I'm a Newbie

[SeahawkUK]

Hi There,

My name is William and I'd like to say hello to all you people who have so much in common with each other and with myself. Smoking...or rather the cessation of it.

I have had a few half hearted attempts before which never really lasted more than a day or two at the most. I have read Allen Carr's Easy Way twice, heard it on audio once, and although a good read (all be it laborious in parts), I was still smoking. I tried vaping and went 6 months without touching a cigarette. That stopped when I was in work and my gizmo broke (I work in the oil and gas industry in remote places with no realistic way of getting a replacement) and I went straight back to cigarettes.

I decided at the end of my rotation and I returned home, not to continue to vape. After all, I figured that I was just swapping one nicotine habit/addiction with another.

A few years ago I tried Champix. I had heard fantastic stories about taking these wonder tablets. Claims like "After taking them, suddenly you don't want to smoke!!!". I decided that I must at least give this a go, and rushed out to purchase this wonder drug (I was in Thailand at the time). I bought a 2 week starter pack and nothing happened. Absolutely nothing at all. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Scratch. Duck Egg. So I discarded that idea.

Then about 5 weeks ago whilst home, I went to my UK doctors and asked to be prescribed Champix. I wanted to give it another go after again reading such positive feedback. The doctor gave me the 2 week starter pack, and just like the time before there was no effect. I went back and he gave me an 8 week supply for when I returned to work.

I have now been taking the tablets, twice a day for about 5.5 weeks and there is an effect going on in my head/body. So much so that I had my last cigarette just before midnight on 24 February 2019. I am now on my second day of being smoke free.

It is not easy and I would be lying if I said I was not struggling, but I am determined this time. I have been reading just about anything on the net regarding withdrawal symptoms and how to combat them. I have learned that the withdrawal symptoms peak around the third day, so I have that to look forward to!

I will keep you posted and really hope that I can crack it this time. I am going to give it my best shot.

William

[dugahole 5 Years Smoke Free]

Hi William, I have been smoke free since last July so around 7 months cold turkey. I smoked for over 45 yrs. It is a struggle and there are side effects of not smoking as well as you will find as you go along the journey. I came on here everyday for a long time before I posted but I just absorbed all the issues the others were going through and told myself this is how it has to be. I got extremely tire, I got depressed, I grieved but I just kept telling myself all the crap is normal and just keep going. Our biggest enemy is our mind and we need to keep telling our minds to stfu!!!!! Just keep trying each day and in a short time you will notice the cravings are not really cravings but very strong thoughts and then keep telling your head you don't smoke. Read all you can and look at all the people on here fighting our demons and stay strong of mind. All the best.

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free]

Welcome SeahawkUK - congrats on 2 days smoke free! We have several members who successfully stopped using champix ranging from 1 year to 3 year milestones The nicotine is only out of your system after 3 days, then the mental battle begins as your mind and body begin the gradual process of rewiring, repairing and recovering. Be ready to attack at all times.

Below is a pinned post worth a read if not already done so:

healthunlocked.com/nosmokin........

Keep in touch when you can

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to RoisinO1]

1 week smoke free now SeahawkUK - how are you getting on?

[SeahawkUK 3 Months Smoke Free in reply to RoisinO1]

Hi Roisin,

Thank you very much for getting in touch to see how I'm getting on.

7 days completed and I am still free from the nicotine monster. I haven't lapsed and hope that I stay strong.

I'm sure the Champix tablets are helping, but the downside is my new found love of chocolate bars (snickers and mars bars). I am definately using them as a sort of crutch and this is putting the weight on which isn't good. Hopefully I can address this after I am confident that I have 100% kicked the habbit.

Ready for week 2 now 🙄😊

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to SeahawkUK]

Good to read SeahawkUK - EVERYONE puts on some amount of weight when they stop as everything tastes and smells so good smoke free 😋🥩🍗🌭🍔🍟🍕🍨🍦🧁🍭🍬🍫 As you mentioned, you can deal with any weight gain when you are stronger in your journey. They say it takes about a year for your metabolism to get back to a person who is a non smoker so don't worry as it is normal.

Wishing you continued strength, you are doing great 💪

[Mummymonster 100 Days Smoke Free]

Hi Seahawk

Congratulations on stopping. Are you able to access more champix?I think you might need a few more weeks supply.

I stopped with champix, and it did help, but it doesn’t entirely protect from the difficulties of stopping.

Having said that, I think that a change in attitude is most important to stay stopped. If we feel we are depriving ourself or missing out, then life will seem bleak. But if we see that we have dodged a bullet, then we can embrace the benefits of a smoke free life.

And boy are there benefits. Cleaner, healthier richer, calmer, better sex!

And I don’t know why cleaner got top billing in that list!

Mmx

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Mummymonster]

Do you not have a 12 week course of the champix SeahawkUK or am I missing something Mummymonster and Seahawk? 🤔

[Mummymonster 100 Days Smoke Free]

As I read it, Seahawk got a 10 week supply, but it took him a little longer to stop, so I wondered if he should go on a bit longer, certainly to 12 weeks. But some places recommend 26 weeks.

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Mummymonster]

Ah yes, well spotted Mummymonster and good idea to get the full 12 weeks and longer if needed 💊