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Nicotine-free days vs Smoking-free days?


18 years ago 0 425 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thank you for the replys! I didn't try to compare the two methods and I didn't mean to imply that one method was better than the other. I know that we are all different and that we need to use what is best for us as individuals. I was only so surprised when I read a lot of posts about physical cravings for quitters who was on day 70..90. and even later in their quitt. I had a very bad day (cravings) and I felt so discouraged when I read those posts. I had learned that the cravings should go away after a couple of weeks, so I thought it might be because this people were using NRT and when they stopped using the patch that's was when the nicotine cravings come. Hang in there what ever method you use! We can make it!! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/22/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 25 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 388 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $112.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 54
18 years ago 0 425 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Just one thought that i have; It has to be some different related to time for quitters using NRT and "Cold Turkey" quitters? What I mean is that if a NRT quitter is on let's say day 74 as a non-smoker but on day 7 as a nicotine-free person, couldn't that compare with week 2 (or something like that) for a Cold Turkey quitter? The reason I am thinking about this is because sometimes I read postst from quitters that has hugh cravings late in the quit, and I don't know if the reason might be that they have used/using NRT? Any thoughts, someone? :confuse: [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/22/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 22 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 339 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $99 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 20 [B]Seconds:[/B] 4
18 years ago 0 51 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I believe everyone is different and has to research and find the method best for them. I had thought of seriously quitting for 2 years. I knew just buying a patch wasn't going to work, because I smoked with them on years ago. Since being involved in a university no-smoking study and was given the patch as my method of quit, I am more determined that ever to get through this quit successfully. I am much more prepared this time, through the study and then I found this group. I spend every morning here with my coffee instead of coffee and smokes. I am on day 2 of the step down from 2l mg to l4 mg and I have had cravings all day. I have walked, napped, baked, put a roast in the crock pot for supper and may still call my mom in Montana. The patch has help me deal with the habit part of smoking in the beginning and since I have done well in that end, I now will deal with less nicotine in the patch. I hope to get through this as I do get red and itchy from them, but my Dr. and study team feel I can still wear them. I have never ever put this much of myself into quitting smoking!!! I am proud of my stats and thankful for all these people here. WHatever works for whoever - DO IT !!!! Love ya all :) :) :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 29 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 891 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $91.35 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 17 [B]Seconds:[/B] 29
  • Quit Meter

    $20,659.43

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 415 Hours: 21

    Minutes: 40 Seconds: 21

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    3223

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    64,460

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 1687 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Sunflower, I used the patch and this is my second day without a patch. The last two weeks when I was on the 7mg that was when I started having the cravings. I don't care how you do it eventually the nic will leave your body. The patch was the only way that I could have done it. And it gave me time to prepare. Nice discussion I hope we all learn from each other. We're all different what might cause me to have a craving would not bother you at all. So we just have to hang tight to our own quit, and quit worring about the different ways of quitting. So all of you hang tight...... Sunshine [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/7/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 71 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,220 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $248.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 10 [B]Hrs:[/B] 7 [B]Mins:[/B] 53 [B]Seconds:[/B] 51
  • Quit Meter

    $229,867.88

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 6394 Hours: 23

    Minutes: 20 Seconds: 23

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45406

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    681,090

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 20 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi everyone This is about my third or fourth quit I was on the patch about 8 years ago and about three months into my quit I quit the patch and everything was going fine. I think I was off about 3 weeks when I got a really bad craving,went to the store and started smoking that day. I dont think it really matters how you quit. This time I was at the point of I really wanted to quit for me. This time it all feels differently I want to quit and really it feels good not too smoke. My cravings are there but not bad Im on the patch again and using the inhaler on the heavier cravings and it seams to work really good. Im determined and happier rather than depressed of losing my smokes as I was before. all in all I think you have too want to quit to be successful. Just my thoughts Anyhow good discussion and way to go everyone its the best thing we can do for our lives. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/26/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 21 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 533 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $189 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 33 [B]Seconds:[/B] 37
  • Quit Meter

    $54,081.00

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 788 Hours: 0

    Minutes: 54 Seconds: 0

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    6009

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    120,180

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 2614 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hey Sunflower. One quick post before I have to go back to work. I really think that it is a question of each individual. From what I have read there is: the actual chemical addiction within the substance that is consumed and then there is: the behavioural addiction that is in the action taken. For me I could not wear a patch, (I got huge welt, the gum seemed to do nothing, (I most likely was not chewing it correctly). From what I have read on this site people have craves with each method and people have craves when they are totally off and very far into their quit. My thought is that as the quit progresses each quitter has more ammunition, experience, diversity of action to through at the crave deal with it and get on with living. This is a good question and I would love to hear information, guidance from the long time quitters who frequent this site. Cheers Phillip [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 27 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 553 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $202.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 3 [B]Seconds:[/B] 49
18 years ago 0 415 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I like my fellow knight Christine went cold turkey. Well for the first 2 days I wore a 14mg patch, mistakenly thought I didnt need it so went cold turkey starting day 3. I personally wanted to "cut all ties". I thought the longer I had some sort of nicotine in me then it was defeating the purpose. I now understand that for some that is just not possible. My husband is on the 21mg patches. I am glad that I am 34 days smoke and nicotine free but they also say first time quitters are more likely to relapse....I guess I will see if when my husband goes off the patch if he gets worse and he can see if me being a first time quitter can make it without ever lighting up again. It's all a learning experience really. Nicotine is an addiction and the main thing is giving it up....whatever method will help you succeed at that is the best method for you!! I don't feel I am any more better off then maybe a 34day quitter who wheres the patch. I don't think its a competition over who can get over it quicker its just everyone working together to reach a common goal! Did I go completely off subject?? LOL! The Chicken [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/12/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 34 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 348 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $127.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 18 [B]Seconds:[/B] 26
18 years ago 0 456 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Sunflower.. I have wondered too. I don't know how much nicotene is in the patch or the lozenges or the gum. I do know that I used the patch once for 3 weeks.. became allergic and quit. Comparatively, I quit cold turkey this time and I have found it easier just becasue I feel I broke all ties. Now, that is just me. I remember not smoking because I had the patch on and was afraid of the dueling effects. I also remember taking it off a night and smoking a cigarette because now I wouldn't hurt myself. When I had to quit the patch at 3 weeks, I was having such a hard time that I just blew it all off. I blamed the patch for starting again... I can tell you when I read about people quitting their NRT at 70 days or 90 days or something, I think about the withdrawl they will go through. Is it like real cold turkey withdrawal or is it less ? Good subject.. some more responses please... Christine [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/1/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 43 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,096 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $150.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 29 [B]Seconds:[/B] 9
18 years ago 0 254 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Don't forget that most people fail due to the mental vs physical cravings. After 72hrs of no nicotene, either stopping an NRT or going "cold turkey" the drug is gone from your system. You no longer suffer from "withdrawals". So why, after 3 days do some fail? It's the strength of the conviction to quit. I personally used the patch because I KNEW I wouldn't cheat and try to "sneak" a cig if I was wearing it. And I wore it 24/7. And it worked for me. In the beginning, I knew I couldn't smoke - I was too afraid of the associated health risks of smoking with the patch on. And BTW, those of you who smoke only after taking the patch off - the nicotene from the patch stays in your system for 2 hours AFTER you remove it.....so you are STILL at risk for some major-nasty happenings, like stroke or heart attack........!! Anyway. I ramble. Bottom line for me is that it doesn't really matter how long I was on the patch before going cold turkey - I developed the inner conviction during that time and built up myself as an ex-smoker. That's what the patch gave me. A little extra time to get ready........ thanks for starting the discussion thread....it's an excellent question! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/19/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 87 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,318 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $587.25 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 7 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 27 [B]Seconds:[/B] 40
18 years ago 0 2027 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi, Sunflower. Congratulations on 22 days quit. Three weeks is quite an accomplishment. :) I'm not sure how you define "late in the quit". When I was at your point 100 days was late into a quit, lol. There is a period between 80 and 120 days that seem to be a rough spot for most quitters. We tend to refer to this as a 100-day hump, or similar. I don't know why this happens, but it seems to affect everyone to some degree. For some it's like hell week all over again, or worse. For others it's just an annoying day, or so. For me it was about 3 days of the worst craves of my quit. I quit using Wellbutrin; no NRT. It seems some others are having some difficulty around 150 - 180 days, also. This may a delayed 100-day hump, or it may be something entirely separate. Again, I don't know. One thing to never forget, Sunflower, is that we are all addicts. This addiction addiction will be with us for life and the potential for getting hit by a crave will always be there. All that is required is an appropriate trigger. My boss got hit with a killer crave after being quit for about 11 years. Lasted a few hours, and then it was gone. He hasn't a clue what set it off. The price of freedom (from tobacco) is eternal vigalence. Shevie [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/23/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 297 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,953 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1128.6 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 55 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 47 [B]Seconds:[/B] 46

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