(Brenda's original post:
I have been smoke free for 16 weeks now but I can not stop chewing the Nicorette and my doctor will not give me a prescription weekly now and I cant stop the craving for a cigarette I have copd and I need thither help I have asked about help via champix but he just states that I cant have them and I don't want to start smoking again I have had 2 x-rays done and they state that my chest is fine but I am having big problems breathing and lots off time off work with chest infections so I am losing lots of money can you please advise me what I should do next
many thanks )
Hi Brenda and welcome to Quit Support 
First of all congratulations on reaching 16 weeks of being smokefree, that is absolutely marvellous 
I'll see that you have your 12 week Winners Badge up against your name
You have posted your queries up on your profile page and it was just by chance that I came across your questions 
So apologies from me for only getting back to you now. I'll pop your query up in a post and our members can then pop on and offer their advice and support to you, you are likely to find that there are others who are going through similar to you and knowing this may help them (and hopefully you) to feel better
Are you receiving any help and support from your local stop smoking service or just from your Doctor? The reason I ask is because you may be missing out on advice regarding behaviour change - this is something that you will get from your local stop smoking service - If you let me know your postcode (in a private message) then I can let you know where the nearest service to you is
We will also offer you as much advice, hints and tips that will enable you to live a smokefree life and get you through your stopping smoking journey
With regards to using the gum - This is a fantastic product, when used correctly and it seems to have helped you so far. Initially, it is recommended to use it on the hour every hour by having a little chew and then just park it at the side of your mouth. Chewing releases the nicotine which is then absorbed through the mucous membrane of your mouth. By over chewing you will release too much nicotine which will then be swallowed - this not only wastes it but is likely to then cause indigestion
Just try and make sure you are not chewing on it constantly. Once you feel better and more confident about your quit - you can then just have a little chew on it as and when you feel the urge to smoke or if you are likely to reach a trigger point at any time soon - so for example, you know that you usually smoke after a meal - this would be the time to have a short chew on your gum
There is no harm in continued use of the gum and if you cannot get a prescription in time before running out, I believe that you can buy it quite cheap (a couple of pounds?) from shops such as Home & Bargains for example.
You have come such a way now, there would really be no point in you using something like Champix - I would recommend that you keep on marching ahead in the direction you are going as you really are doing fantastic
COPD can be such a debilitating disease and by stopping smoking you can slow down the process. However, during the early stages of quitting, some people with COPD may feel that their breathing becomes more difficult. This is only because cigarette smoke has certain chemicals in it that numb and widen their smokers airways - allowing more smoke to travel down into their lungs. This feeling of a tight chest or worsened breathlessness may seem frightening at first but it will become easier, I promise. Once the body starts to repair itself, this will become less of a problem.
As I have already said - you are doing brilliantly and how you are feeling seems to be pretty normal at this stage
Keep us posted on how you are doing
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