I am on day 4 and am using patches and the inhaler for when I have a strong craving (first thing in the morning and after my evening meal). I am feeling very determined this time but am worried that I should not be using 2 forms of NRT. Does anyone think I should stick to one NRT or is it fine to carry on as I am?
I am 38 and have smoked 15-20 per day since I was 15 and have really had enough of being a smoker. I hate it and always felt ashamed of smoking. Only my close friends and family even knew I smoked. I was a closet smoker but am sure people knew because I now realise how horrible it smells even with mints, perfume etc.
My reasons for stopping are probably similar to most. I want a long and healthy life. I want to be at my childrens weddings. Money etc etc. I could go on and on (as you can probably tell from the length of my post lol)
Thank you
Josephine x
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I am only using the inhalator, but the smoking cessation nurse at my gp's told me when I was discussing my quit with her that although they will only prescribe 1 NRT some people find it easier to use 2 forms, and I am personally of the opinion that what ever you are doing (short of replacing smoking ciggies with smoking crack :eek it has got to be better than smoking.
Congratulations on getting to four days, not long and you will be on one week, I just got to 1 month and am a similar age to you with a similar smoking background, it gets easier after a couple of weeks, maybe you can drop one NRT then, until then I wouldn't worry about it if i was you.
NRT just gives you the space to get used to being a non smoker before you go through the final chemical withdrawal.
However, that chemical withdrawal isn't as hard physically as it is usually painted. Its the psychological side of quitting which is trickier.
While I was on NRT I cut back then went back up to about the recommended levels just because there is no point in drawing out the withdrawal phase, until you are ready to ditch the NRT (IMHO)
This is why many people suggest going CT you get everything done all at the same time and if I knew then what I know now I probably would have gone CT. However, for me NRT gave me the courage and time to re-educate myself about smoking and nicotine addiction. (Via the links in my signature) the most important thing is that you don't smoke, I don't think that especially at this point you should be worrying about whether you are using too much NRT, its more productive to concentrate on becoming used to being a non smoker and practising being in those situations where you used to smoke, without smoking
Welcome to the May Day Squad!!! Well done on your quit so far, feels godd doesn't it?? I am on day 21 today & using patches & lozenges if it makes you feel any better about using 2 forms of NRT. I am going to discuss with the nurse cutting down on the patches when I go next week, but would like to keep the lozenges for a while. Need something in my mouth & would rather it was not food at the moment LOL. Will have to change to sugar free sweets as somepoint I think. Keep reading, posting & FEEL PROUD OF YOURSELF :D. Love. Gaynor xx
I started on patches, and bought myself an inhalator and cartridges to back them up. My adviser told me it was ok as long as I didn't use more than 2 carts a day with the patches. I bought the continuation pack (inhalator + 42 carts) in the end I only used about 12 carts, didnt need them. David
Welcome to the forum and well done on the decision to quit possibly one of the most important you will ever make and you will be losing nothing but you will regain control of your life and that has to be good
You will find all the help and support you need on here as we all help each other just like a family we are here for you every step of the way cheering the good days and sympathiseing with the bad but the good far outweigh the bad
Read the posts on here you will find a lot of tips and advice and in the signatures of a lot you will find links to other sites just click on them Here are 2 I find very good to start you off whyquit.com and woofmang.com Read, read and then read some more as the more you read and learn about why you smoked and about your addiction the easier your quit will be
Well done on day 4 you're doing just fine keep it up
I'm sorry I don't know to much about NRT so really can't answer your question but there will be others who will know more and will tell you OK
Post often to let us know how you're doing, have moan,rant whatever pretty much anything goes on here and there's always someone around to help/ support you OK
Im on the patches and the inhalor too and on day 5 of my quit! i went to the stop smoking clinic yesterday because i have joined a group there for an 8 week programme.
I did ask about using the inhalor and the patches together because i was concerned that i might overdose on nicoteen. The nurse assured me that would not happen unless i smoked. You would need to puff 20 times on the inhalor to get enough nicoteen in your system to match 1 cigarette. Also the patch doesnt match a 20 pack of fags nicoteen content either.
Both the NRT's have helped me so far i suppose everyone has their own way and methods but its the quitting that counts!
Wow! I was having a 'moment' (I tell myself that each crave is just a moment and it will pass) and thought I would come on here just in case I had a reply to my post! What lovely responses and so encouraging. I now feel very positive
Thank you all so so much. It really is helping me and I really feel I am winning the battle.
Good to know that I am not alone in using 2 forms of NRT. And it does seem to be working for me at the moment so I will carry on for a while.
hi Josephine, Glad you are feeling more positive & more sure in what you are doing. We would of all given up 9Smoking I mean) ages ago if it where easy but damn it - it's not LOL. The support on this forum is HUGE. I do not post everyday, but I do READ everyday & the links you know doubt have been given I found to be hugely helpful to me. It ain't easy but with your determination & this forum I am sure you (Me also) can do it! Lots of Love. Gaynor xx
Hi Youcandoitjosephine, ive only just caught up with your posts and would like to congratulate you on your quit so far.
I too used two forms of nrt to start my quit and had the same worries as you, but after a few weeks i stopped the patches and im weaning myself off the lozengers at the moment. I agree with what others have posted that you should do and use whatever you feel is right and works for you, and while your getting the hang of being a non smoker it realy does help to read all the link pages on here and educate yourself on being a non smoker.
Everyone is deifferant and therefore everyone will quit differently too, but the end results are the same we are all non smokers!!!!!! WOW that sounds fantastic!
Ditto trendy, I don't think it matters how you get there so long as you do. (Part from selling you body or something). I was worried abou then having to get off the patches & lozenges but the im provement to my halth not smoking is so incredible that I know I will come off them also. Good luck hun, keep it up.
I had an awful day yesterday but managed to get through it. I feel much better about my 2 NRT'S thanks to the replies on here and will carry on.
I think the major difference this time is the support from everyone on here. On my previous attempts I felt very alone and had no support. As none of my family have ever smoked (apart from my lovely dad, sadly gone to soon because of smoking) they could not understand my addiction. It is great to come on here when I am feeling low and get a confidence boost or just read through posts to realise that I am not alone and that I can do it.
I went to my sisters today and it was so lovely not to be a smoker. In the past I would be at the end of the garden puffing away so I did not offend anyone, but today I was on the patio!! (I have gone up in the world already).
Big hugs to you all!!
Josephine xxxx
Quit on 21st May, sneaky puffs on 24th and 25th (the guilt was vile). Totally clean since 27th May!
Method - patches, inhaler, grit and determination, this forum and lots of cake!!
Reasons - too many to mention but FREEDOM will be great!
Forgot to mention that I have been crying more than usual - is this normal? I am a sensitive flower in normal life but much more so now. Watched Britains Got Talent and cried for most of it - very odd! Some adverts set me off as well! Did my usual snail hunt and removed them from my prize flowers but then felt bad so put them in a little bucket and gave them some leaves from my plant!!!??!! I think I may be going a bit mad but hey ho at least my breath smells nice!
I'm sorry you had a bad day yesterday but well done for getting through it
Promoted to the Patio at your sisters eh now that has to feel great
Crying and being emotional is perfectly normal for us quitters and you even removed snails from your plants then felt sorry for them, put them in a bucket and gave them some leaves anyway
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it has got to be better than smoking.
