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Day 5--Kicking MY Butt

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 433

Good luck tomorrow!

Let us know how you are doing. We are all rooting for you!

Also more people will come along tomorrow with some ideas for you.

Hang in there!

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 4/1/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 121
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 2,904
Amount Saved: $696.96
Life Gained:
Days: 14 Hrs: 18 Mins: 33 Seconds: 8

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1209

Hi Ron R, This quit I used Chantix... one quit I used the patch, but I was extremely allergic to the adhesive in the patch.

I did find I had to take i off at night, toss turn, and weird dreams. If it is too hard to wait in the morning for the new patch to kick in maybe you can use a piece of nicotine gum.??

You might ask your Dr for some sleeping pills or if it is ok to take Bendryl (diphenhydramine )... an allegy med that is most over the counter sleeping pills.

Also I read to try to relax, and not use the computer etc an hr before bedtime. maybe a meditation tape. I had one years ago, it always put me to sleep, but I leant it to a person.. maybe a tape of the ocean.. or white noise to help you fall asleep.

I also try to watch the amount of caffeine I have after noon... including colas, teas.. etc.

I had a couple rough days around day 8 and 11.. and also a day or 2 before a milestone. it is the "junkie" in there trying for a last hoorah.. Every time you say NO you get stronger and the nicodemon weaker.. but... he ill trry we have been feeding it nicotine for years... now.... all of a sudden we are saying No... like a 2 yr old with a tantrum kicking and screaming on the floor.

I used iced chips .. frozen low fat fudgesicles, fuitpops.. I found freezing my tongue worked..lol

If you need to cut a few straws to cigarette length and take some deep breaths through the straw..

You will get tthrough this,I hear your determination and strength.. You want this more than you want to smoke.

Remember... smoking is an option .. you choose NO. you are NOT giving up a thing.. YOU are taking back control.. sometimes a minute or 2 at a time.

great job.. and a huge hug for posting. hope you are sleeping.

Remember H A L T

is it a crave or are you H... hungry or thirsty

A anxious

L lonely

or T tired

these can mimic a crave. keep your water bottle close.. and when you thing it is a crave.. take a drink or 2 of water.

Good job..

Bonnie

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 2/10/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 172
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 2,924
Amount Saved: $584.80
Life Gained:
Days: 24 Hrs: 14 Mins: 8 Seconds: 37

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 52

Cool stuff Ron, thank you. I'll definitely check out the melatonin and I'm making plans to implement your other ideas as I write. I'll let you know how it goes.

So even at 44 days it's still a challenge? Does it ever go away?

I guess I can answer my own questions to a certain extent as this my 3rd quit--the first for 5 years and the second for 2. But when I wasn't smoking I was OK with that, I just made the mistake of believing I was so comfortable in my quit that I could resume smoking socially. The most powerful thing I've learned this time around is the NOPE concept. I'm obviously not capable of being a social smoker and just one puff will invariably lead to 30 sticks a day.

Thanks again,

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 7/26/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 5
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 150
Amount Saved: $25.00
Life Gained:
Days: 0 Hrs: 17 Mins: 51 Seconds: 34

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 52

LOL!! Both times I read it

You're awesome. I'm gonna peel this thing off, pour a hot bath, and read for a bit. Thanks for the boost.

I went back to my Glove Compartment and realized I'm not doing any of it. I was going to exercise, practice deep breathing and relaxation techniques. I was going to reward myself and keep a journal. I was going to get off the bus a couple stops early and add some extra walking to my morning. I've stayed smoke free, but I need to refocus on my quit program.

I did a lot of reading on the site tonight. There's so much wisdom out there.

Help in a little way? You turned my whole night around and totally recharged me. You gave me great ideas and strategies for moving forward. You were huge tonight and have been since I found this place! Thank you so much

P.S.

To my fellow newbies don't limit yourself to the new posts. There's so much stuff from years back that is just awesome. Also, I finally figured out "The Bump." This is when the vets bring forward a meaningful post from the past. You have to jump to the very first message (on the very last page) to get the point. It's so inspirational to not only hear those great stories but to see the responses of people that are now smoke free and helping us through this as they went through their quits. The doubts and fears that we have, they had too. But they made it and are now offering their hands to us. Soon that will be us helping the next generation of quitters.

What a cool place!

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 7/26/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 5
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 150
Amount Saved: $25.00
Life Gained:
Days: 0 Hrs: 17 Mins: 49 Seconds: 33

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 377

Ron, Try to do some exercise during your lunch hour. Even walking for 30 minutes can really help break up the tension and stress during the day. At night you may want to try taking melatonin-- there are many health food stores that have some form with maybe herbs that you take with dinner, and it will tend to knock you out earlier in the night. I had many sleep problems at the beginning of my quit that was helped with this. As far as not wearing the patch at night, you may set your alarm clock in the morning 1/2 hour earlier just to put the patch on while you lay in bed before you get up and that should be enough time to get your dose of nicotine. One thing I've realized is you do need substitutes for smoking and they need to be implemented after quitting. I spend 1 hr listening to meditation and try to do 1/2 hr to 1hr of exercise every day. Without some form of substitutes it can really be challenging (at least it was for me and still is today) to get through the day. I just had too much energy and emotions and it was my way to vent it instead of smoking.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 6/17/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 44
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 792
Amount Saved: $217.80
Life Gained:
Days: 6 Hrs: 13 Mins: 28 Seconds: 48

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 433

Oh,

P.S.

I used to smoke four in the first hour I was up with my coffee. Then one every 1/2 hour after that.

So in three hours for me I would have smoked eight. The patch first thing actually made it bearable.

Also, I switched to tea the first week. Ugh!! But it made me not think of a cig. It made me crave coffee!!!

hahahaha!

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 4/1/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 121
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 2,904
Amount Saved: $696.96
Life Gained:
Days: 14 Hrs: 18 Mins: 18 Seconds: 20

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 433

hi Ron,

Glad you came back to see the posting and I hope I can help in a little way.

I stumbled on the nicotine information somewhere on the web. Almost every major brand was listed. Maybe it was bad info?

Sorry, too long ago to remember. I was shocked to see that my cig ( Merit Ultra Lights) had .05mg nicotine.

That would be 10mgs per day if I smoke a pack. The patch was an overdose even though the instructions say start with step one if you smoke one pack per day. Well, then I figured out.... pack a day of WHAT? Camels?

As far as the morning "hit"..... that was my doozy too. That was my worst fear of quitting... that morning cig. I discovered that if I put my new patch on when I first get up, as the coffee is brewing the nicotine starts to seep in just enough within 15minutes or so. Not full blast but enough to keep the edge off of the morning. God, I sound like the addict I am! No, it's not perfect but it will do the trick!

I think the morning won't be half as bad to face if you can get some rest the night before. Big difference in being able to handle it.

Hope your day goes better tomorrow!!!

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 4/1/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 121
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 2,904
Amount Saved: $696.96
Life Gained:
Days: 14 Hrs: 18 Mins: 17 Seconds: 20

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 52

Thanks for being there HP!

Your words are really comforting.

You're right I didn't smoke during the night, but it's also true that I would suck down 5 cigs or so during the first 3 hours of my day. I think those were probably "catch up doses" to get my levels back up. My fear is that if I don't keep the dose level, the morning crave will be a killer. Did you experience that problem?

I think you're onto something with the nicotine overdose idea. Do you remember how you found out the level of your brand? I thought those were closely guarded industry secrets--I'm thinking of the Congressional hearings with all the tobacco CEOs lying through their teeth. I'll keep looking...

Great ideas as always--thanks so much for your support,

Ron

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 7/26/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 4
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 120
Amount Saved: $20.00
Life Gained:
Days: 0 Hrs: 17 Mins: 39 Seconds: 48

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 433

Hello RonR,

Sorry to hear that you are having a tough one today.

No, doesn't seem quite fair to have a big crave pop up from nowhere!

I've heard some say it's the Nicodemon making one big last stand before it starts to get better.

Craves go up an down but mostly start to diminish in the next couple of weeks.

You are really doing great so just hang in there!

I too quit by using the patch. I found out that I had to take it off about an hour or two before I went to bed or

I would be tossing and turning (along with crazy dreams). When you were a smoker, you did not smoke while you were sleeping so your body is not used to it and is all amped up!!! Many people who use the patch had the same problem but taking it off at night should solve that! This also will mean you are getting about 1/3 less nicotine a day.

Anxiety and stress may also be from the patch if you are getting more mgs than your old cigs. I started with the 21mg since I used to smoke a pack a day but my heart was racing!!!! I looked up my cigs on the web and found out they had a lot less nicotine than the patch!! I went straight to the 14mg and felt much better. My friend also had the same thing happen to him. We both used to smoke lights.

The last thing you want to be when quitting is tired!!!! ugh! I hope that taking it off at night will help you out!

It did the trick for me!

I'm on the West Coast too if you want to post and up until about 10p

Ok, get some sleep if you can tonight!!!

Hang in there!!!!

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 4/1/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 120
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 2,880
Amount Saved: $691.20
Life Gained:
Days: 14 Hrs: 18 Mins: 10 Seconds: 16

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 52

Hey All,

I need some help and advice.

Day 5 is coming to a close and it's been the toughest one yet. I don't get it. How can day 5 possibly be worse than the first day or even the second? It seems each day should get progressively easier, but my mind and body are really fighting me today.

It started out great. I didn't get a killer crave until about noon which I saw as a really encouraging sign; but when it hit, it hit hard! It wasn't so much a desire for a cig as just a wave of anxiety and tension that is only now starting to let up (7pm PDT).

I'm still so stressed that I feel a little shaky and my teeth and jaw are killing me due to all of the clenching. I'm using the patch which should be giving about the same dose of nicotine I was getting before so I don't get where all of this is coming from.

On the positive side I haven't indulged in a bargaining session, and I am strong in my knowledge that I'm never going back to smoking. I guess if it was easy none of us would be hanging out on this board.

I think a contributing factor is sleep problems I'm experiencing. I'm having a really tough time falling asleep at night and end up lying in bed for hours before it comes. But at the same time once I do fall asleep I'm sleeping more deeply than I can ever remember. In fact all three days this week I've slept right through the alarm and gotten to work late. That means I'm getting home later and later which delays going to bed even more and on and on. I'm thinking about removing the patch before bed, but am worried about the morning crave.

Sorry for the long post, I'm just so glad I have all of you to share with.

Ron

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 7/26/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 4
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 120
Amount Saved: $20.00
Life Gained:
Days: 0 Hrs: 17 Mins: 29 Seconds: 56

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Day 5--Kicking MY Butt