Anyone else tired of patches

[nsd_user663_34224]

I am on quit day 55 today and for the past couple of days in particular I have been wanting to do away with the patches even though I have not finished the 12 week programme. I am currently on 14 mg but feel constantly reminded that I am not smoking because I am still obviously getting the cravings for nicotine. I also feel that because my mind is working against my body it's causing me to feel permanently exhausted. The problem is I am frightened to come off the patches too soon in case I relapse and would feel even worse then.

I am also worried about my weight increase (a stone now) and want to knock it all on the head before I end up back on the fags but carrying the extra weight and it will all have been for nothing.

Has anyone or is anyone experiencing similar?

maxine

[nsd_user663_20978]

i came off my patches early but still had inhalator as back up i came off them cause i had a day i felt really really ill and i swear to this day it was the patches

if u feel ready mentally to go without them then give it a go but still use your inhalator if u need to wat u have to think is the patches constantly feed u nicotine where as the inhalator will just get u through the tough bits

as for the stone that seems about average for most people apparently our metabolism changes because our body no longer has to fight all the poison we used to put in it

i walk alot in order to shift the extra stone and as a distraction from the smoking thoughts

[nsd_user663_14771]

i remember the fear of dropping the patches, all i can say is that for me it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be... if you do decide to try stopping them early you can always put them back on again if it is too much. i reduced the fear by carrying an emergency patch around in my wallet with a pair of scissors (cos the damn things are ex-smoker proof!!) and i still carry one around with me now, 11 weeks later, though i don't need the scissors any more

good luck to you, whatever choice you make will be the right one for you

[nsd_user663_4847]

Have you tried

Cutting little bits off the patches, other long term quitters used this method. The only warning is to be aware that each step down in nicotine levels, brings potential craves and to be aware of this if the nicotine withdrawal niggles start.

Good luck, it does get easier.

Onward and upward.

M

[nsd_user663_34224]

Thanks for your replies and encouragement.

I am happy to report that I have been off the patches since September 28 and feel surprisingly ok and have made it into my third month (going to post a hello there in a minute).

I am relying on the inhalator but am using that less and less. I am really looking forward to becoming nicotine free so that I can go days rather than hours without thinking about not smoking......

maxine

[nsd_user663_26699]

Thanks for your replies and encouragement.

I am happy to report that I have been off the patches since September 28 and feel surprisingly ok and have made it into my third month (going to post a hello there in a minute).

I am relying on the inhalator but am using that less and less. I am really looking forward to becoming nicotine free so that I can go days rather than hours without thinking about not smoking......

maxine

I'm happy to hear it is going well for you. That's great!

Before your most recent response I was going to say that I came off the patches early by mistake. I forgot to put one on somewhere around week 10 and didn't even realize it until the end of the day. So, I figured I probably didn't need it any more and stopped altogether, thinking I could always put one on if needed. It wasn't necessary.

Alex.