Hello to you all

[44cmn]

Shaun here saying hello to you all. I'm into month 2, though only just ! It's been great to read all your comments and words of support to each other.

[Hidden]

Hi Shaun. Well done on your 2 months quit. Have you used anything to help you stop smoking? NRT or an e-cig or anything.

[44cmn]

Hello Sin free and thanks for the welcome.

I did use Champix for a few days but the dreams I was having were just crazy. Not scary but absolutely mad. So mad I couldn't sleep and therefore stopped the Champix before I stopped the fags. Since then I've not used any nrt and it's been ok, hard but ok

[Hidden in reply to 44cmn]

That's brilliant Shaun, going cold turkey really is the best way to quit, cos that's it, once you're over the cravings and the bad stuff your recovery is so much quicker than dragging it out with other nicotine products. It probably wasn't the Champix causing the dreams, just about everyone seems to go through the dreaming stage, though I can't honestly remember doing myself but its very rare that I ever dream. I started out with Champix and I really wasn't overly impressed with it, it gave me a really bad stomach and back ache for some reason. But........still addicted to nicotine 14 months down the line though haven't smoked any cigs since April last year. If you've got to 2 months without using any NRT am sure you're well on your way now to being a non smoker -

[monky Administrator Cake eater in reply to 44cmn]

Hi ya Shaun, its great to see you here pal and a great big well done for getting to 2 months quit

Hmmm, yes champix is ermmmm, lets just say strong, and not for everybody Shaun, I take my hat off to you for getting to where you have got, and that is smoke free

Thank you for letting us know how you are feeling and good luck in the months/ Years to come

Pete

[yellowsnowdrop]

Well done on the 2 months.You're doing amazingly well.I think you get to the stage where you just won't want to go back and I think you're probably nearly there.

I used an ECig for the first few months, it helped me a LOT.I'm quite happily nicotine free now but not so good is I have another chest infection (my 3rd since I quit) probably my lungs still trying to get rid of 38yrs of soot!!!! Keep going,just so very very worth it.

[ChrissieG in reply to yellowsnowdrop]

Hi Helen, how are you???? It's so lovely to see you again

Helen do you mind me asking you something (I'm sorry to be a pest) at what stages did you cut down on the nicotine in your e-cig?

I've been thinking that perhaps I should start cutting down now, but I'm also scared that it may be too soon and I don't want to mess up my progress. At the same time, my triggers and cravings have reduced dramatically now so I'm wondering if I should test myself a bit!

I hope you don't mind me asking?

[Hidden in reply to ChrissieG]

Just get some lower strength and try it, you can always go back to the one you're on now. I use 24mg but I've used 16mg too and can't honestly say I could tell much difference other than I thought the flavour wasn't quite as strong.

[ChrissieG in reply to Hidden]

Hi Sin, thank you for that. I think I will try and get the lower strength this week and give it a try. I did plan to just use the lozenges that I bought instead of the e-cig but I keep forgetting to do that! xx

[Hidden in reply to ChrissieG]

hmm, well can only go off my own experience but I'd stick with the e-cig and leave them lozenges alone. I've been off the lozenges since end of Feb but it's been hard and I am sat here now sucking an Asda menthol throat lozenge cos I just can't lose the habit of sucking something.

[ChrissieG]

Hi Shaun, it's so lovely to meet you and massive congratulations on stopping smoking and reaching over a month - wow that's fantastic!!!! (You must let Adviser EmJay know your quit date so she can add you to the wall of winners!)

You are doing really well so how are you feeling now? You must be feeling so happy and so proud of yourself and do you feel better for reaching over a month?

You must keep in touch because I/we would love to know how you're getting on! Plus we can give you loads of support if you are having a tricky day

Best wishes

Chrissie

[44cmn]

Wow. What a welcome, thanks

Well I stopped smoking on Thursday 6th of February after far too many years of puffing away up to twenty a day. I took up running in January and the smoking was getting me down as I was actually having a smoke before and after exercising, bizarre really. I'd also noticed that nipping out for a smoke was not a pleasure but a chore so I took the plunge.

It has been tough on times, last weekends boys trip to Benidorm for golf and giggles was a challenge. I stuck with it though and felt really pleased not having " just one". I know I can't have "just one" if I do I'll be straight back on them so just got to get through the urges and enjoy the good times of not buying and smoking cigarettes

[Hidden in reply to 44cmn]

haha, that made me laugh, the having a smoke before and after a run. That was me on a bike. Always had a cig before I went out, then one when I go to my destination, then one when I got home, though the one when I got home had to wait a while til I got my breath back. The things we did as smokers, and years ago I'd go to the gym then light up when I came out.

[ChrissieG in reply to Hidden]

Sin you are soooooo funny! Although I must admit that I used to light up as soon as I left the gym as well!

[Hidden in reply to ChrissieG]

It was the worst when I've gone to organised bike rides, like Skyride and the Great Manchester Cycle, I must have been the only person who smoked, used to feel quite conspicuous, still did it though.

[ChrissieG]

Sorry when you said into month 2 I thought that meant you had just completed month 1 WOW WOW WOW that's even more impressive, you really are doing well! Especially considering your weekend with the lads - that really is amazing!

I am on Day 14 of my stop and I have to say, not buying cigarettes is one of my greatest pleasures during all of this. it actually gives me a thrill to visit the local shop for milk and just buy milk!

I bet you can feel the difference with your running as well

[44cmn]

It is lovely to be able to pay for petrol without automatically saying " and twenty Lambert Silver please "

I have noticed a small increase in stamina but I did have a very bad chest infection that kept me off work. Coughing, coughing and more coughing. Thankfully the Penicillin cleared it up very quickly.

[Hidden in reply to 44cmn]

In my experience it takes quite some time before you notice the effects of stopping smoking on your stamina during exercise. In fact it tends to get worse after about 3 months but it does pick up eventually and then you can tell the difference.

[Mindermummy]

Same here..smoked on way to gym and way back...crazy really! Hi there...Congratulations on 2 months..I'm also on day 14 like chrisisie.. I have experienced the oddest and most wierd dreams ever in the last two weeks....and massive problems in sleeping!! And I'm not taking champix. So think it's part of it. X

[44cmn in reply to Mindermummy]

Thanks and the dreams !! Strangest one was me being chased by my pillow around Morrisons. When the pillow caught me he would try and choke me. Really vivid and very real. Thankfully the mad dreams have stopped now

[Mindermummy in reply to 44cmn]

HA HA...that is random!!! Yep...mine have been just as odd!!

[ChrissieG in reply to Mindermummy]

Hi Mummy, it's Day 14 Chick!!!!!!! How was your weekend and how are you doing? xxx

[Mindermummy in reply to ChrissieG]

Im good thanks...its going OK!! Sounds like your ok too...I would not give up nic too soon thou...take your time.xx

Day 15 now...wow...when do we get our first badge one month!!?? My other half said when I get to 6 months he will buy me something nice..bless him so working my way to that 6 months now!! Been putting the money I would of spent into a jar too and gonna treat myself at some point!!

[yellowsnowdrop]

I ALWAYS had a,cig as soon as I left the gym,had a whole step class banging on the gym window once (+ instructor) standing in my gym stuff puffing away.Practice nurse said she'd never heard anything so stupid,filling your lungs with good oxygen at the gym and then lighting up !!

Chrissie,

I think maybe it's far too early to be thinking of cutting down on nicotine just yet.I went in about 5 week increments so I started on the highest I could and in 15 weeks Was down to zero,went on 6mg again for about 24hrs before I had my back surgery and then nothing after that,ECig is in the kitchen cupboard now.I quit on 9th Sept and was nic free by 6th Jan.As I've said before it worked for me but not for others.I have no flashing neon sign saying I'm nicotine free and you get no prizes for going too early.Don't jump before you're ready 2 weeks is brilliant but it's VERY early days.Please also remember that I had a point to prove as if I hadn't quit my surgery probably would n' t have been done as the graft would n' t have taken.My surgeon didn't think I could do it so I set out to prove him wrong.Stay strong.H x

[ChrissieG in reply to yellowsnowdrop]

Ah thank you so much Helen. I was worried that perhaps I was getting "over confident" as it was so soon after stopping. If I can get to the shop I will buy the lower level but I've got plenty of the higher level to keep me going, I was not expecting the liquids to last so long! I think I'm using the e-cig more like a dummy now though so maybe if I cut that down a bit instead of the liquid that would help. Thanks again xxx

[yellowsnowdrop]

No problemo !!! All I ask is that you don't get too confident and think that you can manage without and then find you're stuck really wanting a cig.On the other hand nicotine is addictive but it honestly sounds like you're managing REALLY well.My Ecig was with me constantly for the first couple of weeks.I worried that I would never manage without it.The absolute worst for me was going from 6mg to zero, that hurt quite a bit. On the funny side, my surgeon is a bit of eye candy, he's Turkish I think but just lovely.He always gives me a hug when we see him but last time he asked if I was still off the cigs ( think he thought I would say no) and when I said yes I got an extra hug !!!!! Just sssssssooooo worth it for that alone.I might be getting on but aren't so old that I can't appreciate a hug from a hunky surgeon!!Hubby thinks it's hysterical.

[Briarwood Administrator LONG TERM WINNER in reply to yellowsnowdrop]

Hi yellowsnowdrop just reading your comment about the Turkish surgeon gave me a laugh, so thanks for that. Enjoy reading other peoples comments to keep me going. I go to the gym and then have a swim and the minute I got in the car, after all the good stuff, I then used to light up. My doctor was at me for years to give them up as I have very high cholesterol. She will be very happy when I have my next blood test, hopefully it will make a difference. It's early days for me yet but I really want to stay smoke free. The best bit so far is not smelling of smoke but it's not all a bed of roses by anymeans

[yellowsnowdrop]

Briarwood (what a lovely screen name!!) How far on are you in your quit journey ? Your doc will be over the moon that you've managed to stop, that in itself is quite an achievement, just sad that he's not Hunky and Turkish (I don't know this for a fact tho, he might be!!) Glad I made you smile. I've been extremely lucky in my surgeon, he's really one in a million who looks after me extremely well, he even phoned me when my surgery date got postponed for the 2nd time.Giving up is definately NO bed of roses but very very worth it in the long run, not just financially but health wise it's the only way to go.Cigs will be too expensive for most people soon I think tho as I've said to others when i first started smoking 20 Benson and Hedges was about 75p !!!

[Briarwood Administrator LONG TERM WINNER in reply to yellowsnowdrop]

Thanks, yellowsnowdrop is a beautiful flower and I'm betting you are a beautiful person. It's day 28 for me and having smoked for 43 years, I'm very happy I made the decision to quit. I'm also very happy to have help from this community. I think it makes a big difference to know I'm not alone. So thanks for that because I think there is a long road ahead of me yet.