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I am smoke free 22 days using Nicoderm Patch. Found out of day 22 that I am highly allergic to the patch and my Physician has taken me off of the patch and started me on steroids and cream. He wants to put me on Chantix but I can't start for 14 days. So.....I am on day 2 of non-smoking without any aids. I am trying to find out why I am having to wait 14 days from being on the patch to being placed on Chantix.
Welcome to our community!
NO idea - but seems to me like you are now quitting "Smart Turkey" (what we prefer to call cold turkey). I would see how you do. You might get a supply of sugarfree mints and gum to use, cut up some straws for the hand to mouth thing, keep extra busy. The nicotine should be out of your body pretty much in three days, and then it's a period for your body to adjust to life without it. In two weeks you should be pretty much over the nicotine withdrawal itself, so I'm not sure what Chantix might do for you then. If you don't want to go this route, I would call your doctor to see his reasoning for it.
The most important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:
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You should also read the posts here and perhaps go to the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com, quitsmokingonline.com and livewell.com for the good information contained there. @https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex has lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance.
After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. If used properly, gum, lozenges and inhalers are fine, but they need to be used only as a last resort. I have seen folks become addicted to them if they substitute them for every cigarette they used to smoke - just trading one addiction for another. I do not recommend the e-cigarette for three reasons: 1) the vapor has been compared to the polluted air in Bejing on a bad day, 2) they just provide another nicotine delivery system while continuing the hand to mouth smoking motion, and 3) the batteries can spontaneously catch on fire. . But – any method that you think will work well for you will be best for you.
The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced. Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand. If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different. Buy your gas at a different station. Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.
You need to distract yourself through any craves. You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time. You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits. Get busy! Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:
The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?" Then DO it. You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.
Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!
Nancy
Thanks, all great ideas and I've been using a lot of them. I see my physician again this Friday to see about the allergic reaction, so I will inquire again. This morning has been very hard and I feel that I am on a emotional rollercoaster....I keep making "deals" with myself.....So far so good, but I haven't left my office yet in my car lol.
Thanks for your support, it means a lot!!!!
You can do this! Reading Allen Carr's book help me through the cravings or watch his videos on YouTube. Hang in there don't smoke! You can do this! We got your back! Keep writing, reading and posting. I tell you it's hard to smoke when you are constantly reading or blogging about quitting. We got you!
Hi there! Maybe try the Nicotine gum or the inhaler? Additionally, read everything you can get your hands on regarding Nicotine addiction. The links that young at heart provided above are priceless! We are all here to support you.
I can't do any of the NRT to include gum, patch, lounges and spray.....But thanks......Just not sure why I have to wait so long between the NRT program and the Chantix program.....If I have to go 14 more days without any help, then I think I can beat this thing all together since I quit 7.2.17.
Welcome to EX...please read everything that Youngatheart.7.4.12 has recommended, stay close to the site and as far as the chantix and the patch, I would ask your pharmacist. I have found that they are usually more knowledgeable than doctors when it comes to medications. You CAN quit smart turkey...I did it and so have many of the people on this site. There is an invaluable blog that was written by jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 What To Expect In The First Four Months In fact, I would strongly suggest going to his page and reading his observations after being here for ten years. He can offer you a great deal of support. I hope you can stay close to the site and read and comment and become an active member. It saved my quit and it has saved many more.
Again, welcome.
Ellen
Everyone has had some great advice already! I did take Chantix and to be honest, all it does it trick your brain receptors into thinking you are getting nicotine when you are not. If you are without any aid now and have been for two days (which is GREAT!), by the time you get Chantix, you won't need it!!! Take it one moment at a time! Nicotine is an addiction. The withdrawal symptoms are not that bad....I swear! Alan Carr swears....you can do this. Make whatever deal you need as long as it is NOT TO SMOKE for the next moment! You have two days already! Don't throw that away! Get more time behind you!!! You can do this!!!
Welcome and read read read!!!
The only deal you need to make with yourself is the one to keep your commitment. The rest of the deals are losers games that the Nicodemon plays. 22 days smoke free is FANTASTIC. The rollercoaster ride will slow down with each passing day. You may just find you're DONE with smoking and patches and mayhaps won't even need the Chantix. In three days the nicotine should be out of your system and that's one further step in your recovery process. Hang tight!
You will have to give up nicotine at some point and time anyway.... looks like you are doing this! Each day you get through is one day closer to being free. Keep going.. and don't look back.
Welcome to the community you came to the right place for support. Read and educate yourself and don't give into the nicodemon. 22 days is great and I am sure you don't want to start over. You can keep that commitment, hang tight, your have been 2 days without nicotine, like Giula said it will be out of your sysytem in 3 days. So you CAN do this. Holler HELP if you need it beore you choose to smoke and we will come running.
Welcome congratulations on your 2 glorious free days, keep moving forward one precious day at a time or one minute or even one second at a time but as long as you keep stacking up your days WON! Then you will be successful and smokefree .....
If you have gone two days you are on your way to being smoke free. the addiction is to nicotine not smoking. keep fighting. don't use nicotine in any form you just prolong the misery. you can do this. I promise...
Welcome to EX...please read everything that Youngatheart.7.4.12 has recommended, stay close to the site and as far as the chantix and the patch, I would ask your pharmacist. I have found that they are usually more knowledgeable than doctors when it comes to medications. You CAN quit smart turkey...I did it and so have many of the people on this site. There is an invaluable blog that was written by jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 What To Expect In The First Four Months In fact, I would strongly suggest going to his page and reading his observations after being here for ten years. He can offer you a great deal of support. I hope you can stay close to the site and read and comment and become an active member. It saved my quit and it has saved many more.
Again, welcome.
Ellen