Kicking the Weed – My experience with CHAMPIX
Discussion
Introduction
Why am I writing this (be warned – very long) post, and hopefully starting this thread? There are three main reasons.
1) The main reason is for me. As suggested by Rugbyman (see his experience here, I think it will help me to have a log of what I have done, to assist me in my goal. Somewhere to refer to when the urge is too much, as I am sure it will be at some point
2) After my first clean day yesterday, without a cigarette (See Day 10 below), I posted my achievement on my facebook status. As well as people liking and commenting on facebook, I had a few smoker friends asking me what I was doing, how I was doing it, keep them informed etc etc. I think my reputation as a smoker precedes me and people were thinking if I could do a day, perhaps they could as well.
3) When doing some research into Champix before starting, I found some very anti-Champix blogs like here, and many positive blogs/forums that had started with people attempting to quit using it, but all of them had never been finished. Some had probably succeeded and not bothered to continue updating. Some had probably failed and so had not continued updating.
So I thought I would start a blog. However I know what I am like, I struggle to keep my other website updated, and this would have gone the same way as those other blogs I found. So I decided to post on PH as if people add to it, I will see it in “my stuff” and will remind me to update. Also PH has a far better hit ratio than any blog I create, so hopefully it will push it to the top of any web search engine if people are looking for info on CHAMPIX!
Background as a smoker
As a child I loved the smell of a freshly lit cigarette (see fears), I always loved it. Both my paternal grandparents smoked (both deceased), and my maternal grandmother smoked (deceased). My maternal grandfather (alive) did smoke but quit in his early 30’s. I am now 35.
As kids we practically lived at my maternal grandparent’s house, who babysat us after school every afternoon. When I was approx 8 years old I stole my first cigarette and a box of matches from my Gran. Me and a mate would go to the woods, and light the cigarette. The taste was horrible, but the smell of the lit cigarette was beautiful. We did it for the smell. This carried on for a few months until we found other ways to get in trouble!
When I reached 13 I started to drink, and smoke. Not every day, but possibly once a month would go out for a binge. By the time I was 14 this was every Friday and Saturday night, as well as smoking on the way to and from school. By 15 I was smoking every day. My parents hated it, but I was a teenager. This made it cooler, and gave me no incentive to give up.
Until Day 10 (below) I have had a cigarette every single day in the past 20 years. This includes overnight hospital visits where I have been known to wheel my drip outside, commandeer a wheelchair to get me outside, and even have my partner arrive with air freshener, a portable ashtray, and a kitchen roll tube so I can blow smoke out of the window!
Longest I have ever achieved without a cigarette is approx 18 hours. Check in at Heathrow, flight to Singapore, clear customs, collect luggage. Finally smoke. Weirdly never even think about a cigarette on a plane, but before I get on it, and after I am off it. I cannot think of anything else.
From the moment I wake up I want a cigarette. Have never smoked in the house, but always go downstairs, in the garden and smoke as soon as I wake up. If I wake in the middle of the night for more than 15 min’s, off I go, downstairs to smoke. I then continue to smoke at every opportunity I get. Just eaten – cigarette. Cup of tea – cigarette. Before I get on motorbike – cigarette. Get off of motorbike – cigarette. You name it – anything I am asked to do, or even want to do, I will have a cigarette before I start, and after I finish. When on holiday with the boys, I will have a cigarette before I get in the shower/get a drink/get dressed etc etc, and then on my way to doing this I will change my mind and go for another cigarette.
I am a proper smoker. Smoking at least 20 cigarettes on a normal day, up to 40 on weekend days, and more than that when on holidays. Any excuse I smoke.........
Why quit?
Just to be clear - I am not giving up because of Money (I think £15 per pack would have been my financial limit), Health (I believe what will be, will be, fate decides this), warnings on cigarettes, hiding behind counter, other horror stories etc etc. None of these reasons are good enough to quit - and I am amazed that successive governments think they will, but that is another story.
The reason I want to give up is all to do with control and power. I am fed up with the power that cigarettes have over me. They control what I do with my life. I cannot choose when to have a cigarette, it is already decided for me.
I am fed up with being in a meeting at work, and clock watching because I have not had my cigarette, going for dinner and leaving the table after each course and leaving my friends sat there, or worse going for a meal with my wife and leaving an empty table there, leaving concerts/sports events and missing things because I HAVE to smoke.
This also attributes to my fear of not succeeding, and qualifies my statement about if I was long term a social smoker only, it would be a success (see below). As long as I was in control, and could determine when I wanted to smoke, it would be a success. The minute I get that feeling when cigarettes determine what happens - I have lost.
Previous attempts to quit
I am not sure that any of my previous attempts were anything other than half hearted, and I know (some) of my attempts at giving up will work for others. So what have I tried over the years?
1) Cutting down – works for a while but never very long
2) Smoke Weaker cigarettes – still smoking the same amount, but arguably reduce some of the risk
3) Alan Carr – I read his book, and understood it. But didn’t make me quit
4) Willpower alone – I just wanted to kill everyone, and moan about not smoking to anyone that would listen. I don’t think I have ever wanted to quit enough for this to happen, and I ended up smoking cigars, which I did not count as smoking!
5) Nicotine Inhaler – I think I used this for long-haul flights when the ban first came in, and not really to give up
6) Nicotine Patches – I could taste the Nicotine all day and it made me crave cigarettes the whole time
7) Nicotine lozenges – These do work. I could replace a cigarette with a lozenge – but I could still smoke with them, but certainly these could help me cut down. Not too keen on the bloatedness and wind though!
Chewing gum is out as it makes me feel sick, and I did consider hypnosis, but after a long telephone call with a hypnotherapist, I think it was clear that it would fail as I did not want it enough.
So with all of the above attempted (half heartedly in some instances) I am still a smoker.
Why Champix?
I have a couple of mates tried Zyban, and I spoke to them about what it involved etc, but both of them were back smoking within a month or two, so I ruled this out as something to try.
I then read the Stephen Fry autobiography in March this year, and every story in his book mentioned cigarettes, and how much he loved them, and was even pipe smoker of the year. His life revolved around smoking, and although it was a different social circle (!) , my life does too. Some of these facts may be wrong, but the gist is that he quit at 50 after 35 years as a smoker, and decided to see if the next 35 years as a non-smoker could be as enjoyable. He mentioned that he used a drug called Champix, and that he had started taking it, and eventually he just stopped smoking. No mention of a more conscious decision than this. Just he stopped smoking, as the drug meant he no longer wanted to smoke. That was about the level of detail it went into.
This little snippet stuck in my mind for weeks, and eventually I decided to do something about it. Knowing that I had a lad’s holiday coming up with 6 out of 8 mates smoking, I knew this would not be an ideal time, but straight after would be, so I booked the appointment at the doctors for the week after I returned.
That is all I knew about Champix at the time.
My goal
My ultimate goal is probably the same as every other (heavy) smoker. I would love to be able to smoke when I want to. I love smoking. I would love to smoke like some of my mates, and my wife does. i.e. when I want to smoke I will, and when I don’t want to smoke - I don’t. I would love to smoke just when I went to the pub, or to friends for dinner, or on the golf course, or only on motorbike trips (see the reasons adding up?)....
If I am honest - this is another smoker’s excuse and I won’t ever be able to do this. If I got to this stage I would not consider I failed – but the minute I ever craved another cigarette, and got those feelings, I would then have failed again.
I cannot risk it. I have to quit for good. If I slip up on an evening out, or any other time. I have to quit immediately again. I cannot be a part time smoker. I am an addict.
So there it is – in black and white – I want to be a non smoker. Or at least for the next 20 years – then I can do a Stephen Fry and have a smoking period of my life, and a non-smoking period.
My fears
1) The number one fear (and this is ridiculous to a non-smoker) is never having another cigarette again. Strange you are thinking of giving up, but the number one fear is never smoking again with a beer, or on golf course, or any other time.
2) This should be number 1 fear. My fear is failing. The fact that I am weaker than a little white cancer stick. I have told the world I am giving up – so I could look very stupid if I don’t succeed.
3) I love the smell of cigarettes. Not dead old smoke – that is rank. But freshly lit cigarettes. I may miss this more than the taste of cigarettes, or any of the other dependencies I have on them.
4) I fear my personality will change. I have smoked for all of my adult life, and a happy, go-lucky, have a laugh sort of guy. I am fearful that by not smoking I may become an anti-smoker. I could be like someone from ASH, some of the worst people on this earth. Before you know it I will be a vegan, and/or a green protestor, driving a Prius. Scares the s
t out of me that I become like this. My friends will hate me, but worse I will hate my friends. I must not let his happen.
I think they are my only fears.......
Why am I writing this (be warned – very long) post, and hopefully starting this thread? There are three main reasons.
1) The main reason is for me. As suggested by Rugbyman (see his experience here, I think it will help me to have a log of what I have done, to assist me in my goal. Somewhere to refer to when the urge is too much, as I am sure it will be at some point
2) After my first clean day yesterday, without a cigarette (See Day 10 below), I posted my achievement on my facebook status. As well as people liking and commenting on facebook, I had a few smoker friends asking me what I was doing, how I was doing it, keep them informed etc etc. I think my reputation as a smoker precedes me and people were thinking if I could do a day, perhaps they could as well.
3) When doing some research into Champix before starting, I found some very anti-Champix blogs like here, and many positive blogs/forums that had started with people attempting to quit using it, but all of them had never been finished. Some had probably succeeded and not bothered to continue updating. Some had probably failed and so had not continued updating.
So I thought I would start a blog. However I know what I am like, I struggle to keep my other website updated, and this would have gone the same way as those other blogs I found. So I decided to post on PH as if people add to it, I will see it in “my stuff” and will remind me to update. Also PH has a far better hit ratio than any blog I create, so hopefully it will push it to the top of any web search engine if people are looking for info on CHAMPIX!
Background as a smoker
As a child I loved the smell of a freshly lit cigarette (see fears), I always loved it. Both my paternal grandparents smoked (both deceased), and my maternal grandmother smoked (deceased). My maternal grandfather (alive) did smoke but quit in his early 30’s. I am now 35.
As kids we practically lived at my maternal grandparent’s house, who babysat us after school every afternoon. When I was approx 8 years old I stole my first cigarette and a box of matches from my Gran. Me and a mate would go to the woods, and light the cigarette. The taste was horrible, but the smell of the lit cigarette was beautiful. We did it for the smell. This carried on for a few months until we found other ways to get in trouble!
When I reached 13 I started to drink, and smoke. Not every day, but possibly once a month would go out for a binge. By the time I was 14 this was every Friday and Saturday night, as well as smoking on the way to and from school. By 15 I was smoking every day. My parents hated it, but I was a teenager. This made it cooler, and gave me no incentive to give up.
Until Day 10 (below) I have had a cigarette every single day in the past 20 years. This includes overnight hospital visits where I have been known to wheel my drip outside, commandeer a wheelchair to get me outside, and even have my partner arrive with air freshener, a portable ashtray, and a kitchen roll tube so I can blow smoke out of the window!
Longest I have ever achieved without a cigarette is approx 18 hours. Check in at Heathrow, flight to Singapore, clear customs, collect luggage. Finally smoke. Weirdly never even think about a cigarette on a plane, but before I get on it, and after I am off it. I cannot think of anything else.
From the moment I wake up I want a cigarette. Have never smoked in the house, but always go downstairs, in the garden and smoke as soon as I wake up. If I wake in the middle of the night for more than 15 min’s, off I go, downstairs to smoke. I then continue to smoke at every opportunity I get. Just eaten – cigarette. Cup of tea – cigarette. Before I get on motorbike – cigarette. Get off of motorbike – cigarette. You name it – anything I am asked to do, or even want to do, I will have a cigarette before I start, and after I finish. When on holiday with the boys, I will have a cigarette before I get in the shower/get a drink/get dressed etc etc, and then on my way to doing this I will change my mind and go for another cigarette.
I am a proper smoker. Smoking at least 20 cigarettes on a normal day, up to 40 on weekend days, and more than that when on holidays. Any excuse I smoke.........
Why quit?
Just to be clear - I am not giving up because of Money (I think £15 per pack would have been my financial limit), Health (I believe what will be, will be, fate decides this), warnings on cigarettes, hiding behind counter, other horror stories etc etc. None of these reasons are good enough to quit - and I am amazed that successive governments think they will, but that is another story.
The reason I want to give up is all to do with control and power. I am fed up with the power that cigarettes have over me. They control what I do with my life. I cannot choose when to have a cigarette, it is already decided for me.
I am fed up with being in a meeting at work, and clock watching because I have not had my cigarette, going for dinner and leaving the table after each course and leaving my friends sat there, or worse going for a meal with my wife and leaving an empty table there, leaving concerts/sports events and missing things because I HAVE to smoke.
This also attributes to my fear of not succeeding, and qualifies my statement about if I was long term a social smoker only, it would be a success (see below). As long as I was in control, and could determine when I wanted to smoke, it would be a success. The minute I get that feeling when cigarettes determine what happens - I have lost.
Previous attempts to quit
I am not sure that any of my previous attempts were anything other than half hearted, and I know (some) of my attempts at giving up will work for others. So what have I tried over the years?
1) Cutting down – works for a while but never very long
2) Smoke Weaker cigarettes – still smoking the same amount, but arguably reduce some of the risk
3) Alan Carr – I read his book, and understood it. But didn’t make me quit
4) Willpower alone – I just wanted to kill everyone, and moan about not smoking to anyone that would listen. I don’t think I have ever wanted to quit enough for this to happen, and I ended up smoking cigars, which I did not count as smoking!
5) Nicotine Inhaler – I think I used this for long-haul flights when the ban first came in, and not really to give up
6) Nicotine Patches – I could taste the Nicotine all day and it made me crave cigarettes the whole time
7) Nicotine lozenges – These do work. I could replace a cigarette with a lozenge – but I could still smoke with them, but certainly these could help me cut down. Not too keen on the bloatedness and wind though!
Chewing gum is out as it makes me feel sick, and I did consider hypnosis, but after a long telephone call with a hypnotherapist, I think it was clear that it would fail as I did not want it enough.
So with all of the above attempted (half heartedly in some instances) I am still a smoker.
Why Champix?
I have a couple of mates tried Zyban, and I spoke to them about what it involved etc, but both of them were back smoking within a month or two, so I ruled this out as something to try.
I then read the Stephen Fry autobiography in March this year, and every story in his book mentioned cigarettes, and how much he loved them, and was even pipe smoker of the year. His life revolved around smoking, and although it was a different social circle (!) , my life does too. Some of these facts may be wrong, but the gist is that he quit at 50 after 35 years as a smoker, and decided to see if the next 35 years as a non-smoker could be as enjoyable. He mentioned that he used a drug called Champix, and that he had started taking it, and eventually he just stopped smoking. No mention of a more conscious decision than this. Just he stopped smoking, as the drug meant he no longer wanted to smoke. That was about the level of detail it went into.
This little snippet stuck in my mind for weeks, and eventually I decided to do something about it. Knowing that I had a lad’s holiday coming up with 6 out of 8 mates smoking, I knew this would not be an ideal time, but straight after would be, so I booked the appointment at the doctors for the week after I returned.
That is all I knew about Champix at the time.
My goal
My ultimate goal is probably the same as every other (heavy) smoker. I would love to be able to smoke when I want to. I love smoking. I would love to smoke like some of my mates, and my wife does. i.e. when I want to smoke I will, and when I don’t want to smoke - I don’t. I would love to smoke just when I went to the pub, or to friends for dinner, or on the golf course, or only on motorbike trips (see the reasons adding up?)....
If I am honest - this is another smoker’s excuse and I won’t ever be able to do this. If I got to this stage I would not consider I failed – but the minute I ever craved another cigarette, and got those feelings, I would then have failed again.
I cannot risk it. I have to quit for good. If I slip up on an evening out, or any other time. I have to quit immediately again. I cannot be a part time smoker. I am an addict.
So there it is – in black and white – I want to be a non smoker. Or at least for the next 20 years – then I can do a Stephen Fry and have a smoking period of my life, and a non-smoking period.
My fears
1) The number one fear (and this is ridiculous to a non-smoker) is never having another cigarette again. Strange you are thinking of giving up, but the number one fear is never smoking again with a beer, or on golf course, or any other time.
2) This should be number 1 fear. My fear is failing. The fact that I am weaker than a little white cancer stick. I have told the world I am giving up – so I could look very stupid if I don’t succeed.
3) I love the smell of cigarettes. Not dead old smoke – that is rank. But freshly lit cigarettes. I may miss this more than the taste of cigarettes, or any of the other dependencies I have on them.
4) I fear my personality will change. I have smoked for all of my adult life, and a happy, go-lucky, have a laugh sort of guy. I am fearful that by not smoking I may become an anti-smoker. I could be like someone from ASH, some of the worst people on this earth. Before you know it I will be a vegan, and/or a green protestor, driving a Prius. Scares the s
t out of me that I become like this. My friends will hate me, but worse I will hate my friends. I must not let his happen.I think they are my only fears.......
Edited by Fats25 on Monday 6th June 17:30
CHAMPIX – the experience – Cessation Appointment
So I was all booked in for my cessation appointment on 18th May 2011. I expected to have to fight to get put on the Champix program, as I had looked into the price of it, and thought my local authority may not cover the cost of this. However it appears I was a perfect candidate from what the nurse asked.
She then explained that Champix was designed as an anti-depressant, and if I was ever depressed then I should not take it. She explained some of the most common side effects, feeling sick after taking the tablet, and strange dreams. She claimed a success rate in her clinic of over 90% with Champix, and gave me some stories to take away. She claimed a few people have had to stop taking the drug due to excessive sickness, and one person that had a rash. She said to read the warnings when I receive the drugs.
I was to collect the tablets on 21st May 2011, take them as prescribed, and my last smoking day would be Sunday 29th May 2011. To give up on Monday 30th May 2011.
I was in...........
So I was all booked in for my cessation appointment on 18th May 2011. I expected to have to fight to get put on the Champix program, as I had looked into the price of it, and thought my local authority may not cover the cost of this. However it appears I was a perfect candidate from what the nurse asked.
She then explained that Champix was designed as an anti-depressant, and if I was ever depressed then I should not take it. She explained some of the most common side effects, feeling sick after taking the tablet, and strange dreams. She claimed a success rate in her clinic of over 90% with Champix, and gave me some stories to take away. She claimed a few people have had to stop taking the drug due to excessive sickness, and one person that had a rash. She said to read the warnings when I receive the drugs.
I was to collect the tablets on 21st May 2011, take them as prescribed, and my last smoking day would be Sunday 29th May 2011. To give up on Monday 30th May 2011.
I was in...........
False Alert
Saturday 21st May arrived, and I built myself up and went to the chemist to collect my new wonder tablets. They were not there, and the surgery was closed. So back to square 1.
Eventually collected the drugs on Monday 23rd May 2011, and started on Tuesday 24th May 2011 (Day1). Final smoking day to be Wednesday 1st June 2011. First non-smoking day Thursday June 2nd 2011 (Day 10)
Saturday 21st May arrived, and I built myself up and went to the chemist to collect my new wonder tablets. They were not there, and the surgery was closed. So back to square 1.
Eventually collected the drugs on Monday 23rd May 2011, and started on Tuesday 24th May 2011 (Day1). Final smoking day to be Wednesday 1st June 2011. First non-smoking day Thursday June 2nd 2011 (Day 10)
Days 1 – 3
You start with 1 x 0.5mg tablet, ONCE a day.
I made a decision after reading the leaflet with the medication, that the piece about drowsiness would not be great on a 160mph motorbike to work. So decided I would take first table of day when I arrived at work.
I took the tablet, and felt my head go a bit “woolly” – made a few mistakes with words, and memory was a bit distorted, but was all liveable with. Felt like a very weak LSD trip I suppose, best way I could describe it. Also very hungry.
By the time I got home my body was aching. Felt like when you have an afternoon drinking session, and then get home and stop drinking, and watch tv. Felt a bit crap. No weird dreams (or no weirder than usual), sleeping fine, but struggling to get up next morning.
Still smoking 20 a day. Although by day 3 was becoming conscious of smoking, and even starting to let some cigarettes put themselves out, or thrown away half smoked.
You start with 1 x 0.5mg tablet, ONCE a day.
I made a decision after reading the leaflet with the medication, that the piece about drowsiness would not be great on a 160mph motorbike to work. So decided I would take first table of day when I arrived at work.
I took the tablet, and felt my head go a bit “woolly” – made a few mistakes with words, and memory was a bit distorted, but was all liveable with. Felt like a very weak LSD trip I suppose, best way I could describe it. Also very hungry.
By the time I got home my body was aching. Felt like when you have an afternoon drinking session, and then get home and stop drinking, and watch tv. Felt a bit crap. No weird dreams (or no weirder than usual), sleeping fine, but struggling to get up next morning.
Still smoking 20 a day. Although by day 3 was becoming conscious of smoking, and even starting to let some cigarettes put themselves out, or thrown away half smoked.
Days 4-7
Dose-age upped to 1 x 0.5mg tablet TWICE a day
Had a couple of days of taking the 2nd tablet when I was back home from work, and going straight to bed for an hour. Was really starting to play with my mind a bit. Decided that I would continue with the drugs but, when I stop smoking I want to get off of these drugs ASAP.
Also now not hungry at all, but when eating am really enjoying my food.
During this period I began experimenting with cutting down. I managed to leave the house without smoking one day. I managed to delay a cigarette after a meal for at least two hours, I managed to get off of motorbike and delay a cigarette for at least two hours. I managed three pints without a cigarette (normally 1 x pint = 1 x cigarette). I played 18 holes of golf for first time in my life (with 2 smokers) and never smoked.
I managed all of the tasks set – but was still smoking 15/20 cigarettes a day. Admittedly most of them were half cigarettes with exception of first one of the day (before drug taken) and last in evening before bed.
Dose-age upped to 1 x 0.5mg tablet TWICE a day
Had a couple of days of taking the 2nd tablet when I was back home from work, and going straight to bed for an hour. Was really starting to play with my mind a bit. Decided that I would continue with the drugs but, when I stop smoking I want to get off of these drugs ASAP.
Also now not hungry at all, but when eating am really enjoying my food.
During this period I began experimenting with cutting down. I managed to leave the house without smoking one day. I managed to delay a cigarette after a meal for at least two hours, I managed to get off of motorbike and delay a cigarette for at least two hours. I managed three pints without a cigarette (normally 1 x pint = 1 x cigarette). I played 18 holes of golf for first time in my life (with 2 smokers) and never smoked.
I managed all of the tasks set – but was still smoking 15/20 cigarettes a day. Admittedly most of them were half cigarettes with exception of first one of the day (before drug taken) and last in evening before bed.
Day 8-9
Dose-age upped to 2 x 1.0mg tablet TWICE a day
On Day 8 I took my first tablet and felt really rough. Really tired, although still sleeping well (still struggling to get up). It felt too strong for me. I persevered got home and went to bed. Had weird dream where wife caught me howling like a werewolf and claiming lesbian vampires were coming to get me. I wish I could remember more!
Smoked 10 cigarettes that day. I bought 10 in the morning and forced them all down.
On Day 9 I forgot to take tablet at time I should, and I felt rough. Almost like withdrawal from the Champix. A bit concerning for when I come off them. Really decided I should get off the tablets ASAP after giving up. Took tablet in the evening.
At this stage I could see how I could do it, and was fairly positive. I honestly believe if my quit day ad been a few more days I would have quit unconsciously. Or was I just thinking like a smoker to delay my quit day? Decided it was today or I would keep making excuses.
Smoked 7 cigarettes that day. Including my last cigarette at 21:45 on 1st June 2011.
Dose-age upped to 2 x 1.0mg tablet TWICE a day
On Day 8 I took my first tablet and felt really rough. Really tired, although still sleeping well (still struggling to get up). It felt too strong for me. I persevered got home and went to bed. Had weird dream where wife caught me howling like a werewolf and claiming lesbian vampires were coming to get me. I wish I could remember more!
Smoked 10 cigarettes that day. I bought 10 in the morning and forced them all down.
On Day 9 I forgot to take tablet at time I should, and I felt rough. Almost like withdrawal from the Champix. A bit concerning for when I come off them. Really decided I should get off the tablets ASAP after giving up. Took tablet in the evening.
At this stage I could see how I could do it, and was fairly positive. I honestly believe if my quit day ad been a few more days I would have quit unconsciously. Or was I just thinking like a smoker to delay my quit day? Decided it was today or I would keep making excuses.
Smoked 7 cigarettes that day. Including my last cigarette at 21:45 on 1st June 2011.
Day 10
This was yesterday.......... My first day in 20 years where I did not smoke. I got myself ready for work in record time, left house, got into office and took tablet.
Was absolutely fine up until 10:30. I then started to freak a bit. Almost a panic attack. Real craving for cigarette, wanted to kill someone – anyone. Took myself for a walk and bought some Chupa Chups, and have a couple of Cafe Nero Hot chocolates.
Had another bad spell mid to late afternoon, but got through it with my lolly! Treated me and my wife to fast food last night and got to bed for 22:00.
What an achievement! I did a day of not smoking............... posted it on facebook. All in all was not that difficult – a bit of an anticlimax if anything! Was that it?
Also I had no weird experiences from the drug. Perhaps part of the design to make you quit? Make it bad when you smoke with it, but ok when you don’t?
This was yesterday.......... My first day in 20 years where I did not smoke. I got myself ready for work in record time, left house, got into office and took tablet.
Was absolutely fine up until 10:30. I then started to freak a bit. Almost a panic attack. Real craving for cigarette, wanted to kill someone – anyone. Took myself for a walk and bought some Chupa Chups, and have a couple of Cafe Nero Hot chocolates.
Had another bad spell mid to late afternoon, but got through it with my lolly! Treated me and my wife to fast food last night and got to bed for 22:00.
What an achievement! I did a day of not smoking............... posted it on facebook. All in all was not that difficult – a bit of an anticlimax if anything! Was that it?
Also I had no weird experiences from the drug. Perhaps part of the design to make you quit? Make it bad when you smoke with it, but ok when you don’t?
Day 11
This is today - the day I started this blog/forum entry......
Woke up absolutely gagging for a cigarette. Took tablet early as working from home, so no motorbike requirements. Managed to get through to this stage with no cigarette so far. Still nowhere near as good an appetite as normal.
Rest of day involves working from home, playing 18 holes of golf, and a few beers after golf. This will be a real test. .........................
This is today - the day I started this blog/forum entry......
Woke up absolutely gagging for a cigarette. Took tablet early as working from home, so no motorbike requirements. Managed to get through to this stage with no cigarette so far. Still nowhere near as good an appetite as normal.
Rest of day involves working from home, playing 18 holes of golf, and a few beers after golf. This will be a real test. .........................
Fats25 said:
Day 11
This is today - the day I started this blog/forum entry......
Woke up absolutely gagging for a cigarette. Took tablet early as working from home, so no motorbike requirements. Managed to get through to this stage with no cigarette so far. Still nowhere near as good an appetite as normal.
Rest of day involves working from home, playing 18 holes of golf, and a few beers after golf. This will be a real test. .........................
Great news about your wife giving up to ......you guys can support ( or kill ) each other .... Vixen1700 and his OH both gave up nearly 5 months ago ( see quitting for New Year thread ) and are both going strong This is today - the day I started this blog/forum entry......
Woke up absolutely gagging for a cigarette. Took tablet early as working from home, so no motorbike requirements. Managed to get through to this stage with no cigarette so far. Still nowhere near as good an appetite as normal.
Rest of day involves working from home, playing 18 holes of golf, and a few beers after golf. This will be a real test. .........................
Tough day yesterday (day 11). As above I worked from home, played golf, and went for beers.
I got through the days work ok with no real issues, was not too bad.
Played golf with a non-smoking mate who has had his own (other) addictions in the past and we spoke about this on the way round and he was very supportive. Really was not that difficult. It helps that all of the golf I have played as a non smoker have been better than my previous recent rounds as a non smoker!
Then came the pub. A whole diffent ball game. Firstly the positive, beer tastes better without cigarettes. No doubt about that. One pint was ok. Second pint the demons started. Could I have one cigarette? One cigarette with a beer will be ok won't it? This continued for pint 4, 5 and 6. I them decided to leave before the alcohol/cigarette beat me!
Interestingly the smokers that were out with me were really considerate. Walking away when smoking. The non smokers were the piss taking wind ups......... I didn't expect that.
So back home by 2200 but still no smoking for the day. Up to 60 hours without it now.
My next goal is to get through my first weekend, so next update after this.
I got through the days work ok with no real issues, was not too bad.
Played golf with a non-smoking mate who has had his own (other) addictions in the past and we spoke about this on the way round and he was very supportive. Really was not that difficult. It helps that all of the golf I have played as a non smoker have been better than my previous recent rounds as a non smoker!
Then came the pub. A whole diffent ball game. Firstly the positive, beer tastes better without cigarettes. No doubt about that. One pint was ok. Second pint the demons started. Could I have one cigarette? One cigarette with a beer will be ok won't it? This continued for pint 4, 5 and 6. I them decided to leave before the alcohol/cigarette beat me!
Interestingly the smokers that were out with me were really considerate. Walking away when smoking. The non smokers were the piss taking wind ups......... I didn't expect that.
So back home by 2200 but still no smoking for the day. Up to 60 hours without it now.
My next goal is to get through my first weekend, so next update after this.
My experience with champix seem to mirror yours. Lack of appetite , sleep patterns disrupted and no weird dreams. Into week 6 and doing fine. A little worried about how I will feel at the end of week 12 when I finish with the champix.
I have to say I have very little in the way of willpower. So it really is a miracle cure .
Would really like to hear from somebody who has given up using champix.
I have to say I have very little in the way of willpower. So it really is a miracle cure .
Would really like to hear from somebody who has given up using champix.
Jas....I am a totally committed smoker! Patterns very similar to Fats. Couple of years ago I packed up for 6 months using Champix and all was very rosy. Sadly put on 3 stone however....Now lost it! But I did start again after 6 months, so will attempt again soon, when I can get my head round it.
Fats....As I said via PM I really had to try and avoid the beer when I packed it in. It all seems so easy but then the poxy demons kick in!
Fats....As I said via PM I really had to try and avoid the beer when I packed it in. It all seems so easy but then the poxy demons kick in!
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