Anyone use the patch to quit smoking?

thsmith

Its been over a week and so far so good. The instructions for step 1 is 1-6 weeks then go to Step 2.

What is you expereince with patches ?

stuwee

I tried several times over a 2 year period with the step program, it didn't work for me, I had a brain tumour in '07, that was all it took to get me to 'cold turkey'. Have been smoke free since early '08, I hate the smell now, don't even want one. Good luck to you, everyone is different, you'll find the best way. All it takes is the desire to quit to get things started.

halo71

I tried the patches a few years back, the gum etc. None of that worked for me. Had a friend use Chantix and she said it made her feel really bad. So I never went that route.

New Years Eve last year.....I decided I was done and went cold turkey. So what I am saying is I think YOU have to be ready to put them down to really quit. I still want a smoke every now and then, but for the most part I am good. I sure feel a lot better now!

jflail2

Yup, and it worked like a champ for me. I started with the strong patches, used them for about a week, and that was all I needed to get over the hump.

I basically used them to avoid the swimmy headed feeling you get when you first quit, and avoid the sweats at work. After I got past the first week, I quickly realized I was forgetting to put my patch on, so I said to heck with it and quit using it.

Everyone's right in that you have to WANT to quit, but there is NOTHING wrong with using a temporary aid to permanently quit a bad/unhealthy habit. Make that patch work for you!

gdb

The patches can make you have some really wild dreams !:eek: I suggest Commit lozenges instead, they give your mouth something in exchange for a ciggy. Best of luck, no matter which way you go !!

RuSsMaN

Made my arm itch, that's about it.

cubdog

I used the back surgery method. The Dr. said there was a higher risk of the implant failing if I continued to smoke. I've been smoke free for seven months. Unfortunately, I can't recommend this method since the surgery involved costs about $80,000.

cubdog

gdb

Here's a great incentive ! Lungs from 1 pack a day for 20 years, I cant imagine what my 1.5 packs for 26 yrs. look like.:frown:

wayne3burk

i tried to quit several times - but then i had A-fib and was hospitalized 3 times in 2 months when I was 30. Cardiologist told me I had to quit so about 3 months later i saved my last cigarette from my last pack - and kept it in my desk drawer for about then next three yrs until all the tobacco fell out of it.

I've been smoke free for about 23 yrs now.

p.s. all the nicotine is out of your body after about 3 days - takes 6 months for your body to replace all your red blood cells that have carbon monoxide permanently attached to them - and about 10 yrs for your lungs to go back to their original condition.

happy breathing

wayne

thsmith

I have quit about a dozen times using Cold Turkey and the longest I went was 5 years.

tHE PATCH HAS BEEN THE EASIEST SO FAR. Sorry about the caps key there.

I love smoking but know I have to quit before it is too late.

Glad to see it has worked for at least one person. I am using the Target branded ones at step 1 (strongest) since I smoked a pack a day.

They are half the price of a carton and last 14 days vs 10 for a carton.

The way I see it I could wear the patch for a year and it be better for me than smoking.

Maybe I will get to the point where I forget to wear them but I doubt that is happening at step 1.

I did forget to remove the patch before going to bed one night and woke up from the craziest dream I ever had, do not remember what it was but scared the heck out of me, realized I still had the patch on, yanked it off and went back to sleep with no issues.

WilliamM2

cubdog wrote: »

I used the back surgery method. The Dr. said there was a higher risk of the implant failing if I continued to smoke. I've been smoke free for seven months. Unfortunately, I can't recommend this method since the surgery involved costs about $80,000.

cubdog

Same here, only neck surgery. 18 months and counting now. Don't even get the urge anymore.

Due to the surgery, nicotine substitutes were not allowed. From everything I've read, cold turkey has the highest success rate of any method anyways.

I tried the patches in the past, problem is, you stay addicted to nicotine while using them, so it just slows down the process of quitting.

Tony M

Cold turkey here with the aid of Hershey Miniatures whenever the urge hit. Chocolate sooths the brains of humans everytime.

My wife used the patch before me and it worked for her.

We both wanted to quit real bad. You have to comit and after 3 days like Wayne3burk said, IT'S ALL DOWN HILL...I know. After 3 days, it's amazing how the urge dramatically eases off.

Get free and spend that money on steaks instead !! That's what I did!

Ron-P

gdb wrote: »

Here's a great incentive ! Lungs from 1 pack a day for 20 years, I cant imagine what my 1.5 packs for 26 yrs. look like.:frown:

Seriously? Then why do you, and other do it?

gdb

Ron-P wrote: »

Seriously? Then why do you, and other do it?

I did, but, now I don't ! Smokee free for over 6 years now. I'll admit that I was addicted to Nicorrette/ Commit lozenges for a long time after the smoking stopped. (Can cause periodontal problems in the long run!)

Tony M

The WEB should have that time line of what happens after you quit. That helped me to start thinking about quiting before it was to late. When I read about those first three days are the worst, I picked a Fri. night at 3:00 and then stressed over the weekend but got thru it..:biggrin:

gudnoyez

Cold Turkey is the way to go, take a night out with the fella's hit a few bars buy a bunch of smokes start buying shots, beers, throw the smokes on the table say have at it you guys that smoke, make sure you have a designated driver, get trashed smoke till you cant no more have designated driver drop you off at home. The next morning when you feel like you have the worst hangover ever throw your smokes away quit and start a money jar throw in the jar the amount you would of spent in a week in that Jar once a week, do it for a year, not only will you have a lot of money, your lungs will start to heal and look less like that picture Gdb posted.

thsmith

Cold Turkey is not for everyone. Been there and done that many times and it was always a battle even after 5 years. I am going to give patches a try this time for as long as it takes to kick the habit once and for all.

Can't hurt.

thsmith

Ron-P wrote: »

Seriously? Then why do you, and other do it?

It is an addiction thing. Even while my grandmother was in an oxygen tent with emphazima she said she could smoke a foot long cig.

Most people do things that are not good for them, no excuse but it is not as simple as you may think.

polkatese

how do you guys deal with the urge when stress (work-related mainly)?

I use Nicorette, day 9 off the cigs. Half pack a day. Quit many times, but work stress put me back to it.

I think I need to get into yoga.

TECHNOKID

I've used the patch un-successfully on so many occasions it is depressing however, it worked for many people I know including some relatives. I still don't give up and try to stop any time the opportunity arise. I even paid 500$ for laser threathment which was un-successfull but the way I see it, any cigarette I stay away from is a win. What worked best for me was the electronic cigarette (stayed away from cigs with that no issue) but was quite sick in 2010 and since this is not yet rated by Health Canada I did not dare stay on it as even with slight possibility that it could have been part of my illness.

thsmith, I am really glad this is worjing for you. You have the right attitude also, always keep in mind this a one day at the time deal and any cigarette you stay away from is a big win for you no matter what the outcome is. I sure hope you can stay away from the filthy abit once and for all!

Good Luck!
TK

TECHNOKID

Ron-P wrote: »

Seriously? Then why do you, and other do it?

Ron, this is a drug addiction period! Not easy to move away from a drug addiction. I've heard the stronghold from cigarette addiction is harder to move away from than many of the illegal drugs. From what I understand, smoking puts to sleep a natural dopamin effect the nedorphin since nicotine compensate fo it. The problem is once you quit smoking the endorphins is still asleep and this is a big issue (endorphins is what gives the body a feeling of comfort, wellness and happyness).

jimbo1421

I found that the patches helped set me up for the last time I quit cold turkey. I got used to the habit of NOT smoking. But I still had nicotine cravings after months of patches and eventually started smoking again. What finally pushed me to quit was loss of income from the recession and major tax increases on cigarettes. This drove me to the real economy grade coffin nails which were so hard on my lungs I couldn't take it anymore. I went cold turkey in October 2009 and the cravings were gone in a few weeks.

So maybe one quitting tip would be to switch to a brand you don't like before quitting.

Jim

gdb

Try Gauloise, that oughta' do it !

WGDB

So far so good. I'm on my sixth week and I only have 4 more patches left.....

gdb

WGDB wrote: »

So far so good. I'm on my sixth week and I only have 4 more patches left.....

The big question is........do you still want to smoke ? Good luck BTW !

gfong

I used the patch to assist me in quiting and it worked. I also had to change my daily routine so I would not think about smoking. I would go for a walk for breaks at work, not drink coffee in the morning, avoid alcohol (I rarely drank anyway).

For me it was a total mind shift/way of life and it can be done successfully. When I was on the patch I would sometimes reach for my cigs that were not on the table! (Pretty powerful addiction)

My doctor told me that out of a 25 pack of cigs, 6 to 7 are needed to fill the nicotine fix that your body craves and the rest were just to have because of the habit. You know, answer the phone, go outside, have a beer, any stress related act, etc...

Good on you to all that have succeeded and good luck to anyone attempting to quit.

IMO it was a very stupid thing for me to start, but in 1977 all the cool kids were doing it! (kidding of course) Good luck.

Oh yea! as someone already stated, careful of the nightmares, the patch can effect some people that way.

Systems

I have them..used them work a lil for me..i hate smoking..hook for over 30 years on them nasty things..wish i never pick them up when i was young..

TECHNOKID

gdb wrote: »

Try Gauloise, that oughta' do it !

Harsh and nasty! :eek:

WilliamM2

thsmith wrote: »

Cold Turkey is not for everyone. Been there and done that many times and it was always a battle even after 5 years.

Using the patch won't change how you feel after 5 years. You may always have the urge to smoke. I know people that quit 20 years ago and still get the urge, they tell me the key is not to have one, and it'll pass.

gdb

When the end of the world is definitively predicted/scheduled............I'll be buyin' a carton of Marlboros to calm my nerves while I wait for oblivion to arrive. Hey, what's it gonna' hurt at that point? :biggrin:

WagnerRC

patch worked for me, smoke free over 17 years now.