Thread: Given up the smokes?

I thought I would share this with you as there was a post similar some time ago and remember some members wanting to give up ......... one day.

I have tried to give up many times this may of been my 7th try. I tried everything from patches, lozenges, gum, cold turkey and even hypnosis.! But none of these worked.

My habit consisted of maybe 30 a day but only the weakest strength. (Not that it matters, but it gives you an idea of the addiction)

I went to the Docs and inquired about this new drug that is advertised on TV. It is called Chaprix and he had tried in on four people which all went mad. (one ended up in hospital for 4 days, once they were taken off the drugs they were all good again) He told me to do the research and if I still wanted to go through with it to come back, (that will be $40 bucks please not to mention the 45 minute wait)

If you google Champrix then there is alot of negative feed back. Linked to 67 deaths etc, Side effects include everything from nausea, to death and everything in between. "I don't want none of that stuff"

I thought I would start smoking less. 30 today, 28 tomorrow etc but that didn't work either.

So I rang Quit and asked what options there were that I hadn't ried and my concerns for this drug.

More info from Quit line (These guys are really helpful) "WE deal with alot of people that use Champrix and the people that have any side effects at all are really minimal" Still not convinced, they then told me :what is your other option? Keep smoking? what worse?" Hmmmmm point taken.

How it works. Apparently it alters the part of the brain that gets enjoyment out of smoking. I don't think they are recommended if there is depression or mental illness history. Apparently liking Land rovers is not a problem go figure!

What you do. Ring the quit line and get them to send some info out. Read it and make your own mind up. Go and see the quack. You take the drugs for 12 weeks and set a quit date 2 weeks into the course. The Doc will give a prescription for 4 weeks worth and then you have to go back for a script for the balance. They cost $200 however if you rang the quitline they are subsidized by the government and you pay $30.

What happened to me? The bloke who cannot give up the smokes? Well I start taking the drugs and don't start to suffer any side effects and wonder what the journey will be like and where do I go from here if they don't work. I set a date two weeks into it and think I will probably push it out a few days so I can enjoy the last weekend as a smoker. 10 days into the course I find I have one cigarette left and after smoking it thought, "I didn't really enjoy that and it was a bit of chore" Hmmmm I will try and not buy a packet and see how I go. Normally this would make me anxious but I managed fine. That was 7 days ago! I have not had a cigarette since and whilst there has been a few cravings I have been able to deal with them.

What side effects now? I am suffering a few side effects but I think it is more related to lack of nicotine than the drugs. Vivid dreams and sometimes insomnia. I have noticed that If I take the drugs on an empty stomach they can make want to chunder.

The quitline still call once a week and my concern is what happens at the end of 12 weeks and they reckon nothing, you have gone through the cravings and the hard part.

If you have read this far well done. I guess everyones reason are different for giving up but mine is my daughter and the bub on the way. They are my incentive. IT used to upset me ducking outside for a ciggie and hearing my daughter cry for Daddy. This is what smoking does. You know it is going to kill you, you know it no good and expensive but you still do it.

If you are thinking about it, I hope this info helps you. If you know someone who is giving up, give them your support.

Where to from here? WEll I reckon I could buy a V8 Range rover or Disco and could afford to put petrol in it!

Cheers
Gillie

Well done mate.......gives me time to pause and think. Hmmm, I can't think how many times I have tried, longest stretch was 3 1/2 yrs then my marriage hit the skids and I took it up again. Then quit again and when I went on my first camping / 4WD trip with the club to Fraser, thought would let my hair down and take a pack of smokes....big mistake.....have pretty much smoked since and that was 2 1/2 yrs ago. Being asthmatic doesn't help either .

When I had to have a double hernia op last year and even though I quit weeks before the surgery, I still had to be kept in overnight....due to breathing issues. For me its the pyschological barrier to overcome, I found patches worked really well for me, but I feel that if you haven't made the mental decision, like many things, then quit smoking aids aren't as effective. I know in terms of being a role model to my kids, in this area I am not being a good one...a) for smoking and b) for not staying a non smoker . Keep it up mate, and with a slap around my head, I may post up similiar in months to come,

Regards

Stevo