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Patches: Question

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 8760

Duckie, If you feel that is what is best for you and your quit then that's what you should do. Just run it quickly by your pharmacist or doctor :) Danielle _________________________ The SSC Support Team

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 8760

Duckie, Congratulations! How is it going so far? Danielle ________________________ The SSC Support Team

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 8760

That's okay Duckie. Glad the step down went well! Danielle _____________________ The SSC Support Team

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 586

Hi Duckie, Yikes! I hate to be an oddball here lol Have you completed the suggested course of the 21 mg? If not, then I'd definitely stick with what the program recommends. I think (emphasis on "think") patch programs vary, keeping you at 21mg for 6 to 12 weeks so I wouldn't think it would hurt you physically to stay on it a week longer, certainly not as bad as smoking would. If that's what makes you feel most confident, then it's something to consider. But...consider this too.... Dropping down seems to generate a little of that fear we felt when we first started our quits. It doesn't take long to figure out that fear is mostly unfounded. The step down from 21 to 14 probably isn't near as scary or rough as you're feeling it might possibly be. At most, you may have a few increased thoughts but at 42 days, I can guarantee it won't come close to what you experienced early in the quit. It will be nothing you can't handle... even with additional stress. There are MANY that never even feel the difference. I was one of them. The ultimate lesson in the process of quitting is learning to deal with life without smoking or dependence on any form of nicotine. Dropping down is a small dose of a big lesson... and it gets you that much closer to the goal. There's never a perfect time. Life is going to keep coming at us whether we smoke or not. I say..."Bring it on". That being said... It's been quoted a thousand times around here, "Whatever it takes, just don't smoke". I couldn't agree more. You just do whatever it takes. :) Congratulations on your 42 days and keep on going! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/2/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 638 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 12,769 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2277.66 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 67 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 27 [B]Seconds:[/B] 9

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$21,795.67

Amount Saved
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Days: 801 Hours: 0

Minutes: 49 Seconds: 41

Life Gained
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5603

Smoke Free Days
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112,060

Cigarettes Not Smoked

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 586

Duckie, I've been out but wanted to peek in and see how you were doing. I'm glad you came to a decision. Sometimes that alone relieves some stress doesn't it? Take good care of yourself... and keep on going. :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/2/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 640 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 12,815 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2284.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 67 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 16 [B]Seconds:[/B] 9

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$21,795.67

Amount Saved
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Days: 801 Hours: 0

Minutes: 49 Seconds: 41

Life Gained
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5603

Smoke Free Days
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112,060

Cigarettes Not Smoked

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 586

I just wanted to add that nicotine doesn't leave your body in 4 days. That's just a general rule of thumb of when the physical withdrawals peak. Also, nicotine changes brain chemistry. The patch allows a more gradual healing there as well. Some people, especially those that began smoking early in their lives and smoked for years, may find this the most difficult part of the physical withdrawal. This phase, which can cause withdrawals/cravings, can take quite a bit of time for some...even longer than the patch programs. So much will depend on your age, your smoking history, lifestyle, etc... It's wonderful we have options when it comes to customizing what works for us as individuals. Many people decided the patch wasn't for them, stopped and quit successfully. Many people decided the patch wasn't for them, stopped and fully relapsed. Many people decided the patch wasn't for them, stopped, then quickly slapped one back on. There's no doubt it's a gamble. Only you can decide if it's one worth taking or not. Most of us smoked a lot of years. No need of rushing through the quit process. Whatever it takes, just don't smoke. No matter what method you choose, it's simply going to take time. If we're successful, we all end up in the same place... and I have to tell ya, it's pretty good where I'm standing :) Keep us posted on what you decide and how you're doing! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/2/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 644 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 12,894 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2299.08 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 68 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 20 [B]Seconds:[/B] 22

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$21,795.67

Amount Saved
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Days: 801 Hours: 0

Minutes: 49 Seconds: 41

Life Gained
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5603

Smoke Free Days
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112,060

Cigarettes Not Smoked

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 763

using the patch is a "weaning" process. true, you keep nicotine in your bloodstream...but you aren't smoking. The nicotine isn't what is the killer about cigarettes...it's inhaling all the chemicals from the burning tobacco and all the additives that the companies put in that tobacco. Using patches keeps your nicotine level up...it acclimates you to a specific dose and then it reduces that dose. again it acclimates and then reduces...finally you go off the patch and the last traces of nicotine leave you. It's just a somewhat "gentler" way to quit than plunging off cold turkey. not that there is anything wrong with cold turkey....different strokes for different folks. With the patches the "edge" is taken off the cravings....they aren't totally "gone"...they just don't bite as deeply. This can allow you time to develope coping skills that will enable you to STAY quit. Do what works for you....but be aware...when you have been on the patches for a week or so and things seem to be going pretty well.....if you quit the patch, you are going to loose the nicotine in your bloodstream and there will most likely be an increase in your cravings. The nicotine from the patch leaves your system gradually just as it does from quitting cigarettes. The first day may not seem so bad, but as the levels drop the craving generally begins to peak. It is said that day three is the worst when you go cold turkey. many quitters go cold turkey and make it fine....they plunge in and swim like hell and make it to the other side.....other quitters can't seem to manage this. There is NO disgrace in using an aid....the object for all is the same....to stop smoking. If you use patches for 6 months and manage to quit, you have done the same thing as the person who manages to quit cold turkey. It's all about finding a way to NOT light up! If you jump off the patch and see that you are heading for trouble you can always get back on it. do whatever WORKS. Personally, I think if something is working...why tear it apart looking for problems?? I was one of those smokers that would kill for a cigarette. The thought of running out of smokes sent me into a total panic. I had convinced myself for a long time that I "couldn't" quit smoking. The patches were just

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$161,756.00

Amount Saved
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Days: 5593 Hours: 14

Minutes: 46 Seconds: 58

Life Gained
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46216

Smoke Free Days
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924,320

Cigarettes Not Smoked

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12049

pete, It is always best to step down as directed. If you feel this is something you want to change, then please check with your doctor and pharmacist regarding the directions and dosages. This works differently for all bodies, so it is a good idea to check with them first :) Keep Strong, Josie _____________________ The SSC Support Team.

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