One week out and doing fine!

[a la izquierda]

So, I just wanted to let you all know that I have quit smoking. I'm using Chantix, which I might or might not recommend. It's working for me, but I've had some issues. For one thing, I have such vivid dreams that I feel exhausted each day despite 8 hours of sleep. And I'm pretty spacey during the day, which can be problematic when one is trying to complete one's dissertation and teach a class. There are some physical issues with the drug too, but those are minor. I've not had any issues with depression or anxiety or anything like that.
Despite the very odd side effects, I've been smoke free for a week! Yay!

[csziggy]

1. Congratulations! Sending good thoughts to help you stay strong.

[Luminous Animal]

2. Good for you!

Just make sure that you have someone watching out for your moods.

[Luciferous]

3. Congrats!

[Suich]

4. Excellent!

I friend went on Chantix and he said the exact same thing about the dreams!

Keep up the good work!

:yourock:

[liberalmuse]

5. Congratulations to you!

It'll be worth it. 12 years ago, a friend gave me her Zyban since she was unable to use it. I haven't smoked since. You'll like not being winded doing simple tasks.

[peace13]

6. Great news! n/t

[myrna minx]

7. Congratulations. I quit cold turkey on Sunday.

It's been the most difficult thing I have ever done, but it's so rewarding.

:hug: Congratulations!

[EarlG]

8. Chantix worked for me

I had similar side effects (plus some nausea) but haven't smoked since summer 2007. Keep it up, you'll be glad you did!

[a la izquierda]

9. aw, thanks.

i'm hoping to start bike racing in the summer...we'll see.
the only person who commented on my moods was my friend, who said i seemed uninterested in going out. she smokes and doesn't seem to care that it is very tough at the moment.
oh well.
:)
now, if this ice storm would go away so i can get out of my house, i'll be even more content!

[Joe Fields]

10. No doubt, tobacco is THE hardest habit to quit, bar none!!!

More power to you, from a 43 year smoker.

[Mira]

11. Congratulations from the bottom of my heart.

The worst is behind you already. Don't even have a single puff. Smoking is now behind you if you let it be, you are saving your life, and it is
NOT supposed to be easy.
Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for yourself, and if you are kind to yourself about all other things you can get through it. There is life after cigarettes.

Inch by inch it's a cinch.
I'm pulling for you.

[gateley]

12. Excellent! A friend of mine used Chantix and she remarked about the dreams -

said they abated after a while, so if you're okay otherwise, hang in there!

I'll tell you, I quit smoking years ago for one year, then started again thinking I could quit again any time. Wrong. So I finally said 'enough!' and have been smoke-free for about 4 weeks. I'm not going to cave again, because (and this is what I want to tell you)

I never realized how my life was dictated by my smoking until I quit. Timing how many you could smoke in the car between starting point and destination, starting to glance at my watch and getting antsy towards the end of a movie, feeling soooooo uncomfortable standing outside puffing away. When I didn't smoke I'd see someone driving down the street smoking and I'd think "God, I'm SO glad I don't have to do that any more!" It had never occurred to me that I actually could NOT be a smoker. It was such freedom! I was shocked, I hadn't even considered that aspect of it.

And now, 4 weeks into it, I'm beginning to feel that way again (it still gets iffy sometimes, but I've learned that the feeling passes quickly, and the urge occurs less and less often)

So I'm hoping your "symptoms" subside, and you'll be over the hump before you know it.

GOOD LUCK! :pals:

[adigal]

13. Try quitnet.com too - great support system

That, and the patch, helped me quit over 5 years ago, after trying for 10 years. The people there are wonderful!!!

[mattvermont]

Did it with chantix 14 months ago...

after 3-4 months, I put the pills down, and was able, not with out some duress, to keep smoke-free.
Minor pangs have continued through the many months since then, but manageable.
You are now at the stage where you know rationally, it would be silly to smoke, as there is zero reward, and
the taste is not all that appealing. Welcome the dream weirdness... it can be fun...don't fear it.
I agree that it is not for everyone, perhaps most....but I have quit many times for weeks to months, and this gave me an extra boost.

I will clarify my posting with the fact that my father became diagnosed with lung cancer 2 months before I was to have back surgery.
Seeking poignantly opportune times to quit can add to success.

[dflprincess]

14. I quit 2-1/2 years ago

and I used Chantix to do it.

The only side effect I had was horrible nausea - bad enough I nearly stopped the drug but I knew it was working so I stuck it out. I was actually a little disappointed I didn't have the dreams.

The Chanitx was great for killing the nictoine cravings (I took it about a month before I quit - longer than you're suppose to) - it was just the habit I kind of missed and had to fight off, but it was much easier to do when my brain wasn't screaming for a hit. I still sometimes miss the habit, but the feeling passes quickly and comes less often all the time.

Good luck!

[corpseratemedia]

15. good luck!

I quit over a decade ago - you'll love not having chronic bronchitis or whatever the chronic coughing thing is when you excercise, and your endurance will increase quite a bit (for me it did).

btw I started chewing gum as an interim to do something with the mouth area lol.

[greenbriar]

16. I tried to use it, made me SICk

and shakey

[a la izquierda]

19. yeah, i felt pretty terrible last night.

i felt like i was going to get sick all night, and then at one point i was convinced i died for about 5 minutes, because i couldn't remember falling asleep and then waking up so quickly (i'd fallen asleep and woke up within 10 minutes). so, it does mess with your head. i wouldn't recommend Chantix for anyone with any sort of mood disorders or history of depression.
my adviser has commented that i'm not as...(can't think of the word)...see? but, as i see it, i'd rather be a space-cadet for a few weeks, and delay my dissertation until the fog clears, as opposed to dropping dead of lung cancer. my grandma died of lung cancer in 2003 and it was awful. i should've quit right then, but didn't.

[DesertFlower]

17. congratulations. my hairdresser

used chantix. she talked about the vivid dreams and said she felt weird, but she seemed okay to me.

i quit 26 years ago with hypnosis.

[madamesilverspurs]

18. Good for you!

It's been almost nine years for me. It was quite the revelation that so much of my smoking had become pavlovian -- one hand would reach for the ringing phone, while the other hand reached for the cigarettes; morning coffee without an ashtray nearby was weird; driving with BOTH hands; not having that constant prop made me feel naked somehow.

I still have the occasional smoking dream, in which I'm hiding to sneak a cig; and in the dreams I'm always in a room full of people smoking, so I have no idea why I'm sneaking.

It helped to give my place a thorough scrubbing, including the carpets. And all clothing and linens got washed. I'd really had no idea how much the 'aroma' had embedded itself, and having it gone removed another reminder.

Courage to you!


---

[unhappycamper]

20. Congratulations!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:


I quit last March 6. I started out with Chantrix but I had to dump it because I was getting weird. I switched to the patch and here I am, almost a year later, smoke free.

Hang in there..... You can stop smoking.

[a la izquierda]

21. Thanks!

I am very tired, but that I can deal with. I think, so long as I can separate the dreams from reality, I'll be okay. The dreams are very, very odd.

[a la izquierda]

22. Thanks for the best wishes, everyone!

It's amazing what support from others, even "strangers" can do! Tonight will be a challenge, as I have a birthday party to go to. Tomorrow might be tough, too, but I know I can handle it!

[Berry Cool]

23. Great news!

Keep it going! Remember, all you have to do is quit for a day. And then another day. And another. And another. Repeat.