Nicotine patches

[thickym]

I've just purchased a course of nicotine replacement patches....11 weeks worth.

who has done the course and stayed stopped?

Was it difficult?

How much did you save?

Health wise...what did you notice?

Thanks

[hammerman]

I gave up a 40 a day habbit over 2 years ago now using patches prescribed by the Dr.

It was a lot easier than i expected but there are times now that i really fancy having a social cigar in the pub....but that will be it...i'll be back on the fags in weeks.

However, i've put on 4 stone in 2 years and i've never been to the Dr's so many times in my life.

If you can keep the weight off, keep active and fit, you'll be on to a winner.

[thickym]

thanks hammerman.....sounds good, but I really don't need to put on any MORE weight.

I'm doing alot of running now, so that should help!

[ronnie3]

i gave up a 40 a day habbit over a year ago using patches i stayed on them for 9 weeks. i found it really easy and feel much better and everything smells so good except people who smoke oh lord do they stink.I have put weight on but if you are exercising that will help, i didn't. Just don't replace smoking with eating.My purse is much more full than it use to be.

Good luck it takes willpower, and each craving will only last 5 minutes so thats not that bad is it!!!

[Ethel]

I stopped smoking 40 a day in 1994 with patches. They weren't available on prescription then.

There is absolotely no way I would start smoking again. It would cost be around �4000 a year at current prices.

Apart from the savings, my asthma is much improved, I don't need to clean the house or decorate as often (much less dust) and I can taste things much better. Also I don't smell.

I don't want to be offensive to smokers - but I can smell a smoker from several feet away.

It wasn't the first time I had tried to stop smoking but the patches made it much, much easier.

I started off with the full strength patches, then the middle sized ones. I then cut the full size ones in half, and used half a day - it does work.

Then I cut the middle sized ones in half.

I think I was on the patches for about 3 months.

Good luck!

[david small]

My wife has been on patches for 12 days and is doing well. She has been quite irritable, but nothing intolerable. She smells sweeter her teeth are whiter, her hair does not reek.
Last night I went to a pub for a couple of pints, I came out feeling sick, my newly wash top stunk of tobacco smoke, and my lungs hurt. Can�t wait for the ban on smoking in public places, about time.

[thickym]

Well done to you all!

I hate the smell of smoke, so stand outside to puff <how sad is that?> I really have had enough now, so hope these patches work for me.

[grannyg]

My Husband used the patches and went away with the fairies so he had to then go cold turkey but he persevered as he was doing it with me for the sake of my health.
We have now been smoke free zones for four years, far better off but put lots of weight on.
thickym you should not be smoking whilst on the patches (read the packet). You could have got the patches for free from your GP.

Hope you succeed in cutting the weed

[MrsJo49155]

my hubby and I decided to give up in January but we both decided to go cold turkey (it only takes approx 72 hours to get nicotine out of your system). Those 3 days (or about 6 days in my hubbies case) were awful but it soon subsided.

We've just reached day 100 and are �500 better off!

Good luck in however you decide to give up...you will definately notice the benefits but may get loads of colds in the beginning!

[sun050]

Smoking ban started here in Scotland last month so I decided to give the patches a go,Fortunately my employers were happy to supply the patches and I did the 6 weeks course.Tomorrow I am starting my 9th week and am really glad that after 30 years I consider myself a non-smoker,I estimate I have saved around 300 quid and not smoked about 1200 fags since stopping !! Wearing the patches was no problem,cant really say it was very hard tho' I did get the odd craving ,my tip is to put the patch around your rib cage and when you get the craving give the patch a rub ....I know I sound mad but for some reason it really worked for me,anyway good luck you can do it you will feel the benefit.

[sixpence]

Good luck, thickym. It's never easy. I gave up "cold turkey" many years ago, but my husband gave up in January using the patches. He went to the clinic at doctor's surgery, and has now finished the course, so he's on his own now. He had a smoker's cough for years and that disappeared within a week. He has put on weight, but he reckoned he needed some new trousers, anyway!!

[thickym]

OOOOOOh i'm really inspired by you all!

I felt I couldn't go back to my GP, as he'd already prescibed the patches about 3 yrs ago. I didn't use them (not ready to stop I guess) and they expired in 2004.

I went to an NHS run stop smoking clinic, which was great for the time I was there, but just didn't want to stop right then.

I am determined to stick at this, and come New Years eve be able to say I did it this year!

Well done again all who stopped. I admire you greatly.