt foggy & tired & just really really weird. But I’m use to mind altering medication so I just ride the wave. My smokes & everything started tasting funny in half an hour. This I struggled with.
Come Day 4 of Champix towards the end of the day at work a smoke made me really ill. It was like I never smoked in my life, coughed so much it made me dry heave. I had 1 more smoke after that & called it quits. I wasn’t coping on just the drive home, so stopped at a servo, bought 4 lollipops & avoided a new pouch of tobacco as I had ran out having the final cigarette.
I got home after a drive that felt like eternity & I pulled out my vape, all my juices, plus my nicotette mist.
It states on Champix not to use NRT in conjunction but I am ignoring this as I have a plan & I am kind of facing death in the face anyway both mentally & physically so I am running my own case study.
I am now on day 3 of no cigarettes, substituting with the vape, mist & lots of lollipops & sherbet. The affects for me with all the meds & NRT is everyone is not use to me being so bubbly & happy. I guess the meds are bringing out a mania In me but not a hyper mania that bipolar gives me. They just have to get use to it because I feel good.
I have had some nausea but again use to pretty bad medication so I only noticed it for 2 or so days & no longer get that. Cravings are fought with the mist, the habit of smoking is fought with the vape or both the mist & the vape & the Champix is helping to keep me some what sane & delusional at the same time.
It’s a unique & weirdly pleasurable experience at the same time. It kind of reminds me like I am smoking an invisible cigarette mentally. It’s really odd.
I have already reduced the vaping & only used the mist twice today. By week 3 of the Champix I plan to not be on the vape or the mist. The original plan was to be off the smokes but that has come a little bit sooner than my original quit date.
At this rate I feel great! Ask me 3 days ago not so. I am snappy & snarly but manageable everyone has told me.
Can I be a non smoker & kick the habit prior to my surgery? Can I remain sane enough to make it to my surgery? Today the answer is yes.
Personally , I think you have this well thought out. You also understand that we cannot give you medical advice, but offer opinions. You are a big girl and capable of making your own rational decisions and understanding consequences. With that said, your goals are realistic. As you have the sense to continually reduce both the vaping and use of nicorette while i gather you are still on the champix and feeling good. Beware if you start getting depressed on the Champix as it has been know to cause suicidal thoughts. Have those close to you know what you are doing and made aware of that fact please.
As far as using NRT with Champix, I see no difference as with obtaining nicotine in any form, whether smoking, or vaping. An NRT regulates the amount of nicotine. A mist twice a day seems responsible.
I strongly suggest that you read our stories and sites on line to learn about nicotine. Read the free Allan Carr e-book which i have provided a link to. Mindset is believing that you can do this , and that you really do want to become a non-smoker. Some who feel they have no choice (as in preparing for an operation) may approach it more like abstaining and using mere will power as opposed to actually accepting and embracing the idea of a new way of life. Learn what nicotine did to you, how you are losing nothing and gaining a whole lot more than you ever dreamed possible. Have you ever heard someone wish they Hadn't quit Smoking?
Being free is not a right, but a choice . Be truly free with the right mindset.
A lot of medications to deal with uniquely hot, I must first congratulate you on quitting before your operation, the fact remains you need to believe that you can remain smoke free before and after the operation. You might need to come back and get some support then.
You seem to know what your body can or cannot take, which is most likely because of your Bi Polar, I used Champix, and Doctors don't recommend this if you have some other clinical issues to deal with that is of a mental disposition. I couldn't take the evening dose so just managed on the morning dose because of the nightmares at night time. Strangely enough this was enough for me to give up the smokes.
I get on a high naturally, but found that this wasn't the case with Champix, now that I have stopped I can feel my body returning to normal as in happy normal and cross etc.
You need to let your doctor know of any other medications you are taking at the same time, as this could benefit you in the long term.
You are not being delusional in feeling you can overcome this addiction, because that is all it is, an addiction which Nicotine delivers in many forms the most lethal being a cigarette.
The key is "Long Term Thinking" while you grapple with the wait along with Low Key activities every day which can help you avoid any urges you might experience at the beginning of this exciting journey. Plenty of rest, and call back if you feel you need to anytime.
Thank you very much.
Some people just don’t understand that wanting to & having to are 2 completely different mindsets. Although, I do want to quit & be a non smoker I wasn’t ready at this point in time.
I really did not want to go on the Champix for the suicide / depression risk however my last attempt to quit (6 solid weeks) sent me bonkers. As I have an understanding of my triggers mentally for bipolar & no when I can stop / start medication / take myself to get help before it being too late I guess the doctor felt comfortable. Everyone at work knows about both medication & so do some of my close friends. I took my 1st full dose of Champix this morning not long ago so today may be interesting. I used both the vape & mist last time but stopped using it at the 2 week mark & tried to be a hero. I get bored of the vape & the mist is just an inconvenience also. I know I can do this, I just hope I can use the last bit of fight I have to win this one too.
Congrats on quitting smoking :)
I’ve just quit on Champix as well. Initial week isn’t fun but I’m on day 10 now and stopped yesterday so a day earlier then anticipated. So far I’ve had no cravings at all which I’m thrilled about but even the thought hasn’t been a trigger.
If your plan is to stop the mist and vape I hope you can do that soon to :)
Hi uniquelyhot. In your response you mention about getting bored with vape and misting being inconvenient.. Try remembering how much smoking ruled your life. Consistent cravings that we relented and gave into rather than fight back. How inconvenient was making an extra trip out for smokes, leaving things to sneak a smoke, standing in the rain and blizzard. You may have entered this journey before you intended and no one but you can decide to quit smoking. However, make it easier on yourself and accept it and even embrace it now that you are here. Positive thinking is far better than negative.
Did you know that Nicotine Replacement Therapies as well as Champix and Zyban find their products have better results in conjunction with councelling...a quit group? .80% of this journey is psychological and it is just a matter of altering your opinion of smoking. Please read Allan Carr who can explain better than anyone what nicotine did to you and how to embrace the concept of being a non-smoker . Click on my name and find it under Group Participation "Hints and Tips". You can do this, and i truly believe that a support group can help you to achieve it. Stay positive and believe......