Author Topic: Quitting smoking (Read 8380 times)

BT65 · « **on:** April 19, 2007, 10:45:10 pm »

Are there any "puffers" out there? Has anyone found a good treatment for quitting that works without all the white-knuckling? I have patches, but every time I get around someone who smokes, it's like deja-vu. Has anyone had any long-term luck with stopping?

milker · « **Reply #1 on:** April 19, 2007, 10:50:27 pm »

I was getting one when I saw your post. You may want to check this thread: http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=8921.0

I have asked my ID about this and we will discuss Chantix at my next appointment.

Milker.

StacheBC · « **Reply #2 on:** April 19, 2007, 11:49:46 pm »

I did the nicotine gum thing.... Let me rephrase that, I still do the nicotine gum thing

I've been chewing nicotine gum for a few years now. I failed a few times but I think it's normal relapse and have one, but then I was getting pissed off at myself for sometimes going months without smoking and giving in. After falling off the horse a few time I just didn't want to go back again (since I knew I was going to try and quit).

But I haven't been able to quit the gum. Although the gum itself is cheaper then cigarettes (at least where I live), plus not as bad as the actual smoke going into my lungs.

Don't give up if you fail... Just try again when you're ready.
Mauricio.

otherplaces · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2007, 12:02:32 am »

I've been trying to quit for a year and a half. I've tried alot of strategies. I think you just have to accept that it's going to be a bitch. Running helps alot. Being sick and tired of quitting over and over again helps too...that means keep at it!

I just went for it again. I just completed day 3 without smoking. Day 4 here I come! This time I'm just chewing alot of gum, but mainly just not caving in to the pain, and focusing on how I feel better already. I think I may have a good chance of pulling it off this time. I'm just ready as the cliche goes. Can't wait to tell my doc!!

good luck,
brian

milker · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2007, 12:03:00 am »

I tried the patch (bad rash), the nitotine gum (absolutely disgusting I stopped after a day), the lozenge (I had those terrible silent farts that smelled so bad I'd puke), Ziban (absolutely no effect bad or good), so i will try Chantix.

Milker.

aztecan · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2007, 12:12:55 am »

Well, I tried:

The patches - caused a rash;

The gum - gave me a toothache;

The nicotine inhaler - I'm not even sure they still make them;

Cold turkey - don't even go there. It wasn't pretty;

Cutting down - yeah, right;

Using a nifty tool to poke holes in the filters so I could get less smoke and wean myself off of them - see above;

Making my own ciggies so I would be less inclined to smoke - I smoked twice as much;

Chantix has been a wonder drug for me. So far, so good. But I do have to admit it does bother me when someone smokes in my car.

Give it a shot. It has worked pretty well for me. By the way, Saturday is my last Chantix dose. Its hard to believe it has been three months already.

Wish me luck.

HUGS,

Mark

racingmind · « **Reply #6 on:** April 20, 2007, 01:01:57 am »

I think the key to quitting is actually being scared of the ill effects. I had no real intention of quitting until I got my diagnosis. After the initial shock, I smoked for a couple more months and started taking Wellbutrin. I quit without any nicotine replacement. I really wanted to do something good for myself. Plus I was tired of being a slave to it. Going out at midnight for a pack of cigarettes because I couldn't possibly wait until morning...what if I wanted one in the middle of the night? Sound familiar?

Familiar and ludicrous! If you want to quit, you will. Simple as that. Don't be a slave and pay hard earned dollars on something that can and will eventually kill you. I gave up a 20 year habit and haven't looked back. You can too!!!

Plus, you will love all the money you save.... Good Luck!

DingoBoi · « **Reply #7 on:** April 20, 2007, 01:20:23 am »

why wasn't smoking cessation treatment part of the huge settlement years ago?

Rainbow1 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 20, 2007, 02:04:23 am »

I am currently taking Chantix, i have been smoke free for 10 days now, i do still crave one every now and then but it's not to bad

Good luck

frenchpat · « **Reply #9 on:** April 20, 2007, 05:16:01 am »

A thread that keeps comming back.

here's one you may want to (re) read: http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=1953.msg21049#msg21049

hope it helps

Pat

DanielMark · « **Reply #10 on:** April 20, 2007, 05:29:24 am »

Has anyone had any long-term luck with stopping?

Hi Betty,

I quit for 12 years, but I’ll be completely honest, the cravings never totally left me and when my 10-year partnership ended I went right back to smoking. I lied to myself that I only wanted one, but of course that was a load of corn. Despite my best efforts I've not yet been able to get off them again since. That was seven years ago.

Replacing nicotine in cigarettes with nicotine in gum or patches is irrational to me. Besides, they didn’t stop me from smoking. I hear many good things about Chantrix, but unfortunately it’s not available in Canada yet.

Hope you have better success with quitting than I’ve had. It’s a torment.

Daniel

frenchpat · « **Reply #11 on:** April 20, 2007, 05:40:05 am »

Betty,

I smoked between the age of 16 and 27 an average of one pack a day. Then I quit and never looked back. I did not use any drugs or therapy to quit, but was only successful on my third attempt. With the exception of the first 6 months I never ever had any cravings, not even when I split with my boyfriend of 11 years or when I learned I was hiv positive. I am certain I will never smoke again, not even in front of a firing squad (well... err, no!). I am 47 this year.

Check the thread I gave you in my previous message, it might help.

Pat

antibody · « **Reply #12 on:** April 20, 2007, 01:36:15 pm »

i too have been using nicotine replacement for about 2 years now i guess. love the cherry commit lozenge. i don't really think about stopping nicotine if i did I'm sure I'd smoke. i crave smoking. i love it! i enjoy it. so i use the replacement stuff. but I'd rather smoke. i wanna but know for my own sake i really shouldn't smoke. and my boyfriend gives me shit like I'm some type of evil person because i still crave it. like a dumb ass i started when i was like 12 years old and smoke for at least 20 years maybe 22. it's kinda ingrained like second nature. i don't want to be addicted. but the fuckers added more and more nicotine and crap every year. it's harder to quit than heroin and I've done that why must i be haunted with cravings for cigarettes? why???!!!!

Morton Salt · « **Reply #13 on:** April 20, 2007, 01:56:34 pm »

There is no easy softer way. I was a 3 pack a day smoker. Smoked since i was 9. I'm 34 now.
He res what i did.

Buy nicotine patches.
your last day smoking, smoke until you go to bed and throw your smokes out so they wont be there in the morning and throw a patch on your arm.
change out the patch every 10 hours for the first week, then quit alltogether.
If that doesn't work, cut your lips off.

If you cant stop, e mail me and ill give you a link to a website where you can buy cartons for 13 bucks a pop. Not the crappy ass mexi smokes either. Good ol U.S.A tobacco. Marbs, camels, whatever u want. They were so cheap and i always had 6 cartons in the freezer i just got sick of smoking so much.

Good luck to ya.

~Mort

BT65 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 20, 2007, 09:31:47 pm »

Thanks guys for all the tips! I too hear wonderful things about Chantix, but I wonder if Medicare part D covers it. I've been on disability since 1995, poz since 1988. I am completing a bachelor's in psychology though-with it I want to be an addictions counselor (alot of good I'LL do, having such a hard time quitting smoking). I also have kicked heroin, and smoking is definitely three times as hard. At least with heroin, the withdrawals are over in a few days! Oh well, keep trying I guess........

milker · « **Reply #15 on:** April 20, 2007, 09:44:49 pm »

The only thing I miss about the patch was the vivid dreams. Thank God they were sexual, and not some chainsaw massacre episode. But damn they were so real.

Milker.

milker · « **Reply #16 on:** April 20, 2007, 09:46:26 pm »

Hmm Betty I don't know you would have to call Medicare. It's a new drug, so i'm not sure they cover it yet. Let us know what are your findings. I don't even know how much it costs yet, I just heard good reports about it.

Milker.

BT65 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 20, 2007, 11:10:25 pm »

Hey Milker-
I have those vivid dreams also when I wear the patch. But then I always want a cigarette when I wake up shaking! Go figure. Will keep you informed of Medicare coverage on the Chantix.

DanielMark · « **Reply #18 on:** April 21, 2007, 05:48:52 am »

I also have kicked heroin, and smoking is definitely three times as hard.!

I've never tried heroin but I've heard the same analogy and it wouldn't surprise me at all.

bear60 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 21, 2007, 12:57:22 pm »

I quit smoking last October....thats October 2006. I was not able to get Chantrix because it was not accepted by my insurance. I had to take Wellbutrin. It worked until the side effects became unbearable. But by that time I had quit smoking and after I went off the Wellbutriin I did not go back to smoking..........yet. I say that because every time I get stressed out I think....."oh what the hell I'll just start smoking again". But I have found that those thoughts will pass.

BT65 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 25, 2007, 09:20:05 pm »

GOOD NEWS! I found out today that my Medicare Part D prescription plan covers Chantix, so I'll be dialing up my doc tomorrow to get a scrip! Yay!

milker · « **Reply #21 on:** April 25, 2007, 09:55:39 pm »

Quote from: DanielMark on April 21, 2007, 05:48:52 am

I also have kicked heroin, and smoking is definitely three times as hard.!

I've never tried heroin but I've heard the same analogy and it wouldn't surprise me at all.

My ex-dentist was a heroin user and cigarette smoker. He was telling me that quitting heroin was a piece of cake compared to quitting smoking

milker (who never done heroin but is glad he could quit if he did)

aztecan · « **Reply #22 on:** April 25, 2007, 11:01:39 pm »

Hey Betty,

That's great news. I ran out of my last script for it Saturday. I did just fine until Monday, when I had to visit some clients at home.

EEP! Why do all of my client's smoke?

Anyway, I found myself weakening and knew that I might crumble at any moment. So, I got another script for Chantix. Started taking them again today and now feel much more in control.

I think I may need to wean myself slowly off the Chantix rather than stopping so suddenly - or somehow convince all of my clients to stop smoking?!?

Let me know how you do with the Chantix.

HUGS,

Mark

racingmind · « **Reply #23 on:** April 26, 2007, 12:03:11 pm »

that's great that your insurance covers it...but whatever the price is, always remember what you spend on cigarettes .....

Money should never be an issue when thinking about quitting.

Quitting smoking SAVES money in the long run, so look at it as an investment....

GOOD LUCK! If I can quit, you can too!

Gilles · « **Reply #24 on:** April 26, 2007, 05:49:45 pm »

Ok this is unbelievable but 1 month ago I smoked 20-30 cigs a day and would never imagine I could ever give up smoking.

But I came across this book by Allen Carr called "Easy Way to Stop Smoking"; I quit immediately I finished the book and it is only 260 pages long. I would strongly advise to anyone wanting to give up smoking to read this book.

Good luck

P.S. Please read the book...I still cant believe how easy it was to quit smoking.....now it is my forth week......not even counting anymore for how long I have been smoke free.....as it does not matter, I am not depriving myself from anything....in fact I have been feeling better than ever. The feeling of knowing that you will never ever have a single puff and will never ever even have a desire to do so is incredible.

BT65 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 26, 2007, 08:12:30 pm »

Thanks guys for the support!

Coffeechick88 · « **Reply #26 on:** April 27, 2007, 08:01:24 am »

I quit, but the process was kind of against my will as I was in the hospital and had to be without my cigarettes. The nurses tend not to be willing to wheel you out for a smoke and when you actually feel like you are well enough to do some walking, it is much harder to sneak out of an ICU than the normal floor. So I started out cold turkey, and well, I don't recommend it, because I think if I had the strength, I would have taken my IV pole through the window and jumped, and since I was only on the third floor, I would have survived and then ended up back in the hospital and probably strapped in restraints to the bed. The doctor finally gave me some of those inhalors, which kind of helped me more than the gum or the patches. With the patches I had tried before, I got a rash. But I was miraculously able to keep it up. I wish I could have tried Chantix, it might have made things more pleasant, but my insurance didn't cover it, but oddly they covered my nicotine inhalors. Anyway, good luck with the quitting.

appleboy · « **Reply #27 on:** May 22, 2007, 05:48:50 pm »

I got my script for Chantix today. I really want to quit and hope this really helps me to finally stop.

pozattitude · « **Reply #28 on:** May 22, 2007, 06:06:21 pm »

I had my last cigarette 8 weeks ago. I took chantix and it worked. 1st week I on the pill I kept smoking, by the 2nd week tobacco just tasted nasty and made me sick. I only took Chantix for 4 weeks, they say you should take it for 12. I really wanted to quit and I have not had a single puff in 8 weeks now.
I know of 2 other people who quit using Chantix.

Tar Heel · « **Reply #29 on:** May 22, 2007, 10:37:03 pm »

I've got a script for Chantix in my billfold and just haven't had it filled yet. I guess I'm waiting for my ID to fuss at me again.

appleboy · « **Reply #30 on:** June 03, 2007, 12:29:19 am »

It is working for me!! It has been 4 days for me with little or no cravings!

J.R.E. · « **Reply #31 on:** June 03, 2007, 01:47:04 am »

I've posted this befor, it may give you some incentive : Good luck!! you can do it !!

http://library.thinkquest.org/19796/data/d012.html

http://www.ash.org.uk/html/factsheets/html/fact11.html

Ray

Tempeboy · « **Reply #32 on:** June 03, 2007, 02:40:00 am »

Just found this on the pfizer chantix website.

This product is not available yet in Australia, so would love to hear how you go.

Uninsured? Need help paying for medicine? Pfizer has programs that can help, no matter your age or income. You may even qualify for free Pfizer medicines. Call 1-866-706-2400. Or click here for more info www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com.

J.R.E. · « **Reply #33 on:** June 03, 2007, 02:45:30 am »

Quote from: Tempeboy on June 03, 2007, 02:40:00 am

Uninsured? Need help paying for medicine? Pfizer has programs that can help, no matter your age or income. You may even qualify for free Pfizer medicines. Call 1-866-706-2400. Or click here for more info www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com.

Maybe you should post this as a "New Topic" in the living with HIV forum, otherwise this good info could get lost in this thread. Some may find this very useful...

Thanks for that----Ray

Tempeboy · « **Reply #34 on:** June 03, 2007, 04:21:55 am »

Have posted new discussion with this info - thanks for the suggestion.

Sharing the love.

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Author Topic: Quitting smoking (Read 8380 times)