Suggestions for quitting smoking

[buttons-and-bows]

I don't know why i am saving it really just so someone else will get it when I pop my clogs, some people have proved to me time and time again that they are wastrels who deserve nothing as they will just fritter it away, could say more but best zip it I think.

[suesjools]

Thanks for the tip re: lozenges, am getting sick of the patches, they work well, but don't adhere to the skin decently and keep falling off, (no doubt this hot humid weather doesn't help). May just look into the lozenges myself when I run out of patches.

Hang in there Buttons and Kayla and everyone, BIG hugs and kudos to all of us!

[grahamec]

Like papa I stopped when I had a health scare also I was in hospital and I realised that I had been groggy and in bed for three days so as I recovered I thought this a good time to stop as the hard part had been done for me. I gave my hoard of cigs and lighters to various visitors so I would not be tempted and to prepare for my coming home my sons sprayed the whole house with smelly aerosols and everything smelt fresh and smoke free they also threw out all my ashtrays (at least 1 in each room). On returning to work the worst thing was not being part of the smokers group until a young trainee bought me an imitation cig and although they all laughed I could then rejoin the gang with my placebo. That was 12 years ago and I have had holidays, new clothes and things for the house that I never would have afforded if I had kept on smoking. I continued by changing my routine so certain things like making a coffee which was always accompanied by a ciggy was replaced by water or a fruit juice. For days I kept telling myself that I would not take the next cig and before I knew it days would go by without a thought of the dreaded weed.

[suesjools]

Wow, that's great, sounds like you have a lot of willpower, kudos! Hoping to stay smoke free this time; for me the only thing that works is taking it one day at a time, fortunately the patches are great, no nicotine cravings whatsoever. I shudder to think what will happen when I'm weaned off them though, oh well, will worry about that day when it arrives.

Hugs and stay strong,

[buttons-and-bows]

I am going to cut the smallest ones in half sues when I am getting near coming off them as I think the shock didn't help last time. I think i got too stressed out waiting to come off them, mind you that was under the NHS This time i am buying them myself so I can come off when I feel ready and not get told to.
I have put them on my butt or under my bra before now to help keep then on

[Oldandintheway]

Wow great story from grahamec - big congrats to you, happy 12th anniversary.
I'm coming up to my 16th this September.

Good idea's from buttons re keeping patches on - whatever it takes.

sues - "weaned off" is very correct, & a must IMHO.
To that end - I was under the impression that one could buy varying nicotine strength patches?
i.e. 8,6,4,2 mg. (don't quote me on the numbers) - rather than cutting them in size?
I could be wrong?

Either way, don't be in a hurry to get rid of the patches if you feel you're not ready.
Wean off slowly.
Every day your lungs stay smoke free - the better - and the easier it will be to finally stop the patches.

Hang in there, not long to go now - YOU CAN DO IT

[buttons-and-bows]

Wow great story from grahamec - big congrats to you, happy 12th anniversary.
I'm coming up to my 16th this September.

Good idea's from buttons re keeping patches on - whatever it takes.

sues - "weaned off" is very correct, & a must IMHO.
To that end - I was under the impression that one could buy varying nicotine strength patches?
i.e. 8,6,4,2 mg. (don't quote me on the numbers) - rather than cutting them in size?
I could be wrong?

Either way, don't be in a hurry to get rid of the patches if you feel you're not ready.
Wean off slowly.
Every day your lungs stay smoke free - the better - and the easier it will be to finally stop the patches.

Hang in there, not long to go now - YOU CAN DO IT

The patches I use ( niquitin 24 hour patch ) the lowest one is 7 mg, I have tried the nicotinel 16 hour patch that you take off at night and didn't find them as good, but I think they go lower.

[suesjools]

Thanks Old for the suggestion, will do that (cut down gradually with different strength patches) and take it slowly, fast doesn't work so well for me, being the turtle I am. Buttons, thanks for the tip re: adhering the patches, hadn't tried either location you mentioned, just midsection and undersides of arms, will try the other two and see if they work better.

Hugs and stay strong,

[buttons-and-bows]

Thanks Old for the suggestion, will do that (cut down gradually with different strength patches) and take it slowly, fast doesn't work so well for me, being the turtle I am. Buttons, thanks for the tip re: adhering the patches, hadn't tried either location you mentioned, just midsection and undersides of arms, will try the other two and see if they work better.

Hugs and stay strong,

Forgot to say only put the one under your bra under the strap at the back and not on the bust area.

[suesjools]

Forgot to say only put the one under your bra under the strap at the back and not on the bust area.

Thanks, good tip.

Hugs and stay strong,