Willpower

I went to the Doctor today and asked for a medication to quit smoking, he gave me a prescription for Champix.

I was in hospitals in Newcastle and Tamworth for seven months last year, treated for non-Hodgkins lymphoma in my spine, with chemo, also has spinal fusion, T2 -T6, steel rods about 8" long either side of spine. Was paralyzed from the waist down at first, slowly regaining the use of my legs after being released from hospital in November 15.

Have to give up for the obvious reasons, health, lungs etc. but also because smoking hinders the nerve recovery which is so important to people like me. I suffer really bad pins and needles in both feet and the pain actually skyrockets as soon as I light up.

Did not smoke the entire time I was in hospital, 3 days after being let out I lit up and have been smoking since, about 50gms a fortnight.

Have looked at lots of other forums and read lots of reasons not to take this drug and I am beginning to think they are trolls, perhaps working for the tobacco companies who obviously don't like products that cost them money.

Before I started the chemo, 8 doses over a 24 week period, I was warned of the "possible" side effects, a very long list of them.

The most common was nausea, headaches, fever etc.

The worst that happened to me was hair loss (which did not bother me) loss of appetite sometimes just after the treatment day/s, and feeling tired at times.

Never had nausea, headaches, and received lots of comments from the Doctors and Nurses telling me I was very lucky as very few people go through treatment like I did without suffering the regular side effects.

So regardless what other people say I will start the Champix tomorrow and see what happens.

Will let you know how I get on.