So, the patch landed me in the hospital in March..and..

[TexasLady]

I had a sustained quit for nine days, third attempt this year, when it happened. I was using the nicoderm patch, had it on my right shoulder, towards the front. That night, my heart was skipping around like crazy, and I felt soo sick. I was out of my head, scared, and kept thinking I was about to pass out.

My H drove me to the ER at my insistence. I was SCARED. I had taken the patch off about half an hour after the symptoms first started, but no cessation of heart fluttering.

We got to the ER, and as I was puking, waiting, worrying, I could hear someone out in the hall ask, " where's the lady with the 155 bpm? I swear, I looked at my H and said, oh GOD poor woman!

Yeah, it was me. I had atrial fibrillation caused by too much nicotine, according to the doc.

Anyways, after much ribbing and jokes that quitting smoking nearly killed me, I picked the habit back up. I KNEW it was stupid. I did it anyway.

So, this weekend I catch a cold. Only, anyone who has smoked knows, that a cold can get pretty nasty when smoking. Mine sure did. I woke up coughing hard. So hard that I see stars. I get queasy. I hate this. So, yesterday, I decided to make my last 3 smokes last, and quit today.

It sux, because the patches were soo good for the craving! I have a few left over lozenges, but they dont help too much. My cough is of course still around, but at least it is productive. Before it was dry and painful. Now I can't wait to get the gook out.

THE number one reason for me at this point and time is the horrible health I'm experiencing. The lack of breath, the tiredness. I can't STAND feeling that way!

I'm crossing my fingers hard this time. It's weird, I am not writing down a date or anything on my calendar this time, I just want to be DONE with them. I can't flippin breathe!

[TexasLady]

1. unfortunately my chronic cough is still lingering

and I kept bumming smokes from H until I realized that boy THIS is stupid!
So I am on my second day of quitting


have a yucky morning cough. The good news is Im thinking that horrible cough is going to keep me quit for good!

It sux on the one hand, because I get laughed at and put down for my efforts. Yeah, suurrre youre gonna quit this time. or 'I wouldnt exactly call myself an exsmoker just yet'
Not much support from smokers or non smokers either.

I havent smoked since midnight Sunday night-Mon morn...and the thought last mere seconds on smoking. My health (still pleghmy, sick, tired, ) keeps me going, and keeps me quit. I want this reeally bad. I am owning this quit!

[yellerpup]

2. Sorry to hear your scary experience with the patch

I had a bad reaction to it, too with hives that itched, oozed and lasted for several months before the swelling and itching went away. I'm glad to hear the update that you are determined to quit and I'm chiming in here to say that it can be done even without the patch. I quit one year ago in March--my birthday present to myself--when I had the cravings I would remind myself that smoking was something I USED to do and would put on a record and dance or go online and research or call a friend and ask if they needed help with something. Keep your mind off the process and on the goal. I am so glad I quit and stayed quit. I needed surgery this spring and would not have been eligible for it if I still smoked. I recovered in record time. You will not be sorry you quit. You'll have extra money in your pocket every day and be free of having to find a place to hide and smoke. I have not had a cold,l cough, etc. since I quit. I wish you the best of luck.

On edit: I smoked for 40 years, tried every known quitting help (anti-depressants, gum, patch, biofeedback) before I just quit cold turkey and decided I would not smoke again.