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NOPE for today!

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G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min,Hour, Day as required.)

Not today!

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Hi. Decided to quit smoking again and this has to be the last time, I don't want to have to go through it again. I am on day 10 of no smoking and using patches. I have smoked for more years than I can remember and have tried many times to stop. I did stop for quite a while but went to visit a friend one evening and pinched a smoke from her and before I knew it was back smoking again. I had developed a smokers cough which was getting worse and was wheezing as well. The last straw was I suddenly got an ache/under my left breast in my ribcage and was worried it was lung cancer but think it was my bra pushing into me. Glad to say the ache/pain has gone after swapping into non underwire bra. cough has also cleared. This quit has been the worst ever. Headaches, heartburn and muscle aches just to name a few. I have downloaded the NHS APP which helps and have been reading on here.

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Hello @Kingelocin. Welcome to the Quittrain... and congrats on an your awesome quit. I really can't add any more sage advice to what has already been shared here by the Quittrain team. The withdrawl symptoms you are experiencing are very normal. They will subside with time when you stop feeding your body nicotine. Please check in with us often and let us know how you are doing. Keep the quit.

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This! ^^^ You know, I never even understood I was a slave to this addiction until I'd been quit for awhile and then I could see clearly that my freedom to live my life as I wanted rather than having to follow the demands of my addiction was the greatest benefit of all from quitting the smokes. Getting to that point as soon as you can is key to freeing yourself @Kingelocin

Congrats on quitting, but you need to rid yourself of nicotine completely. Get off those patches and get that nicotine, that insidious drug, out of your system for good! Cold turkey purge! The physical withdrawal symptoms are only bad for a few days. It helped me to see the withdrawal discomforts as my body riding itself of that nasty addiction and healing. The physical addiction is the little monster. The big monster is of course the mental addiction. I strongly recommend doing the daily "NOPE" pledge in this group, and keep in mind, you're freeing yourself from the enslavement of nicotine addiction!

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Hi @Jane and welcome aboard the Quit Train! 10 Days is a great start and yes, there's no question thoses early days are the toughest in terms of quit symptoms and cravings for a smokee but that part doesn't last all that long in the grand scheme of things so sometimes we just have to aknowledge that it's gonna happen and embrace it for wat it is and know it's not gonna last forever. I have heard the same thing from others that quit symptoms can be different with the same person when they quit more than once. Seems that's what you're finding this time as well. I would encourage you to hang around here and read past posts and you might want to also watch some of the videos available. It really does help to commisorate with fellow quitters who understand what you're going through. We're here to support new quitters so use us to bounce off questions you might have or even just to blow off some steam ... we get it!

Thanks for the clarification.

Hi @Minnie Mouse, yes this is the right place to ask this. The blogs are a great place to have all your thoughts in one place. Not everyone looks at the blogs so if you post something you're looking for replies on you should post on the main forums. The blog that looks like reposts is just that. I created the Pick of the Week blog for members who haven't dug deep into the board posts and may have missed great information.

Hello and welcome Congratulations on your 10 day Quit Check our our Main Discussion Board , it has loads of great information to help you along We have other Newbies here , so your not alone Looking forward to travelling with you to Freedom

Knowing about PAWS helped me. I hope awareness of it helps those who are wishing for it to just be all over. Patience. You'll get there! I promise; if you just don't smoke. FOR THOSE IN THEIR "STAY QUIT" MODE (Approx. 4 MOS to 2 YEARS QUIT towards FOREVER!): *** PAWS -- The 2nd Stage of Withdrawal *** The first stage of withdrawal is the acute stage which usually lasts at most a few weeks. During this stage, the physical withdrawal symptoms experienced may be different for every person. The second stage of withdrawal is called the POST-ACUTE WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME OR PAWS. During this stage you will have fewer physical symptoms, but more emotional & psychological withdrawal symptoms. Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) occurs because your brain chemistry is gradually returning to normal. As your brain improves, the levels of your brain chemicals fluctuate as they approach the new equilibrium causing Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms. Most people experience PAWS. The most common PAWS symptoms are: mood swings, anxiety, irritability, tiredness, variable energy, low enthusiasm, variable concentration & disturbed sleep. It feels like a roller coaster of symptoms. In the beginning, your symptoms will change from minute to minute and hour to hour. Later as you recover further they will disappear for a few weeks or months only to return again. As you continue to recover, the good stretches will get longer & longer. The bad periods of PAWS can be just as intense and last just as long. Each PAWS episode usually lasts for a few days. There is no obvious trigger for most episodes. You will wake up one day feeling irritable and have low energy. If you hang on for just a few days, it will lift just as quickly as it started. Each episode is time limited. Post-Acute Withdrawal usually lasts for 2 years. This is one of the most important things you need to remember. If you're up for the challenge you can get through this BUT if you think that PAWS will only last for a few months, then you'll get caught off guard, and when you're disappointed you're more likely to relapse. * BE PATIENT. You can get through recovery one day at a time. If you resent or bulldoze your way through it, you will become exhausted. PAWS symptoms are a sign that your brain is recovering. Don't resent them. Remember, even after one year, you are still only half way there. * GO WITH THE FLOW. You'll have lots of good days over the next two years. Enjoy them. You'll also have bad days. On those days, don't try to do too much. Take care of yourself. Focus on your recovery and you'll get through this. * PRACTICE SELF-CARE. Give yourself a lot of little breaks over the next two years. Tell yourself "what I am doing is enough". Be good to yourself. Sometimes you'll have little energy or enthusiasm for anything. Understand this & don't overbook your life. Give yourself permission to continue to focus on your recovery. PAWS can be a trigger for relapse. You can go weeks without any symptoms & then one day you wake up & are hit like a ton of bricks. You'll have slept badly. You'll be in a bad mood. Your energy will be low. If you think that PAWS only lasts for a few months or that you'll be different and it won't be as bad for you, then you will not be prepared for it & will get caught off guard but if you know what to expect you can do this. Relax. Don't get caught up in PAWS. Remember, EVERY RELAPSE, NO MATTER HOW SMALL UNDOES THE GAINS YOUR BRAIN HAS MADE DURING RECOVERY. WITHOUT ABSTINENCE, EVERYTHING WILL FALL APART. WITH ABSTINENCE, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. (Modified Source: addictionsandrecovery.org)

G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min,Hour, Day as required.)

Hello @Sherberry. Congrat's on on your 30 plus quit. You are off to a good start. I did use Lozenges but I do not recall experiencing the white chalk issue you are going through. One word of caution about lozenges. They will help you step down and off of nicotine if you follow the perscribed program. BUT.... if you use and take them every time you feel the nicotine urge and don't taper off them, they can beecome as addictive as smoking. That was my experience. In fact, I because hard core addicted to Lozenges for a while because I was not followng the step down program. All NRT is a tool to help you taper off and step down but eventually you will have to do the hard work of handling withdrawl symptoms. Keep the quit.

You are doing great @Kingelocin for 6 weeks!! Really great! I have never done the patches/lozenges, but what I did do is the weaning method which is the worst method you can do!! I worked my way down from about 3/4 to 1 pk a day, to 2 cigs a day! Absolute worst method there is. As most everyone on this site told me, "You will be in perpetual withdrawal, if you keep smoking 2 cigs a day. At first I didn't believe them, but after a few days of 2 cigs a day, (including going to a wedding with liquor and wine), I finally caved in and gave up my cigs for good! Not even 1 a day! I am NOT gonna tell you that it was easy, because it was horrible!!! BUT, the longer you stay quit, the easier it becomes!! @Kingelocin , I AM TOTALLY SERIOUS ABOUT THAT!! Good luck you to you, and I wish you the best of luck!!!

Smoked daily (1/2 pack) for ~3 years and I have quit entirely and been on a NRT patch system now for about 6 weeks, worked down to the lowest dosage (7 mg) and am still having physical withdrawal symptoms. I wanted to see if anyone had advice for how they managed the symptoms? Specifically and feeling muscle tension, tooth sensitivity, headaches, and feel my pulse in weird places (e.g., feet, legs, back). Nothing hurts much other than the minor headaches, but the rest is really unnerving and has me checking that my symptoms are normal or at least not abnormal.

Welcome @Jane and congratulations on 10 days smoke free. You are doing a great thing in quitting. It is tough early but does get better with time and the early struggles are worth it long term. Keep up the great work!

HI @Minnie Mouse.... I did not know that PAWS -- The 2nd Stage of Withdrawal was a thing. I have had several relapses for short and longer periods over the years. Maybe it is because I was not paying attention to PAWS. Many thanks for this insight. Cheers

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Hi, all brands and all different sizes. The minis aren’t bad but I still get the white ring around my mouth. they seem to me to be tacky, sticky. My mouth gets really dry and the sticky white stuff as it dissolves sticks to the roof of my mouth. One container of minis lasts two days. I high hopes of quitting these too soon

Hi @Sherberry & welcome about Quit Train & congrats on being over 1 month quit! That's a fabulous start. Like Jillar I've never used Lozenges. I do know people who have but I have never heard them complain of this issue. Perhaps there's someone on this forum that can chime in with some better info. for you. Hope you stick around. There is a lot of great quit info here for you and support from other quitters.

Welcome aboard @Sherberry and congratulations on quitting smoking. I didn't use lozenges but we do have others that have so hopefully they'll be able to give you a clue on that. Just out of curiosity, have you tried calling the manufacturers helpline?

Well done keep it up.

I’m a window licker still

Congratulations on your great Quit . Your body is healing from all the chemicals it’s used to being put in X amount a day . All you’re going through is temporary … Keep going , it does get better

Welcome @Kingelocin! I, too, used NRT to quit. And as the dose tapered, it kept me in more or less a constant state of withdrawal. Misery! I got fed up and quit the patches and lozenges altogether, and went through the final phase of withdrawal without nicotine. Tough, but I felt loads better after a week or two. Whatever your approach, I promise it gets better!

Hi @Kingelocin! I would agree with what @jillar said and would also add that quit symptoms can be numerous and vary from person to person so try not to focus on those too much as you'll only worry yourself for no reason because if they're truly quit symptoms, they will eventually disappear. As Jillar mentioned, keep as busy (distracted) as possible. Exercise is a great way to distract yourself, even just going for regular walks! Your 6 weeks is a fabulous start toward a life long quit but it's relatively short in terms of your overall quit. I'm sure you're seeing some imporovement in the frequency and intensity of cravings by now and that will continue. I know when I quit, I struggled for months with a short temper. That eventually disipated and I'm now a sweet little angel . My point is that some quit symptoms can hang on for some time. My 2 cents; go with the flow and you'll get through just fine in the end. Oh and, stick around here on Quit Train. You'll never get better support

Livin' Thing