I am about to smoke my last cigarette.

[Katherine Brengle]

I've been planning this for awhile, and yesterday I finally decided that today would be the last day that I would smoke. I got up, walked to the store on the corner, and bought my last pack. I have one left. Before I came home from doing laundry this evening, I went to CVS and bought my first box of nicotine patches.

Tomorrow morning, I am going to wake up and slap that baby on and move on with my life. No more smelling like an ashtray, no more breathing hard from walking up a couple of flights of stairs, no more phlegm, none of it.

So, this my farewell to the constant companion I have *enjoyed* for the past few years.

May it rest in peace.

[murielm99]

1. Good for you!

I had great success with the patch. It helped me over the rough times.

That is not to say that the patch does the work for you. But it is an effective help.

I am at four months as a nonsmoker.

[Katherine Brengle]

2. Thanks--

I know that the mental part of it is all about me, and not the medication, but I am glad to have the patch to take care of the physical craving.

So far, it's making me feel kind of high (but not quite light-headed or anything like that), but I haven't eaten yet, so that might not be helping. After I put it on, though, I did feel the physical craving start to decrease after a short while. so I think that's a good sign.

Congrats to you--hopefully four months from now, I can say the same thing!

[Katherine Brengle]

3. Update--

Still going strong. The patch is definitely taking the edge off--although the itchiness when I put a new one on is one of the most irritating things I have ever experienced in my life.

Here's to week 2!

[princehal]

4. Good to go!

I quit on December 28 -- and I still want them sometimes. But you know what, just because I want something...b