Help!

[Hayleymarie]

I quit smoking very recently, 1day 17 hours and 55mins to be exact! I've tried using no nrt but I'm finding it extremely difficult. I have an electronic cigarette but would like some advice about wether I should use it or not. Is it cheating? Please help, it's driving me insane!

[andi22]

Hi there Hayleymarie and welcome. Firstly, congratulations on making that first leap. I'm just starting week 6 and I went down the cold turkey route (i.e. no nrt etc) and I'm still surviving! I had considered getting one of those electronic ciggies but for me decided that it was all or nothing cos I didn't want to be then bothered about weaning myself off whatever the replacement was. It was really tough for the first few days. I found that when I sat down I sat on my hands and I was permanently jittery but knew it was something that had to be got through. I would also eat mints (still do) and shout and talk to myself (only indoors in private as didn't want the men in white coats coming! )

If you feel that the elecronic ciggie would help you then I'm sure that would be fine.

The biggest help for me though was finding this site and joining in the daily chat and we all help each other out and have a laugh along the way. Have a read through some of the old stuff and you can see some of the stuff we've all been through and then join in with us.

I'm sure that tomorrow one of the Quit support team will be in contact, probably Claire as Emjay has just gone on her hols.

Anyway, hang in there and stay strong cos you CAN do it and you've already taken the biggest step and don't forget that we're all here for you.

Andi

[monky Administrator Cake eater]

Hi Hayleymarie, it's nice to see you here, my names Pete and i'm using patches to help me.

If you go to the archives, and click onto Emjays blogs you might find some usefull help on there!!

Or if you go onto my blogs - there is a snacking blog, that might help you, because it seems that we all snack on something !!

Speak again soon

Pete

[Hayleymarie]

Thank you so much guys :D! It's so nice to know that I'm not doing this by myself and others know how I feel! The jittery part is getting to me at the moment, I feel like a four year old at Christmas haha! Thanks for the help and support and I look forward to getting to know you all better and hopefully I will be able to help you as much as you have helped me! (even just writing this I have calmed down so much!)

Speak again soon

Hayley

[helena84]

Hi Hayley

My name is Helen and I am a stop smoking advisor, i can tell straight away by you counting the minutes how jittery you must be feeling. In terms of the electronic cigarette we dont usually recommend them because actually it is still reminding you of smoking and not actually changing any behaviour. However I do think you may need to use some sort of Nicotine replacment therepy (NRT).

By all means if you feel that you can continue going cold turkey then do so but what we dont want to happen is for you to give in and pick up a cigarette. There are lots of different methods out there to help you stop smoking, if possible it would be best if you could access your local stop smoking service, that way you will also be offered the support you need to help you through your quit attempt.

I am here if you need to ask me any questions you may have or anything I can advise on. In the meantime it will get easier, yes you will get cravings but try to keep your mind occupied and remember it should only last for a few minutes. Fresh orange juice is great for cravings and things like cold grapes to keep in the fridge are a good one also!

Keep strong, you can do it!

Helen

[Finley2012 30 Months Winner]

Hi HayleyMarie. I'm using patches and inhalators (both NRT products provided by my local NHS stop smoking service). In terms of whether it's cheating, no, in my view. Some people prefer cold turkey, others use NRT. As I see it we're all on a journey to the same destination (ie becoming non smokers) but might need to use different types of transport to get there. Take advice from the advisors on here and/or your local NHS stop smoking service. You deserve the support you need. Keep going, you're doing a great thing for yourself and everyone around you x

[Hayleymarie]

Hello Helen!

Thank you for you advice! The idea of the e-ciggie puts me off as I want to break the habit of holding a cigarette aswel! I'm eating alot (like really alot lol!) more and snacking which I'm going to have to get out of too. Thanks for being there for us! It does make me feel better getting on here and having a chat to people who understand. The woman who uses the desk opposite me in work kept telling me to have a cigarette today and I actually screamed at her haha! I did appologise but also told her to leave me alone if she wasn't going to be supportive!

Hi Finley, I think I will have to join you in using nrt. I don't feel as if I have enough will power to do this on my own! I keep an e-cig nearby so if I do get too overwhelmed I won't reach for a real cig but I think I will go see my GP for sor patches or gum etc!

Thank you all for being there, I appreciate all the help your giving me and I hope I can be there for you all too!

X

[jarvo]

Hi Hayley

A fesh new day, how are you feeling? You're doing brilliantly

I see you've had lots ofinformation and advice given to you already but if you need anything further please SHOUT and either Helen or myself will get back to you.

Well done

[shoegirl 30 Months Winner]

Shoe Girl here: I stopped smoking on Mother's Day.What helps me is counting the amount of bad puppies that I have NOT smoked. As of today 360!!!!! Your support is very helpful