Nicorette while cutting down?

[CathyE]

There are Nicorette ads on TV now about using Nicorette while cutting down on smoking. I can't find any info on the technique and really want to try it.

Does anyone know if the new Nicorette packages contain this info? I have some Nicorette that is still good, so I don't want to buy more unless it has the new guidelines enclosed.

Any advice?

I should add I am fighting anxiety right now too, some of it over a medical decision and some over my daughter's anger (21 YO) that I am still smoking in my bathroom & using an air tobacco neutralizing air spray plus the bathroom fan. I know some does leak out though and feel very guilty!
What a bad person I am re the second hand smoke issue!

Anyone? PS I also have a book I am supposed to be reading that helps you get ready to quit in about 6 weeks using techniques from the book. I have only done some "spot" reading so far :(

Cathy

[krashleen]

Cathy, I think you have all the motivation to stop smoking.
All you have to do is do it.

Personally I think that nicotine is nicotine is nicotine. And nicotine is addictive.
Why extend your withdrawal from nicotine longer than necessary? Stop, and go through a couple of days of wanting, craving cigarettes, then it gets easier. Work on that angle.
Most craves last under 45 seconds. And most people even on the WORST day only have a total of six craves...so you can do this.

good luck, make the decision. You can do this!

[CathyE]

Thanks "Krashleen" (interesting name!)

You have helped me more than you know!

I looked up your other posts and found out you tried & quit the Chantix due to HA's & I think bad dreams. (I had read about this before, but you convinced me not to use it!)
That is also why I can't tolerate the patch, plus my sister had a bad skin rash that actually came close to being very serious! so sharing genetics, I won't touch it!
I guess same for Chantix now, thanks to you!

The book says not to quit earlier, but I will definitely be tempted to as I have used relaxation techniques before plus know about turning off the "I want to smoke thought" and am already doing diaphragmatic breathing on a regular basis...

I received the “push” I needed yesterday! I have been smoking in my little bathroom with the fan on & using tobacco odour neutralizer air spray and thought I was “getting away with it!” NOT!

Yesterday my daughter asked me to smoke outside as it was bothering her boyfriend’s eyes (wears contacts) and his friend (gets asthma) while they were tiling our kitchen floor for us (both professionals), mostly as a favor!
So, of course I felt guilty! I have smoked outside several times, but it is such a hassle & not very enjoyable! (That’s a good thing!)

So I am skimming my book for it’s techniques. Plus a lot don’t apply to a person on disability (with no true schedule or obligations).
So, I plan to quit or almost quit today by using Nicorette to force me to delay (they told me to wait about an hour after finishing chewing a piece) and self talk to convince myself I don’t want to smoke and that I can do this!

Wish me luck! I probably won’t report back until I have not smoked for some time, but I will eventually give an update.

Thanks!,
Cathy

[gloria]

I hope you've managed to quit. It's so hard. I'm struggling with it now. I was afraid to try Chantix and I did get a serious rash with the patch and also last time I quit smoking it seemed to be the start of my problems because no one knew I had a brain tumor and the patch and the zyban really had bad effects on me. But I work at a school and have used Nicorette on lunch hours and it does absolutely stop the cravings.

I went to the Mayo Clinic quit smoking program, which is residential (last time I quit, not recently) and they thought tapering off nicotine was best because otherwise your brain wants its dopamine fix, and at least with the gum you aren't getting all the other chemicals, smoke in your lungs and second hand smoke. But I've heard others say this prolongs the agony and its best to just stop smoking. Let me know ho you're progressing!

Gloria

[Nana4&cntn]

I am new to this thread, but wanted to let you know if you call the American Cancer society, they will send you materials. They also will have the same counselor call you to help you thru rough patches, you can also call them in a crisis. They do not recommend replacements unless you want them.

It may be something to look into. I bailed before quitting, I just don't seem to want to quit, although I KNOW I need to! My Grandchildren are not allowed at my home due to the smoke.:(

Take care, I am going to try again soon!
Kathy

[CathyE]

Sorry I took so long to respond!

I did quit, but not with nicorette!

My friend's mom told me she quit smoking with laser therapy. When I wasn't having much luck even with the Nicorette plan, I phoned her to find out more.
It sounded so good I decided to see the same person she saw.
She did stress "you do have to want to quit", so the last few days I smoked, with every cigarette I told myself "the only reason I am smoking this is because I am addicted" Or "I'm really not enjoying this!" - which was pretty much true. I rarely found them enjoyable anymore !

Well, the laser therapy worked SO WELL for me! I had no cravings and I didn't miss smoking at all! I didn't even get that restless/nervous feeling I normally got trying to quit!

Well, it has been 7 weeks tomorrow. The treatment wears off in approximately 6 weeks, and I am now having a fair bit of restlessness, like I should be doing something. It is annoying, but I don’t want a cigarette!
The laser is used to stimulate certain points on your skin (mostly on the ears) similar to acupuncture, but without needles or any pain!
As a result, endorphins are released. I believe that is what masks any withdrawal symptoms.

In about 6 weeks, the endorphin production wears off, and I have to admit, I am missing the endorphins!
I am now having some “restlessness”. But it is nothing compared to the struggles I have had trying various other ways to quit smoking!

I am in Toronto, Canada. If you are near Toronto and want to go to the same person I saw, PM me for the info.
Otherwise search for laser therapy quit smoking (or however you want to find a laser therapy place.)

I really thought I would never be able to quit smoking, so you can imagine how pleased I am that I am finally an ex-smoker! :D

Good luck. I hope some people benefit from this as well as I did!
Cathy
PS My friend's mom did tell me you really do have to want to quit, so I did a lot of "self talk" about why I wanted to quit and how much better I would feel about myself! So, I do think it helps if you do prepare yourself mentally beforehand!

[Christine]

CathyE...

Congratulations on your "feat of a lifetime!" You made a serious committment to the future of yourself. Now all you need to do is reach around and pat yourself on your shoulder.

It was all for "you"... and "you" pulled yourself up and pulled it off! Correct? Now you can smell everything negative about your past when you pass smokers (or they pass you) in different situations. You can smile to yourself and think, "I am so glad I don't wear that perfume anymore!" :o

And... you stopped contributing to laugh lines! It's very true, and you can actually smile about it! I know I do. I quit (cold turkey) 4 1/2 years ago after 30+ years and do not miss it. I set a date: February 3 and stuck to it.

People are victims of the "motion-of-their-own-oceans." Like: everytime they get in their car, leave a store, watch TV, when they sit at the computer, etc. I made real props by taping cigarettes from filter-to-tip and placing them in various "smoking" spots. After a while, I quit picking them up. That's when I knew I'd won! ;) I'd conquered the motion of my habitual ocean.

And so have you. Again... "CONGRATULATIONS."

Take care-
Christine ;)

[CathyE]

Thanks Christine!
You are a wonderful, uplifting writer!

And congratulations on your 4 1/2 years as an ex-smoker!

To others reading because they want to quit, I hope you too can join in being an ex-smoker! It does feel good!

I was really finding it embarassing to continue to smoke, so for me that is an additional benefit, no more embarrassment :)

Cathy

[jomama]

cathy! congrats! serious accomplishment there! I quit a year ago march (smoked about a pack a day for around 15 years), n then took a hit on the 4th of july of 2007....that really bummed me out, but now i'm still nic free, and since your over the worst part, let me say that when i hit those times that my mind tries to convince me that i should go there again, i always make myself remember vividly the way that first puff makes ya nauseated after you quit for a minute, and then i really focus on how gross that moment is, and that helps me remember that i'm battling my mind n body, but that in all trueness i DONT want the feeling! it really helps, even sometimes smelling a cig and then it does the same thing, and i can go , 'oh yeah i totally Don't want that!'