Day 1. Using the patch. Should I take it off tonight?
I've used the patch in my two quits and the first time I left them on. The second time, I took them off at night, just for comfort. If it were me, and you're worried about the morning craves, I'd leave it on and if you get some discomfort or a lot of dreams that you don't want to have, then I'd go ahead and take them off at night. The idea of the patch is a steady stream of nicotine into the system rather then the peaks and valleys of nicotine that smoking causes, so if you do take the patch off at night, at least from my experience, you will get a slight rise in the feeling of nicotine in the morning.
The most important thing in a quit is that you do what is best to stay quit!
ONWARD TO FREEDOM!!!
Chuck
Are you in Boston? Sounds like you are in for a walloping good snow storm! Won't it be nice not to have to go out in that to smoke???!!!
You have been given good advice about wearing the patch at night. I would try it and see what happens.....Remember that it takes a bit for the nicotine to get into your system, so you will have to make plans of what you will do when you first get up to distract yourself if you decide to leave it off at night.
Glad you are here! Keep asking the good questions, or for support when you need it. somebody is usually around!
Nancy
Hi Danielle. Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking. Many people have wild and crazy dreams with the patch on at night. Whatever you do don't smoke. Come here often. This site is at least as important as the patch.
If you do a search with the magnifying glass (upper right of the pencil icon) and just put in "the patch" or "patch" or something similar, you will be offered numerous blogs on the subject. Here's one from just two weeks ago: Should I wear the patch to bed? The responses I think will help. The more educated you can become, the better you'll be able to make smart judgments. Keep an open mind and take what works and leave what doesn't.
Keep stacking those Days! It might be a roller-coaster but it does get Better and Better! And it's so worth it! Happiness Poll
I used the patch before and always took it off at night. I had to stop using it as they gave me a terrible rash. Glad you are sticking to it. It's not easy but it can be done! I'm at 22 days now.
You go girl! Day 3 was my hardest, today is day 15. I can already breath better. Congratulations on making the best decision you will ever make for yourself.
I am not sure if you can't sleep because you are leaving the patch on at night or if you can't sleep because you are taking it off??? I never used it but I have heard from people that it causes very vivid and disturbing dreams, so much so that many people have to take it off at night and slap a new one on first thing in the morning.
Whatever symptoms you are feeling are likely to pass...patience is not a commodity that most of us have in the beginning of our quits. Hang in there, it WILL get easier.
Welcome to EX.
Ellen
The first & second night I left it on & last night , I couldn't sleep so I took it off... didn't wear it all day today!!
Hope you eventually got some sleep. Some people have problems sleeping at the beginning of a quit, some people want to sleep all the time. I think it's a really individual thing. Hope you have a great day...Redsoxnut You are at the beginning of a seriously amazing journey, it just doesn't SEEM that way at the beginning.
I used the patch and left it on at night.