QUITTING SMOKING

[ajfscorpio]

Hi

has anyone got experience of using VOKE as an aid to quitting smoking ?

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

When I had my heart attack in December 2018 - the nurse slapped a nicotine patch on my arm, and I was discharged with 8 weeks supply, I got supplies of the lower doseage from my GP and completed the recommended 12 week course.

I haven't smoked sine, it's now being over 400 days - and I am totally delighted to finally be a non smoker after trying for years to give up.

If I was you, I'd be inclined to ask your GP for patches on prescription, as you're over 60 there is no charge. The NHS does not provide e-cigs or their equivalent.

VOKE seems to be priced at £11.99 for 20 - which is the same as buying cigarettes , the only difference is that you just get nicotine and not all the other chemicals you get with cigarettes, so it is healthier, but doesn't look like it helps you stop, it just replaces one source of nicotine for another and carries on hitting you in the pocket.

[ajfscorpio in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

thanks for the replies, i did try the patches about a month ago, but when i took the first one off there was a big red circle under it which was there for 3 weeks and it still itches even now . i did try vaping in april last year and kept at it for about a week then woke up one night thinking i was drowning ( i blame the vaping ) and after a visit to my gp and being sent straight to a & e was told i had fluid on the lungs and that was the first sign of my on going heart problems

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Have to agree with SotF! In my view part of the problem with vaping and Voking is that like smoking there is a ritual to it that is not present with patches.

A friend who smoked 10 - 15 a day switched to vaping a year ago to help him give up. I suspect that his nicotine intake is now higher than ever as he seems to be impersonating the Flying Scotsman most of the time! 🚂

[Prada47 in reply to MichaelJH]

I used to smoke between 40/50 a day, in a very stressful job in fact if I woke in the night I would tend to light up a fag.

The day after my Heart Attack the Cardiologist just said

" Let me tell you if you smoke again it will shorten your life considerably "

I have never touched one since some 38 years ago.

Polo mints got me through (other brands are available ) I am still surprised how easy it was to stop !!

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Prada47]

Yes, I got much the same speech in hospital, as well as "you'll be given a load of advice on how not be back in here, the most important one, above all others, is stop smoking"

It worked, he frightened the hell out of me!

[Prada47 in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Snap !!!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

A friend's husband resumed smoking a couple of weeks after a successful bypass. He did not survive a year!

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to MichaelJH]

Ouch! Well we get given the facts, and are told the likely outcomes if our behaviour doesn't change - it's then down to us, we do have the freedom to choose. But I'm just amazed that after such a fright people still elect to continue the lifestyle that contributed to their problems in the first place!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Nicotine from any source is a pretty nasty chemical. It causes the release of adrenaline which causes an increase in HR, BP and respiration rate. Can you stop the problem? Yes, it is doing the reverse of medications like Bisosoporal! In addition it raises blood sugar and blood fats. Something for some readers to sleep on... 😴

[Stuart2441]

I tried a wide variety of things to stop. Eventually I was given a prescription for Champix. While taking it you just carry on as normal then all of a sudden, no more smoking. It is highly worthwhile speaking with your local GP or smoking cessation clinic if you have one. Prescription only