Tips to Quit Smoking

Over One Year Quit Smoking

2011-12-05T22:46:00.001-05:00

Going through cancer treatment does give one extra motivation to quit smoking or stay quit and so he has. It's been over a year now and the weight he gained when he first quit and then lost during treatment has somewhat stabilized.

He did use Chantix again to stop smoking and it did seem to help although the crankiness was still there at times and eating to compensate for the hand to mouth movements. Which is why I preferred to use the nicotine gum. It gave me something to do and it calmed me just knowing I would have relief from the nicotine withdrawal soon.

I also thought it was fun to be able to use a nicotine product in places smoking is not allowed like the movies or on a plane or, early on, even in the shower.

Anyway, he is considered cancer-free now and we hope things only get better. He is still recovering from the treatment regimen and regaining his energy and appetite and ability to taste foods again.
Radiation for head and neck cancers affect the saliva glands and taste buds due to the heat of the rays of energy that destroy the cancer cells.

They say that he will regain his ability to taste foods almost fully but his saliva glands may never recover satisfactorily and so he uses mouth moisturizers and keeps bottled water with him all the time.

He's not complaining much though ... he's here and we are really grateful.

Keep on keeping on ... it's definitely doable whichever method you choose to use.

Best Wishes!

Better Late Than Never

2011-07-31T01:17:00.000-04:00

Applies to many things...exercise, eating right, flossing, quitting smoking.

Many who are diagnosed with a possibly smoking related cancer quit at diagnosis.

My husband quit 4 months before his diagnosis of treatable, curable throat cancer.

He's really happy that he quit then instead of at treatment because treatment is a kicker and trying to kick the habit simultaneously would be hard. Many do though.

Fear can create strength in all of us.

Let it.

Best Wishes...

A Spouse's Perception

2010-10-09T10:40:00.003-04:00

Three major things are going for us.
I am an ex-smoker.
I know how he feels.
There are more stop smoking products to choose from than when I quit smoking almost 12 years ago.

I choose to be patient with my spouse when he gets crabby from cravings because I remember the feeling.
That's the hard part of quitting smoking, especially for long term smokers.
The habit is such a part of our lives that something feels "off " for a while.
But, day by day the cravings get easier, lighter, go by faster and the off feeling starts feeling less off and then the feelings start catching up with the body until they eventually match and not smoking feels like the right thing to do. Smoking would feel "off ".

Until then, keep fighting for your health and remember this motto:
"I'd rather be an ex-smoker with an occasional desire to smoke than a smoker with a constant desire to quit."

Update on Chantix

2010-09-24T10:37:00.002-04:00

The physical demands of working overtime combined with trying to quit smoking using Chantix may not have been the best timing because it's hard to tell which issues may be side effects and which are normal tiredness.

So far there has been:
Tiredness
Slight Brain Fog (less talk; less focus)
Sore Muscles
Slight Crabbiness

Less Desire to Smoke (the one side effect we hope for!)

Giving Chantix Another Try

2010-09-21T11:00:00.002-04:00

It's been almost seven days and he says the urge to smoke is not so urgent. He's tired but working overtime lately may be the only reason. Let's hope not so many side effects this time except for the end goal.........no more cigarettes ever!

New News on Smoking and Quitting

2010-04-04T23:33:00.003-04:00

The latest studies are showing that even light, social smoking can create bigger problems than previous thought showed.

Reality hits hard leaving us breathless and overwhelmed with the need to take better care of ourselves knowing the doing of it may be more than we can bear. So it seems.

Just as I am I commit as much as I can to the process of quitting smoking with the goal of reaching the state of a non-smoker.

Baby steps need not be useless unless they are not used.

Signed,
Me

Tips to Quit Smoking With A Little Indulgence

2009-05-09T19:33:00.005-04:00

Announcing my favorite new snack to help alleviate that hand to mouth action when quitting smoking. Many already use sunflower seeds to help with oral satisfaction and hand to mouth but these are covered with CHOCOLATE!!!

They still have the crunch but have more of a delicate crispness than a candy coated chocolate.

I found them at my local TJ Maxx of all places. In the Home/Food section.

One at the time or a small handful could prove helpful especially after eating. This could be both dessert and a cigarette substitution.

Best Wishes!

Great American Smokeout Has Tips to Quit Smoking

2009-04-06T00:29:00.003-04:00

Every November The American Cancer Society challenges smokers to quit for one day during The Great American Smokeout.

They reason that many of us might quit forever if we see we can quit for one day. If not, well then, it's good practice to find out what does work to help us quit smoking.

They have a special resources available year round, 24/7 and one of those is a help line. You may give your personal information and a helper will call you to talk you through withdrawals or give tips to quit smoking.

November isn't that far away.

Tips to Quit Smoking that Work Well

2009-03-02T12:30:00.004-05:00

It's okay to feel like you are losing something important when you decide to stop smoking especially if you have smoked for a long period of time. Let the emotions out somehow so they don't build up creating stress you don't want or need. Exercise, writing, yelling, punching a pillow or a stop smoking group where you will feel less alone may help.

2. Keep it simple. Use distracting tools such as deep breathing and twirling a pen or pencil between your fingers to help when your mind and body are feeling out of sorts going without.

3. A concrete way to increase motivation to succeed quitting smoking is to calculate how much money you would save over the years and thinking of a goal to save towards. A car or a vacation are fun to look forward to having.

I bought a Jeep Wrangler with my savings and it's been a fun ride and it feels really good that it was paid for with cash saved from not smoking for nine years (at the time). I'll post a photo soon.

Best Wishes from Someone Who's Been There.

Keep it Simple to Stop Smoking

2009-02-02T23:11:00.003-05:00

A tip worth repeating to help you quit smoking is to gradually cut back on how many cigarettes smoked per day.

Many people find that their body is so used to the chemicals in tobacco that their body seems to go a little wonky if they stop cold turkey.

Some of these symptoms have included:

Changes in Menstrual Cycles
Fatigue
Thyroid Changes
Sores in the Mouth
Boils Under the Skin

Cutting back may help the body adjust and become more able to function on it's own without the interfering chemicals in tobacco smoke.

Best Wishes.

Remember Practice Makes Perfect

2008-12-12T19:33:00.002-05:00

Do not beat yourself up if you smoke.
Do try to remember how much better you felt as a non-smoker.
Do tell yourself it's gonna happen one day.
Try to not get back to smoking as much as before. Become a light smoker.
Do celebrate for every cigarette you do not smoke. It matters.

Yes, hubby is back at it. He was smoke free for quite a while. He's also already talking about trying Chantix again although I'm worried about the mood changes it seemed to cause in him. It did help him get going though.

He is already coughing again and snoring is back.

It's true. Smoking creates consequences and they usually do not outweigh any pleasure it gives.

Remember that most of all.

Best Wishes.

Husband Quit Smoking October 18 and Still Going Strong

2008-11-22T00:36:00.004-05:00

He was reading the blog over my shoulder earlier and laughed a little then had a serious look on his face.

I think he realized how big of a deal this is for him. No cigarettes for over a month now and he's doing it.

He still chews gum and today bought small mints so he's still dealing with that what do you do feeling but that's okay.

It takes a while for our bodies to adjust to a new behavior even if it's doing nothing.

I think the repetition of smoking in all of it's motions becomes ingrained and feels like a part of what we do without thinking.

Almost like blinking or breathing. We just do it until we don't do it anymore.

I'm so happy for him.

The irritability has lessened and he seems not to think about not smoking as often these days. More time goes by without the urge or craving and that is a relief.

His timing is good. He smoked outdoors to not bother me or others and it is really getting cold now. In the 20's here tonight. He doesn't have to suffer through that anymore.

I think he's going to make it.

Two or three years ago he used the nicotine patch to quit and stayed quit for about three months.

We all practice for the grand finale and I hope this is his encore.

Tips for quitting smoking comes from wanting to share what I know in a way that helps others.

Even if it's just one person.

Also, it helps to remind me of where I was when I quit smoking and how I came through using information I found online to help me through the withdrawal and show me ways to make it easier.

Pay it forward.

Tips to Quit Smoking That Work

2008-11-13T10:26:00.005-05:00

I am a former smoker. I've not smoked a cigarette for over ten years after smoking for over 25 years. I was a heavy smoker for the most part.
Even smoked Marlboro reds for a long time.

I say all of that to say this: One of the best tips for me when I stopped smoking was an exercise or process taught to people who have anxiety disorder or panic attacks.

They tell the sufferers to try and not get carried away by their feelings but to let them flow through their body until the feelings have dissipated. To relax and let it happen and that seems to shorten the attack.

The same thing can work for those of us who have strong reactions to quitting smoking. The urge to smoke can feel almost overwhelming at times especially when you first quit.

The tip is to let it flow through. Sit still and suffer the urge. Fully feel the physical and mental and emotional pull of the cigarette until it goes away.

It's called suffering well. You just do it. The thing that is hard to believe is that it will go away.

People who quit smoking or go through anxiety attacks frequently believe that they will always feel that way. That it is unbearable to feel that way.
This proves that is a myth. A myth-belief.

Although it may feel really bad and hard - you can do it.
Try it and see for yourself.

If you give in to it and let it grow and consume you don't despair. Try again next time. Don't ever give up. Trying makes perfect. It doesn't matter how many times you have to try before your time takes.

That is how new habits are formed. By not giving in to the old. By trying something new. Minute by minute if need be. Step by step.

Also, speak with a health professional if this gets hard and you are feeling tired of trying. The stress we generate from trying not to be stressful can be self defeating.

Let it go. Let it go by letting it go through you. Like a wave or a cloud. It will dissipate.

I promise. I did this until I didn't need to do it anymore.
It works.

Best Wishes.

Stop Smoking for 23 Days and Counting

2008-11-10T10:05:00.003-05:00

Husband has 23 days of not smoking under his belt and it's really showing. Almost no cough and his snoring is better which means better sleep and more energy.

I think he sees how much the Chantix altered his moods but we will still give it credit for getting him started. It did help and we didn't notice the mood changes until around the second week.

He has started chewing gum to help with that ex - smokers need to do something and it seems to help. He had tried three different gums: Juicy Fruit, Stride and a sugar free berry flavored one. His favorite so far has been Stride. He says the flavor lasts longer than the others.

Best Wishes.

Stop Smoking and You May Dream About Smoking

2008-10-30T16:03:00.004-04:00

It's true.

Most people who have quit smoking for a while will report having very realistic dreams of smoking a cigarette. Myself included.

I had several dreams of smoking and at least a couple of them were so vivid that I woke up feeling completely upset that I gave in and smoked before I realized it was only a dream.

The dreams are common, infrequent and will go away.
It could be the body's and mind's way of dealing with something new and different.
Addictions and habits are alike in that our bodies and subconsciousness's are catching up to what we are now consciously doing and until it, the subconscious, gets used to the new behavior.

Quit Smoking for Ten Days

2008-10-29T00:11:00.003-04:00

Husband has not had a cigarette for over ten days now and that without any Chantix for three days. He had been on it for two weeks and it definitely helped but it also caused some irritation so it seemed like a good time to try and go without it and see what happens.

So far so good!

We just returned from an eight day trip and he was around many, many smokers and didn't smoke. He wanted to at times and eyed a butt in the ashtray but he made it.

Sincerely,
An ex-smoker

Husband Smoke Free Since the 18th

2008-10-20T20:29:00.003-04:00

He is still using the Chantix and this is his third day without a cigarette.
He doesn't like to talk about it but I know he's proud even though he's a little aggravated too.
I am so happy for him!

If it lasts a week or forever...I'm happy for him.
He is trying to do something to take care of himself which will make our life together better.

His chronic cough is all but gone and that's a blessing because it was getting pretty bad keeping us up at night and our parrot was starting to sound just like him so, at times, we had surround sound coughing.

He used to mimic my chronic cough before I quit. I was embarrassed by the sound.

Best to all of you...never give up trying!

Odd Things that May Happen When You Quit Smoking

2008-10-17T11:51:00.005-04:00

In no particular order these things happened to me after I stopped smoking ten years ago.
They were all either temporary or treatable or a good thing. This is just information to help if anyone else goes through it and gets worried.

Very small white spots in mouth and on tongue. They felt a little sore but went away soon.

Boils in uncomfortable places. One had to be removed but most were treatable with moist heat and antibacterial ointment.

A swollen saliva gland. The ENT doctor said it was caused by a stone blocking the gland much like a kidney stone. Treatment was to suck on sour candy to help produce more saliva so the gland would unblock on its own. It worked but I was worried for a while.

More acne. Some say smoking dries the skin --I guess those pesky wrinkles are caused from smoking-- and when we stop smoking the body will go back to producing moisturizing oils.
This is temporary until the body self adjusts. This may be why the boils appear also.

Many women find that their menstrual cycles change when they stop smoking. It seems that almost every part of our body is affected by the chemicals in cigarettes and it takes time for the body to get used to being without those changes.

I've mentioned the thyroid gland previous but think it's important to mention again because it seems like a high percentage of people who quit smoking will notice a difference in the functionality of this very important gland.
Some say the smoking covered up a thyroid problem and quitting exposes the problem and some say the smoking causes the problem.
Either way, it needs to be looked at or watched. Tests to see if it's functioning well are easy to do but hopefully you can find a doctor or professional to also go by your symptoms.

Here is an excellent list of hypothyroidism symptoms to print out and keep handy to check now and then as you go through your stop smoking stages:

http://www.tpa-uk.org.uk/symptoms_hypot.pdf

Remember, not all of you will have these issues or any issues.
Seek out a reputable professional if you have any of these or other problems. It will help put your mind at ease and you will find the professionals will be very encouraging about you quitting smoking.

Best Wishes,
Someone who's been there

Ten Years Smober

2008-10-16T10:42:00.000-04:00

Today is the day and I'm excited!
Double digits!

To be smober means to be sober from smoking. Lingo picked up from the online stop smoking message boards.

When I quit for good we had just bought our first computer and I was learning how to use it and finding things online that interested me.

One day I found stop smoking message boards and forums.
I wasn't alone.
Hundreds of people were quitting smoking and talking about their days with one another. Giving and asking for encouragement, prayers, hints, tips and tricks to stop smoking and please, please would someone show me how to make it easy?!

Having online connections really helped me "suffer through" better than I think I would have on my own.

Granted, some were not very serious and some were just starting their quit smoking journey and finding out what worked best for them.

Here are some links to get you started: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=online+stop+smoking+message+boards&aq=f&oq==

I had gone to a face to face support group a few times but felt somewhat claustrophobic and pressured to be perfect.
I wasn't ready but it was good practice.

The moral of the story is to find what works BEST for you. For your personality, your position in the work force and --especially these days-- your financial position.

Look for coupons and/or try generics if you must so that you don't give up the right to be healthy and not addicted when you don't want to be.

Here are some links to help you find coupons, discounts or rebates for quit smoking products: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=online+coupons+for+stop+smoking+products

Let Freedom Ring!

One of My Favorite and Most Important Tips to Quit Smoking

2008-10-15T21:54:00.000-04:00

When you want to smoke --don't-- let the feeling flow through you until it's gone and it will go.
It's a moment in time.
It's temporary.
It will dissipate.
It will go away.
I promise.
It may not stay away for as long as you would like for it to but that's the nature of the beast and the beauty of the tip.

The urge or craving comes in, it feels bad, you let it play out and it goes away.
Let it go away.
Unclench.
Breathe.

They say suffering well is an art form.
Well, I say I'm no artist but I do say given time and practice a new habit develops.
The body heals and will eventually forget what it tried to make you do.
You become the person in charge.
Not the cigarette.
You.

Suffer through.
There is a beginning, a middle and an end.
I promise.

What have you got to lose? Try it and see.

It's like a diet and you suddenly have to have that piece of cake but, you wait it out.
It is uncomfortable to tell yourself no.
It will feel unfair.
You will be upset and angry.
You can do and be all these things and you will survive.

Tomorrow is my 10 year anniversary as a non-smoker and this is what has worked for me.
I hope I help others to see that it's possible to do a hard thing and survive.

No Morning Cigarette Today

2008-10-11T11:53:00.000-04:00

It's a huge accomplishment. The Chantix is helping him help himself. Normally the first cigarette of the day is the hardest to resist due to no nicotine supply during sleep so this is a big step for him.

A day to give hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel and it's not a train but freedom!

Yes, I'm corny but I'm really happy for him.

He sees or feels the changes in his body physically which made it easier to just let the thought of smoking go. And it went!

Week Two of Chantix on Tips to Stop Smoking

2008-10-10T10:04:00.000-04:00

The first nine days were not too hard. A little fatigue. The stomach pain. But little by little there has been less desire to smoke.

The first two days of doubling the Chantix gave him a little more energy and perkiness. Less fatigue.

This morning he said guess how long a pack lasted and I guessed two days and he said that's right! Wow....that's really really good...his usual smoking habit is a lot heavier than that.
His cough is already better too!

I'm a little envious of this ability to seemingly, naturally lose the desire to smoke.

With nicotine replacement you quench the urge by giving your body what it wants.

Mostly, I'm happy there are so many choices out there because none of us will react exactly the same as someone else. There also may be fluctuations when one thing seems to stop working or feels like it is too much --like the patch or gum-- some may actually have more or less nicotine or it may not be fully absorbed at one time.

So, find what works and use it according to instructions or talk to a professional for their opinion.

Best wishes from one who knows.
I smoked almost two packs a day for 25 years, had chronic bronchitis with a little blood at times, chronic cough and phlegm.

I finally felt bad enough and scared enough to quit. I wish most of us didn't wait until we feel so bad to decide to quit smoking but that's usually the way it goes.

My husband decided to quit recently because we moved to a new house and he was struck by how breathless he would get while moving.

He was shown actual, physical evidence of his addiction and need for recovery. Again.

Like Twain said...he quit smoking every time he put one out.

Do it till you get it.
Don't beat yourself up.
Seek help.
Find what works best for you and your situation.

Day 5 of Chantix

2008-10-04T13:49:00.000-04:00

Day 3 brought a surprise in the way of a painful stomach ache. Research showed us that Chantix used to stop smoking may cause upset stomach, gas pains etc., and so we think it was trapped in the left bend because that's where it hurt and for quite a while.

Found a message on a quit smoking forum from a guy that said he would get an upset stomach if he took his cholesterol lowering medicine close to taking the Chantix.

Another said to take the Chantix on a full stomach to make sure it didn't cause nausea. He said just eating a little wouldn't help some people. Even those who normally do not have reactions to medicines or drugs may have them with this one.

My husband has tried to follow these tips and the pain has not come back.

He is ,however, having a little fatigue but that may be caused by having less nicotine in the blood since he is smoking less.

The magical day 7 is coming shortly but I wonder if that's too much pressure?

Here are a couple of forum links to check out the side effects most people are having and some of the more uncommon ones:

http://blogs.webmd.com/allergies-and-asthma/2008/02/are-chantix-side-effects-worth-risk_04.html

http://forums.wrongdiagnosis.com/showthread.php?t=15714

Husband is Using Chantix to Quit Smoking

2008-10-01T22:57:00.000-04:00

Will put updates here as they come. He started yesterday and so has two full days behind him now.
I believe the fourth day starts a double dosage.
His sister, a very heavy smoker for 30 or so years, used Chantix to quit smoking last fall.
She was the other person you would say of, " If she can do it, I can too" besides me.

Check it out or Google it...
http://www.google.com

http://www.chantix.com

Helpful Links to Sites That Help Us Understand What Works For Our Own Personal Quest to Quit Smoking

2008-09-25T19:48:00.000-04:00

These links will take you to web sites that have additional knowledge to help with quitting smoking. Tips that can help with not only stopping smoking but that can help you understand why you smoke and how you can stop according to your personality.

Not all of us will respond well to every nicotine replacement therapy and not of all of will benefit from being told exercise is key to quitting smoking or that yoga is the ticket. They will be for many but not all. As you will see, there are many ways to find out what best works to make you a non-smoker.

Best wishes from someone who has been there.

This first link is to an About.com site run by Mary Shoman who quit smoking in 1995 after smoking for 15 years. She talks about what worked for her and what didn't and also how her thyroid seemed to be affected by her smoking and by her stopping smoking. A good read by an excellent author and web site master.
http://thyroid.about.com/od/hypothyroidismhashimotos/l/blquitsm.htm

This second link is to another About.com web site and this one is designed to help people quit smoking.
http://quitsmoking.about.com/

Celebrate Quit Smoking Anniversaries

2008-09-07T16:34:00.000-04:00

My own 10 year stop smoking anniversary will be on October 16, 2008.
I really quit close to midnight on the 15th but declared the 16th as my first full day of being a non-smoker.

I feel special to be in the double digits.

I remember when being smoke free for one hour or one day seemed impossibly intimidating to try.

I quit for good minute by minute.

Time takes time and it does pass. This too is temporary.

The desire to quit will outweigh the urge to smoke more and more until one day you realize it's been TEN YEARS since you even held a cigarette and even though you may feel like lighting one up on occasion you won't because the time you've put in is too important to give up.

BUT, if you do, just see it as practice and practice makes perfect. Mark Twain said he quit smoking a hundred times a day. Well, one day it will take. It will.

I thought giving up smoking would be like the end of the world but it's really the beginning of a whole new world. One where you can go anywhere, anytime you like because you are not held back by the bad habit any longer.

I think I'll go to the movies and out to dinner. I'll be able to enjoy the show and the meal without worrying about what part of the movie I can miss to go smoke or hurrying up a good meal to go out to smoke. I'll just smile and breathe and be thankful that I finally did one of the best things for myself that I could ever do.

I had help and I'd like to thank, in no particular order; God, the good inventors of nicotine gums and patches, my family for understanding my emotional changes, my doctor for giving me the OK to use the nicotine gum for a longer period of time, xanax for helping me stay calm and be able to sleep and the stop smoking message boards that are all over the Internet. Being able to read and share the same thing others go through is priceless.

Most are encouraging, all are helpful.

Good luck and celebrate every cig. you don't smoke!

Quit Smoking Clinical Trials and Studies

2008-07-14T19:16:00.000-04:00

Teaching colleges such as the Medial College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia have many health trials and studies. Sometimes they even have trials to help people stop smoking using different techniques such as comparing how the nicotine lozenge works compared to the nicotine patch.

They may include counseling sessions in person or over the phone and all of this at no cost to the participants including the nicotine replacement products.

The research may help you quit smoking and also help others find what works best for them.

Take a Deep Breath

2008-07-11T19:40:00.000-04:00

It's sort of like pretending to smoke a cigarette. That first drag, how hard and deep we would draw it in. Do that with plain old air. Whoosh it in and hold a second and then whoosh it out.
Don't do it too many times in a row or it could cause uncomfortable sensations due to hyperventilation.

This tip to quit smoking helped me out many, many times. It helps because you are repeating a motion you're familiar with and I think one of the reasons we light and drag like this is because of stress and holding our breath. That's why the first drag was so good...we breathed!

Sounds simple but it's doable. Especially if you are caught unawares by an urge to light up.
Just breathe!

See my post on using a straw stuffed with tissue to use for this exercise.

Tips to Quit Smoking - Practice Makes Perfect

2008-06-21T11:19:00.000-04:00

Never, ever beat yourself up for going back to smoking after quitting. Consider this, every time you quit, no matter how long, is practice under your belt for the time it really sticks for good.

Mark Twain once said he quit smoking several times a day and this is what my post is about.
Every single time you put off lighting up is exactly how it's done. One cigarette at a time.
Sounds a little like a 12 step program but it's not.

You are able to see in a concrete way how a person really quits smoking.

Tips to Quit Smoking-Motto's

2008-05-26T19:26:00.000-04:00

One of the motto's most often used in quit smoking message boards is:

"I'd rather be an ex-smoker with an occasional urge to smoke than a smoker with a
constant urge to quit."

The author is unknown to me.

Tips to Quit Smoking

2008-05-23T12:27:00.000-04:00

Soon after quitting smoking it is a good idea to have thyroid levels checked. So many people have complained of hypothyroid symptoms and been diagnosed with hypothyroidism soon after quitting smoking that it makes sense to stay on top of it by having it tested.

Doctors use the standard TSH test which can help with diagnosis but for people who may test within the TSH range, their are more sensitive tests called Free T4 and Free T3 that will show if you have a struggling thyroid.

It is possible to have many symptoms yet fall within the "normal" ranges on the tests.
Normal does not always mean optimal though.
Good Luck!

Tips to Quit Smoking

2008-05-10T20:37:00.000-04:00

Motivation by Goal Setting
Use a calculator to see how much money you spend on cigarettes per week and muliply by 52 to get a yearly total.
This total will show you how much money you can save if you quit smoking.
Multiply that yearly total year by year until you get to ten years.
Seeing the numbers in black and white may be a big motivational tool.
What is it you want?
A new car?
A new house?
Good health? Priceless.

Tips to Quit Smoking

2008-05-05T09:45:00.000-04:00

Research what is available, how it works, the cost/s involved, how long it can be used and is it workable in your lifestyle.

Some products can cause side effects that may affect your day to day functioning.
You may feel tired and need more rest.
You may feel more energized.

Tips to quit smoking are included in or on most product packaging and many have 800 phone numbers you may call for assistance.

Your personality comes into play also.
A laid back person may not like the extra energy the nicotine patches may create.
An energetic person may not appreciate the calm generated by certain prescription stop smoking products.
A person that has a hard time sleeping through the night may be more affected by the nicotine patches. Enhanced dreaming has been reported by many.
The nicotine gum may not fit in with someone who has extensive dental work.
The nicotine gum and lozenges may not work well for someone who has to speak often, such as a teacher or a phone operator.

One scenario that may come up is being unable to chew the nicotine gum or use another oral nicotine product due to dental work.

On a personal note, I had to have a bad tooth removed while I was using the nicotine gum and was unable to chew for a couple of days so I used a nicotine patch as a replacement. It was not my replacement of choice but it worked well enough that I was able to continue my new life as a
nonsmoker. After a couple of days I was able to resume using the nicotine gum.

Tips to Quit Smoking

2008-05-02T22:39:00.000-04:00

A practical way to get through those urges that can hit even if you are using a nicotine replacement product is to cut a plastic straw in two and stuff one of the sides with cotton or tissue.

Draw on it as if it's a cigarette and the sensation is very close to smoking a filtered cigarette when you draw the air through the cotton or tissue and this can be very calming and satisfying.

Some people don't like using an idea that is so much like what you are trying to quit but it really can help you stay with the plan to quit smoking.