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Give and get support around quitting

joanicremer
Member

Day 3

Wow. Feeling very sick.

Using patch. 

joani

19 Replies
YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to the community!

Feeling sick in what way?  Without further info, it's hard to help!  If you are experiencing shortness of breath, fever, etc. - you should see a doctor.  Otherwise, give us a bit more information, please!

Sorry I missed your first blog - I would normally have given you the following information.  Hope you will still find it helpful.  Here, also, is a blog which lists early withdrawal symptoms FYI:  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex/blog/2018/01/04/early-withdrawal-symptoms.

The 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 easy and entertaining read provided a world of good information about nicotine addiction, most of which I was not aware.  I credit it in large part with my success at quitting.   You can search for it online or at your local library.


 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, quitsmoking.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. Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.

 

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 after you have tried to delay and distract.   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.  You need to start out with a plan to reduce use of them over time - which the patch does by decreasing the dose contained in them..  For the gum, you can start by cutting each piece in half, then in quarters, then sub regular gum of the same flavor in between, adding more and more regular gum.  For the lozenge, you need to start subbing a mint in between to begin, increasing the number of them over time. I do not recommend the e-cigarette for obvious reasons.

It will be informative if you do the tracking and separation exercises recommended here on the site. As you track each cigarette smoked, note its importance, and what you might do instead. Put each one off just a little to prove that you don't NEED a cigarette just because you think you do.
 

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit.  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.  Keep a cold bottle of water with you from which to sip. 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:
 https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...


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

AnnetteMM
Member

The patch made me nauseous.  Is that what you mean?

Giulia
Member

There are so many reasons why you might be feeling sick.  Did this just start today?  Or ever since you put the patch on?  Maybe try drinking some water to help flush whatever it might be out of your system?

indingrl
Member

joani - thank you for SHARING - ginger ale HELPS ME when MY stomach is nausea -  I HOPE YOU feel better TODAY- please just a SUGGESTION - please call YOUR doctor and ask him to check for YOU for allergic reation to patches

joanicremer
Member

Joanicremer here,

Saw my doctor today.

Need to find a way to manage extreme anxiety.

Will stay true to my Ex course.

Thank you.

maryfreecig
Member

Welcome to Ex. I hope being part of Ex, getting to know how exers handled, are handling the ups and downs of quitting is of help to you. One day at a time you can do this.

indingrl
Member

Thank you for seeing YOUR doctor

RoseH
Member

joanicremer

I sent an email to you just now.  If I can help you, please do not hesitate to contact me here!  I smoked for 50 years and on August 12, 2020 I will be two years quit!  Rosemary

green1611
Member

Read Alan Carr ... if not already done.

Keep the resolve... It's battle. you will win to win the long war!

All the best!