Champix

[nsd_user663_5804]

Hello all,

I'm new here but thought I'd join as today I have joined the Champix team..

Started smoking at 12, I'm now 33!!! Quit once before, cold turkey for 2 1/2 years, then wedding jitters made me start again.

So here I am. Quit day is 29/10/09 and I'm 1 tablet down. I don't feel sick but I am weirdly scared of no longer having fags in my life. I think it's because I know what's coming (having gone "cold" for a couple of years). Just hoping that this drug can ease the stress slightly! At the moment, I feel that the the scene in Trainspotting with the baby on the ceiling is in the post winging it's way to me and I'm sat here waiting for the postman.:eek:

Any Champix users out there? Any tangible success stories you can share?

Thank you !

LB

[nsd_user663_5401]

There's loads of us Champix users on here (we are a common lot). They will take the edge off, I began to see a difference within 48 hours. My advice is keep on smoking but only when you want one (do not force yourself to smoke) until your quit day.

Keep us updated

Good luck

[nsd_user663_5310]

Hi Bob

im one month and 2 days down the line on Champix and it can get a bit weird the first couple of weeks but nothing too scary, some people dont feel anything at all. But the main thing is it makes stopping a whole lot easier and so does this forum. Whatever you go through someone will come along to say its happened to them and if you need someone to shout at there's always somebody to take it.

One piece of advise is dont rush it and read all you can on here

Good luck

[nsd_user663_5804]

Hiya,

Thank you both for your reply, I will keep going on the tablets and give you a run down on what's going on.

So far.. nothingness. Don't really fancy a ciggi but this could be purely placibo (either way, what does it matter I say). But I'll carry on smoking until I don't want to (which would be very strange for me after 20 years!).

Hope things are going well for you both, and hopefully I'll speak to you again with news on my progress.

LB

[nsd_user663_3728]

Hi LB

I used champix after smoking for over 50 years and have been quit now for 11 months and never think about fags anymore

I found the champix a huge helkp ahving over the years tried most of the other things on the market and filed dismally to quit

I had a little nausea with the morning one solved when I took it a little later not first thing

Try not to be scared of quitting the champix will kick in after about 7/8 days and you'll get so you don't want to smoke anymore

Below is my standard welcome and advice post which I try and give all new members

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

This link is good for the psychological part of quitting

whyquit.com/whyquit/A_Sympt...

Post often to let us know how you're doing, to rant, rave have a moan whatever you like pretty much anything goes on here OK

Love

Marg

[nsd_user663_2040]

Hi LB

Good luck on the Champix....it is working well for me and loads of others on here.

Relax and let the tablets do their work. It varies from person to person but everyone seems to be off the cigs within the first two weeks.

Keep us posted....L

[nsd_user663_5804]

Hey Marg,

How amazing your story is! I have another story like yours, which is what has encouraged me to quit.

My Sister-in-Law's dad had smoked since he was about 12. I only met him 9 years ago when I met my husband to be. I considered myself a heavy smoker (15 a day+ over 20 years) but this was nothing compared to him. He could barely go 10 mins without sparking up and he was always coughing, always sounded wheezy, looked jaundice, was really skinny and to be honest, looked like he was dying. I think he smoked around 40 a day.

His wife was so worried about him, but he still smoked and still insisted on ignoring all the info around. Then, someone mentioned Champix. He's now done the 12 week course and he's still not touched a fag. If you knew him, you'd know how amazing this was. This is what has inspired me.

My story - I'm 33, have smoked since I was 13 and smoke about 15-20 a day (not the 5-8 which I tell my husband, am now very ashamed of but will remain my little secret). I am the sort of person who definately needs the first in the morning and nowdays, tend to smoke at least 1 per hour, which is scaring me. Although, on the flip side, I can go to bars, restaurants, even 13 hour flights without thinking about a ciggi. This is what baffles me the most.

My problem is (I think), that if I know there will be a fag at the end of whatever I'm doing (i.e. a flight), then I can hold off. BUT I am gunning for the exit on arrival to have that fix. Am I weird? Is anyone else like this?

6.5 yrs ago, I decided to give up, cold turkey, out of the blue. I quit for 2.5 years. Then I got married, one fag, stupid girl back on it. Then my brother found out he had testicular cancer. He went through all the treatment and is now fine but I still remember my parents faces when they got the call from him. When I started again, I was too afraid to tell my mum and dad after what could potentially happen to me in the future because of my own stupidity and greed. So it's been my dirty secret for the last 4 years. When I see my family at weekends, I don't smoke. I think about all of this and wonder why the hell I'm still addicted. I suppose I worry less about the effects on me, rather the affect my habit would have on my new husband and my family. This is my motivation.

No more dirty secrets. I want to quit and be guilt free for good.

Blimey! This was only supposed to be a quicky but I'm babbled on. Sorry for that, I suppose I needed to get it off my chest.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings and stay strong! I'm so impressed by your story. Congratulations!

LB x

[nsd_user663_3728]

Hi LB

You ramble on as much as you like no one minds on here if it helps that's all that matters

Your story is indeed similar to mine but not one of us quits until we're good and ready no matter what happens around us it has to be because it's what you want

I lost three very close family members to smoking related diceases

My Dad died aged just 57 My late hubby also died fairly young and my Sister was just 51 but did it stop me NO NO BI I just carried on idiot that I was

Like you I could go for ages without a fag if I had to for any reason but the second it was possible to smoke I lit up just like you

If I can quit so can you keep us updated on progress and as I said ramble as much as you like OK

Love

Marg xxxxxxx

[nsd_user663_5774]

Just over 2 weeks without smoking here and I'm on Champix too. I'm not really experiencing any side effects but I do remember having a few jitters before I actually quit. I noticed towards my quit date ( about 10 days on the tablets ) that I no longer got any real pleasure out of smoking though. Good luck and keep posting ok.

[nsd_user663_5210]

hi,

i have been on champix now for 12 days and stopped smoking on day 8 (saturday) and havnt looked back.

i havn't really had side effects but on saturday night i got absolutly no sleep what so ever, not really sure why.

the people on this forum have been great when it gets tough and offer some good advice and encouragement.

good luck with the quit...

[nsd_user663_5401]

Hiya,

Thank you both for your reply, I will keep going on the tablets and give you a run down on what's going on.

So far.. nothingness. Don't really fancy a ciggi but this could be purely placibo (either way, what does it matter I say). But I'll carry on smoking until I don't want to (which would be very strange for me after 20 years!).

Hope things are going well for you both, and hopefully I'll speak to you again with news on my progress.

LB

That's so funny as I thought the doctor had give me a placibo!! If he did it's working.

[nsd_user663_5804]

Lets hope it's placibo and in fact we've just been fooling ourselves all these years that we were addicts! Good luck and keep going. Lets see how day 2 goes. :0)

[Cyprien]

Hi Little Bob

Great posts. Good luck. I quit on Champix about three weeks ago. It is a fantastic aid, but remember that you still have to not put that cigarette in your mouth.

Wait until you're ready to quit. If you want a cigarette, have one - but don't force yourself to smoke one or not smoke one. Just follow how you feel.

I thought the Champix were having no effect on me whatsoever, until I noticed there was significantly longer periods between each cigarette and one day, about Day 13, I thought I'd give it a go and try not to smoke and see what happened. I haven't wanted to light one up since.

Good luck, keep posting

Sue

[nsd_user663_5804]

Hi Sue,

Well, it's Day 2. I feel alright.

Last night I didn't have the urge to smoke very much, so only had 1 as oposed to my normal 3.

Today however, I am obsessed with it. I've had 2 already. I guess this is the normal path and I think it's also phsycological as I know I'm quitting soon. Also, I don't take my pill until 11am to avoid sickness and make sure I've eaten something. I'm just going with the flow though, like you said and get comfort from the fact that I just need to give it time and it will suddenly kick in.

I also don't think it helps that my project at work is coming to crunch point and its normally really stressful for the next 2 weeks. I need to keep this in mind.

One thing though, had some odd dreams last night. One minute I was trying to run through the underground system, dodging trains with a Yorkie dog, then the next minute I was in the Arctic with friends avoiding eagles in the sky!

Not sure if it's the drugs, stress of work or the anticpation of quitting causing nervousness.

Still, makes for an interesting nights sleep!

Thank you all for your support and I'll keep reading & posting. I think it's great there is a forum for support, as we all know what each of us are going through and it's run by ex-smokers. Only they can understand the weird feelings that come with quitting the weed.

Little Bob x

[nsd_user663_3728]

Hi Little Bob

You're doing fine just stick with it

The dreams are normal and could be a combination of work stress etc but whatever they soon pass OK

We'll all be here Promise for as long as you need us

Love

Marg

[nsd_user663_5804]

Day 2 of champix

Hello all,

Day 2 of champix tablets. Was a bit edgy this morning but feeling a bit better. I think I smoked less than normal, although it's so habitual that I barely remember going these days and so, from tomorrow, I'm going to tally up how many I have a day, to see if the number reduces over time.

I've read quite a lot of the posts here in the same position as me and I am not feeling much of a change at the mo but it's early days yet.

All I can say is that the craving appears to be slighty less. Also - when I do smoke, the feeling of relief has also slightly reduced and I seem to get a sore throat only temporary but everytime I feel the smoke hit the back of my throat.

Dreams are very vivid but actually and weirdly, I quite enjoy them!

I am wondering about something. If I'm not getting the same relief from the fags as I did, does this mean that I would find solace elsewhere (like chocolate?) I should imagine that w compensate somewhere. Can anyone confirm if there are any issues people have had with weight?

I'm going to the gym 4 times a week to compensate just in case.

Just thinking outloud but I'd like to see what people have done to combate the expanding waistband if this has been encountered.

Any advice would, as always be appreciated (by me, my dr and my fat club leader!)

Thanks! LB xxxx

[nsd_user663_5210]

hi LB,

i didn'd go for chocolate but tea.. instead of being hooked to nicotine i am now hooked on caffeine but i think it helps, anything that makes you feel better is good..

people do put weight on but you can combat that with ease when you are fit and healthy.

good luck with day 3 and keep enjoying those dreams (i'm just jealous really cos i just can't sleep properly!!!)

[nsd_user663_5598]

Hi Little Bob

The only side effect I got from the tablets was the nausea...that stopped once I quit smoking.

I must be a bit strange though because I didn't feel any different smoking the fags...I got to day 14 and thought I'd better give quitting a try and that was it! I've had hardly any cravings and those I have had have been very mild and passed quickly..no white knuckle rides at all! Thinking of quitting was a hell of alot worse than actually doing it

[Cyprien]

Hi LB

How's it going?

Re the weight gain. Yes, some people here have reported putting on a few extra pounds. But the general advice seems to be concentrate on quitting the cigarettes and deal with the weight gain later.

Whether this is eating chocolate etc as a 'treat', eating more to compensate or eating more because food tastes better, I don't know. Also cigarettes are an appetite suppressant.

Personally, I've not put on any weight, in fact I've lost a few pounds. When I knew I was giving up cigarettes I went on a sort of 'lose it as you're putting it on' diet. Really just regulating what I eat and exercising more as a 'pre-emptive strike' against weight gain. It helps that I don't particularly like chocolate and sweet things.

I've also been drinking much more coffee and have a new liking of ice cold water!

The dreams are amazing, one of the odd things about them was that I was always a smoker in them, even weeks after having given up. One morning I was so convinced that I'd smoked the night before that I had to check my hand-bag for half a packet of fags. I was very pleased when I could convince myself it was only in the dream.

Good luck

Sue

[nsd_user663_5804]

Hey you guys,

I must admit, I don't think anything is happening but if it turns out that I just decide to quit at day 14 and it's stress free, I don't care!

I'm also at fat club and the gym. I keep thinking then, at least if I have a little extra nibble, I can monitor my weight and burn off those extra calories.

One thing though, this morning I went to the train station as normal. Usually, I find if I'm early, the first thing I think to do is have a ciggie. Today, I was early and for the first time in I don't know how long, it didn't cross my mind until I got to Waterloo! Is this progress? I think so.

Today is my last day of taking 1 tablet a day (0.5mg), then, I'm on to two a day, morning and night.

I'm also keeping a track of my fag smoking (time of day, number) as I can see how I'm getting on and see if it declines over time.

I have moments when I fear not smoking anymore and the old excuses come out like... well, I've planned to quit on day 10 but at least I can leave it until day 14... but then other times, I am so determined. I guess it's the old monster on my shoulder and my consious fighting him off.

No sickness to date, I don't take my pill until 11am, after my brekkie. Seems to be working but it may be in the post once I start taking 2 pills a day.

Anyway, I'll keep you informed.

Thanks so much for your support and kind comments.

LB xxx