Post by judyb on Jun 29, 2004 11:14:25 GMT -5
There are many on the boards (lurkers included) in various stages of quit
and pre-quit.
There are even those smoking as they read this. Hopefully these smokers
are preparing themselves for the battle that lies ahead.
Hey, eventually we all gotta stop smoking---or breathing!
Soooo, getting to business and focusing in on the stated goal of physical
withdrawal and patch usage...
Believe it or not, the physical withdrawal part is short and easy compared to
the mental addiction.
But, the first week of complete nicotine detoxification is lovingly called "Hell
Week" with day 3 or 4 being the usual worst.
Just about all of the nicotine runs out of your body in a week's time but the
physical addiction does run a bit longer, just more subtly.
Personally, I had no noticeable health improvements until after 6 months.
Although I believe the mental break from addiction got remarkably better
after 3 months.
Until that 6 month milestone came, I couldn't sleep through the night and
had what felt about 3 colds\sinus infections.
I held onto the belief that things would improve and eventually I was proven
right.
I used the patch for 2 quits--this one included.
In fact, I was quit for 2 weeks when I decided to buy the patch again and
seek the help of this board. This time, I'm running the longest quit.
Now, the whole purpose of the patch is to lessen the severity of
withdrawal. And indeed it does do that. But the patch has some limitations.
For starters, it irritates the skin and itches like mad. Some folks can't wear
it because they have bad reactions to it.
Also, you will dream the most Weird of dreams. I had to take it off before
bed and slap it on in the morning.
I hear that the patches now come in designer colors so you can proudly
wear the patch in public and in style--of course, you're left with the red
welts from the previous day's patch placement.
You'll have to experiment to find what part of your skin is least offended by
the adhesives on the patch.
Another limitation is the patch is time-release. It doesn't keep up with you.
In other words, there are times when one would smoke more, like at a bar or
under stress.
(I would easily smoke a whole pack of cigs in a 2 hour bar visit.) The patch
will only pump out what it's programmed to do. You may often times find
yourself squeezing on the patch, hoping for a bigger dose of nicotine.
Also it is advisable to refrain from smoking nicotine laced cigarettes or
slapping 2 patches on...or risk overdosing on nicotine. (It is a poison after
all, darn good weed killer too.)
And lastly, the patches can cost more than smoking! Or at least they did
when I was using them.
While it's highly suspect to read the literature accompanying the patches
and see the recommendation to use THEIR product for 10 weeks (I'm
surprised they didn't recommend 20 weeks) the step-down method is solid in
theory.
It is easier (physically) to withdraw from nicotine when one is accustomed
to lower doses.
For me, just going a day without smoking was miraculous. So the patch has
some merit in helping with the mental addiction as well.
It is without question that "Hell Week" really is that! It is hard to
concentrate or even interact with others.
There is never a good time to quit, but, it is advisable to stay away from
smoking triggers, stress, work, loved ones...you name it.
Many people can get past the physical addiction. But, unfortunately, just
stopping the nicotine intake is not enough to beat addiction. Eventually, the
rubber-band of addiction can only be stretched so far and can snap back.
The mental mind games do a lot of folks in and suck them back into full
blown addiction
just4u - donw - 6/2001
