Welcome @Nellie Well done on making the decision to quit as hard as it is. I know you've said you've tried many times which must be disheartening but this can be your final quit! Yeah smoking when you have a cold is horrible. I had my last cigarette on New Year's Eve and I was determined to enjoy my last one but couldn't even finish it as I had a sore throat. I felt so cheated lol
You've received lots of excellent advice already and I'm glad you're doing the NOPE pledge to take it one day at a time. You mentioned you're using nicotine patches, are you doing the 8-12 week treatment or doing it your own way? I started on them planning to use for 3 months but stopped I think after a couple of weeks, maybe 3 I can't remember. Not because they're no good, they're amazing but I think they were probably too strong for me, the 21mg anyway.
No matter hard things get, remember smoking will never ever make it better!