Tough few days

[nsd_user663_22748]

I seem to be finding the morning cravings a problem again since dropping from step 1 of the patches to step 2 - has anyone else experienced this?

I was ok for first week after i dropped and then its started so maybe its nothing to do with the patches? Should i notice when i drop strengths?

hope it passes quickly coz i know i'm most likely to cave 1st thing and ive come too far to go back now!

[nsd_user663_4847]

I seem to be finding the morning cravings a problem again since dropping from step 1 of the patches to step 2 - has anyone else experienced this?

I was ok for first week after i dropped and then its started so maybe its nothing to do with the patches? Should i notice when i drop strengths?

hope it passes quickly coz i know i'm most likely to cave 1st thing and ive come too far to go back now!

Firstly congrats Tamwill on your quit.

Morning cravings were the worst for me too, so I needed to have everything pre-prepared so that nothing "unhinged" me.

Now onto your patches issues, I quit CT (largely because I'd tried everything else) but a quit buddy of mine Jase quit with patches, he has lots of good advice but for starters read this one

Then to read his progression through patches just click on his threads started link and read, read read.

M

[nsd_user663_4026]

Hi.

I was a morning heavy smoker and also a patches quitter so feel qualified to reply to this! I would say if its a week after you've dropped your patches you wouldn't then expect it to become more difficult. Its probably more of a mental thing and I would try not to panic or dwell on it, it will pass quickly.

I would suggest decreasing the patch strength by snipping a little off each time in the future rather than dropping a whole size, it decreases your nicotine content slower.

Good luck!

[nsd_user663_22748]

I would suggest decreasing the patch strength by snipping a little off each time in the future rather than dropping a whole size, it decreases your nicotine content slower.

Good luck!

Ah! now this sounds a good idea! I will defo try this and see if it makes any difference.

I had noticed that the steps halve the content each time and i had wondered if i would notice such big drops but i didnt seem to for the first few days so maybe i'm just dwelling on it a bit much.

I have always been a really heavy smoker in the mornings so i started off changing the patch at night rather than morning so that the morning craves were sorted. I usually get in the bath at about 7pm and havent had any luck with the patches staying stuck so i was taking them off and then putting a fresh one on at 9.30ish as i went to bed but then i forgot one night and didnt put it on till morning... this gave me (false) confidence that i could cope without a patch from 7pm till 7am and sometimes i can but maybe i should return to keeping them on overnight and see if that helps too.

[nsd_user663_22999]

Whatever works for you Tam. I was a morning smoker too and still find that I look for my fags. It's just a habit thing now with me and I laugh at myself, call myself a forgetful middle-aged idiot and move on!

I started on patches but didn't really find they worked for me so used gum instead. Now I'm down to 1 - 2 gums a day and will phase that out in the next day or 2, unless I need some in which case I'll chew away.

Use whatever you need to get you through!

Good luck, you're doing so well!

[nsd_user663_22968]

Do whatever you have to!

I am dreading the reduction in patches, my nurse is giving me 8 weeks on the higher dose (21mg) instead of 6 as she said she feels it works better with people who have smoked for a long time as it gives just that bit longer to deal with the mental addiction. She said the first couple of days after a reduced dose does seem to make a difference and people do notice so maybe the cutting them is a good idea.

[nsd_user663_22748]

my nurse is giving me 8 weeks on the higher dose (21mg) instead of 6 as she said she feels it works better with people who have smoked for a long time as it gives just that bit longer to deal with the mental addiction.

I was under the impression that the norm was 6 weeks at higher dose, 4 weeks at mid dose then 2 at low dose but it seems different nurses have different ideas. I spent 4 wks on high then got given a further 4 wks of mid and she says it will be 4 weeks of low to finish off. Think i'll start cutting mine down bit by bit during my last week on the mid phase then same again over the last couple of weeks of the low phase

Slept in the patch again last night and the morning craves didnt appear this morning. I slept rubbish but i'll stick with it for now if it keeps the craves at bay

[nsd_user663_22968]

It does seem to be different everywhere, I get 2 weeks on the mid and 2 weeks on lower after these 8.

I sleep with mine on most nights now, I don't seem to sleep any better without it and it definately helps in the mornings having it on. I change mine about lunchtime as I often forget first thing.

Keep going though, you are doing so well