We're quitters!

[Ash600]

Arrgh...so have failed as I sit here smoking...sigh...but did order the Carr book...and going to try to not buy another pack today...been thinking about why I smoke and came up with...1) habit-- sitting on patio in am with coffee and on laptop (yes now) before world awakes....driving in car alone...let dog back in and last cigarette before head to bed (followed by teeth brushing and mouthwash) 2) break/reward after finish a task (yes awful to say have routine that after swim go get cheap coffee and smoke before going home--very sad and pathetic I know 3) to relieve stress when on phone usually with my father and habit when on phone with others ...sure there are more...So guess part of this quitting requires finding different things to do at all of these times when smoke...So for now/this morning/today...goal is NOT to buy another pack and after swim come home take shower and put on patch...and face being miserable and stressed and eat baby carrots..Congrats to others who are doing better at this and commiseration for all who are still a "work in progress" like me....

Ya @Harmony2 that's like the thing for me.
Oh I’ve done this....now lol
Why is it like a bloody mental gift, when it really isn’t?
I honestly think that’s the thing to be solved. But I wish I could find out how.

You's seem to have a routine whereby after a particular activity, there is an automatic response to light one up. The question is, what you should be asking yourselves, is do you really need that smoke or is it just out of habit. Yeah, going for the carrots and munching on them is one thing even a good thing even (from a health point of view) but the main thing is, is to try to distract your mind if possible from thinking that at certain points in the day that's when you're likely to light up. If you can do another activity to take your mind off it, then go for it, or of not, instead of a ciggie, maybe use on of the "on demand" nicotine products available such as the inhalator as a substitute. As already mentioned, dual therapy with patches plus add on NRT can be quite effective.

@Yellowmellow I think it was you who said you can't tolerate the adhesive on the patches, maybe this could help in the initial stages?

Good luck and hope you can find a way to overcome these urges.

 

[Yellowmellow]

@Ash why you not on Jim’s today?
Furthermore... the patches...When I use them they work 100%
When I smoke on them I have immediate palpitations, so there’s no going there.
But they leave a huge scar on my skin from me scratching because it itches like a dambed devil.
I normally take pyriton antihistamine with it to curb the itching which stops me scratching it. But it still itches like burns on my skin.
So every time I go on quit I have to end up with scabs/scars

 

[Walker]

I don't smoke enough for patches. And those lozenge things make my stomach feel like I swallowed something that was on fire and now it's managed to eat a hole through my stomach and into my insides. They are really evil shit.

I'm rounding into day 7 and think I've smoked 6 total. That's averaging 1 per day but wasn't actually 1 per day (like one day I had 2 in 9 hours). I haven't smoked at all in 2+ days. I've got 3 in a pack here and def not buying any more. I'm still clutching this stupid ecig and while I don't like it, I'm using it for the straight hit of nicotine for the edge. Overall, it's great.

 

[Sunspots]

I don't smoke enough for patches. And those lozenge things make my stomach feel like I swallowed something that was on fire and now it's managed to eat a hole through my stomach and into my insides. They are really evil shit.

I'm rounding into day 7 and think I've smoked 6 total. That's averaging 1 per day but wasn't actually 1 per day (like one day I had 2 in 9 hours). I haven't smoked at all in 2+ days. I've got 3 in a pack here and def not buying any more. I'm still clutching this stupid ecig and while I don't like it, I'm using it for the straight hit of nicotine for the edge. Overall, it's great.

Well done, you're doing great

 

[1964dodge]

I don't smoke enough for patches. And those lozenge things make my stomach feel like I swallowed something that was on fire and now it's managed to eat a hole through my stomach and into my insides. They are really evil shit.

I'm rounding into day 7 and think I've smoked 6 total. That's averaging 1 per day but wasn't actually 1 per day (like one day I had 2 in 9 hours). I haven't smoked at all in 2+ days. I've got 3 in a pack here and def not buying any more. I'm still clutching this stupid ecig and while I don't like it, I'm using it for the straight hit of nicotine for the edge. Overall, it's great.

you are doing great I hope you don't buy another pack and don't forget quitting smoking is extremely hard keep up the good work

 

[Walker]

Well done, you're doing great

Thanks. Only the person it means anything to knows - and the people following along here so I have to come here and have someone clap occasionally because clearly I'm an attention seeking dude with a personality disorder. hahahaha

 

[Walker]

you are doing great I hope you don't buy another pack and don't forget quitting smoking is extremely hard keep up the good work

Thanks, bud. (See above message) You're awesome.

 

[Sunspots]

Thanks. Only the person it means anything to knows - and the people following along here so I have to come here and have someone clap occasionally because clearly I'm an attention seeking dude with a personality disorder. hahahaha

We all need someone clapping us on

 

[Ash600]

I don't smoke enough for patches. And those lozenge things make my stomach feel like I swallowed something that was on fire and now it's managed to eat a hole through my stomach and into my insides. They are really evil shit.

I'm rounding into day 7 and think I've smoked 6 total. That's averaging 1 per day but wasn't actually 1 per day (like one day I had 2 in 9 hours). I haven't smoked at all in 2+ days. I've got 3 in a pack here and def not buying any more. I'm still clutching this stupid ecig and while I don't like it, I'm using it for the straight hit of nicotine for the edge. Overall, it's great.

When you mentioned about how the lozenges irritate your stomach, best to avoid all forms of oral NRT as they could have the a similar effect. I was wondering if you have a history of gastritis as this could be exacerbating things.
Sticking with the e-cigs is probably the best move particularly as it is safer than a normal ciggies

 

[Ash600]

@Ash why you not on Jim’s today?
Furthermore... the patches...When I use them they work 100%
When I smoke on them I have immediate palpitations, so there’s no going there.
But they leave a huge scar on my skin from me scratching because it itches like a dambed devil.
I normally take pyriton antihistamine with it to curb the itching which stops me scratching it. But it still itches like burns on my skin.
So every time I go on quit I have to end up with scabs/scars

Ok so it's probably best for you not to use the patches, and stick to the other forms of NRT available. Was wondering, how many on average do you smoke a day @Yellowmellow ?

 

[Walker]

When you mentioned about how the lozenges irritate your stomach, best to avoid all forms of oral NRT as they could have the a similar effect. I was wondering if you have a history of gastritis as this could be exacerbating things.

Yeah I have reflux (whatever you guys call that there) I take a PPI every day and it is pretty chill till I skip a few days. Those lozenges are like fire tablets. I actually threw up after eating the first one so threw the rest out (on another go at this) And wasn't a taste thing or anything, though not wild about that either. This was the level of FIRE! in my stomach.

 

[1964dodge]

Yeah I have reflux (whatever you guys call that there) I take a PPI every day and it is pretty chill till I skip a few days. Those lozenges are like fire tablets. I actually threw up after eating the first one so threw the rest out (on another go at this) And wasn't a taste thing or anything, though not wild about that either. This was the level of FIRE! in my stomach.

I had a bad case of acid reflux I had to dilute orange juice with water 50/50 my doctor put me on Nexium for 12 weeks and it cured me only acts up if I'm sick very rarely

 

[Ash600]

Yeah I have reflux (whatever you guys call that there) I take a PPI every day and it is pretty chill till I skip a few days. Those lozenges are like fire tablets. I actually threw up after eating the first one so threw the rest out (on another go at this) And wasn't a taste thing or anything, though not wild about that either. This was the level of FIRE! in my stomach.

As you're on PPIs, Matt, best to steer clear of NRT less you want to risk a volcano going on in your stomach as the SPC's on them do say it is recommended to avoid these products if there is a history of GI issues.

Also, if you're on long term PPIs, are you by any chance being prescribed calcium and vit D supplements as chronic use of PPIs have been associated with increase risk of bone fractures particularly those at risk of osteoporosis.

By the why, well done on cutting down fella!!

 

[Walker]

I take Vit D, @Ash600 because I work graves and apparently I don't even see the sun, making my calcium level "critically low"... however, all that shit is complicated by the fact that I also have --- kidney stones LOL Yes, so, taking all that extra crap exacerbates them pretty rapidly and lets face it, I'd rather risk a broken bone than have kidney stones on the regular.

And -- thanks!

 

[1964dodge]

I take Vit D, @Ash600 because I work graves and apparently I don't even see the sun, making my calcium level "critically low"... however, all that shit is complicated by the fact that I also have --- kidney stones LOL Yes, so, taking all that extra crap exacerbates them pretty rapidly and lets face it, I'd rather risk a broken bone than have kidney stones on the regular.

And -- thanks!

ouch and removing them hurts more than the stone

 

[Ash600]

I take Vit D, @Ash600 because I work graves and apparently I don't even see the sun, making my calcium level "critically low"... however, all that shit is complicated by the fact that I also have --- kidney stones LOL Yes, so, taking all that extra crap exacerbates them pretty rapidly and lets face it, I'd rather risk a broken bone than have kidney stones on the regular.

And -- thanks!

Vit D and kidney stones.....fuck man, you do like to complicate things don't you....

A study has just been released on Vit D supplements, questioning the actual value of them, suggesting they are only really useful for people with certain specific conditions such as ostemalacia. Another case of big Pharma commisioning some arse-spring of a study to promote whatever drug they wish to push and profit on at the public's expense by telling us their product is such a beautiful thing and then years later a proper study coming out to show how much bollocks it all is. The same thing happend recently with all these omega fish oil supplements, they too have been shown to be crap.

 

[ravens]

E cigs are generally only good if you don't plan to quit nicotine any time soon. If you want freedom from the addiction the best way is to stop putting nicotine into your system. Obviously the drug companies want to sell you more nicotine in other forms. I think e cigs do have a place depending on ones goals with that being said. some people do manage to quit with nicotine replacement but most successful quitters just stop putting all forms of the drug in their system.

 

[Harmony]

Why is it like a bloody mental gift, when it really isn’t?

This is so true. Guess our brain's reward system is a bit overstimulated and defies logic in the smoking arena. Could be worse, if it was crack ....see now I'm rationalizing this in a horrible way:eek:
The struggle is real lol ! but not insurmountable, we can't give up!

 

[Witty_Sarcasm]

I take Vit D, @Ash600 because I work graves and apparently I don't even see the sun, making my calcium level "critically low"... however, all that shit is complicated by the fact that I also have --- kidney stones LOL Yes, so, taking all that extra crap exacerbates them pretty rapidly and lets face it, I'd rather risk a broken bone than have kidney stones on the regular.

And -- thanks!

Are you ok? That's a lot of shit to deal with.

 

[Kiwi2016]

Don't beat self up too much. I am in fail mode also. I also ordered the Carr book. Maybe we could get a group of us Quitters together to go thru the book and help each other.

Hugs, Angie

Hi I think tht is a great idea...a book club for quitters The book came....so plan to start reading it tomorrow...sending you good thoughts...