Getting off the nicotine patch!

gatsbycat

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Wow--never thought to find a discussion on weaning oneself off the patch on the cat site!--but so glad I did. I have been trying to quit smoking off and on for 5/6 years! I once quit for almost two years until my house burned 2/25/99 and my Rottie and Siamese cat died of smoke inhalation. Never have I been able to quit without the patch! Would use the 21 mg Nicoderm for 2-3 months, then the 14 mg.for months. AFter the fire, eventually went back on the patch, would wear it for several days, then smoke a day or two. For the past year, returned to smoking full time--a pack a day, which was less than the two packs I used to smoke before I quit the first time.
I have now been without a cigarette for 76 daYS and have been using the 14 mg. patch for two weeks. As soon as I take off the 14 mg patch, the craving returns---so I may be terminally hooked on the patch! I am a recovered alcoholic, sober 21 years--but this addiction is the worst! Anyway, even if I never kick the patch, it is better than smoking, I guess. Would that there were an effective group for smokers like AA. I know that there is a Smokers Anonymous in many places. Maybe regular sharing of experiences in notsmoking among forum members here can substitute for a meeting of Smokers Annymous? [email protected]
 
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jeanie g.

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I noticed that Eeva is on line, and I am hoping she, Debra, and everyone else who's been in touch are still non-smokers. I have not cheated. I sometimes dream I had a cigaret, but I am not suffering withdrawal symptoms any more. I'm on a small fourth of Step One, about 5 mg. That was the hard step, believe it or not. Now I'm used to it. Do you realize what a little bit of nicotine that is-compared to a pack or 1 and 1/2 a day? Well, I'm not through the program yet, but I'm taking my time, and doing a lot of praying! How about you?
 

eeva

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Well, I have to confess to buying a pack a few weeks ago and smoking it, but have managed to keep up not smoking since then. I had to have an infected tooth removed, the local anaesthesia (is that the word???) didn't work fully because of the bad infection, and it hurt like hell. I've never thought I'd cry in the dentist's chair (I've had my share of root canals when the anaesthesia didn't work properly etc) but pulling that tooth was so unbelievably painful I couldn't help it. I've never had anything hurt so bad in my whole life, and after that experience, I didn't care about anything at all and bought a pack. Some say that's just an excuse and I guess it is, but I still don't care- it was a relapse, for a "good" cause (made me feel better after the dentist, although I still burst into tears thinking about that visit a few hours later) and it hasn't happened again. I guess cigarettes are somewhat of a comfort to me for some reason.

Besides that, been going well, taking less of the microtabs, not because I try to, but I seem to need less. What helps me through the difficult times (except the one) is thinking about smoking for the rest of my life and comparing that to the feeling I have now of breathing more easily, smelling and tasting things much better, not having smoke breaks dictate my life etc. Btw Jeanie, nicotine products have a whole lot more of nicotine in them than what you would get by smoking, I've forgotten the reason, so don't compare your 5mg to the smokes, compare it to the dose you started out with.
 
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jeanie g.

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Eeva, Good for you for not letting that one incident make you give up. I know I would have done the same thing. I just hope I would be as smart as you. I won't feel I've really accomplished something until I'm using 0 % of a patch!
 

eeva

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Jeanie, don't say that, you've already accomplished a great deal!!! I can't remember the statistics exactly, but even with the help of nicotine products, not even half of those who try to quit manage to do so. When was the last time you didn't have a smoke for this long? I know that for me, that was 9 yrs ago, before I started smoking. That's why I'm still extremely proud of myself even though I did have that relapse! So go ahead, be proud of your accomplishment NOW, not only when you're totally off the patch. You know, our goal is to quit smoking (which you have), not to have no more nicotine. THIS is the hardest time you know, weaning yourself off of nicotine, so feel proud of yourself now, that keeps the motivation going and don't look too far ahead. Taking it a day at a time is the way to go, or for me it's a smoke at a time, like the ads for nicotine products here say. Don't look too far ahead or the road ahead may seem too difficult or scary, but feel good about yourself right now. You've done an incredible job so far, and you should feel proud of doing it.
 
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jeanie g.

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Debra, We have to encourage you. Not nag, but encourage. I know you want to quit, because of your asthma. Remember, my problem started when I tried to hurry, and you encouraged me! Eeva, I have not gone 3 1/2 months without smoking since I started. I was nineteen years old, and I am now a grandmother! I hope we all three make it. It has to be your own decision, however, as you know. I wish I could have my cake and eat it too, but I can't. Blue, did you quit? I know you were trying, but I was not on-line for a while and don't know if you made it. If you made it, help us out, please. If you didn't, maybe we can encourage you too.
 

bodlover

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Well, Im not a smoker, but I have been reading parts of this thread, and just wanted to say to all of you - YEY!!! You're ALL doing well and GOOD FOR YOU!!!


There, just my two unimportant cents! ahaha
 

airprincess

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Both my parents smoked. My dad gave it up cold turkey one day. That was about 12 years ago.


Good Luck Ladies! I know you can do it!
 
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jeanie g.

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I just wanted to give you all an update. Within two weeks of that last post, I started forgetting to put on a piece of the patch. So, I am no longer a cigaret smoker or a nicotine addict. As some of you know the key was cutting the patch in smaller and smaller pieces. I still wish I had a cigaret on occasion, but I found my old carton and gave them away. I have not had a cigaret since Dec. 10, give or take a couple of days. By the way, Gatsbycat quit completely too. Eeva was not smoking the last time I was in touch. So, it can be done. If you want to quit, read this thread. You'll get some good ideas.
 

bengal cats

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Jeanie I am a smoker. I quit when I was pregnant with my first child for 6 months. I started again because my hubby and I got into a fight and i just could not take it anymore. I really wish I could quit. I have tried to quit so many times. I quit cold turkey when I was pregnant. I have tried it since but I just can't do it. My hubby smokes to and that makes it hard. He wants to quit to but we never want to quit at the sametime. I have never tried the pach if you say it works I will try it. I really need to quit because no one in my side of the family knows I smoke but my mother and my oldest son. So when my dad is around I can't smoke and it is so hard unless I am busy. I really need to quit.
 

bengal cats

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Jeanie I know you are ill. So please keep up the good work! It is hard but you are right your health depends on you not smoking. Good luck!
 

yola

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I just wanted to say that I agree with how hard giving up smoking is. I have smoked for 20 years. I tried hypnotism, patches, gum everything.

In the end I just stopped - about 3 months ago. I have the odd ciggy when I go to a party (a rare occurance these days). However the craving has completely gone. I was smoking up to 20 a day just after Christmas.

The scariest thing was about 2 weeks after giving up, I got a monster asthma attack. I suffered as a child, and also regularly got wheezy. But this was scary - the inhaler wouldn't work! Thankfully I was with my brother and husband when it happened an they calmed me down - because if I had been on my own, I think I would have panicked - and then things would have got really bad.

But this scared me so much I am determined to never smoke again.

To all those trying to stop - keep telling yourself you are not a smoker. That that craving really doesn't matter, because you don't smoke anyway.

It is the most difficult think in the world - but coming out of the other side of it and knowing you are in control rather that your habit being in control is the best feeling.

You also begin to taste food again. I thought that was rubbish - but it's TRUE!

Remember only you can do it - nobody can do it for you.
 

jugen

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Jeanie, I smoked for years and finally quit using the patch and it was horrible! I would take one off, put one back on and ended up nicotine poisoning myself. needless to say, i had to quit cold turkey! I still to this day, crave them and it has been about 6 years. You'll crave them forever I hate to tell you, you just have to have the will power to just say no, I don't need that. That works, trust me. I crave them every once in awhile and I haven't given in so far. But for goodness sakes, dont' eat to get rid of the cravings either. you'll balloon up to a zillion pounds! Good luck and i am with you every step of the way!
 

lorie d.

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I'm in a bad situation too, I'm recovering from pnemonia(sp?) AGAIN, and I'm trying to quit smoking again, the doctor tells me my health depends on quitting. Instead of using the patch, I'm going to try using the gum. The previous times I have tried to quit smoking, I noticed the nicotine cravings seem to get stronger after the first few weeks instead of weaker, which makes it harder to quit.
 
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jeanie g.

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Lorie, I had tried every program that I knew of. This last case of pneumonia almost killed me. It was not the first time I had pneumonia, but this time I was "out of it" for about a week, I was in the hospital for a month, and was too weak to walk when I came home. I literally had to get scared to death. I am still frightened, and that was in December. I'm confined to my house 99% of the time now.

I hope you are also "scared to death," because this has to be something you are determined to do. I still get the urge for a cigaret on occasion, but I'd rather live! If you are determined, as I was, please cut down very gradually as I did. There was nothing wrong with the patch, except that the program cuts you down too quickly. I knew that. I wasn't ready. When I was ready, I found the way--cut the patch!

Please get well, Lorie, and if I can be of support, e-mail (or AOL or hotmail IM---I'll give you my name on both.) me. I'll be happy to talk to you. I know the Smokender's program too, and they gave us some great ideas. Hypnosis has proved helpful to many people also.
 

katl8e

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Good for all of you! I tried the patch, 5 years ago when my ex had his heart attack. I lasted 62 hours and almost threw Peanut across the kitchen. Numbnuts went out and bought me a pack. Needless to say, HE didn't quit, either.

Now that my life is on a fairly even keel, I'm going to give the gum a try. Bill is so good about not busting my chops. Since we've been together, I don't smoke in the house. Winter mornings and evenings are rough.

Since I can only smoke on breaks at work, I use TicTacs and Hershey's kisses to get me through.
 

lorie d.

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Jeanie, a few years ago my local hospital discontinued the support group for people who are trying to quit smoking so I can use all the help I can get. I am so glad you have found a method of quitting that has worked for you. Did you gradually decrease the number of cigarettes you smoked before you first went on the patch?
 
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jeanie g.

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No, Lorie. I had smoked fewer cigarets in the previous few days, but that's because I was so ill. I was already on oxygen--yes, that was stupid! I had pneumonia and didn't realize it. By the time I got to the hospital, I was extremely ill, and was pretty much "out of it" for about a week. They had me on the patch, Step 2, when I was well enough to realize it. When I got home, I stayed on step 2 for a long time, knowing that I had failed once I got to step 3. That's when I started this thread. I started cutting the patch into smaller and smaller pieces until I was down to about 3 mg. a day.

After posting sometime around April, I started forgetting to put on that piece of the patch. Eventually, I realized I no longer needed it. However, I have been munching pretzels. I occasionally still want a cigaret. I know I can't do it if I want to live, though. What an awful addiction! If you read my posts from the beginning, it might help. Then, by all means, I'll be happy to give you some other tips. No.1--Brush your teeth immediately after you eat if you start thinking of a cigaret. 2. Take a bath. That's somewhere you never smoke. Actually, if you're using Step I, you probably won't have physical urges as much as psychological ones. That's the hurdle you have to overcome, and that entails keeping your mind and hands busy.
 

marg

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I want to say thank you thank you thank you for your comments about patches and cravings.  I gave up smoking and started 21 mg patches on 17 December when my daughter was pregnant. We 'gave up' together.  I weaned myself down to the 7mg patches and have been using them for about 3 months now. I asked the chemist about cutting them but was warned off, so I have been paying $33 per week for new 7mg patches.  Now that I know you can cut them I will go back to 21mg and cut them so that I can just have a very small amount. 

It is weird that this week I suddenly find the 7mg is borderline -only just doing its thing.  Maybe there is something wrong with the whole packet or maybe it is me. 

I smoked from 17 years until 57 years and thats a long time (40 years). Its been almost 5 months.  I think I will always like the smell of cigarettes and may at any time decide I have to have one, but for now I don't want to waste the pain I have gone through till now. I discovered some non-sugar coffee drops called kopiko that really helped me.  I recommend them as a non sugar alternative, but you can't eat too many.

Anyway I hope to wean myself off the patches and it is probably time I made more effort so I will start cutting them down in a day or so. Thanks again for sharing your experiences, It has really made a difference.  By the way my daughter just gave up - just like that - no problem, no issues.
 
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