Stepped down from patch today

[Karen]

And I'm  pretty irritable. Frickin waiting and waiting on important stupid people to return my calls. Last night I went to buy more of the step one patches and they were out of the store brand ones and I was NOT about to pay the price for the name brand one, so I decided to just step down to 14 mg patch today.  Anger has always been a BIG trigger for me. Glad I don't get angry much. But right now I am just P*SSED off. Can we say that word here? I don't care, I just did.

Do you think maybe I should not have stepped down so soon after quitting?

:help:

[Evelyn]

I used patched off and on 10 years / smoking in between... blablabla. Bakon told me a piece of his mind (he believed in me) and I believe in you. You do NOT need patches, pills replacements etc. I do recommend you to take some juice, your withdrawls are worsent since you skipped a step of patches so less nicotine, lotsa nicotine withdrawls are confuse with low sugar levels so take a coca cola for my care :) or a jiuce, or tea with some sugar. 

I quit CT, used LOTS of sugar first 3 days and cut back on sugar after that. Easy Peasy right Srg?

[Doreensfree]

Being irritable is normal..your brain is going though some weird changes...

I used to punch a pillow...

Sorry became my favourite word for a while...

Telling myself it will pass and shouting nope...got me through my days..

[Tink]

You would feel the same today or next week when you step off the patch and will again the next step and then again the final step

 

I thought I needed a step down wean off program turns out cold turkey was the best and kindest way for me and those around me ;)

 

You have to decide once you realise the facts and truths about nicotine

 

But whatever you decide is your next step, withdraw management, will help

 

Drinking lots of water and juices

Exercise, even if it's jumping on the spot

Venting by posting

Chewing gum

Sleep

Fresh air

[Karen]

quite possibly just going cold turkey tommorrow. Thanks for your help guys.

[IndigoChilde]

Stepping down too soon can cause some problems, but you can get through it. At least you're getting some nicotine off the patch. You won't go through this again next time you step down if you just keep on this one long enough. I'd say stick with it and find some way to distract yourself.

[Sunnyside]

Karen for me CT worked, it not for everyone but as far as I can tell, from people who I know have used patches. Everytime you step down this will happen.

 

I look at CT being the easy way. Maybe not easy pre say but you only have to go through the withdrawals once. To me NRT just prolongs the process. That isn't to say that it doesn't work for anyone, because it does.

 

CT, looks scary. If you persist all this is temporary. Hang on in there

[Kendra]

What I think is...

 

YOU'VE GOT THIS.       You know yourself better than anyone else and what will work for you.   Breathe and post.    The icky angry feelings are normal withdrawal responses.  they will pass as the drug leaves your body.   learning new ways to BE FREE will follow.   Just don't smoke.  NOPE.

[Nancy]

Whatever you do, just protect your quit.

 

I am curious about one thing though...were the name brand patches more than you used to spend on cigarettes?

[Karen]

No nancy, in the long run smoking is more expensive in every way.  Now I'm more confused than ever. Maybe I 'll just stay on this step 2 patch until they're gone (I've had all 3 step patches at home since last time I "tried" to quit) , then finish up the 7 mg step 3 box and be done with it. Takes longer that way, I know. But this gives me time under my belt to get used to being an ex smoker. 

Last fall I called the 1-800-quit now line and the American cancer society sent me a workbook and free patches. Those are the patches I'm using up this time. Last time I chewed the nic gum with the patches and it was a frickin JOKE! I was probably getting double the nic than when I just smoked cigs. This is a WICKED ADDICTION. 

I cannot even imagine what it would be like to quit heroin. And guess what? I'm a recovering alcoholic! Been sober for many years and very grateful for it.

[Doreensfree]

Hi Karen.

Firstly...well done on your years of soberty...

I have heard..that coming off nicotine is harder than heroin...

So what are achieving is flippin Amazin...

I always say...all roads lead to Rome....

As long as you stay smoke free...it doesn't matter how you get there...

Don't be hard on yourself...

Just never take another puff..xx

[Sirius]

KarenLou,

 

About all I can advise is don't be alone.  

 

Loneliness and addiction are a devastating combination.

 

Hang out with your non-smoking friends.  If you have ex-smoker friends, all the better.

 

Being alone means listening to the voices in your head.  Your friends will keep you grounded and give you a reality check.

 

This board is a good start and is a bit more forgiving then, say, five finger fillet.

[Jenny]

How you are feeling is completely normal and it sucks.  Do whatever you need to do, just don't smoke.  That is the key.

Posting like this is the best way to work through these feelings.  Read and post, read and post.  You're almost two weeks!!

[Nancy]

No nancy, in the long run smoking is more expensive in every way.  Now I'm more confused than ever. Maybe I 'll just stay on this step 2 patch until they're gone (I've had all 3 step patches at home since last time I "tried" to quit) , then finish up the 7 mg step 3 box and be done with it. Takes longer that way, I know. But this gives me time under my belt to get used to being an ex smoker. 

Last fall I called the 1-800-quit now line and the American cancer society sent me a workbook and free patches. Those are the patches I'm using up this time. Last time I chewed the nic gum with the patches and it was a frickin JOKE! I was probably getting double the nic than when I just smoked cigs. This is a WICKED ADDICTION. 

I cannot even imagine what it would be like to quit heroin. And guess what? I'm a recovering alcoholic! Been sober for many years and very grateful for it.

KarenLou, congratulations on your sobriety.

 

For your peace of mind, I think you should commit to how you are going to quit, and try to quit second guessing yourself...I think it may be causing unneeded anxiety.  Lay out your plan, commit to it and stick to it.  Take the NOPE pledge every day and stay close....we are here for you!

[Still winning]

Bless you, sounds like you've ended up confused. I want to re iterate that picking a path, no matter what it is will help your quit.

 

A lot of folks here advocate cold turkey. Statistically this has the highest rate of staying quit...however I think they only measure to a year or something.

 

The medical profession seem to advocate Nicotine replacement. Saying you can deal with the habit with not so much of the "cravings". But for sure this can drag out the getting free of nicotine and create craves intermittently, it whether it helps more then it hinders and no one seems to be answering convincingly.

 

Some people quit using wellbutin (sp) and chantix, because it supposedly rewired the brain to find smoking hard to tolerate and taste. Again, mixed results.

 

I want to say all the above are useful to the right person! Only you know which support YOU need. I know Beacon quit using the patches, Jen quit using Allen Carr, I quit by Chantix and then going cold turkey whereas Nancy quit using the full dose of Chantix. This shows me that was is crucial is not your techniquer but your mental commitment - the rest is just "equipment".

 

So I suggest you sit calmly and quietly on your own and pick your path. 

 

Some practicalities. Every step down will create a crave situation. Your body adjusts fairly quickly, some notice it a lot, some not so much. Don't make it a big thing in your head or you'll dread the next step down I think. Just counter it with cold water, fruit juice every few hours and a technique to calm your thoughts (something physical like jumping as Tracey said works well), walk it off, click your fingers etc. You are looking for a distraction as it tricks your brain to stop obsessing about smoking and soon it's passed and you can carry on with your day. The distraction thing was helpful for me during cravings, again others do a "face your fears" thing. No right or wrong. All the above are just ideas :)  Pick what works for you and ignore what doesn't, none of us will mind.

 

xx

[Evelyn]

Your choice, your life :D choose yours, none is better or less just stick with what feels good in your gut and don't start doubting because some seems like massive heroes becaz they did it without pathes etc. It is YOUR quit.

Keep it and stay quit :)

[joe]

There is lots of good advice, and it's up to you to decide what will work for you.

 

I started out with a prescription for Chantix....and I took it for 2 days, which, at that point I was reading and watching videos and came to the conclusion, that anything short of quitting cold turkey (CT), was doing nothing more than extending the misery I was putting myself through by drawing out the nicotine withdrawals....

 

So....CT worked for me, but didn't work for others. You have to chose what path will give you, what you think, is the best advantage at overcoming this addiction.

[beacon]

 

Good morning.  I did all three levels of the pastch over a four month period.  Each time I stepped down, there was a few days of adjustments. For the last level, I went longer than what was suggested because I was afraid.  I finally stopped the patch all together when the line at the store was too long and I was too cranky to wait to buy them.   I think there was about a week of low grade withdraw,  However, I was strong about it because during of the months of quitting with the patch  I had gained tools to cope like the forums, mediation, support from friends and family.

 

I was VERY irritable for a while.  All of this turned out to be  temporary. 

[Ramona]

All good advice (above).

 

I would (perhaps) ask myself these questions:

 

~ Do I want to be dependent on this particular chemical for brain adjustments?

~ Do I want to spend money on this dependency?

~ Can I feel I've overcome or accomplished my goals if I'm still using this chemical?

~ What is it about my smoking/using that drove me to make a change in the first place?  And will these be accomplished by staying on aforementioned chemical? 

 

It's totally a personal thing!  All of it!

You got this.

[Karen]

Yup, I do...I GOT this!  Decided to go with step 2 patch until I run out then use up step ones and be done with it. This is what I feel will be best for me. Again (as always) tons of good, supportive replies. Man I am soooooo BLESSED TO HAVE FOUND you guys!  Today is a new day and all is well again. I have a better attitude and have been reading Allen Carrs book on my nook each night before falling asleep . And also watching Joel's videos here. All good stuff :)  

[joe]

you DO have this....that's a great attitude to have!..

 

Also..congrats on figuring out the picture thing... :)

[Karen]

Lol, thanks Joe! I made it a mission to figure that out!

[Nancy]

Yup, I do...I GOT this!  Decided to go with step 2 patch until I run out then use up step ones and be done with it. This is what I feel will be best for me. Again (as always) tons of good, supportive replies. Man I am soooooo BLESSED TO HAVE FOUND you guys!  Today is a new day and all is well again. I have a better attitude and have been reading Allen Carrs book on my nook each night before falling asleep . And also watching Joel's videos here. All good stuff :)  

And Woo Hoo, you got your picture up!  Lovely!

[Doreensfree]

Nice to see you Karen...you figured it out...

You can do this...proud of you...x

[Still winning]

Karen, pictures and a plan...you da man (or woman ;) ) xx