Chantix
May 1, 2007 by Tracee Sioux
Filed under Parenting
A week ago I started taking a new smoking cessation pill called Chantix. I had heard of quite a few people who have actually quit smoking by using this new wonder drug. I had also heard it causes night terrors, but that seems a small price to pay considering that if I do not stop my life might end with the nightmarish reality of dragging an oxygen tank around everywhere I go.
My true motivation is that someone told my daughter that I will die if I smoke. While true, I think this was totally inappropriate and I feel a little bit of anger and resentment about it. Of course, what I’m really angry about is that I HAVE to quit smoking and I love smoking and don’t really want to stop doing it.
In my perfect world, smoking would not only not kill me, but it would be healthy like exercise or my daily vitamin.
But, in reality my five-year-old daughter bursts into tears and with true pain begs me to stop smoking so that I don’t die because then who will be with her and take care of her.
Who can smoke in the face of that? Apparently, I can. Not only have I expected two pregnancies to cure me of my life-long habit, but I’ve quit at least once a week for the last year since my son was born. I’ve quit so many times and tried so many methods, I’ve come to the realization that smoking is like shackles on my life and I can’t seem to find the key to get them off.
At my recent OB/GYN visit I asked about the new miracle pill and he gave me a prescription. I thought, I don’t care what it costs I’ve got to get rid of these shackles once and for all. I hated that it controlled me. Turns out it was covered by my insurance. Even better.
I nearly wept with unadulterated joy when the pharmacist told me to take off the nicotine patch and smoke during the first week of taking Chantix for the best effect. Permission to smoke for another week! YES! Without guilt or harrassment from my five-year-old conscience. Could it get any better?
I’m currently into my second week. I stopped smoking a few days early while I went on my retreat because there was no smoking allowed on the grounds. It’s going okay. I think I’ve grieved enough for my lost right to smoke, surrendered my precious identity as a smoker, broken the physical habit and addiction. Hopefully, taking this pill will help me get over my urges to cheat and have just one, just this once.
I’ll let you know how it goes. And really, you should stop smoking. If you think you’ve got it bad, you can read just how much I loved my cigarettes at So Sioux Me.
Try the Chantix. Couldn’t hurt. I haven’t had any night terrors, by the way. Thank God for that.
AMENDMENT on Sept. 27, 2007:
This is Tracee Sioux from Blog Fabulous/ Chantix, where you’ve been hanging out and getting support. Because readers are finding it difficult to navigate 700 comments, I have built a new website called Quit Coping.
Quit Coping will be using the same tone and texture you enjoy here on Blog Fabulous, but it will allow more interactivity and connection with other quitters. It won’t take so long to load up and I’ll be better able to encourage everyone personally.
Please continue our wonderful discussion at Quit Coping,com.
I am greatly honored to be part of your transformation from smoker to non-smoker.
Sincerely,
Tracee Sioux
http://www.quitcoping.com
Becca…welcome, don’t worry so much as to how you are “suppose to feel”….just be aware of what you ‘do feel’…
Carolyn…thatswhatimtalkinabout
India….if he want’s to talk to me, email me :
o2hp71498@yahoo.com and I’ll give him my cell #. (that’s not a normal practice for me but I’m “hearing” you-just make sure the email line mentions your name and Chantix–so it won’t get deleted.).
Another smoke free day…woo hoo.
Graham
Hi all
Well this is day 5 for me. I had a couple of rough spots yesterday but got past it. Is it just me or does it seem like people just try to piss me off. It has seemed like my spouse who should be my biggest supporter just does things to get me pissed.I dont know maybe its just lack of nicotine. But anyway Im doing pretty good for the most part. HANG IN THERE EVERYBODY WE CAN DO THIS………..
Hi everybody!!
I’m so glad everybody is doing well! Day 5 for me and going strong!
~Heather
Barbara, You are SOO right with that you wont believe all the things that have happened to me this week #1Car broke down, cost to fix: $500 #2 Work computer Crashed and burned Need to get new one and last but not least my track lighting in my salon broke and needed repair!! All of this while in week one of quiting!! So I guess all in all Chantix is holding up LOL and Heather I am very happy to see you doing better today was a breeze for me, maybe from now on it will be easier it can only get better!! I hope for you guys also…
Hugs carolyn
Time Smoke-Free: 5 days, 10 hours, 23 minutes and 8 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 163
Lifetime Saved: 1 day, 5 hours
Money Saved: $37.50
Way to go Carolyn!!!!!!!
Hi Everyone,
Well I will be going to Maine tomorrow morning on my 1st smokefree vacation!! So if you guys don’t see me on here for a week don’t br alarmed..
I will post as soon as I get back and I will also have pictures….
Hugs to all,
Carolyn
Time Smoke-Free: 6 days, 49 minutes and 59 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 181
Lifetime Saved: 1 day, 9 hours
Money Saved: $45.00
Hi, guys,
Day 6 today and it has been a hard, hard week but after going through all this misery there is no way I am going to smoke even one cigarette. I don’t want to have to start over again-ha, ha!
It sounds like everyone is still on track. Keep on keepin’ on.
Cheers, Terry
Hi everyone. I’m on day 55 and still not having fun!!.
My world is 6 days a week on a sales floor and on the phone dealing with the public and my 3 workmates all smoke. So I’m at work 52 hours a week watching them stand on the front porch and puff thier brains out. My boss is one of the smokers. He tried chantix for close to a month but gave up on it. I’m sure his wife badgers him to quit but he really isn’t ready to want it that bad for himself. He has to go in for surgury on the 20th to have nodules (pollops) removed from his vocal chords. I hope his lab work comes back negative. He’s about 45 years old and works 7 days a week and really has a stress sandwich for lunch every day.
I’m really just barely taking the chantix any more because I feel so crappy with the side effects. It really is a miracle in the early stages of quitting though. Now it’s just the mental part. My wife and daughter are still quit from taking the chantix so it’s so nice when I go home to my safehouse without the cigs and lighters. I know if my wife started up again I’d be soon behind her so It’s really a blessing having a quit partner. After smoking for 40 years and this being my first succesful quit I can’t say enough about what a wonder drug chantix is. I’m also really happy Tracee started this blog and I found quitnet.com to join. They even have a chantix winos club that I signed up with on quitnet.
Hope you all stay with your quit and have a great weekend.
Hang On!!! Day 21 Chantix, day 14 as a non smoker. I am really amazed. Bob, Speaking of crabby! I always get up around 4 AM. Workweek and weekends. On the weekends I’ll take a 3-4 hour nap mid day. The workweek/weekend 4 AM morning smoke urge is all but gone. But god help everyone after I get up from my mid day weekend naps. Tear your head off and rip the heart out of your chest time. Still, as the body count piles up around here I am feeling pretty good about myself. 2 weeks!!!!!!!! I like the “safehouse” reference! Great minds think alike! Gonna pop a number of tops tonight. I’m thinking the number of claw and chew marks left on the front door after tonight will be considerably less than a couple weeks ago. TERRY KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!! Mike
Day 7 as a non-smoker. I hardly have any cravings but that’s because I feel too sick to smoke!
Bob, how many Chantix are you taking per week and when? I’m thinking of cutting back also-it’s the sleep thing.
Mike, congrats on 14 days! I believe we’re gonna’
beat this nicodemon.
Cheers, Terry
Terry,
I’m taking about half a blue pill every day to every other day. Up to my first month I took the two pills a day as prescribed. I decided to totally wean myself off the chantix at around 31, 32 days and had a slip………It was only 4 cigs over two days but I got myself back on the chantix and my quit. My biggest struggle is my workmates smoke. Just this morning one of them (just not thinking) says to me “Hey lets go out and have a smoke”.. Sometimes my boss gets busy and just leaves a cig and his lighter on my desk because he’s distracted and had been on his way to take a smoke break.
Last evening on my way home from work I stopped at a grocery store to pick up a few sundries. I was kind of feeling bad for myself remembering on my walk from my parked car to any store I’d always light up so I wouldn’t jones for a cig while I was shopping. Just as I walked into the store I looked back to see a little white haired lady with the air tubes in her nose and pushing her shopping cart. I could see the little black bag with the oxygen tank in the top shelf part of the cart. I felt bad for her but maybe there was a reason for me to chance apon such an unfortunate old lady who probably smoked her whole life. My attitude was quickly adjusted back to the positive.
Terry I’m sure you’ve read in these blogs where you have to eat and drink something to be able to take the chantix if you have the nausea. I really think you need to try hard at this stage to keep taking the meds. It’s a bitch to quit without this drug.
Good luck and stay strong
Thanks, Bob, for the info. Your work temptations are more than I could handle. I don’t smoke at work so the after work cigs are my challenge. That lil’ ole’ lady was your guardian angel.
I’ll keep taking the 2 pills as you suggested. Today I took the pill with during my meal with water and that seemed to help. I also didn’t eat that much more after drinking the 8 oz of water.
I’ll have to take a sleeping pill tonight so I can go to work tomorrow.
Cheers and remember the old lady at work,
Terry
Thank you so much Graham! We haven’t filled the prescription yet because he wants to talk to someone about acupuncture (I recognize a procrastination… as a matter of fact, I used to call them “my procrastination sticks”… anyway, he’ll have to make the decision) I wrote your email down and will probably just send you a quick note so it’ll be in my address book.
I have to say to all of you, that you have made the best decision of your lives! I’m 2 1/2 years quit after 40 “draggin” and I think about it once in a blue moon. Everything gets better! It’s definitely worth it (and I did it cold turkey) So don’t give up on you!!
All the best,
India
Hello all!
Day 37 and still going strong. No side effects except for extreme happiness! Saw your post, Raf. Good for you! Still no urges for alcohol. I have only had two drinks in one evening so far, and they didn’t do much for me.
Raf, if I understand your post correctly, are you using the Chantix only for the alcohol urges? You say you were quit for 2 1/2 years – is that still the case? If so, this will be the first time I have heard of a Doctor prescribing Chantix for alcohol use. Like you said – DUH! makes total sense!
Let me know how you are doing. I am happy for you and am interested to see how it goes.
Glad everyone is doing so well. Its good to check in hear once in a while and see the quit day numbers going up! Keep up the great work!
Tina
Confession: Smoked 4 cigarettes in a bar after drinking on Sat. Bummed them from other smokers who had just started on Chantix – coincidentally. Drinking in a bar with smokers is just a major trigger. Period. I go to a bar once every 6 months, maybe.
Confession II: I don’t feel that bad about it. Didn’t smoke Sunday. Won’t smoke this week. Still don’t feel cravings.
Still a non-smoker who bummed smokes in a bar on Sat.
Tracee
Well this weekend was great for me. I went to a bar and had a few drinks and although I did have an urge for a cig it wasn’t as intense as I thought it would be and I’m happy to say I didn’t smoke. Funny thing though when I went to sleep that night I dreamt I was smoking, I woke up the next morning having to remember if I did or didn’t smoke the night before… thankfully it was just a dream at least in a dream I can’t really damage my lungs. I’m on my third week of Chantix and feeling pretty good as far as cravings go but I’m almost ready to stop taking the chantix the naseau just wont go away no matter how much food I eat before or water I drink. That and I seem to sleep so much more now I always feel tired I thought I would feel more energized once I quit but I’m more tired. I’m going to keep up the Chantix at least until after this weekend, I have my high school reunion coming up and I”m going with a bunch of smokers. I vow to not smoke so I need to be prepared after that though I may ween of the Chantix.
Keep up the good work everyone you truly are motivating I look forward to reading everyones post
Tracee,
Thanks for your honesty. That being said, I’m concerned about your philosophy. Believe me, I have quit many times within my 30 years of smoking as you have. I think we’ve all experienced losing our quit by “only having one” or “only smoking when I drink.” I said that so many times I can’t count…. it never works.
The difference this time is that of course I am taking Chantix, but also that my attitude is much different. I know that one puff, one cigarette, one justification will take me down the path of a pack a day. I won’t go there again. I know I’m an addict and I know I can’t have just one – NOPE: Not One Puff Ever.
I feel a non-smoker is just that: someone who doesn’t smoke. I feel that its important to set an example for newbies… so they know that smoking once in a while is not okay… and a slip is something to be concerned about.
Tracee, you’ve started a great blog and have a great quit going. Keep it up – this is the most important thing we will all do.
Tina
d38
Day 8 and feeling pretty good – of course, that could be the 2 hours I now workout everyday – a dear soul on this blog suggested extreme exercise – I think it was Jeff? Well, I had to find other things to do with the excess time on my hands now!
I’ve experienced a few cravings but they were led by purely emotional feelings – being sad, angry, even happy and they disappeared as soon as I reminded myself that I don’t smoke anymore so I’m going to need to deal with it another way. And there are tons of other ways – my way involves immediately doing 10 sit-ups.
Everyone seems to be doing so well – good luck today!
I smoked for 41 years and tried everything on the market to quit. Chantix has been the cure for me. I don’t have time to read all the posts here, so I may be repeating info you have already seen. If you read this, I encourage you to go to quitnet.com and join the Chantix Users Club. The med and that online support group is what has gotten me to 2 months now without smoking. Obviously, everyone is different, and what works for me may not work for you, but this club now has over 800 members and is growing everyday. The people are great.
Try it – you have nothing to lose.
Ralph
58 days, 14 hours, 35 minutes and 4 seconds smoke free. 1465 cigarettes not smoked.
$162.25 and 11 days, 4 hours of your life saved.
Quit date: 6/15/2007 10:30 p.m.
Today is 8 weeks smoke-free here, and the Chantix continues to help, even if it doesn’t do it without my cooperation. It was a hell of a weekend. I would have given anything to have a smoke without consequences, but I know better.
I quit once for well over a year. Had a drink or two one night, and had a smoke. Just one. Just once.
It took another few years before I had the guts to try quitting again sometime in late 2004, I think.
Then I went a few months smoke-free on yet another quit attempt. And we went to Reno. I was having free drinks, playing video poker, feeling free, on vacation, me time and all of that. The guy next to me was smoking my brand or at least something menthol. What the hell, the cost of smokes at the casino was only double what they would be at home, and I wanted it badly enough even that many months quit, that I convinced myself it was a bargain and plunked down my money telling myself that it was just a one time thing, the last pack I’d ever buy anyway. I’d be OK. I was still a non-smoker. Only other people actually start smoking full-time again after playing with fire like I was. I’d done it once before without starting again, so this time would be no different. I was smarter and different than everyone else, and I’d proven to myself that I actually could get away with a smoke or three every once in a great, great while.
I lied to myself as I got on the plane to come home with the remainder of pack number who knows how many I’d paid double for by then (but it was more than just that one last one, for certain). I lied to myself first by saying the rest of the pack wouldn’t even make it onto the shuttle from hotel to airport. I was leaving it all behind in Reno. Then it became OK, at airport, one last smoke, and then goodbye forever. Then, OK, in my bags, but as soon as I finish that one, I’m done. I mean, I still was a non-smoker, right?
Wrong.
Dead wrong.
That all happened in February of 2005. This is August of 2007. In between, I’ve quit a few months here and there because I obviously I’d started again here and there. I believed each time that I could have just one. Sometimes I was right as rain, and it was just that one. In fact, once I had one very, very early into a quit deliberately because I was craving one so badly and knew that a guy at work smoked the most awful brand and that it would be disgusting. I did have just one, and it was horrible. That was the precise reason I had it. That time, it worked. I do not recommend this to anyone – I’m just saying that’s how that went. This time, thankfully with Chantix, I haven’t had to resort to such a risk, and I don’t have the guts to even take that chance.
Back to every time I’ve told myself that one puff was no big deal. Clearly, my plan went awry, no matter what lies I insisted on telling myself.
What hurts my heart to think about is that while I lied to myself, I also lied to the person who loves me the most, and I said the same lies out loud to him. “Don’t worry. I promise. It’s just here. It’s just in Reno.” The look on his face when I lit up once we got home still haunts me.
This is just my own experience. Everyone is different. I will be posting all of the above on my own blog as a reminder to myself because it’s one more tool for me to use on days like this past weekend when a smoke sounded so damn good, and I need all the tools I can get. Thankfully the ones I had on hand worked just fine this time.
Okay, I’m not different. I’m not smarter. The rules DO apply to me. It was a terribly risky and irresponsible thing to do. It was definately walking very close to the edge of being a smoker vs. non-smoker. I’m an addict to smoking – It was 100% addict thinking to believe I could get away with social or recreational smoking. I do not want to go back to smoking – ever. It was a stupid thing to do. I’m sorry. I should be a better example.
Bad blogger. Bad.
Tracee
I say good blogger good. You were honest, Tracee, and it helped me remember what I needed to for me, probably for others, too. I’m just glad you made it through and didn’t feel like you needed to hide it – that would be even scarier addict behavior, imho. You rock!
Yeah..well…I’ll bet even Larry Hagman has entertained closeted erotic smoking fantasies he’d never cop to. That funny monkeys always gonna be a junkie….Just like you and I. We are always gonna be smokers, we just don’t smoke. Dust yourself off blogmaster. We are still not worthy.
Tracee,
I wholeheartedly agree with the above discussion. Forget the guilt; remember your children and grandchildren of the future. Those long time (30+ yrs.) smokers, like myself, have learned the hard way and you have, too. I think having a plan before I get to the “no return” point in smoky places or least figuring out a plan before I start having too much to drink is what I going to try from now on.
Day 8 as a non-smoker and still going.
Cheers to you all,
Terry
Really good discussion! This is our reality folks.. we will be battling this addiction for the rest of our lives. Many of us our doing really well, some are struggling, some beginning. The fact that we are all sharing here is showing we are reaching out and watching out for each other.
Each of the experiences we share, whether success or slip, is a great learning tool for us all. This is the hardest battle, I’m glad I’m not in it alone:)
Keep rockin.
Tina
I had my slip about a month ago. Thankfully it scared the crap out of me and I knew I’d be back on the Highway to Hell real fast if I didn’t get my head on straight. I got my quit back together and will fight every day not to give in to my addicted mind games.
I’m the one who complains that I have to work 6 days a week with smokers. Well last evening as we were leaving work my 45 year old boss while standing on the front walkway to our showroom tells me he’s going to be late in the morning. I walk back towards him ( I had been headed to my car). He said as he smoked deeply from his Parliament 100 that he had to go to his pre admission examination for his operation. I’ve mentioned before that he’s 45 and a heavy smoker. I had tried to get him to quit by talking him into getting a prescription of chantix. He took the pills for about a month and never even smoked less than 3/4 pack a day. He is going in on the 21st to have polyps (nodules) removed from his vocal chords. Last night was the first time he mentioned to me that he had cancer. He says it OK though because it’s just in the polyps and hasn’t spread anywhere else. If I were a betting man I’m going to tell you once he has his operation, if they lead him to believe he’s out of the wood and cancer free this man is still going to smoke. This shit is serous as death boys and girls. Lets all keep this circle going!!
Bob
sorry for all the typos!!
Keep your quits going. Today is 31 days! Cannot believe it! Tomorrow is official “1 month” since I quit on a 15th and tomorrow is a 15th. Tomorrow morning is my follow-up with my physician 6 weeks after he prescribed Chantix and will also get some blood testing performed. I moved this follow-up appt. to tomorrow just so it would be at the 1 month mark and give a milestone to shoot for and look forward to. First time in a LONG TIME that I’m not dreading going to the doctor. I need you all, so please keep sharing, for better or for worse. I’m confident in my quit, but not cocky. We can help each other avoid disasters by telling of our experiences. Here’s a simple thing that’s pretty cool, in my opinion. I tell folks that when I breathe really deeply now, it feels like how it used to feel when I would breathe in some menthol, only now it’s not menthol assisted. That deep, cool feeling. My bicycling is also so much better, to say the least. I’ve never raced my road bike, but I train in order to be able to cover long distances. I would estimate that I’m able to put out 15%-20% more energy than when I smoked, heart rate held constant. I think that Graham has mentioned his experience with increase in work output for the same heart rate. Good stuff.
Wow, Bob. What a story. And very sad. I’m 46 and it hits too close to home. I hope your boss quits and can battle this cancer. Keep us updated – its an awful situation for him, but maybe it can help others to quit.
Tina
d40!
Woops… this could be a duplicate comment.
Bob,
What a story! Could be any of us… I’m 46. I hope your boss follows your advice and quits. Hopefully he will be able to battle his cancer and be an example to help others quit. You hit the nail on the head: this shit is serious. We HAVE to avoid relapse at any cost. For most of us, we have tried everything else and failed. This has to be our last quit. And that means NOPE – not one puff ever.
Here is a repost from another site that is excellent:
“I’ll cut down or quit and smoke just one now and then…
You are addicted to a substance that is five times as addictive as cocaine (15% vs. 75%). You may be strong enough to cut back a bit but you’ll remain addicted, the decay will continue and a recent study indicates that your health risks will remain unchanged. If you were a pack-a-day nicotine smoker and after quitting you decide to smoke just one cigarette, you might as well get ready to smoke the other 7,300 for the year too as full and complete relapse is virtually assured. The Law of Nicotine Addiction is simple – one puff of new nicotine and it’s over! Yes, 95 to 97% of those who smoke nicotine from just one cigarette will immediately or soon thereafter experience full and complete relapse back to their prior level of nicotine intake or higher. Your addiction permanently transformed your brain into a highly efficient nicotine processing machine capable of generating a steady output of dopamine. Quitting is a process where the brain learns to function without the extra dopamine but it does not alter your processing potentials. After quitting, the jail remains but is empty and you’re on probation for life!”
That kind of says it all. To anyone that thinks they can be an occasional smoker – DON”T. This is the final quit for us folks! The Chantix is the key to help us succeed for once. Its the last chance.
Tina
d40 – ya!
Hi everyone! I am on day 8 of Chantix and today is day 1 SMOKE-FREE!!! It is a strange feeling, but I am so excited. Reading your messages helps me so much! Tracee… I do feel like I more motivated to improve my life. I want to start excercising and organizing my house, and be a better mommy, etc.
Wish me luck as I start my new life! Good luck to everyone!!!
Just thought I would share for those who get nasea when taking the chantix like I did. I started taking it now after I have lunch instead of after breakfast. I don’t know why but maybe because I eat a heavier lunch than breakfest it seems to help I rarley get sick anymore and if I do it’s slight and only for a few moments.
Day 18 smoke free. =)
I am on day 4….I dont feel anything yet. Idid have very unusual dreams last night. Does it matter how late it is when you take the evening pill?
O.K. I had to blog about this. It’s the end of the day and I get a message at work from my boyfriend (hes a teacher and will be strating work again soon) ” Hey baby let’s do Vegas call me” wanting to get in one last rondavue before he has to start punching the time clock again. A normal girl would probably think how sweet or yeah I could use a mini vacation… oh no my first thought “smokers paradise”. I live in CA smoking is practically banned everywhere. In Las Vegas everyone smokes everywhere. Even non smokers smoke. You are free to walk where you want with a ciggerette carefree. No one will tell you to stand in a corner like you did something bad while all the non smokers stare at you like you are hideous. Its almost like you are expected to smoke. Can I handle the pressure the temptation??? The last time I quit years ago Vegas was my downfall. I tell my boyfriend Vegas is a problem, he being a non smoker ask very innocently ” why” ? I think to myself hello you idiot you begged me to quit smoking when I was finally ready to I did and 3 weeks into you want to bring me where?” Knowing his stupidty in this its not his fault after all he was smart enough never to start and doesn’t understand the agaonizing hell it takes to quit, I calmly give him the reason. Light bulb moment, he replies “oh yeah I didn’t think about that” O.k. we will post pone Vegas for a while. I think about it and I actually have a really good man sweet enought to want to take me away but understanding enough not to with not a second thought. Just thought I would share as I’m sure you all know what I’m talking about. Keep up the quit!
Its me again…..how long does the nausea last…uuuuggggg
Hey, Tammy!
I live in Vegas and I’m from California, so I know the difference you’re talking about. There are a ton of smokers out here, and in the casinos there isn’t much escape. Nevada has passed some new laws banning smoking in restaurants, small casinos, grocery stores, convenience stores, and bars with restaurants. The casinos are exempt. Where there are machines and tables, forget it – no smoking limitations. But they have changed a bit, and do have no smoking signs in theater lobbies, some bars, all the restaurants inside the big hotels. We always try to avoid the strip being residents, due to crowds and traffic. I have been in the casinos once since quitting. I didn’t have any urges, the smoke smelled horrible. We didn’t do any drinking or gambling, that puts a whole new spin on things.
I think you were right to be honest with your boyfriend. Yeah, they (non smokers) don’t know how it is… but it sounds like after you talked to him, he understood. He’s a keeper:) Go to Yosemite instead… stay in a cozy cabin and do some sight seeing and hiking. No room for smoking there!
Tina
d40
Hi Everyone,
I am on day 11 of Chantix, with 3 of these days tobacco free. However, my tobacco of choice was a pinch between the cheeks and gums (snuff). Just wondering if anyone else there used Chantix for a snuff addiction. So far. can’t believe it is working for me. I chewed for over 35 years. Thank’s for any support.
Tina…thank you for the re-post…that was a very powerful message..
Jerry…good job…it’s nice to breath again.
Becca…yea, you did it…knew you would!!
Tracee…we have similar quitting smoking brains…what makes us unique that permits a slip now and then? It’s almost like….in order to “be good”, we have to “be bad” first…..I know that’s a learned behavior…Oh well, I’m an adult now and accountability is my responsibility…..
And not smoking is the current chapter…So far, it’s still going well,, no more ‘cheating’ for me.
Thank you for this blog, it’s helping so many.
Good luck to you all.
Graham
Hi Tina! Yes, I’m taking Chantix for alcohol cravings. I’m happy to say that today is day 11 and not one sip of alcohol. Not bad for a guy who drank on a daily basis. As for side effects, just constipation and lots of sleep. I feel like Rip Van winkle LOL! As far as nausea, not to bad considering I used to wake up just about every day hungover and sick to my stomache. Doctors do not prescribe Chantix for alcohol cravings (not yet at least). I aqquired a starter pak in a round about way. I did quit smoking cold turkey back in ‘04 and it was rough so I sympathize with all of you. It took many quits before it finally took. I remember having a relapse in a bar. I bummed a cig from a friend while on vacation and I almost fell off the bar stool cause I got so sick LOL! That was the proverbial last nail in the coffin (no pun intended). I guess for me the key was NOT to give up. Cig addiction is one of if not the toughest addictions to kick. If you relapse, just get back on your quit. Don’t give up. Above all else, keep taking Chantix. I think that with Chantix half the battle is won, everything else may be mental, habitual. I know of someone who was taking Chantix for smoking. His addiction comprised of smokes and coffee together. He quit them both (bad for Starbucks, good for him). Besides the obvious health benefits, imagine the financial windfall he has gained from his quit! He’s now saving that cash to reward himself on a monthly basis that he’s stilll on his quit. Keep trying folks. Quitting is probably one of the most important decisions you will ever make in your life! God bless…
Raf,
Thanks for posting. I am so interested to know about how you are doing, how the Chantix does with the alcohol use, etc. I have not had any urges to drink, and I loved my daily wine. If you feel the inclination, go to quitnet.com. There is a club called Chantix Winos… we would love to hear about your progress… many in the club are quitting smoking and drinking using Chantix. It a very supportive, but small group…. but getting bigger! Since alcohol and smoking seem to go hand in hand, more and more people are able to free themselves of two addictions. Hope to see you there!
Tina
d41
I encourage all Chantix users to go to quitnet.com and join the Chantix Users Club.
Ralph
day 62
Hi all,
I just discovered this blog the other day when searching Google for Chantix sites. I’m encouraged to hear all of your successes, because I too have tried many of the other quit aids including the patch and Wellbutrin without much success. Two people I know recently told me about how well they have done with Chantix, so today I saw my doctor and just picked up my prescription. I plan to start taking it probably on Monday, so that my quit date will be on a weekday.
I was on Quitnet last October (the last time I tried to quit, although it only lasted six weeks). I found it to be a great aid and imagine I will be back there soon. Will have to check out the Chantix group.
Thanks for creating this blog, Tracee!
Janet
I think it was Bob’s story of his boss getting ready for surgery… but I haven’t seen anything on this terrific blog like what helped me quit….Aanyway, after smoking for 40+ years (and working for the Public Health Service!) I was surprised (really SURPRISED!) to find out that I had to quit THE VERY MOMENT I was told I had to have surgery. No time for goodbyes to my “old friend”. Seems that nicotine constricts the blood vessels — we probably all knew that…. but — when you’ve had surgery and have been smoking (even a little) or have that one “congratulatory” cig after you leave the hospital, you run a HUGE risk of Gange Green! The blood can’t make it to the wound site to heal properly! My doc showed me 8×10 color glossies of past patients – a couple of which had only had 1 cigarette within a month of surgery… believe me, it was enough to finally say “enough”.
Bob, I’ll say a prayer for your boss.
India
day 976
India,
Thanks,I pray for him too. Hope you don’t mind I made a cc of your post on quitnet. I was impressed. I don’t think quitting with a gun to your head makes it any easier girl.
The real insanity of this is that I had the same operation he’s going to have when I was around 28 years old (I’m 55 now). The Surgeon told me “you are so lucky your biopsies came back negative for cancer”. “You may not be so lucky next time”. At that stage of my life I was so polyaddicted to the booze, coke, and pharmaceuticals It barely occured to me to quit smoking for more than a brief minute. I played in a rock band for a living and that was the way we lived. No regrets though. I heard a cute quote recently “If you remember the 60’s then you weren’t there.” I was pretty much there in the 70’s and into the 80’s!
Thanks
Bob
Hi, ya’ll,
Day 11 and no cigs. Debra, the nausea was big for me and I started taking my pill during my meals followed by the water. I thought I wasn’t sleeping because I was taking my evening pill too late. I tried a few days of eating a heavy snack, like peanut butter and crackers with milk, and that worked better for me. I couldn’t eat any dinner by that time but missing a few dinners didn’t hurt me. My second week and the nausea isn’t as severe(if I get it all). Hope you find something that works for you. Good Luck!
As for drinking, I too,was a consistant afternoon wino. Incredibly, I lost my constent desire for a drink along with craving for the cigs. I love it.
Still having weird dreams and I am able to get to sleep easier with Sleepytime Tea, 1/2 hour of quiet time, 2 Melatonin, and 2 aspirin. I had to take sleeping pills a couple of nights so I could start work this week.
The polyp story is enough to keep me quit!
You guys are great!
Terry
Where is the blog on getquit? I just can’t see where I can get on.
Thanks,
Terry
Hi Terry,
Great story. Thanks for sharing! If you go to quitnet.com where it says Start Your Free Quit Smoking Program, input all of your info. You don’t need to pay for the premium service to get into the clubs and post. After you enroll, go to “clubs.” Check out the CHANTIX USERS CLUB and the Chantix Winos club. Quitnet also tracks your number of days quit and other stuff… like this:
You’ve been Quit 41 days. $205.00 and 6 days, 6 hours of your life saved!
Its great to monitor your quit days like that.
Hope to see you there. And great job!!
Tina
Tracee,
Haven’t heard from you in the past few days. How are you doing? Remember, we watch out for each other….
Let us know.
Tina
Tina,
I’m still here. I’m still moderating. I’m just nursing my wounded ego that I’m NOT special, unique or anything that allows me to smoke socially every now and then. It’s just one of my addicted behaviors to sulk and lurk and feel sorry for myself in between bouts of sefl-loathing for having failed all of you, especially the newbies. I cheated and I didn’t get away with it. Damn it.
Still not smoking. Turns out smoking isn’t the core of my problem, it’s anger and the smoking was one of the ways I dealt with that. Now I’m trying to deal with all the core anger – trying to let go of it, cope, choose another emotional strategy – not that easy. Still don’t want to smoke – have had the urge to throw things at my husband though – things like “I want a divorce!” But, I haven’t done that yet. Thank goodness. But it has taken a lot out of me to try to negotiate this new smoke-free life without the smoking.
The triggers are all still there. I never think about smoking anymore. But, I wonder if all this anger is coming up because I quit smoking? Anyone else dealing with emotional backlash or having to confront underlying issues that the smoking masked?
Tracee
Tracee,
Come on Tina needs some support. Tina buddy,
we’ll be OK. Just keep on the chantix as much as you can tolerate, and believe in your quit. If you want help I’ll give you all the tiime in the world posible, Tina you are my fave quitter!!
Bob