Ok, a little peak into my life.

I have finally decided to quit smoking after 23+ years. HELP!!!!!!!!!!

I know some of you are former smokers and have gone through the withdrawls and successfully gotten through them.

My last cigarette was about 8PM on Tuesday night.

I put on the patch (14mg) yesterday morning, since my wife has recently quit, she had some left over. She did go out and get me the 21mg patch, which I have on this morning.

Now all day yesterday and so far this morning, I feel like I am wired for sound, why?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

My experience with the patch was kinda wierd too. very vivid dreams almost like hallucinations. felt like I was on speed during the day. I hope you have better luck than I did with it.

Well I don't know what it feels like to be on speed, but this high-strung feeling is bothering me.

Hey Cfulmor,

My son smokes and tried the patch and said it made his heart race. Make sure you get your blood pressure checked.

One side effect of the patch is insomnia. So, doctors suggest to take it off at night. So, I guess it really does make you wired.

Good luck!

Thanks, I don't wear it at night, as of now.

I'm hoping I don't need the patch for to long I'm hoping my will power overtakes this thing.

Best of luck Fulmor. i'm pulling for ya

Thanks Samy0

I s,moke way tooooooooo much. The only thing that ever helped me when i quit before actually was the patch because if Id smoke when i had it on, Id get very very sick.

Thank you Flipper, I don't plan on smoking with the patch on, as I had a similar reaction when I tried before.

Were talking about cigarettes here not crystal meth

When you find something that works, let me know. Patches, gum and lozenges haven't worked for me. Gum and lozenges were a joke.

Peacefrog and her crew have quit smoking. Maybe she can give you some helpful advice.

Good luck.

I was talking about Newports so there.

dosage might be too high. cut it back to the next step and see if it helps. different brands of cigs have different levels of nicotine.

Thanks Dragon, I may do that if this jumpy feeling doesn't go away in a day or two. I figure it is my body rebelling.

Eat a 'lude...that will couteract the jumpies.

I have a clearance to protect, not a viable option.

Hey bud.

It took me two tries to quit. I just went cold turkey so I can only speak from experience with that since I never tried the patch or anything.

Basically it took me about 15 days to get past the urge of wanting a cigarette, which was especially difficult after meals or when drinking. I used a pretty basic philosophy: I can't smoke'em if I don't have'em. I just made sure I didn't stop to pick up a pack if I had to get gas or buy some liquor or beer. I'd force myself to hurry and check out before I could pick up a pack at the last second.

After about a month the smell of cigarettes made my stomach turn and I didn't want to touch them. I do admit though that if I am out drinking, I will occasionally bum a cigarette from a friend but I don't feel like I am at any risk to start smoking regularly again. I may only smoke 5 per month, if that. It was about 2 yrs between the time that I quit and the time I picked up another cigarette.

There's just so much bad stuff that comes with smoking, its just not worth it, but we all already know that.

Cfulmor,
I smoked 2 packs a day, Quit cold turkey. Did alot of exercising,walking running.
Ate plenty of fruit and feggies. It help me quit. That was when they were $00.50 a pack. LOL.
You will find out that food taste alot better to you. Good Luck.

I smoked for 15+ years, a pack a day.

Quit once with the patch for 10 months or so, but picked up the habit again.

Finally, I made a wager with three friends (all smokers). We set a Quit Date and signed a contract. The bet:

* Any individual who smoked a cigarette--even just a puff--after the Quit Date was required to pay the other three participants $5 each per cigarette. (Total cost: $15 per cigarette).

* Any individual who smoked was required to wear the Tee-Shirt of Shame. This shirt had the phrases "I put my lips on dirty butts" and "I am weak and pathetic" printed on it in bold letters. The shirt was to be worn at the next group outing, such as a restaurant, bar, party, etc.

Haven't had a cigarette yet. Only one friend broke down (on New Year's Eve at AVA!!!), and we made him cough up the cash and wear the shirt out to dinner. Funny stuff.

My biggest motivation to stay an ex-smoker comes from the fact that I don't want to be ridiculed by my friends.

Cfulmor,

I quit the Wednesday before this past Christmas. Here is what I have learned:

1. The new medication Chantix (see your doctor for a prescription) worked better than anything else I tried. It is like a miracle.

2. When you start ridding your body of the cigarettes, the effects of caffeine are way stronger. If you drink caffeine, try to cut back a little to reduce the jumpiness, anxiety, insomnia.

3. coma is right, when you are ready to quit for good, the best place to start is to quit buying them.

4. Hang in there, the urges get less intense and less frequent each day. I now have entire days where I don't even think about having one!

5. It is nice to snuggle with my spouse and kids and not worry so much about smelling like smoke.

6. Good luck, and remember - when you are free from the addition of cigarettes you will be so glad you quit!!!

Thank you all, as I said the last one I had was about 8PM on Tuesday, I took the remaining cigarettes in the pack, broke them and threw them in the garbage.

As far as caffine, I drink half-caf, so I don't think that should be to much of a problem.

Again, thank you all. I'm going to do this. My motivation is to be through the urges by the time we move in the new house.

Also... try www.quitnet.com

It has a really supportive message forum.

One philosophy there: If you get the urge to smoke, come to the Quitnet.com message boards and post "Help!" Then commit that you'll wait to smoke until you get at least 3 replies to your post. By the time you get three replies (all of which are supportive and encouraging, of course), the urge will be gone.

Good luck!

I went cold turkey this last time. It was 5yrs on valentines day. I tried everything else and they didn't work. The cravings lessen over time. You just gotta "ride the wave" and wait for it to pass. I used sugar free mints and lolipops so that I had some something to do with my hands (replacing the cig). Water water water! Avoid places and people(sorry) for the first few weeks that you'd usually associate with smoking.get a craving-MOVE! walk,jog,pace, go outside and get some fresh air, whatever. Remember: You don't need a cigarette to live. You will survive without one.

Have you tried zyban?Talk to your doctor he can prescribe it.I never smoked ,but my husband did for years he talked to his doctor & was given a prescription for the patch & zyban.Only drawback is most insurance companies do not cover it.He switched to over the counter patch & used zyban for 2 months.(His doctor wanted him to use it for at least 6 months )He has not smoked in over a year 'but gained about 30 lbs.Good luck