Is it better to go cold turkey?

[nsd_user663_8876]

I plan to go cold turkey tomorrow. Just how bad is it & when do the cravings subside compared to having help i.e patches etc?

Thanks.

[nsd_user663_5028]

I plan to go cold turkey tomorrow. Just how bad is it & when do the cravings subside compared to having help i.e patches etc?

Thanks.

Hi Fallen Angel

I would say everyone differs ..... to me when ever it was time to go for a fag usually break times that would send a signal to my brain oooooohhh go for a smoke instead got up and went for a little walk by the time i had got back crave had gone ....... think it is just a case of keeping busy when these times come, remember Angel craves only last approx three minutes, most important thing to do on CT is drink plenty of water to flush out the nicotine that way your body craves less .... Not gonna kid you though it is a question of putting the work in there is no point sitting down thinking ooooh i need a fag .... keep your mind occupied as well as your hands do you own that horse Angel ? if you do there is a good way of killing some time ......read, drink, keep busy and you will get through this no problem

[nsd_user663_7469]

Angel we are all different and although I decided to do it CT there are many different routes to take and so long as it achieves the same goal i.e. smoke free then hey whatever suits the individual

If you do decide to go CT the support is here for you and it is in MY opinion the best way as all the crap gets out of the system in one hit, to me the purpose of stopping smoking was to do just that not continue contaminating myself with nicotine, but that was how I felt others may feel their ways are better and you may decide that after all you will use a NRT and that’s fine as well.

Drink plenty of iced drinks as Bradders said it helps to flush the body and beware the dreaded choccy oooh that was my downfall 7lb in 2 weeks LOL. And I cut out caffeine that also helped me and I haven’t gone back to it even now, any way good luck and keep reading and talking it does help xx

[nsd_user663_4786]

I knew that CT was the only I could do it, the nicotine is out of your system in 3 days, that has gotta be good.

Keep busy, I remember at the beginning I would get into my PJ's early so I would not be tempted to go to the shop :eek:

I would do things that did not have an assoication with smoking, like having a bath.

Yes I did eat more, but I decided that was a problem for another day.

Post often, read loads.

And if you need me please feel free to PM me.

[austinlegro 11 Years Smoke Free]

I plan to go cold turkey tomorrow. Just how bad is it & when do the cravings subside compared to having help i.e patches etc?

I wrote this 2 years ago... I hope it helps you tomorrow.

Hi

I'm just coming up 2 weeks on a diet of cold turkey.

The first 4 days was easy because I was deliberately not smoking.

Then I'm nicotine free, totally chemically clean, so everything else I'm feeling can only be in my mind.

At 12 days my body is clearly missing the drug. I wake up in the middle of the night, I've forgotten how to spell and I find myself stood in the middle of a room wondering why i'm there and where i was going. I'm told these things will pass [it's just an increase in blood / oxygen levels] but regardless of that they don't make me want to smoke, they just interest me.

I reach for my cigarettes occasionally through habit and I find these little pockets in my daily routine that used to be filled with a little smoke but now I have to fill them with something else. It's only taken a couple of weeks but reaching for a cigarette and finding I no longer smoke doesn't panic me, I just shrug it off.

Withdrawl is all in the mind therefore you can think your way out of any crave.

I read something similar to this: "Remember those times when you've only a couple of smokes left and you drive out into the evening looking for a garage to buy some more, or when you count your pack contents and work out anxiously whether they'll see you safely through to the next buying opportunity?"

Well I do remember those times and now I see them for what they were, cravings and withdrawal symptoms for summat I actually hadn't given up.! Withdrawl symptoms for something that I still had.! Good old fashioned anxiousness that I "might not be able to have a cigarette."

How can that be unless it is a totally mental thing..?

So now, I know that my body needs no more nicotine than my non-smoking wife's. If my brain tells me otherwise, I know it's lying and I can treat it with the contempt it deserves.

Non-smoking is not a distance from your last smoke, it's simply a state of mind.

In the intervening years I've learnt that using patches doesn't make withdrawal or craving any less but using them might allow the user to think they're craving less. Similarly if you need to consume vast quantities of legal or illicit drugs to convince your brain that it's ok not to smoke then fine but don't think it's the drugs that are doing it. Just find what works for you.

If you can do the mental juggling that CT requires then your quit is pain-free, brief and satisfying.

Finally, try to ignore achievements based on time. Sure it's nice to know how much £ you've saved but once you stop that's it. Stopped... There's no message from the queen at a year, there's no mention in an honour's list. You're not heading towards anything other than a continuation of a smokefree life that started the moment you stopped. On the flip-side it gets better week on week and there's nothing wrong with celebrating whatever milestones you choose.

Choose carefully mind as my wife soon latched on to the fact that she hadn't smoked for 40 years and was entitled to far more than me. Grab your indulgences as soon as you can.

[nsd_user663_3910]

Great advice above, I quit cold turkey because I wanted the nicotine out of my system, then I felt I could move on and get on with the associations and triggers.

My advice would be to take it one day at a time, keep yourself busy, don't worry about eating, you can lose a few pounds later, drink lots of fluid and I don't know if it helped but i've stayed off caffeine and alcohol.

Keep in touch on here, there is a lot of support to be had and there is always someone there when you need someone.

Of course, everyone has different experiences and some find NRT etc. a fantastic aid to stop, so it' whatever works for you.

Read lots and get in touch if you need to.

Lorraine

[nsd_user663_7469]

Hi Angel

I know I have already posted but just had to come on and say thats a cracking read Austin, should be on that Day One Post it that keeps being spoken about LOL, and Hi Bev Every one have a good Day xx

[nsd_user663_7435]

Ct

Hiya

I'm only a little way in (this is day 9 - actually - that's ages! Well done me!) on a CT quit. I have quit before using Champix, and stayed quit for three months. I'm not saying it's totally effortless CT but I've found this quit pretty manageable and for me, the worst physical cravings happened on day 2. This is much better than with either champix or NRT because, like others above me have said, not long and the drug's out your system and your body can get on with recovering. Since day 2, things are getting a little easier every day. Read as much as you can - try whyquit.com. It's a great site that gives lots of information about the physical symptoms. I found it a lot less scary to feel lightheaded for the first couple of days when I understood why, and that it would stop. Also gives hints to make it easier. Last week I was on here ALL the time, reading everyone elses posts, and picking up hints/tips. It's ok that it's all you can think about for a few days - it's a big thing you're doing.

Tell you the truth, thinking about quitting was the worst bit. Doing it is nowhere near as bad as I had convinced myself it would be.

Good luck

Vix

[nsd_user663_8876]

Well it makes sense to go cold turkey, the sooner the nicotine leaves my blood the better. Ihave a busy day tomorrow so that might help. Thanks again for the grats advice everyone.

Bradders - yes the horse is mine, she is only a baby just a big one. I think poo picking the horses field is also a good way to keep physically busy, a job i hate but at least it will be done.

[nsd_user663_3554]

Well for me drinking water the first 10 days or so helped a lot.I could not get enough water...I hate water.

[nsd_user663_7674]

Hi Fallen Angel,

I can only put it as simply as ... you wouldn't give heroin to someone trying to kick heroin so why would you give nicotine to someone trying to kick nicotine.

I knew I could only suceed this time cold turkey, but that's not to say some people don't have completely successful quits on other methods.

It's a short, sharp, shock. Get yourself prepared. Know you enemy. Read, read, read and understand the nicotine trap and you'll be a happy non smoker in around 4 weeks.

Facto.

[austinlegro 11 Years Smoke Free]

Is it me or can anyone else hear the gentle thud of Mod3's boots approaching this very thread.... :rolleyes:

[nsd_user663_3910]

I think he's behind you!

[nsd_user663_8876]

Is it me or can anyone else hear the gentle thud of Mod3's boots approaching this very thread.... :rolleyes:

I don't get it?

[nsd_user663_5028]

I don't get it?

FallenAngel

HarryD the thread he posted is spam, it will be deleted anytime soon

[nsd_user663_7469]

Boom Boom Boom Boom yep I can here them 2 LOL

[nsd_user663_9212]

nrt v cold turkey

Hi, in the last year i have attempted to quit upwards of 50 times since managing to quit for 2 weeks a year ago after coming close to dieing from pneumonia (i am asthmatic, this coupled with smoking led to the pneumonia, my asthma would be almost non-existant if i didnt smoke).

I have tried cold turkey (never been successfull apart from while i was physically unable to in hospital lol), but mainly i use the patches, the problem being, i usually start smoking again before i can get down to the lower stage of mg. i totally agree with what people are saying about the nrt prolonging getting over the nicotene cravings, but i do find the patches work to dull the cravings, as i find it unbelievably difficult to give up cold turkey, really wish i could though. Recently tried to get help with my local GP, no help at all, just shook their heads at me and gave me a prescription for Champix which i will not use as the whole clock work orangey thing reaks me out lol. I am nearing 24hrs without a cigarette, only because my asthma was so bad last night, im scared of being taken into hospital again and the guilt and anger at myself still smoking weighs so heavily on me, just want to feel the weight lifted. Have just discovered this site, seems very helpfull, so fingers crossed! the advise on here is so good and its good to see other people succeeding!

[nsd_user663_8876]

With regards to cold turkey, i haven;t found the cravings that bad actually. For me it's more about routine, see l like my routine to be solid. So like now the kids are sorted, i am enjoying the peace but what no fag?

I don't see it as a craving but more of an 'i'm bored thing'.

Right now, cold turkey seems the way even if it is harsh.

[nsd_user663_7674]

=hayziebaby_1985;171143 i totally agree with what people are saying about the nrt prolonging getting over the nicotene cravings, but i do find the patches work to dull the cravings, as i find it unbelievably difficult to give up cold turkey, really wish i could though.

This is something that really intrigues me. If someone is using nicotine patches, that are attached to their body and permanently feeding them nicotine, what is it exactly that they are craving?

[nsd_user663_9212]

well they may not be craving the nicotene physically as they are still getting it, but as someone with a huge capacity of smoking, i could have 5 patches on and still comfortably smoke so i dnt think its the same amount of nicotene i could sometimes get through smoking. and the obvious thing being although its treats physical withdrawal to some extent, it does not stop mental dependence and forces of habit and routine. it doesn't stop you wanting a fag after a large meal or at a particulary stressful time as sometimes when upset/stressed/angry some people will just want to spark a fag whether they physically need it or not.

[austinlegro 11 Years Smoke Free]

well they may not be craving the nicotene physically as they are still getting it, but as someone with a huge capacity of smoking, i could have 5 patches on and still comfortably smoke so i dnt think its the same amount of nicotene i could sometimes get through smoking. and the obvious thing being although its treats physical withdrawal to some extent, it does not stop mental dependence and forces of habit and routine. it doesn't stop you wanting a fag after a large meal or at a particulary stressful time as sometimes when upset/stressed/angry some people will just want to spark a fag whether they physically need it or not.

There is a post with a scary amount of truth.

A cigarette smoker on a course of NRT will still want to smoke.

How about putting nicotine in summat you suck, just like a fag then?

Surely we're looking at a 100% quit rate?

A tobacco pouch user on a course of NRT will still want to pop a pouch in.

How about putting nicotine in summat that you can apply to the inside of your mouth then, like gum?

Surely we're looking at a 100% quit rate?

Little did I know but I consumed ¼ million fags that I physically didn't need.

The discovery that I didn't need them is what stopped me.

The myth that I was addicted kept me buying them.

[nsd_user663_8876]

I've answered mt own question i think.

I have gone CT, :eek: whereas oh has gone the inhaler route :cool: and boy is he so NOT coping. Ifeel thats becoz he's feeding his desire to smoke by giving it the very drug it requires 'nicotine' via the inhaler.

So therefore how can you ever expect to give up the desire to smoke while you are still feeding it.

Cripes what do i know :rolleyes: I'm sure there is a few of you on here that have trried all methods.

To me....

If you don't want to smoke anymore...

Then don't...!

Yes it sucks,

Yes i miss it so badly,

But can i live without it?

YEEEEEES!!!!

It means feeling like poo for a bit. I feel really low, for the first time in my life i am not sleeping, have awful headaches, am teasy with everyone and everything but.....

I feel better,

I look better,

I can feel the air entering my lungs - as if new.

I stand more chance of a longer life,

I can smell

I smell lush!!!

And i'll have more energy.