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Should I get the patch after..?

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Should I get the patch after..?

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 579

Ka2,

I can hear your frustration. I have a lot of sympathy for your predicament because I went through the same thing, as I said before. The 'fog' does take a few weeks to clear. It is not an usual side-effect.

Rest when you can because your body is in recovery mode. You presumably have spent a few years smoking, and your body does not "get over it" immediately. Be patient, and give yourself time for things to improve.

Just for a few weeks, can you keep to a "core" work load, and try not to overdo it? If you became ill from a smoking related disease, then you would be out for more than just a few weeks.

Best wishes to you.

Lizzie

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 4/23/2003
Smoke-Free Days: 2701
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 40,515
Amount Saved: �10,128.75
Life Gained:
Days: 294 Hrs: 16 Mins: 8 Seconds: 57

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$9,157.50

Amount Saved
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Days: 810 Hours: 6

Minutes: 6 Seconds: 45

Life Gained
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6105

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36,630

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14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 16

Thank you all for your help.

Ok... I am still here, no patch (seems like an band aid when I do require bandages..lol) but nothing is improving. Actually I lost a client because I could'nt do the work. I literally couldn't do what I have been doing for the past 3 years. I couldn't solve the problem, couldn't concentrate, couldn't even gather the energy to work on any issue presented by the project. So this is bad. Somehow I keep thinking that if I smoked I could have enough energy and brains to solve the problems, deal and work on the project. I even considered smoking one as I felt so overwhelmed by the fact that I could not even grasp the scope of the work. And I really needed the money, so this is a new low.

I am seriously considering consulting a susbstance abuse doctor or going back to smoke. I have tons of clients getting upset because I can't deliver projects.

I have not heard of anyone having this problem. I don't know what is wrong with me? Am I a lost cause? I am one of the die hard smokers? I don't want to be, but instead of getting better I keep getting worse. I just want to be able to do my work which involve using my mental falculties and this is not happening.

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 7/24/2010
Smoke-Free Days: 52
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 1,040
Amount Saved: $270.40
Life Gained:
Days: 5 Hrs: 16 Mins: 19 Seconds: 57

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 377

Everyone makes good points. I think though since you have already quit for 50 days I would first see if you can ride this out. I had so many of your symptoms and I did notice that if I they do slowly start to improve with more time quit. I also noticed if I did some exercise even walking regularly if improved my energy and depression. I also tried to improve my diet by not eating so many rich and fatty types of foods which tend to make one tired and have no energy. I also tried to get regular sunshine since I'm one to have SAD syndrome without sunlight. Remember if you do go back on the patch you still will have to face the low energy at some point down the road when you go off the patches. For me personally I would tend to ride it out and pay attention to when I felt better and what I did differently to cause it. But of course please discuss your possibilities with your health care practitioner since I'm just speaking for myself.

Good Luck,

Ron

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 6/17/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 817
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 14,706
Amount Saved: $5,147.10
Life Gained:
Days: 127 Hrs: 6 Mins: 52 Seconds: 59

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 136

I think that's a good point, BGH. For me, I would worry that adding any nicotine would lead me right back to cigarettes. I guess it's going to be a very personal decision.

Rusty

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 12/13/2004
Smoke-Free Days: 2099
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 107,049
Amount Saved: $24,086.03
Life Gained:
Days: 194 Hrs: 6 Mins: 27 Seconds: 32

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1904

If the chances are good that I will put nicotine back into my system via smoking, then quickly get back on the patch. This is not rocket science. Unlike heroin addicts..., smokers don't run much of a chance of dying from the effects of withdrawals. At least with the patch, you would not be polluting your lungs and the lungs of people around you. Also, you still will not be smoking, and you will withdraw from the patches under medical supervision. Now, I do not want to put nicotine back into my system either, and will resist dong so, but I also read in various literature early on that if necessary use NRT, even if you have not smoked in years. It is always preferable to smoking and easier to withdraw from than cigarettes.
My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 5/1/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 499
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 13,972
Amount Saved: $5,938.10
Life Gained:
Days: 56 Hrs: 2 Mins: 24 Seconds: 40

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 136

I agree with Lizzie and Dawn that most docs really know nothing about addictions and withdrawal. A substance abuse specialist would be very good if you can find one. We often don't think of smoking as substance abuse but that's exactly what it is. If you were addicted to heroin and having problems after 40 days, do you think a doctor would recommend that you put heroin back into your system? I don't know, but I don't think so.

Having said that, I will tell you that I had a rough first few months and did end up at a substance abuse counselor to help me deal with anger issues. It was the best thing I ever did and I highly recommend it.

Good luck to you.

Rusty

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 12/13/2004
Smoke-Free Days: 2098
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 106,998
Amount Saved: $24,074.55
Life Gained:
Days: 194 Hrs: 5 Mins: 3 Seconds: 4

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 71

Have you thought about consulting with a Doc that is an addictions specialist? I know we have one in our area, so they do exist. I also, felt VERY sad at first, but heck I just gave up my "best" friend of 30 + years. I never asked my Doctor about it, just assumed it was normal for what I was going through. Luckily I was off work at the time so I would just go back to bed for a couple of hours.

I definately believe that any major depression should be taken seriously though and that only you and your medical team can make the correct decision for you. Whatever you decide we are here for you.

Dawn

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 5/31/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 467
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 16,345
Amount Saved: $3,677.63
Life Gained:
Days: 61 Hrs: 8 Mins: 45 Seconds: 35

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 579

Ka2/Ashley,

I am not convinced that your doctor really knows a lot about addiction. If you were just starting your quit, then fair enough, but you are almost 50 days in....to re-introduce nicotene now seems pointless and possibly detrimental ....I think most addiction experts would say that you need to avoid the addictive substance.

In my experience, and the experience I have shared with others over the last 7 years, these symptoms are not unusual. If it gets really bad, then anti-depressants may be help.

Ka2, I have my opinions, but I would support any decision that you feel is right for you. I wish you all the best. Please know that we all have your best wishes at heart, and we all have to get through this journey the best we can. There is no right or wrong as such.

Lizzie

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 4/23/2003
Smoke-Free Days: 2697
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 40,455
Amount Saved: �10,113.75
Life Gained:
Days: 294 Hrs: 6 Mins: 50 Seconds: 11

Quit Meter

$9,157.50

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 810 Hours: 6

Minutes: 6 Seconds: 45

Life Gained
Quit Meter

6105

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

36,630

Cigarettes Not Smoked

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11226

Hi Ka2shka,

The choice is yours but I would seriously consider your doctors advice. Whatever you decide to do know that we are here for support and maintaining your quit needs to be your top priority now. Any side effects or withdrawal symptoms are temporary, many members will agree getting through this will all be worth it.

Let us know what you decide!

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 579

Ka2,

I suffered similar problems - I was tired all the time, sleeping for hours during the day, often crying, unhappy, difficulty in concentrating etc....and I used the patch.

This is a temporary brain chemistry problem. Nicotene rewards the brain. -

norepinephrine which regulates alertness and arousal

dopamine, which is linked to pleasure also achieved by many other ways, including exercise.

beta-endorphin, to lessen anxiety and pain.

When you quit smoking, you have to wait for your brain to "recover" and start producing it's own chemicals again naturally - previously you were artificially feeding it nicotene. This is how we all got hooked in the first place, by the way. In a few weeks time, your brain will start to recover, so if you hang in there, it will get better.

You have to decide for yourself what to do. I am surprised your doctor suggested putting nicotene back into your system, since you have been quit for so long - don't think he's an exsmoker! If you do decide to go down this route, I would avoid anything that offers a "quick delivery", like an inhaler. There have been plenty of reports of people becoming more addicted to some nicotene replacement than they were to smoking. I would have thought Chantix or something similar would have been more appropriate, but OK, so I am not medically qualified.

Alternatively, you can just keep going. As you can see, I made it, but not without a few tears...and it took a few weeks. Walking for an hour every morning can make a big difference (if can get out of bed!). I got myself an MP3 player, and just walked.

I can't tell you how much I feel for you, because I remember it well. I can only reassure you that many people have walked this path before you.

((((((((Hugs)))))))))

Lizzie

Quit Meter

$9,157.50

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 810 Hours: 6

Minutes: 6 Seconds: 45

Life Gained
Quit Meter

6105

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

36,630

Cigarettes Not Smoked

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Should I get the patch after..?