patch

[loriz]

Hi all,

I am on my second day of the patch....the one designed for people that smoke more than 20 cigs a day...and for 2 whole days I have not smoked..this is a big step for me...I am simply writing to look for support and also to give my encouragement to anyone that may need it from someone who is on the patch and 2 days "clean"....thanks,
Lori

[ICNDonna]

That is totally great! I understand how difficult it is to quit. When I quit I was smoking about two packages a day. I couldn't have done it without nicotine gum.

When I quit I set small goals --- I told myself first that if I could go four days, I could go the rest of my life.

The good news is that was 17 or 18 years ago and I don't even have a faint desire to smoke.

You can do it! You've already made it two days.

Sending an encouraging hug,
Donna

[loriz]

Hi Donna,

Thank you! I have read your posts before about how you quit and I always thought it was so great that you did it...now I am on the road as well...although I must admit it does bother me that I am still releasing nicotine into my system by using the patch but I feel confident that this step down program must work and there must be people out there who have had success in doing this program....would love to hear from anyone that has....in the meantime, I must say I feel better than I have in a long time and I have alot of health problems (besides IC) so I know I am doing the right thing....thanks for helping to support me....it means alot to me...
Lori smile.gif

[Nina37865]

Keep up the good work Lori! You can do it! I just quit in October. I have officially been a non-smoker for 6 and a half months now and I am soooo glad I did it. It was not easy. I did like Donna said, I cut way down, then chose a day to quit. I did gain some weight, but what a relief not to have to worry about running to the store for that next pack! I hated the feeling of running out! Good luck and vent here when you need to, I will say it is the hardest thing I have ever done. And I was too stubborn to go back! Sending Hugs your way! ICNNINA smile.gif

[loriz]

Hi Nina,
Thank you for the encouraging words and congratulations for being smoke free for over 6 months now....I can't wait until I can say that! I am only on day #3...eek....such a long way to go....and tonight I was so tested since my hubby & I had a silly little spat....and I sat here and remembered how quick I used to light up over any little thing that bothered me...and that it only made me more irritable and nervous...this time I just took deep breaths and walked around outside for a bit! Whew....can you tell me how you quit? Did you go cold turkey? I couldn't really tell from the way you explained what you did...just wondering....anyway, thank you and I may end up being the biggest pain in the butt on these boards but did anybody else ever use the patch and feel like sharing their story?
Thanks Nina and congrats to you smile.gif
Lori

[ICNDonna]

Lori, one other thing I did was to tell everyone I knew that I was quitting --- I'm a very stubborn person --- too stubborn to not live up to my brag!

And you are now a non-smoker! If you can make it through three days, you can through three more. You already know that if you get upset you are going to want a cigarette --- and you have already been past that obstacle.

More encouraging hugs headed your way,
Donna

[unicornsintherain]

I have quit twice on welbutrin. You have absolutely no withdrawl symptoms and no urges. It was wonderful. I started again when the IC started because of stress, but I am confident that when my life settles down I will be quiting again. Good luck.

[Kelli]

I am on my second attempt to quit. First time was Jan 20th and I quit for 3 months. My hubby quit the same time and is still smoke free today. I used the patch. This time I am on Zoloft and also using the patch. I am on my 4th day and I have had no withdrawl syptoms like I had the first time. I have thought about smoking maybe twice all day today but I redirect my thoughts to something else. I know that this time is it. I wasn't prepared the first time, I thought since I had gone 3 months that the cravings would be gone. I had been to the Uro the day I started up smoking again and the appointment had upset me so bad that I went and bought a pack without really thinking about it. I guess I learned that I need to be more cautious and now that I am aware of the fact that I will get stressed out sometimes, I can walk into this will my eyes peeled wide open watching for the nicotine demon to catch me off guard.

[JOJO]

Kelli
You sound like me, I had quit for months and something upset me and I started with one. Fatal Mistake.I have been trying to quit again ever since. That was a year and a half ago. There was attemted times I tried went for days or a week and the start because something stressed me out. I was just saying to my hubby I was thinking about getting the patch too. I told my husband there is alot of stress with work and I cant do it. Muy hubby said Jo you will always have stress in your life no matter what. Hes got a point there.-JoJo

[Kelli]

Yep Jo your hubby is right. No matter what kind of job you have or even if you don't work at all, there will be stresses in your life somewhere. Just have to know how to cope with the stress without the cigarette. I am thinking of it this way: Is a cigarette going to change whatever it is I am stressing about?? Probably not! I could smoke 10 packs and the problem would still be there, so why spend the money on smokes? Here's a little tip my step dad told me. Every time you get the urge to smoke, take a $5 and light it on fire...... it will save you a trip to the store <img src="graemlins/scream.gif" border="0" alt="[scream]" />

[loriz]

JoJo & Kelli,

All I can say is that the stress does not go away ..there is always stress in life...you probably won't believe me but all I can do is ask you to try (JoJo, you know me very well and you know I don't b.s.)....I thought I would be even more stressed out by not smoking but guess what...I am now almost 6 weeks smoke-free and now also patch free...and when I have encountered any stress all I could think was wow...this would have been ten times worse if I was smoking because when I smoked, my hands would shake and I would grab smoke after smoke..and get more & more nervous.....now, in this last 5 weeks without smoking I have conquered alot of stress...arguments with my husband, a death in the family and a funeral (always a busy smoking day for me in the past!), several additional health issues for myself aside from IC...the impending visit of my MOTHER-IN-LAW FROM ..you know where...I mean, lost of stress here...are you following this? Not smoking made it eassier to deal with these stresses....smoking made it all worse...I never thought I would be saying this..I don't miss it, I feel better than I ever have, and you guys can do it too.....and I will try my best to coach you along because it's well worth it..for your health and for the money...
JoJo, you've heard me say all this before...but trust me, if I can do it, anyone can do it....I used to smoke a pack & a half a day....but that was 6 weeks ago...those days are over
Lori smile.gif

[ICNDonna]

Lori is right! It's how addiction works --- you become stressed and your body is crying out for relief --- so you reach for the nicotine. What we don't realize is that part of the stress is the withdrawal from the drug. When I was finally able to quit it was only after I made the decision that no matter how stressed I became, I was not going to be defeated by my addiction.

I won by battle and you can too.

<img src="graemlins/hi.gif" border="0" alt="[hi]" />
Donna

[chia]

i just wanted to let others know from my experience do not just go out and buy those patches to help you quit smoking and nor read the warnings real good.i to was going to quit, i sort of read the warnings but none of them seem to have anything to do with me.i put my patch on and went about my busy day.that afternoon i was in pharmacy helping get some meds set up.at first i started to sweat ,my hearing was weird i was so scared. i called for our sup. they called 911 i thought my heart was beating out of my chest.after i got to the hospital and they seen the patch on my arm they ask questions about it.guess what!!the patch to help save my life almost killed my life. they need a real big warning sign where they sell them or something in the package that will get your att. sorry i took so long but those things scare me. i know it was my fault.deedee

[JOJO]

Chia
All patches or anything I guess come with side effects. I was thinking about using the patch.The lowest dose.What I dont understand is the patch is just nicotine, when you smoke you put nicotine in your body plus chemicals.Did you smoke while you had it on or was the mgs of the patch you had was maybe too high?-JOJO

[chia]

this is the 5th day i have been a non smoker or smoke free what ever i decide to say that day lol i did it with the help of my dr.as for as medical. i tried once before with the patches but they made my heart rate go sky high and i thought i was going to die.so this time he suggested i use the 14mg instead. i am using it . my heart rate is normal ,only i want to sleep alot. my husband helped but not in the way he wanted.he knocked me for using the patch and how i was stupid it is all in my head i will never quit.i used that and i can't remember which one of you said you take a deep breath and exhale when i want a cig.that has helped me most. and i had a light heart attack to boost me, now all i have to do is hopefully stay smoke free!! <img src="graemlins/angel.gif" border="0" alt="[angel]" /> deedee

[nccarol]

Hey Dee Dee-Congratulations on your smoke free days. Didn't see you on the Yahoo,IM. I am just today starting to feel alittle normal. Keep up the good work. I will email soon. Good luck to all the smoke quitters. I will try again. Quit for 6 months but the next attempt will be soon. if at first you don't succeed try and try again. Someone said about someone famous they tried to perfect something 1000 times but they didn't fail 1000 times they just learned more till they did suceed. Something like taht but you know what I mean. Love <img src="graemlins/hi.gif" border="0" alt="[hi]" />

[jeanl]

I'm planning on quitting this weekend - did anyone notice a difference in their IC symptoms after quitting? That will give me more motivation to stay 'stopped' this time - I've quit before and have always started back for some reason or another. THANKS! j

[loriz]

Hi Jean,

Yes, most definitely I noticed a great improvement in my IC symptoms once I stopped smoking..in fact, I noticed it immediately upon stopping even though I was using the patch...at first I thought it must be my imagination but not at all..it was real and true....I stopped on 5/28 and by the end of that first week, my bladder felt 90% better..no kidding...my husband was thrilled to tears for me and that became my motivation to carry on with the quitting program...this is not to say that my IC symptoms are all gone forever..I did have a stress flare over the 4th of july holiday week...but I can pretty much guarantee that if I had been puffin', the flare would have been even worse....so, good luck to you Jean...if I can do it, you can...I smoked 1-1/2 packs a day...ridiculous huh!??!!
don't miss it one bit by the way!
good luck..you go girl..and let me know how you are doing....
Lori smile.gif

[jeanl]

Thanks Lori!! Your comments have already helped with my motivation. If I could help my IC symptoms even by 50% I'd be a happy camper. I'll keep you posted - the big quit day is this saturday. THANKS! Jean

[jeanl]

For anyone out there who is considering quitting smoking, I've been cigarette-free for 9 days now and my IC pain is almost nil. I'm on the patch and they are working great (I started on step 2, not step 1). Along with the meds i'm hoping to be in remission soon - THANKS to Lori!! Jean