Post by judyb on Jul 20, 2004 11:48:04 GMT -5
from the original just4u board........................................
By Bernouli on Unrecorded Date:
i was hoping that some of you old quitters might be able to outline the basic stages of a quit - and the side effects (ie appetite, sleep, etc) for us
newbies. i know that everyone's quit is different, but i'm curious about some of the changes that have been occurring - whether or not they're
due to the lack of smokes, or other changes in my lifestyle....
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
!!
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By Willi on Unrecorded Date:
My guess is everybody's eating pattern and possibly exercise pattern changes along with the quit, so they may not be all from quitting. But
quitting usually gets blamed...
I remember:
1. Little if any sleep for the first 6 weeks.
2. Extreme spaciness the first 6 weeks. No concentration for 6-8 weeks.
3. Some anxiety attacks with hot flashes, can't breath deep, and weakness/icky feeling. These came and went for 8 weeks or so.
4. Hacking up really ugly stuff since the 2nd week. Still hacking after 7 months, just not quite as ugly...
5. I got real quiet and withdrawn for a while. I seem to have missed irritable.
6. Canker soars, zits, gas.
7. Inflamed lungs for 3-4 months. Some bronchitis set in too. And some bouts of extreme fatigue, which might have been the bronchitis.
8. Heart burn. And that nasty spreading pain you get when you swallow down the wrong throat.
9. Abdominal pains. Some are pulled muscles. Some might not be. Doctor is still trying to figure it out. Never tell a gastroenterologist you have
lower abdominal pains. They'll enlighten you with a new knowledge of tests...
I think that's enough...
Oh. I quit cold turkey, so there's no blaming zyban or anything like that.
-------------------------------------------------------
By m silver on Unrecorded Date:
You guys are scaring me with what you experienced at various stages in quitting smoking with Zyban. I haven't had a smoke for almost a week,
and while there have been some difficult moments (irritable, sad) generally its been ok. I've had no side effects from the Zyban. I am eating lots,
chewing gum and using hard candies.
For me . what you guys have experienced as side effects is very discouraging. If I can expect to feel suicidal and physically ill - than is quitting
what I really what to do
...I hope others out there have had different experiences.
------------------------------------------------------------------
By Bones on Unrecorded Date:
Hi guys,
Well, being as how we were asked, I think I'll spill my guts now. This is my 2nd quit using zyban/wellbutrin. The first time I used it, I can't really
honestly blame all my side effects on the drug simply because I was going through some pretty emotional times then, and because I used it to
quit this time and didn't have the same side effects, I am going to say that I think the state of mind you are in when quitting has a lot to do with
what you will experience. Only a theory on my part.
I used the drug for 14 days prior to my quit and rather than smoking less, I smoked more, both quits. I think it was because I was looking for
taste and there wasn't any. I was lightheaded, preoccupied, and in a dream like state from day 3 (when I increased from 1 to 2 pills a day) until
along about day 12 and then it began to ease up. Insomnia began around day 4 till about day 21 on the drug. I was able to function normally at
my job, but there again, no one thinks I'm normal anyway, so this drugged state was not noticeable to anyone but myself. I just felt very relaxed
and confident and happy.
Once I quit smoking on day 14, the first day wasn't too bad, but, I used the patch also and would recommend this way very highly to anyone
quitting. I didn't use the patch the first time and can definitely see a major difference in side effects. Up to that point, I would get butterflies in
my stomach when I thought of quitting smoking and feel some anxiety, but not like I would have without the drug on prior quits. I found that I
didn't look for excuses to continue smoking but rather just stuck with my plan. Day one - anxiousness, but not panicky, a little lightheaded
from lack of nicotine, problems trying to figure out what to do, but all in all, made it through the day fine. Day 2 - not as easy as day 1 with a
little more anxiousness, but still held resolve to quit. Day 3 - easier than day 2. From there on out, it has been easier every day.
Other side effects: gas that could scare a skunk, bowel changes, coughing up mucus, lots of sinus drainage (still), headaches, heartburn (still),
emotional, zits, sore mouth, tendency to bite my tongue more than ever before (don't know what that's all about), sleep a lot from day 21 on.
I am no longer on the drug or on the patch. I weaned the patch down in size for 2 weeks rather than the schedule they say to use and weaned
from 2 pills a day to 1 a day when I was 1 week into my quit and after I had taken the drug for a total of 4 weeks, I just stopped taking it
altogether with no side effects what so ever. I am now completely nicotine and wellbutrin free and have been for 3 weeks and I feel great!
Granted, I do have some of the side effects mentioned above, but all in all, I feel soooo much better than before.
Hope this helps.
Bones
My new life began one month, one week, 12 hours, 31 minutes and 1 second ago because since then I have not smoked 1540 cigarettes and
put $188.76 in my pocket. Life expectancy has increased by: 5 days, 8 hours, 20 minutes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
By judyb on Unrecorded Date:
I had no really bad side effects on zyban, really. Mostly what irritated me the most was the inability to speak....seriously. I had problems carrying
on conversations because some connection between my brain and tongue was gunked up or something. But that fogginess goes away. I did
not experience insomnia, but I do take a hawthorne berry every nite before bed. I had the "rages" (moments of extreme anger) thru the 3rd
month...that passed with no bodies to dispose. I had little appetite for a while, but I've more than made up with that. My senses have sharpened
markedly. Smell and taste are so much stronger than I can ever remember (sometimes a blessing, sometimes not). I had the 'cry' spells, where
anything and everything made me weep. That comes and goes, but I've always been extremely sensitive to things. All in all, when you weigh the
bad experiences to being smoke free, it's worth it. It didn't kill me, it made me see more of what's inside of me. Don't be afraid of what's going
to happen when you quit. It's a release from a horrible addiction and it's worth everything!!!
Just my two cents
--------------------------------------------------------------
By Pamela W on Unrecorded Date:
Judy...seems we reacted the same to Zyban..I haven't had any sleep problems at all, and actually, I think I have more energy. I wake up AWAKE. I
go thru rages too, but they are very short lived. They just appear out of nowhere then just as easily disappear. I have a very small appetite, but
that doesn't stop me from having candy, sunflower seeds, whatever. I seem to drink a ton more coffee because it satisfies my "reaching for the
cigarette" urge. My smell and taste have magnified tremendously and crying jags...well you know from my post last night that I get those too.
Not too often tho. Usually I'm in a pretty "up" mood. I have quit before...cold turkey and I would recommend Zyban to everyone out there. It
makes you not really want a cigarette, the actual cigarette itself, not the image in your head of your life with cigarettes. You know what I mean??
I don't have any desire to smoke, but I miss my cigarettes...see? Hope this helps...
------------------------------------------------------------------
By terrip on Unrecorded Date:
The biggest reaction I have noticed is the smell of smoke on people. I almost can't stand to be near them. I am using the patch, using each level
for only 2 weeks. Now on level 2.
The patch caused absolute vivid, tiring dreams, and i had to stop wearing them at night on the 3rd night. (running on the freeway on my hands
and knees at the speed of regular cars, over, over over and over again!!!)
No stomach problems, not really any bi*chey ness, maybe in the car, but that is the worst craving place for me.
Don't get the impression that this is easy for me. Its not. More emotional things to deal with, and less time to stress about not smoking. Just
what the not smoking is doing to my so carefully ordered life. Oh this probably doesn't make sense. OH MY another side effect.
Now I remember the biggest one HYSTARICAL LAUGHTER. ANY WHERE ANY TIME!!!!!
terri
2weeks, 5 days and counting
By Bernouli on Unrecorded Date:
i was hoping that some of you old quitters might be able to outline the basic stages of a quit - and the side effects (ie appetite, sleep, etc) for us
newbies. i know that everyone's quit is different, but i'm curious about some of the changes that have been occurring - whether or not they're
due to the lack of smokes, or other changes in my lifestyle....
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
By Willi on Unrecorded Date:
My guess is everybody's eating pattern and possibly exercise pattern changes along with the quit, so they may not be all from quitting. But
quitting usually gets blamed...
I remember:
1. Little if any sleep for the first 6 weeks.
2. Extreme spaciness the first 6 weeks. No concentration for 6-8 weeks.
3. Some anxiety attacks with hot flashes, can't breath deep, and weakness/icky feeling. These came and went for 8 weeks or so.
4. Hacking up really ugly stuff since the 2nd week. Still hacking after 7 months, just not quite as ugly...
5. I got real quiet and withdrawn for a while. I seem to have missed irritable.
6. Canker soars, zits, gas.
7. Inflamed lungs for 3-4 months. Some bronchitis set in too. And some bouts of extreme fatigue, which might have been the bronchitis.
8. Heart burn. And that nasty spreading pain you get when you swallow down the wrong throat.
9. Abdominal pains. Some are pulled muscles. Some might not be. Doctor is still trying to figure it out. Never tell a gastroenterologist you have
lower abdominal pains. They'll enlighten you with a new knowledge of tests...
I think that's enough...
Oh. I quit cold turkey, so there's no blaming zyban or anything like that.
-------------------------------------------------------
By m silver on Unrecorded Date:
You guys are scaring me with what you experienced at various stages in quitting smoking with Zyban. I haven't had a smoke for almost a week,
and while there have been some difficult moments (irritable, sad) generally its been ok. I've had no side effects from the Zyban. I am eating lots,
chewing gum and using hard candies.
For me . what you guys have experienced as side effects is very discouraging. If I can expect to feel suicidal and physically ill - than is quitting
what I really what to do
...I hope others out there have had different experiences. ------------------------------------------------------------------
By Bones on Unrecorded Date:
Hi guys,
Well, being as how we were asked, I think I'll spill my guts now. This is my 2nd quit using zyban/wellbutrin. The first time I used it, I can't really
honestly blame all my side effects on the drug simply because I was going through some pretty emotional times then, and because I used it to
quit this time and didn't have the same side effects, I am going to say that I think the state of mind you are in when quitting has a lot to do with
what you will experience. Only a theory on my part.
I used the drug for 14 days prior to my quit and rather than smoking less, I smoked more, both quits. I think it was because I was looking for
taste and there wasn't any. I was lightheaded, preoccupied, and in a dream like state from day 3 (when I increased from 1 to 2 pills a day) until
along about day 12 and then it began to ease up. Insomnia began around day 4 till about day 21 on the drug. I was able to function normally at
my job, but there again, no one thinks I'm normal anyway, so this drugged state was not noticeable to anyone but myself. I just felt very relaxed
and confident and happy.
Once I quit smoking on day 14, the first day wasn't too bad, but, I used the patch also and would recommend this way very highly to anyone
quitting. I didn't use the patch the first time and can definitely see a major difference in side effects. Up to that point, I would get butterflies in
my stomach when I thought of quitting smoking and feel some anxiety, but not like I would have without the drug on prior quits. I found that I
didn't look for excuses to continue smoking but rather just stuck with my plan. Day one - anxiousness, but not panicky, a little lightheaded
from lack of nicotine, problems trying to figure out what to do, but all in all, made it through the day fine. Day 2 - not as easy as day 1 with a
little more anxiousness, but still held resolve to quit. Day 3 - easier than day 2. From there on out, it has been easier every day.
Other side effects: gas that could scare a skunk, bowel changes, coughing up mucus, lots of sinus drainage (still), headaches, heartburn (still),
emotional, zits, sore mouth, tendency to bite my tongue more than ever before (don't know what that's all about), sleep a lot from day 21 on.
I am no longer on the drug or on the patch. I weaned the patch down in size for 2 weeks rather than the schedule they say to use and weaned
from 2 pills a day to 1 a day when I was 1 week into my quit and after I had taken the drug for a total of 4 weeks, I just stopped taking it
altogether with no side effects what so ever. I am now completely nicotine and wellbutrin free and have been for 3 weeks and I feel great!
Granted, I do have some of the side effects mentioned above, but all in all, I feel soooo much better than before.
Hope this helps.
Bones
My new life began one month, one week, 12 hours, 31 minutes and 1 second ago because since then I have not smoked 1540 cigarettes and
put $188.76 in my pocket. Life expectancy has increased by: 5 days, 8 hours, 20 minutes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
By judyb on Unrecorded Date:
I had no really bad side effects on zyban, really. Mostly what irritated me the most was the inability to speak....seriously. I had problems carrying
on conversations because some connection between my brain and tongue was gunked up or something. But that fogginess goes away. I did
not experience insomnia, but I do take a hawthorne berry every nite before bed. I had the "rages" (moments of extreme anger) thru the 3rd
month...that passed with no bodies to dispose. I had little appetite for a while, but I've more than made up with that. My senses have sharpened
markedly. Smell and taste are so much stronger than I can ever remember (sometimes a blessing, sometimes not). I had the 'cry' spells, where
anything and everything made me weep. That comes and goes, but I've always been extremely sensitive to things. All in all, when you weigh the
bad experiences to being smoke free, it's worth it. It didn't kill me, it made me see more of what's inside of me. Don't be afraid of what's going
to happen when you quit. It's a release from a horrible addiction and it's worth everything!!!
Just my two cents
--------------------------------------------------------------
By Pamela W on Unrecorded Date:
Judy...seems we reacted the same to Zyban..I haven't had any sleep problems at all, and actually, I think I have more energy. I wake up AWAKE. I
go thru rages too, but they are very short lived. They just appear out of nowhere then just as easily disappear. I have a very small appetite, but
that doesn't stop me from having candy, sunflower seeds, whatever. I seem to drink a ton more coffee because it satisfies my "reaching for the
cigarette" urge. My smell and taste have magnified tremendously and crying jags...well you know from my post last night that I get those too.
Not too often tho. Usually I'm in a pretty "up" mood. I have quit before...cold turkey and I would recommend Zyban to everyone out there. It
makes you not really want a cigarette, the actual cigarette itself, not the image in your head of your life with cigarettes. You know what I mean??
I don't have any desire to smoke, but I miss my cigarettes...see? Hope this helps...
------------------------------------------------------------------
By terrip on Unrecorded Date:
The biggest reaction I have noticed is the smell of smoke on people. I almost can't stand to be near them. I am using the patch, using each level
for only 2 weeks. Now on level 2.
The patch caused absolute vivid, tiring dreams, and i had to stop wearing them at night on the 3rd night. (running on the freeway on my hands
and knees at the speed of regular cars, over, over over and over again!!!)
No stomach problems, not really any bi*chey ness, maybe in the car, but that is the worst craving place for me.
Don't get the impression that this is easy for me. Its not. More emotional things to deal with, and less time to stress about not smoking. Just
what the not smoking is doing to my so carefully ordered life. Oh this probably doesn't make sense. OH MY another side effect.
Now I remember the biggest one HYSTARICAL LAUGHTER. ANY WHERE ANY TIME!!!!!
terri
2weeks, 5 days and counting