Ditch the Patch ?

[NoMoCigs57]

Hi, I have been tobacco free for 12 days now and I was wondering if it is advisable to stop using the nicotine patch and go cold turkey ?  I was a pack a day smoker for years. Still having coughing and chest tightness. 

Thanks 

Robert 

[JonesCarpeDiem]

There is a psychological withdrawal that the patch does not affect that lasts much longer than the physical. Listen to your body.

That is the middle ground where you aren't depending on the patch for your success but you aren't mentally throwing yourself off a cliff.

If you forget to wear it, don't panic, see how you do. I forgot my third day and went without it. My fourth day I felt I needed it. The following week, I forgot two days in a row and stopped using it. I put one in my wallet with the promise I would put it on a wait rather than smoke. It sat in my wallet a full year. Never Needed It.  Listen to your body. You are in control.

/blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/06/26/what-to-expect-in-the-first-four-months 

[ellenkate]

Great, thank you for replying.   I'm hoping the psychological withdrawal is what I'm facing now and that it's worse than the physical withdrawal...   I just wish I could be more positive.   Thanks for the encouragement!

[YoungAtHeart]

There is no RIGHT, one-size- fits-all approach to quitting smoking.  I took what Allen Carr had to say as I took all the information in that I read.  He isn't ME, doesn't know me, and thus his advice may or may not be the final and absolute truth on the subject.  If you are just a bit down, that may be the psychological aspect of quitting.  If the patch isn't causing you physical discomfort, I see no reason for you to stop using it.  I don't think IT is making you feel down.  This quitting is a journey, with ups and downs and twists and turns.  You just have to get through it in the early days the best that you can.  As you do the reading, you will understand how nicotine affected your body (AND mind).  You may be in mourning for your "friend," the one you turned to when you were lonely, or tired, or afraid, or stressed, or........

A LOT of people report feeling as you do - don't spend energy worrying about your decision.  Get moving!  Drink some ice cold water........and most important of all

Think you CAN!

Nancy

[elvan]

Welcome to EX, I am so happy that JonesCarpeDiem‌ replied because he DID use the patch,  I did not use anything but I was really sick so I COULDN'T smoke.  I couldn't BREATHE.  I agree with YoungAtHeart‌ that the patch is not causing you to feel down, it's part of the journey.  I felt down around the same time and someone suggested that I try the patch, I knew there was no nicotine left in my body so there was no way I wanted to reintroduce it.  I just rode it out and now it has been over 3 1/2  years and I have never regretting quitting, NEVER.  

Glad you are here,

Ellen

[bonniebee]

I smoked for 52 years the last 20 years  was about a pack more or less a day before that I smoked 2 packs a day ! I have quit both ways cold turkey was very hard for me and when I used the patch the Withdrawal  was not as intense I did not think the withdrawal was longer because most of the withdrawal is Mental . They seemed the same to me when I quit col turkey I only lasted 3 1/2 months then I messed up and because it had been so darn difficult I never tried to quit again for 10 + years !  

My advice if it is working why take a chance but you could try stopping  and if it is to much just slap that patch back on quickly ! I have seen many stop the patch to soon and their quits went up in smoke !