Day 3 on patch

[lotustea]

I am on day 3 with no cigarettes- 20 year habit pack a day. Im on the patch. I had one serious craving last night -- I went out and ran around with my dog and chewed a cinnamon toothpick. I have been in a stop smoking program for a few weeks planning this. Got off to a bad start due to drinking so now I am not drinking (this week at least then Ill decide). I just started having a hard time breathing and coughing up stuff a couple times at night and when I woke up- anybody have experience with this?

[historyteach]

It's a good sign that you're coughing up stuff.
Your body is cleaning out itself from all the crap you've put in it over the years.
Don't worry; it's perfectly normal.
But, it's also cold and flu season, so,
if you get a fever, get to the doctors! LOL!
I have a sinus infection, so, I know of what I speak, lol!

You're doing great!
Behavior changes - running with the dog to get rid of a craving;
Cinnamon sticks help with cravings too and also a mild way to end hunger, (often a problem with a new quit);
And laying off the booze for a bit in the beginning too. Drinking lowers our inhibitions and is also a big trigger for a sickarette.
So, keep up the good work, lotustea!
I'm proud of you!

Come join us on the daily support thread, too!

Shalom!

[Bjen]

You're a day ahead of me, I have 2 days on the patch. I went to the store last night and loaded up with suckers and life savers and mints. The kids checked my purse when I got home to make sure I didn't have smokes. I told the cashier I quit too so we talked about it a while. She gave me more motivation in telling me they are supposed to go up another dollar a pack in april. Guess I picked a good time.

I noticed yesterday I coughed a bit of junk up too. But I also noticed I didn't choke when I laughed really hard and today I haven't had to cough much at all!!

Now, not eating all the time.....my next challenge.

[lotustea]

Bjen I can relate to that not having to cough good feeling. Seems like every time I laugh these days it turns into a cough and that cant be good for happiness!
I am afraid I gave in to a big craving. Ive been down or tired or just even these last 4 days of quitting and then bam I had this great day where my old energy was back and work things were opening up to me etc... It overwhelmed me- I am not good at handling success unfortunately. I fought the craving with all my no smoking props but in the end just gave in. Frustrating! Well I am back on the wagon today- I am going to keep on.

[Bjen]

Well at least you got back on, that's the important part. Hang in there! It's a day at a time right? Ugh

[getr345]

I got just as hooked on the patch as I was to smoking because for me smoking (and patching) was all about nicotine and my physical addiction to it. I did not smoke because I enjoyed it, in fact I hated it but I was addicted, so I would alternate between periods of smoking and periods of wearing the patch. If you combine them, you will feel very sick. Good luck, you've taken the first step but the real work lies ahead, and by that I mean breaking the addiction to nicotine, and that can only be done by gritting your teeth and dealing with the temporary discomfort of withdrawal and by never putting nicotine in your body again.

Good luck!!

[lotustea]

How do you mean it makes you sick to smoke and alternate with the patch? I quit 2 weeks ago but have slipped up twice (took the patch off for those).I cant believe I did 8 whole days without ciggeretes after so many years. The down side is that I had 10 cigerettes tonight. I have struggled and won all week but tonight I was sitting in my studio feeling down about my weight and money and just tired too without realizing it and thought to myself that I should just have a wine and cig night- so I drove to the store and did just that -- guilt feelings coming up the whole time. Good thing is usually on a night like this I would just smoke the whole pack. I am kind of a serial smoker like that.
WHen I quit I had this great day where I scoured my house and made everythig shiny and new and took the day off to kind of lay around and relax and enjoy and consider the fact that I am starting afresh. I never realized how much smoking affected not only the way I feel physically but the way I feel inside too and how I feel about myself.
Also smoking just got to feel like an involuntary action almost- like breathing. Two years ago I beat a drug addiction and boy does that ever make you take a look at your life. I am realizing Cigarettes also have this addictive control over my life and I am not liking the fact! I dont want to be addicted to anything anymore. This makes me really want to carry through. I just wish I had more quit time behind me.

[historyteach]

Remember the acronym HALT -- hunger, anger, lonly and tired. Emotions that can lead us to slip in our recovery. There are others too, not just those four.

And note too, that you wanted a wine. Drinking does lower the inhibitions. If you really want to quit smoking, it's important to chose behaviors that will help, not hinder, your quit. That may or may not include drinking. Only you can decide. But, you smoked 10 sickarettes. You have some evidence. Do you need more research?

When you felt the urge, what could you have done differently? What you *did* do was get in the car and go buy a pack of sickaretes. So, what could be different for the next time you have an urge? Cuz, there *will* be a next time. ANd you need to plan what you will do when it comes, so you won't be caught surprized.

Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

Shalom!

[getr345]

Originally Posted by lotustea

How do you mean it makes you sick to smoke and alternate with the patch?

Wearing a patch and smoking at the same time will make you feel sick (it did for me and I've heard for others it does the same) and as mentioned in either this thread or another, it can give you a heart attack. As far as taking off the patch to smoke, I don't think that is how it's supposed to be done and I think any doctor would tell you that's risky to combine both activities in such a short period of time. When I was active in my nicotine addiction, it didn't matter to me if I smoked or wore a patch (though I preferred the patch) both got me what I wanted which was nicotine. When the patches were gone, it was either get more patches, or get more cigarettes and start smoking again, anything to avoid the withdrawal and all that came with it. I'm so glad I FINALLY broke that addiction (again) and now live nicotine free, hopefully for good; what a waste of time, money, and mental resources that was.