urrgh struggling

[nsd_user663_34321]

I had a pretty easy 3rd month with virtually no issues. But I've found the last couple of weeks to be tough. I've had a lot of smoking thoughts ( I can't call them craves more desires or feeling like something is missing). I don't know if its because I'm not at work so enjoying leisure time which I would normally have done with a lot of smoking or if the Champix is out of my system. I meant to keep taking low dose champix through xmas but forgot to take them so much that I just stopped. That said I took it for the requisite 12 weeks at least.

This morning I even had the thought that I'd want to get up a lot more if I had a cigarette with my coffee I thought I was past all this so don't really understand what's going on

[nsd_user663_36288]

Hi - I've also struggled badly the last couple of weeks - with a couple of MONSTROUS days - and I am hoping it's just the festive season, triggers galore, etc etc. Had to smile when I read about getting out of bed/coffee/cigarette ... as I lay in bed this morning thinking exactly the same! And yes, I haven't done that for a while either ...

Let's just get this weekend out of the way, then hopefully things will be back to "normal" ... and we can congratulate ourselves on having come through a rough time .... smoke free. We KNOW these feelings won't last forever .. and things WILL improve - not least thanks to those generous souls on here who are ahead of us on this path yet still make time to encourage those of us who are stumbling around!

Sue x

[nsd_user663_35121]

Sue is right. This is a difficult time of year and if you can just hold out 'til Tuesday and normality, you'll be over the worse.

I had a major slip up just before Xmas and am back smoking after 75 days quit. Its stupid. I'm no better off. Just got to start the battle all over again.

So keep strong.

LizzieX

[nsd_user663_34921]

Joc,

You seem to have a lot of things going on at the moment:

1.Christmas/holidays new routines, new associations which traditionally were accompanied with smoking. Now, no cigs but the memories are strong.

2.Stopping champix, this was always liable to cause problems and you will need to be strong until your system adjusts.

3.You/we are now being asked to settle in for the long haul.We are not having real cravings we are missing an old friend and we have to get our heads to adjust and accept that he/she/it is not comming back ...(this is definitly my opinion !!!).

Any of the above is difficult to handle and you seem to have all three at the same time. As Sue and Lizzie have said, when the world returns to normal next week things should get easier.

Keep talking to us. We may not know what we're talking about most of the time BUT it's good to talk.

[nsd_user663_34321]

Thanks for your replies and wisdom.

Well, I have been staying strong and said NO to the 'Demon. I'm never going back!!! I'll just keep saying NO NO NO :mad:

Lizzie: I'm sorry to hear that you're smoking again; That said I do believe each quit attempt helps you in your next quit and every day not smoked is an achievement after all. Good luck for next time

[nsd_user663_32615]

You just hang tough, Jo. Like everyone has said, you have had a lot to deal with and this has been an exceptional time.

Hopefully, getting back into your normal routine will help you to recover your equilibrium and regain your confidence. I really believe that every time you go through one of these struggles, you come out the other side that bit stronger and better equipped, so hopefully, this hasn't all been for nothing.

Lizzie - good to see that you are still around - hope that you feel ready to try again soon.

[nsd_user663_38091]

Keep talking to us. We may not know what we're talking about most of the time BUT it's good to talk.

Perfect

[nsd_user663_24115]

Hi Jo , sometimes we just feel like we needto be doing something, we dont we can just stop and do nowt.

Mash x:cool:

[nsd_user663_37391]

Well done Jo for saying NO....

[nsd_user663_18145]

That nic demon is soooo sneaky you have to be on your guard against him ive been quit 14 months now and still have him inside but most of time he sulks and dont make much noise

I did wake up the other morning smelling that awful smell and for afew seconds i was convinced i was smoking again:eek:

But then i woke up properly and even though the smell lingered for afew seconds as soon as i realised that i didnt smoke anymore it went and the relief i felt was overwhelming

And reaffirmed my resolve to never walk down that road again

[nsd_user663_34321]

You guys are so supportive I really do appreciate your messges. I read a few posts of angst during month 3 and didn't know what to think as I had a really easy month 3 but I think I am having month 3 now!!! :eek: (if you see what I mean, sorry if thats a bit confusing) I have been back at work today and still getting a lot of smoking thoughts ...

I find myself listing all the positives of quitting (of which there are many and I won't list them all here as you already know ) and then comparing it to the positives of smoking (of which there are none)!

Yet all the time a voice taunts me saying wannacig wannacig, just1 - carry on your quit after just1 - if you want to - cmon just 1 - u no u wannacig - a cig will make u satisfied the way nothing else can ... and so on. Well you get the drift.

I haven't had nicotine for nearly 4 MONTHS!!!! Why is this happening

Well I am being strong and I hope this passes thats all. Has anyone else quit Champix btw and did this happen to them?

[nsd_user663_35121]

You're being REALLY strong JoC. Don't give up your hard-earned freedom.

If you had a fag...then what? You may find yourself back where you started...wanting to give up all over again.

LizzieX

ps. Have you stopped the Champix completely? Why not talk to your stop-smoking nurse/doctor?

Also, look at EFT to stop smoking on Youtube....might help? Read/re-read Allan Carr or listen to a stop smoking hypnotherapy cd.

pps. I don't really feel entitled to offer advice as I've started smoking again .....it's just I don't want it to happen to you!

[nsd_user663_34921]

Hi Jo

Sorry, I can't help with your thoughts about coming off the champix but I have found that every step/change during my quit came with some problem. However none as severe as what you are experiencing especially so far into your quit. I would suspect that it must be related to the lack of champix which may have been "dulling" the associations / thoughts etc. that replace the early cravings. hopefully some of the other champix users will be able to offer some more definate advice !

So long as your not having "head banging" craves you may need to put your head down and wait for this phase to pass. If you start to get serious temptations then get some help/advice ASAP which may mean a little more champix for a time. Hopefully that won't be necessary cos one day soon you will need to stop again.

Not sure that this post will be helpful to you so I better stop. I feel for you when your hurt doesn't seem to want to go away.

[nsd_user663_34321]

Well, I had a bit of a better day today. I do have some Champix left over as I only ever took a half dose. I meant to wean myself off more slowly than I did but on the other hand I think its done now and if have to learn to deal with increased smoking urges well get them out of the way sooner rather than later.

There is lots of information about taking champix and side effects but very little on stopping it and its affect on you when you stop. Health professionals seem to loose interest once you've completed your course as if they've done their bit and thats that! Champix does work by hooking into the nicotine receptor and stimulating it the same way a cigarette would but not as much. It also provides a bit of a dopamine hit but again not as much. Knowing this it would make sense that you notice a change when you stop, perhaps an uncomfortable change.

I could be wrong but there don't seem to be many ex champix users on the forum. Hmmm

Anyway, thanks again for your advice.

Lizzie

You are in a very good position to advise. Its really nice of you to use your experiences to try and help me stay on the straight and narrow. Believe me, I am going to try and make it worth your while

[nsd_user663_35121]

Hi Jo,

I was taking Champix and after about 2 months I halved my dose. My smoking urges returned and I asked the nurse if I could increase the dose again to get me through Christmas. She said fine, but I think it was a bit too late for me and this, plus a load of other reasons/excuses was my downfall.

I can't really blame the drug though, my failure was a deliberate act.

I agree the medical profession aren't really interested after 3 months and maybe 3 months isn't long enough for some people. To be fair though, my nurse did say they would let me have another 3 months. Again it was a bit too late.

I've looked up natural providers of dopamine on the net...good sources are bananas and avocados. Get yourself to the greengrocers!!

LizzieX

[nsd_user663_20558]

Jo,

I thought I'd responded to this thread - in my head I had! But then I read through it and realised that I am, in fact, a dizzy twit.

I'm glad you're feeling more positive today. I wish I had something to add to the good advice the others have given. All I can really say is that I had many periods of feeling low and aggravated and thinking constantly about smoking, especially in the first six months. But even the worst of them ended and I felt better and stronger for surviving them. As time goes by there's more and more easy time and less and less craving/wanting.

I know that nagging voice of the inner junkie so well, it's so insistent and so persuasive and it feels like it would be such a relief to give into it. But with that one cig comes the burden of all the thousands of others - there's just no way it could ever be worth it.

So stay strong. You're doing SO well.

xxxx