Is Anyone Else Trying to Quit Smoking Tobacco?

Thor,

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I started smoking an electronic cigarette in February and have not even looked at a real ciggy since! I am currently smoking chocolate flavor, as my vanilla is sold out. But, I really do like these things! Just runs on battery/vapor. You get the nicotine but not the tobacco or bad things. You can step your nicotine down also. I am currently smoking an 8 level. I dropped down to 6, but going through this I did increase the #. I will get down to 0 and I can still 'smoke' as it cures the desire and is not harmful. I also like the different flavors. I am the type that likes a lot of flavor in my coffee, so it probably isn't for everyone, but they do have tobacco flavored as well. The only thing that took adjusting for me was the feel of the battery. It is heavier than a cigarette. But, it only took about two weeks and it no longer felt strange. Just... normal. It isn't cheap, but when you add up what you are spending on real ones, plus the damage I was doing to my body, it was worth it to me.
Anyway, like i said... haven't even looked back since I started in Feb. And, your clothes, house hair, everything... smells fresh. Plus, not bad for you.
Win/win!
Don't call yourself stupid! You are anything but! Just need to find solution for you, that's all.
Also, there is a lot of bronchial issues going on around here due to the pollen, etc. perhaps that is why nothing showed up at the lung doc?
Just a thought.
~Jillynnie

Hi everyone... sweet lemonade and Jillypie and my boys... what's going on in the Solheim cup pledgie... haven't been home to turn on the tube.
Thor... please oh please don't call yourself stupid... like pledge said... that is why they call it addiction... we just need to get you an answer.
Those electric things sound interesting Jilly.i think my hairdresser has tried one of those but I don't think it was flavored... what a smart idea... and it has nicotine??? What will they think of next!!! LOL
Now... to serious things... I am sure that you all have heard of Chantix??? I know it has gotten a bad wrap because of some of the side effects... but not everyone gets them... keep an open mind as I tell you about this. Many people I know have stopped smoking with the aid of Chantix.

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Chantix is a prescription drug that actually fools your brain into thinking that you have had a cig so when you light up you really don't have the desire. The way it works is that it occupies the receptor site where nicotine attaches in your brain so your brain thinks you have had a cig. I think you smoke for the first week on it... maybe two weeks. Anyway... this is while you only take one pill per day. This time period is allowing blood levels to be established. After or at the 2nd week you start taking two pills per day and stop the smoking. I think they even tell u to try to smoke a ciggy with the surprise that u will not want it. I think that you stay on it for 3months.
The cost of the medication is about $130/month--- but compared to cigs... I don't know... what are they a pack now... like $6.00???
Anyway... I thinkit is a pretty cool drug. The most common side effects are nausea... usually for first week... it supposed to be taken with food. The other common side effects are insomnia and constipation. The less common side effects, and these are the ones that r getting the bad wrap for the drug, is suicidal thoughts, and some kind of strange thoughts??? Can't think of the word so I said something nebulous like strange thoughts!!! These r rare and I think the suicidal thoughts are if u have the tendency to b suicidal... and it is in the very young age category. They have to describe every single solitary side effect in this litigious society that we live in.
So... sorry longwinded but I wanted to tell u everything I could remember... google it and I am sure that you will get more info.
Chantix is around 50% successful where stuff like Wellbutrin (zyban), nicotine gum, etc is 20-30% success rate.
The drug kind of reminds me of suboxone in that it accomplishes it's effect at the receptor site... I think we are going to see more and more of these types of drugs coming out on the market.
If I was trying to quit smoking I would definitely try this drug. Go with something that has the highest success rate.
I hope that this helps and I hope that this drug is successful at helping someone who reads this quit.
BTW... I went to my sub doc today. I think I might start weaning in a couple of weeks SLOWLY. I may get to 2mgs and stay there for a while like Jill and Coby.
Anyway... this is all for now... I am going to find the Solheim Cup somewhere on TV... it will be replays as it began when we were all still asleep as it is in Ireland as pledge also knows.
Bye guys... please let me know if you have heard of Chantix OR what you think of it after hearing about it explained if you have not heard of it.
Peace and Blessings...

Dear Thor... don't beat yourself up... quitting smoking is supposed to be as hard as quitting heroin... it is hard... keep the faith... I will certainly pray that God will give you the strength and willpower to do so...

Wow, you sound exactly like my mother. She feels guilty every time she smokes but since losing my Dad (a little over a year ago) she's been so depressed and it seems like the harder she tries the more she smokes. I smoke too but it's because of the subutex. I used to only smoke when I had a few drinks. I was a closet smoker. I never told anyone but the subutex makes me crave like crazy. I finally just started smoking in front of people, like my parents and grown children and they all want me to quit. I will quit when I'm off of this subutex and only smoke if I have a few drinks and only if I feel like it. Does anyone else feel like this? I can remember when I took the hydrocodone how it made me smoke like crazy also. I hope I haven't done damage to myself because it's so bad. I felt myself weezing and the doctor checked my breathing and gave me a prescription for an inhaler also.

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I just never got it because I can remember using those when I got bronchitis and they made me anxious. Isn't there steroids in the inhaler's, especially the ones that are prescription? Did you ever try to electronic cigarette? It comes in many flavors and really blows out smoke. Sometimes they say that we're just addicted to holding something so it could help in that way. My mom tries to just smoke half of the cigarette. What if you only allowed yourself a certain amount a day? When I was in the hospital I knew I couldn't smoke. I was too sick to smoke anyway but I would have if I could have. I just pushed it out of my thoughts and it wasn't bad at all. Lot's of people used the patch but I didn't want it. My mom used the patch when she was in the hospital. My Mom quit for 11 years and when my Dad was alive they traveled and they were in Italy and you always have a little wine with dinner out there. They started sharing a cigarette every night and then slowly started smoking again. I'm like my Dad. I never smoked during the day. If I did, I would only smoke at night. My Dad would have a few cigarettes every night and that's it. I wish I could help you. I can tell you how my Aunt and Uncle did it many years ago. How much do you smoke? Hope to hear from you soon my friend. Laura :)

Dear Thor, I saw the mention of E-cigs and that might help. They have them available online, and in tobacco shops. They do have a disposable one you can purchase to try it out first, to see if it helps. I recommend that as opposed to sinking a bunch of money into the E-Cig kit, with the extra filters, chargers, etc. The advantage to the bigger E-cig kit is that you can get different flavors and strengths of tobacco, the disposable come in reg, lite and menthol, no other flavors or strengths that I am aware of. Cigars are a bit stronger than cigs, but it is worth the price of a disposable one to try it and see if it will help. You mention that all of the sudden you are having trouble overnight breathing, Is it possible you have allergies to pollen, mold, mildew, dust, that could be making it a bit more difficult to breathe during peak fall allergy time. I smoke, I am not even going to try to intone I am trying to quit, I am not. I should of course, but I am not trying to quit.

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I also am having trouble breathing, and I have absolutely horrible allergies and this time of year and in the spring, my allergies are even worse and my breathing is more labored. I am not saying it is only allergy, but allergy can make your breathing suddenly lots more difficult. I am so sorry you feel not up to par, I am not feeling great either, I don't think Sweet, Pup or Jillynnie are either, so you have good company. I am not sure how Pledge is feeling, he always seems so upbeat, he may feel lousy too, hope not, but I didn't want him to think I was leaving him out. I am hoping you will be able to quit, but right now, I can't either. Hope this gives you some hope tho. Patti