Hiya guys this is my 1st post on here i quit nearly 80 days ago and have been struggling along for a couple of weeks now.I smoked about 15-20 cigs a day for 20 years (since i was about 15 funny innit we thought we where so grown up...)anyways i thought id join you all,my experience has been a mixed one the 1st few weeks where kinda easy(nrt helped greatly) im still using nrt patches medium strengh and have a few days left before i go on the weaker course i must admit i do struggle on days i forget a patch (is this phycosymatic??has anyone else experienced this)do you guys think im just prolonging the agony by using nrt?
Anyways just thought id introduce myself to you all and say keep up the good fight ! i certainly intend to
So Hiya to all \o
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You've done really well in getting to almost 80 days, you should be feeling really proud, despite the struggles, actually prouder still because of the struggles which you've overcome.
I've come across some posts where people are still using patches 75 to 90 days + into their quit but I think most, if not all, would be on the lower strength. Maybe you are pro-longing the point of being without any aid but it's your choice. You have to do what feels right for you and not risk your quit at the end of the day.
I tried patches after 2 or 3 days of not smoking. The high strength were much to strong and only lasted 5 or so days, reduced down to mid strength but after 8 or so days stopped them. I couldn't stand the smell from the patches and just wanted rid of them.
A quit is an individual thing and the fact that your questioning it may mean your stronger and ready for coming down in patch sooner than you think?
You say you struggled on days when you forgot to put a patch on. Which came first, the struggles and then realising you'd not got a patch or the realisation you hadn't got a patch and then the struggles? The answer to that may help
This site and it's supportive ear could be your new tool to assist in helping you take the next step.
Stick around, read loads and gain knowledge on what's ahead
As Pol suggests, read and educate yourself about how the quit affects you. But more importantly do use the site to ask questions, vent, share, have a laugh.
Here's another very interesting post from '...time syne'. Interesting experiment and gives another viewpoint of the use of patches...or nicotine per se.
I'm sorry you're struggling a bit right now I don't know much about patches but if they're helping stick with them OK
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 sympathising 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
Welcome and well done getting to 80 days is brilliant.
I used patches prescribes by my NHS Smoking Adviser - as I had been smoking 10 a day I started by using the medium strength ones then after a few weeks went down to the really small ones. I had been stopped for 3 months when I found this site and it was then that I got the info about patches which Cav has suggested you read, it was very helpful I came off the little ones and there was no problem.
When I started here I was advised to read as much as I could about the addiction to nicotine, there are links to these sites in our signatures. I read loads and the book by Allen Carr, then I began to find life a bit easier, I now fully believe the more info you have the easier it is to understand what we go through when we have stopped and makes staying stopped something we can really trust in.
Well done you, and congratulations on getting this far and in finding this site. You will probably find this site helpful by reading the posts and reading the information which is available to us.
I have not smoked for 24 days and I am on patches with an inhalalor. Not used the inhalator that much. It really depends what you want to do and use. Some people get on with patches where other people do not. Why not pop along to your Doctors for advice.
I quit using patches, and i uses the patches exactly as they specified on the box even though i really actually felt like i could drop down a patch size much sooner than it said. I figured that this time I'd take no risks, and as i went from step 1 to 2 then to the small step 3 patches.. there was a little bit of adjustment and yes.. heightened cravings, but nothing that didn't settle down anyway.
After i then went from step 3 (7mg patch) to nothing at all, i experienced 3-4 days which felt like the first 3-4 days of my entire quit with more severe cravings, but again, nothing i wasn't used to.. so a bit of endurance and willpower later i was off patches and going it alone.
I'm now over 5 months quit and looking at this quit as being 'for good'
You can do this too. Above all, be comfortable with your quit.. so do step to the smallest patch as it specifies and be happy with it.. then ween off once ready .
thanks for all response to my post,so iam now on the 7mg patch and its been kinda ok when it gets to evening time ima is harder maybe my nicotine hungry body has sucked all the goodness from the patch but i gonna carry on with them.
Again thx a lot and the other posts are helping alot also
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