Energy - where is it?

[nsd_user663_40718]

I'm into the 3rd week (day 19) and my energy levels are getting worse and worse and it is really getting me down. It can be anything that tires me out, going to the supermarket or taking my nephew to karate (where all I have to do is watch).

I'm on champix so my sleep has been very disturbed from that, but now I'm feeling like I want to sleep all the time. Last night I slept for about 10 hours and I have slept again today for 3 hours (and I had a 2 hour nap yesterday afternoon). I have had a permanent headache for the past few days and it’s worse in the morning so I'm not waking up feeling refreshed, which isn't a great start to the day. I've also had a blocked nose for about a week. I thought I had caught my OH’s cold but no amount of cold remedies has shifted it, so I'm wondering if its post nasal drip.

I’m feeling confused as to what is a symptom of quitting/champix/genuine illness and it all feels a bit overwhelming at the moment, and I’m considering stopping the champix as I feel pretty confident I’m not going to smoke (I think).

I think I was hoping I would be feeling better for quitting sooner and I have felt some positive benefits, my sense of smell and taste improved, I smell sweeter and I have the extra cash in my purse and this has strengthened my resolve to stay quit but it seems that the quit is the only thing I am motivated to do or it’s as if it’s taking up all my energy.

Apologies for the complaining, maybe I just need to get it out, or just suck it up and get on with it.

Kat

[nsd_user663_40680]

hello Kat.

Hi Kat,

First of all well done for reaching the third week milestone, I'm right here with you. Your cough sounds like a real pain especially when you can't shake it off. Don't know a lot about the post nasal drip thing, but I have a feeling in the back of my throat and I find myself clearing my throat a lot more than I used to since giving up and have had a constant head cold (lots of sneezing). I think this is quite common as the body begins to repair itself after years of smoking.

Sorry to hear about your sleep problems, it's not pleasant not waking up feeling refreshed and energetic especially if you have work to go to!. I have had some sleep problems as a side effect of the champix- still having really vivid dreams and waking up really early and finding it difficult to get back to sleep. I've found that taking the second tablet well before bedtime at 5pm has helped here. Luckily for me I'm on mat leave at the minute, but go back to work in four weeks time (DREADING IT) and I know how important is is to get a good night's sleep to be able to function the next day.

Have you thought anymore about coming off the tablets?. I know it would be a big move, but it's good that you feel confident that you wouldn't smoke. Let me know what you decide to do and keep positive. Well done Kat won't be long till we reach the one month point.

Keep positive.

Very best Pammie.

[nsd_user663_40384]

oh hi Kat, i just posted on this too. I'm day 16 and doing ct, but i'm with you on this energy thang...good to at least have some company x

[nsd_user663_41051]

Me too

I've just come into week 3, I'm into my 15th day of no-smoking, and I'm also on the Champix diet. I've had cold symptoms as well, and I'm currently taking antibiotics as I'm coming through a bout of infection in the ear, throat and tooth. Whether this is down to stopping smoking, and now over eating (yay hoping to gain 3 stones by the end of the year) I am still happier knowing I've stopped smoking.

The body will eventually catch up and we'll all feel better for it....

By next year I'm hoping to have a body of an adonis

[nsd_user663_40718]

Thanks

Thanks for the replies

I got a bit teary yesterday evening, but I think it needed to come out as I felt a little bit better afterwards. I shall endeavour to be more patient, after years of poisoning my body it's probably going to take longer than a couple of weeks to heal.

Thanks for the kind words and the knowledge that I'm not the only one, I did feel quite lonely yesterday which made it feel overwhelming.

I didn't take my champix last night or this morning and I feel ok at the moment, I'll just have to wait and see if my own willpower (and stubborness) will prevail. I think it will, I don't want to smoke

Thanks again

Kat

[nsd_user663_41857]

I don't actually understand what the champix do? Lol

I havnt read much about them. But they don't contain nicotine so I would finish the course if I was you. But its obviously your decision x

I'm on to week 3 after tomorrow woooo!!! And I feel absolutely knackered today lol I feel drained!! Hot bath, watch sun sex and suspicious parents with a hot choc then think it will be bed for me tonight! X

[nsd_user663_41051]

Rochelle

Hi Rochelle,

regarding stopping taking Champix part way through the course, this is something you shouldn't do. Yes, Champix doesn't contain nicotine, but what it does do is surpress the dopamine that the brain produces which creates the urge to smoke. Without the urge to smoke, you are less likely to do so. The whole point of quitting smoking is to come off the addictive element of cigarettes - NICOTINE!!! So if Champix does not contain nicotine, and you have less urges to smoke, then surely it is a better option than the nicotine replacements that are out there. Stopping smoking by using patches, gum or sprays that contain nicotine is useless are you are still feeding the body with the drug it is addicted to.

If anyone out there is unable to quit, I would stringly urge you to try Champix. It's amazing. I've done 22 days now with no problems at all. Smoked for 24 years and was smoking 30 cigarettes a day.

[austinlegro 11 Years Smoke Free]

I'm not addicted to nicotine, I'm addicted to smoking.

I love you and I want to have your children...

[nsd_user663_41857]

Hi Rochelle,

regarding stopping taking Champix part way through the course, this is something you shouldn't do. Yes, Champix doesn't contain nicotine, but what it does do is surpress the dopamine that the brain produces which creates the urge to smoke. Without the urge to smoke, you are less likely to do so. The whole point of quitting smoking is to come off the addictive element of cigarettes - NICOTINE!!! So if Champix does not contain nicotine, and you have less urges to smoke, then surely it is a better option than the nicotine replacements that are out there. Stopping smoking by using patches, gum or sprays that contain nicotine is useless are you are still feeding the body with the drug it is addicted to.

If anyone out there is unable to quit, I would stringly urge you to try Champix. It's amazing. I've done 22 days now with no problems at all. Smoked for 24 years and was smoking 30 cigarettes a day.

I know you shouldn't stop part of the way through that is why I said I would carry on through the course if I was her.

Also, I agree with karri, both methods have the same goal. What difference does it make what you use to stop, as long as you stop and stay stopped? Its the psychological side to it which makes you stay stopped.

Also everyone is different. I don't think its right to rubbish what method anyone is using, if someone is using nrt and succeeding, what difference does it make? In 8 weeks or something you have weaned yourself down to tiny mg patches then after those you are free to get on with your life with no addiction. I didn't want the champix as I was worried about the depression, I suffered a bit as a teenager with depression and don't want to feel like that ever again. So if I didn't want the tablets, then I didn't want them. Simple as that.