Due to circumstances beyond my control, and lately I'm finding most circumstances are, I had to accelerate my quit with the patch. I was supposed to use 21 mg patches for 4 weeks, but I started using 14 mgs on the 3rd week instead. I stayed on 14mg for 2 weeks until they were gone, but I didn't have any 7mg patches (I didn't have the heart to tell my Blue Cross Insurance coach that I've been messin' with the whole program, she's unaware that I would need the 7mg yet) so I started cutting up my left-over 21 mg patches into 10.5 mg (or thereabouts, depending on the accuracy of my scissors). If you read the directions, it states quite clearly on the box DO NOT CUT PATCHES. I'm here to tell ya, I did it and I LIVED! I used my half-patches for a week, then figuring 10.5 mgs of nicotine, more or less, delivered over the course of 24 hrs is not going to fool my poor addicted nervous system anyhow, I discontinued using patches altogether 2 days ago.
So, there's no gradual stepping down for this kid, we've gotta TUMBLE!!! YEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHH!
Warning: New People Using the Patch to quit - DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME. See, normal people can follow simple programs to quit smoking and be quite happy and successful in doing so. Normal people can read and follow the instructions on the box and stick to the plan for the duration.
I CAN'T EVEN FOLLOW THE RULES FOR 4 WEEKS!!!
I'm feeling pretty good I must say, though I don't want to be a bad influence here. I've been 35 days without a smoke, but only 2 without nicotine, so I'm experiencing the foggies as well as stronger craves, and the occaisional bitch-on-wheels syndrome my husband can now spot at fifty paces. I know this is actual physical withdrawl, and I know too that it should last for less than a week. Still, in a perfect world I would have stuck to the plan, just for once anyway.
