Speaking up from a lurker and on day 8

[nsd_user663_9740]

I've been a lurker for a while unregistered but took the leap today to speak up as felt about time. Excuse me for this long post but just wanted to get this out there and tell me story a little hope that is ok.

I started giving up by taking champix and ever since the first tablet have had varying degrees of side effects from it. I appear to be one of the rare ones who rather than having any mood effects (I've had literally no change in mood) I got about every other possible one there was beyond getting a rash

I now am at a bit of a junction the effects from champix got so bad that today the Dr said I had to come off them. I've not had a smoke for 8 days and to be honest the 4-5 days before that was not exactly what you'd call smoking unless lighting one waiting 1/2 hour taking one inhale waiting another 1/2 hour is smoking...

In part I'm really glad to be looking at a break in the symptoms but the one thing that has kept me going through these side effects has been the thought that I finally am giving up. I do however finally look forward to getting some positive effects from giving up - being 8 days smoke free and feeling worse than when started taking champix is mildly disheartening to say the least.

Now I'm about to face the will power method to get me over the next phase of my giving up. The Dr has warned me a bit that coming off Champix will take a while to get out of my system and I will probably feel an increase in my wanting of a smoke (to be frank I've not actually had a decrease from Champix but just think they were wrong for me). I've been advised to use patches too if I get the urge to smoke however one of my 2 other attempts at giving up smoking involved me finding out I was also allergic to the patches.

There is an upside to this despite all the side effects which certainly can be a bit scary at times when you feel like someone has spiked you drugs and have to work... so glad I am freelance and could pick the times I worked through this. I am an asthmatic and my peak flow already despite this is at an all time high. I do feel positive about giving up just have had quite a hiccup at the start and if nothing else it's putting me off even having one smoke as I will have to go through something like this again

So, now I'm facing calm thoughts, long bubble baths and using my Tangle stress toy when I want a smoke. I've been told it could take up to a week before the side effects go fully from Champix so look forward to that time when I can rejoice with my husband whose also given up and is already getting some huge benefits health wise and feeling great. I think by the end of this with all the side effects I've had it's almost like I missed giving up smoking and suddenly find myself weeks later - in that sense guess Champix has been a huge success I know I just got unlucky and it works great for others I still don't even know if without it I'd have given up so it's still a good option in my book despite what I've been through.

[nsd_user663_4990]

Very best of luck to you, it aint so bad at all once you get used to the actual quitting, the challenge is there, but the pride you get from achievement is worth it all.

have faith in your ability and be stubborn against any cravings you get, it will be worthwhile...

unless lighting one waiting 1/2 hour taking one inhale waiting another 1/2 hour is smoking

although this scared me.. i couldn't help but think.. exhale!!!!!! you'll go red!!!

Hope to see you (and your OH) doing well with your quit from smoking.

J

[nsd_user663_4625]

Hi Karmatosed & welcome to the forum,

I hope the side effects from the Champix clear quickly for you & you can get back to feeling more normal, quit allowing LOL. You are in to the second week of your quit & that is brilliant.

As Chrissie mentioned I use the Lozenges to help me & find them great.

Gaynor x

[nsd_user663_9740]

Thank you all.

Today I do feel a bit better only mildly nauseous which trust me is an improvement on what my morning Champix was doing. Cravings been bit of a pain today but think mostly in head literally so just told the little voice to shut up and went on with my day Husband is now off the patches so like a bear with a sore head so he's now spring cleaning the grumpy out which is oddly working. Just can't wait until my body is mine again and the Champix allergic reaction is gone. I feel less drugged today and more able to concentrate as a result which is a good indication Dr was right to come off them.

[nsd_user663_4625]

Glad you are feeling a bit better today.

Little voices hey, sing loudly & drown the nicodemon out LOL.

Hope your hubby manages to get control of the grumps now he is off the patches, well done him

I go down to step 2 next week. Am not bothered by that, did it before & was no problem really. Have to work out a plan to cut my lozenges down to coincide

with stopping my patches. Unlike some people I like them :eek:

Have a good rest of day.

Gaynor x

[nsd_user663_8999]

Hey - don't worry about coming off the Champix. I had to come off it - doc & nurse reduced my dose which felt better temporarily but it was disagreeing with me mentally & physically.

In total I took Champix for about 3 1/2 weeks. As I saw it the drug got me through the tough withdrawal bit. The doc told me it would be stupid to stop taking it and I would most likely relapse - I do enjoy proving people wrong! Plus he didn't have to live with the side effects :rolleyes:

I did notice it being tougher for about 2 days - but still nowhere near the cravings I was getting through the first few days of my quit. Try not to go onto patches as you have already flushed all the nicotine out of your body - you just have some restless brain receptors to deal with for a few days!

[nsd_user663_9740]

Yes definetly noticing today is a bit more of a 'grrrr could do with smoke day' which does tie in as the 2nd day without champix. I was lucky though that my dr was forceful about coming off them as I was trying to put up with the symptoms just to stay on them as want this to be my final quit. Husband went back on patches last night however I have yet to go with them and really don't want to as agree it's just mind now not my body being dependent. I'm just taking it slowly doing some work.. doing some muttering.. doing some relaxing.. rinse and repeat to get through the next few days hour by hour - it's the way I dealt with the first few days of the quit so figure should work this time

[nsd_user663_4625]

I remember the grrrrr feeling well!!

You're right, what you are feeling won't last long so if you can get through it without patches etc then good for you.

Take it easy, baby steps as we all say. Be kind to yourself & stay strong, you're doing great

Gaynor x

[nsd_user663_3282]

Yes definetly noticing today is a bit more of a 'grrrr could do with smoke day' which does tie in as the 2nd day without champix. I was lucky though that my dr was forceful about coming off them as I was trying to put up with the symptoms just to stay on them as want this to be my final quit. Husband went back on patches last night however I have yet to go with them and really don't want to as agree it's just mind now not my body being dependent. I'm just taking it slowly doing some work.. doing some muttering.. doing some relaxing.. rinse and repeat to get through the next few days hour by hour - it's the way I dealt with the first few days of the quit so figure should work this time

Hi Karmatosed,

At the end of the day whatever method we originally start our quits with will ultimately result in not using nrt, champix, lozenges, hypnosis...whatever. Non smokers don't have them and eventually we don't have use for them either.

I'm with Vesper and also suggest if you have nicotine out of your system now it would be great if you could soldier on - yes, I went Cold Turkey right from the beginning...although it's not for everybody. But you are already practising a good method of unpicking old habits and setting in place new healthier habits (see bold indicated sentence).

Some of us have hyperlinks imbedded into our signatures and it has been proven (not citing scientific research here) that knowledge is power. There is a vast amount of advice and experience that others have posted up contained in these sites. Possibly to get quickly to areas of specific interest is to visit Jases' posts as he has helpfully signposted topic areas.

Keep on keepin' on,

Cav

[nsd_user663_9740]

Ty so much all I think today has actually been the worst day so far. Came so close but didn't even go to the drawer that I know has tobacco in as my husband is keeping some as that's his method to remind himself (everyone has their own way to give up). Heck I could even have one now but I'm not going to.. may have eaten a few too many jelly beans and foxes creams today but what the heck once the champix is out of me I can start running again as will feel better.

I think the hardest bit for me is because of the side effects still I'm not actually feeling any better having given up which I'm seeing with my husband whose on the same number of days as me. Least the cravings indicate champix is going and soon I'll be feeling the benefits of all of this.

I'd like to say ty though this forum has helped me more than most of you know today *hug.

For me knowledge is that I've just spent the entire winter one chest infection after another (stupid smoking asthmatic here), have high blood pressure (apparently for no reason apart from smoking and it won't stay under control) and facing a hysterectomy at 34 (I have polycystic ovaries and endometriosis) all probably due to smoking or at least have been made worse... nothing like that for an incentive. I will note though since giving up my peak flow (measure for breathing) is highest ever and I've now had 3 each time getting lower blood pressure readings (the last few days ago was too low they claimed lol). The mere fact at 34 as I've been smoking since 11 (not bright) I have the effects that most get when far later in life is spurring me on. Just look forward to feeling more human and getting through this all.

[nsd_user663_4625]

Hi K,

Sorry to hear you are having a bad day today but keep strong, your doing so well & things will start to feel better for you once the Champix is out of your system. Rides the waves till you get to calmer shores 'cos you will get there

Gaynor xx

[nsd_user663_2040]

Stick with it Karmatosed

I also used Champix and had awful side effects BUT it was worth it and you can get through it.

Nothing makes the quit easy but you are more than a week...day 9 was my nemesis get over today and you will never have to do this day again.

Stay strong my lovely

xx