Today is my last day as a smoker
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I started taking Champix {Chantix in the US} last week.
Tomorrow will be smoke free.
I'm gonna do the 6 month program instead of the normal 3 months, because I've been a smoker for so long.
So far the only side effect I've had with Champix is severe dry mouth.
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Congrats, raphjd
I wish you all the best!
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If you need something to put in your mouth and suck on let me know…lol :cheesy2:
Seriously, Good luck and I hope you succeed. -
Best of luck quitting raphjd, I hope it works for you.
Hell, I could have shipped you a starting 1 month pack of Chantix for free if I had known a bit earlier. Well the expiration date is 07/09 so I'll finally throw it away I suppose, I've had it a while now but can't use it.
I spent 72USD on the prescription only to receive a letter from my company the week before I planned on using it which said I can't. The letter said that the use of Chantix is banned because of it's side effects and the safety issues which it may cause on the job.
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Good Luck raphjd on this journey to being smoke free!!!! :ok1:
I also have a 6 month supply of Chantix that I got free from the manufacturer but my Dr does not want me to start it just yet. :cry2: Please keep us updated on your progress.
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Congratulations and welcome in the group!
Today is the begining of my 7th week smoke-free….I was a smoker for 34 years...so it can be done!!!
Just hold on and as someone said...just keep your hand and mouth busy. Nicotine addiction goes quite fast but the habbit of holding a cigaret and bringing it to the mouth takes longer to go away...You can do it for sure!
keep us posted !!!
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I've been up for a while now and I don't need or want a cigarette at all.
As Karlus said, I keep finding myself reaching for my cigarettes that are no longer there out of habit.
I keep thinking about cigarettes, but there is no desire to have one.
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I've been up for a while now and I don't need or want a cigarette at all.
As Karlus said, I keep finding myself reaching for my cigarettes that are no longer there out of habit.
I keep thinking about cigarettes, but there is no desire to have one.
Champix (Chantix) is an excellent drug which is generally very effective at reducing the craving for cigarettes. If, months from now, some stressful event should cause you to experience cravings again, you can resume the Champix at that point as well, rather than go back to the cigarettes.
Congratulations, raphjd! ;D
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The out of habit stuff is getting less each day, which is good.
While I still think about cigarettes a lot, I don't really have the desire to have one.
The mental part of giving up is harder than the physical.
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:cheers: raphjd :cheers: Hang in there brother!!! We are all behind you in this !!!
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Best of luck raphjd! I too am quitting by using the patch and Wellbutrin which is an anti-anxiety medicine. It's been a little over a month for me, and the cravings are almost completely gone.
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The physical part of it is long since gone.
The mental part of it is still there. The mental triggers are still there, like when going out for drinks and what not. Also boredom causes me to reach for the cigs that aren't there.
PS: My GP didn't allow me to go on the 6 month plan, because the stupid UK NHS rules.
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that's great news… congrats and good luck.
i plan on quitting soon too i hope. ntil then, i'll go for another cancer stick...
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PS: My GP didn't allow me to go on the 6 month plan, because the stupid UK NHS rules.
In the USA, Chantix is NOT covered by ANY of the private insurance plans (and, of course, we famously have NO public health plan).
It costs about $150/month for the standard dose of 1 mg twice daily.
Hope you manage to stay off the ciggies, raphjd!
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The UK pays extremely high taxes to have free medical. We still have to pay for prescriptions, but at a reduced cost.
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Best of luck with your quitting quest. Do you know that:
Within …
20 minutes
Your blood pressure, pulse rate, and the temperature of your hands and feet will all return to normal.
8 hours
Remaining nicotine in your bloodstream will have fallen to 6.25% of normal peak daily levels, a 93.25% reduction.
12 hours
Your blood oxygen level will have increased to normal and carbon monoxide levels will have dropped to normal.
24 hours
Anxieties peak and within two weeks should return to near pre-cessation levels.
48 hours
Damaged nerve endings have started to regrow and your sense of smell and taste are beginning to return to normal. Cessation anger and irritability peaks.
72 hours
Your entire body will test 100% nicotine-free and over 90% of all nicotine metabolites (the chemicals it breaks down into) will now have passed from your body via your urine. Symptoms of chemical withdrawal have peaked in intensity, including restlessness. The number of cue induced crave episodes will peak for the "average" ex-user. Lung bronchial tubes leading to air sacs (alveoli) are beginning to relax in recovering smokers. Breathing is becoming easier and the lungs functional abilities are starting to increase.
5 - 8 days
The "average" ex-smoker will encounter an "average" of three cue induced crave episodes per day. Although we may not be "average" and although serious cessation time distortion can make minutes feel like hours, it is unlikely that any single episode will last longer than 3 minutes. Keep a clock handy and time them.
10 days
10 days - The "average ex-user is down to encountering less than two crave episodes per day, each less than 3 minutes.
10 days to 2 weeks
Recovery has likely progressed to the point where your addiction is no longer doing the talking. Blood circulation in our gums and teeth are now similar to that of a non-user.
2 to 4 weeks
Cessation related anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, impatience, insomnia, restlessness and depression have ended. If still experiencing any of these symptoms get seen and evaluated by your physician.
21 days
Brain acetylcholine receptor counts up-regulated in response to nicotine's presence have now down-regulated and receptor binding has returned to levels seen in the brains of non-smokers.
2 weeks to 3 months
Your heart attack risk has started to drop. Your lung function is beginning to improve.
3 weeks to 3 months
Your circulation has substantially improved. Walking has become easier. Your chronic cough, if any, has likely disappeared.
1 to 9 months
Any smoking related sinus congestion, fatigue or shortness of breath have decreased. Cilia have regrown in your lungs thereby increasing their ability to handle mucus, keep your lungs clean, and reduce infections. Your body's overall energy has increased.
1 year
Your excess risk of coronary heart disease has dropped to less than half that of a smoker.
5 to 15 years
Your risk of stroke has declined to that of a non-smoker.
10 years
Your risk of death from lung cancer has declined by almost half if you were an average smoker (one pack per day). Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus has now decreased.
13 years
Your risk of smoking induced tooth loss has declined to that of a never-smoker (2006 study).
15 years
Your risk of coronary heart disease is now that of a person who has never smoked.
These are all great reasons to stop! Again, best of luck!
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I haven't had a smoke in 2.5 months now.
At my peak I was a pack a day smoker.Nicotine lozenges helped me quit using my own quitting program. I went as long as I could stand without a lozenge, then eventually stopped them completely when I only "needed" 1 a day.
The directions on those lozenges appear to be designed to get people addicted to them :-, at least it seems like that to me.
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so heartening to see smokers quitting ….. any success stories without chemical aides? else a work in progress story might help
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Well, I have been totally smoke free for 1 year as of today.
The mental cravings are still there, but they passes much quicker now. I for several months I haven't reached for cigarettes that aren't there.
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Congrats, you should be proud of yourself ;D
I suggest you switch smoke with something else better and healthier whenever you crave on smoking. It should gradually change your crave for cigarettes with something else. Maybe you can try… candy
