Anyone else here trying to quit or have quit smoking? I am trying my best but am really struggling with it. My PCM has me taking chantix which doesn't seem to be working.

Any tips or tricks? I want to quit I have smoked for a long time.

I had to take Chantix to stop, and it did take a few weeks of smoking -while taking Chantix- before i eventually stopped smoking. I didn't think Chantix was going to work for me either, but it eventually just took all the want and drive to smoke away. It's pretty miraculous, actually.

I enjoyed smoking, truly did. I had to stop for 6 weeks prior to surgery, which I did. I made a mistake though. I stopped taking Chantix a week before my surgery, which was on Sept 13. I thought I'd be fine...and I was until getting home from surgery. Now I crave a cigarette almost daily, multiple times a day. It sucks. I really need to get back on Chantix, if that's even possible. They way I'm craving them, I feel it's only a matter of time before I stop at the store and pick up a pack.

Has anyone started back up with smoking post-op or know anyone who has? Did u (or they) end up getting ulcers or anything else bad? Any other cautionary tales of becoming a smoker (again) post op?

Intellectually, I know it's bad for me and I shouldn't do it. But...nicotine addiction's a b#$@h!

Good luck with continuing NOT to smoke!

don't go back!! I quit back in 2002 and it was the best decision I made in my life. I'm sure it's a huge risk because your stomach is so small now to start smoking and getting all sirs who knows what smoking added to your new healthy lifestyle would do. But you know you should go back to your doctor and talk to him about getting back on Chantix. Good luck! you can do it

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don't go back!! But you know you should go back to your doctor and talk to him about getting back on Chantix.

Yes, i think im going to do just that. I cant go back to that smelly, filthy...deliciously calming...er...bad, deadly habit!!

I had to take Chantix to stop, and it did take a few weeks of smoking -while taking Chantix- before i eventually stopped smoking. I didn't think Chantix was going to work for me either, but it eventually just took all the want and drive to smoke away. It's pretty miraculous, actually.

I enjoyed smoking, truly did. I had to stop for 6 weeks prior to surgery, which I did. I made a mistake though. I stopped taking Chantix a week before my surgery, which was on Sept 13. I thought I'd be fine...and I was until getting home from surgery. Now I crave a cigarette almost daily, multiple times a day. It sucks. I really need to get back on Chantix, if that's even possible. They way I'm craving them, I feel it's only a matter of time before I stop at the store and pick up a pack.

Has anyone started back up with smoking post-op or know anyone who has? Did u (or they) end up getting ulcers or anything else bad? Any other cautionary tales of becoming a smoker (again) post op?

Intellectually, I know it's bad for me and I shouldn't do it. But...nicotine addiction's a b#$@h!

Good luck with continuing NOT to smoke!

I'm just now starting to fight this battle again. I quit a month before surgery and haven't looked back until......
I am 6 weeks out and I have so much more energy having lost 60 lbs and not smoking. So when the craving for a smoke popped back up,I had to stop and figure out what triggered it. Come to find out, it was cleaning...ha! I don't know how I'm going to continue cleaning my house with taking smoke breaks.

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I was finally able to quit by using an ecig. And not one of the flimsy little vape pens that don't put out any vapor. This is the ecig that I have used from the beginning (and this is the tank). Not advertising, just giving an example. There are countless options out there.

I was able to stop smoking cigarettes immediately and started out vaping juice that was 18mg of nicotine. I weened down and am now nicotine free. I still vape when I get a craving, but I'm not putting anything harmful or addictive into my body.

Hope this helps and best of luck,

Stormy

Edited October 9, 20178 yr by Stormy89

I was finally able to quit by using an ecig. And not one of the flimsy little vape pens that don't put out any vapor. This is the ecig that I have used from the beginning (and this is the tank). Not advertising, just giving an example. There are countless options out there.
I was able to stop smoking cigarettes immediately and started out vaping juice that was 18mg of nicotine. I weened down and am now nicotine free. I still vape when I get a craving, but I'm not putting anything harmful or addictive into my body.
Hope this helps and best of luck,
Stormy

My husband vaped (he quit when i quit cigs) using the type of ecig u used and I tried to wean off cigarettes with it but couldn't, so I just quit using Chantix. Besides, the doc wanted me completely nicotine free prior to surgery and ran a test a week prior to preop to make sure. Anyhow, the vape for me didn't adequately satisfy my smoking cravings, for whatever reason. Though, I've known plenty of people who have been helped with ecigs, so it's definitely a viable option for some. Plus, they have zero nicotine juices, so if i did like vaping, i would probably just smoke that juice. I dont know...i just loved smoking and it helped me not eat when I got hungry, too. I just miss it.

So my little update I am still smoking.. But I am going much longer periods of time without smoking and have cut in half what I used to smoke. Just hope I can make it the rest of the way there!

12 hours ago, Krista27 said:

So my little update I am still smoking.. But I am going much longer periods of time without smoking and have cut in half what I used to smoke. Just hope I can make it the rest of the way there!

You absolutely can! Keep your eye on the prize: a new, gorgeous and most importantly, Healthier you. This is just another step towards that prize. Stick with it and you will amaze yourself at the changes you are able to make. We're here for you

I find that I am smoking more during the weekends when I have more time. When I'm at work I'm trying to space out my smoke breaks more & more. I'm hoping I can cut down to 5/day soon
I tried vaping but it doesn't do anything for me. It's friggin hard!!!
It doesn't help when everyone in your home is also a smoker

I downloaded QuitNow & Quitbit. Both are really great apps! QuitNow is for those quitting cold turkey and Quitbit is to wean yourself off slowly. Today I'm gonna start tracking how much I actually smoke [emoji51]

Not sure if there’s any truth to this but worst case you’ll get a few “me days” out of it

I have been trying hard not to smoke, doing it cold turkey. I found that my trigger is, when I talk to my sister by phone I have an incredible urge to smoke (because she is so negative) I decided not talking to her for a bit would be a good thing, it was to a point but the cravings can be over whelming

Is everyone who is still smoking PREop? Anyone POSTop and still smoking?

Is everyone who is still smoking PREop? Anyone POSTop and still smoking?

I am PreOp, no smoking since Tuesday night. 35 year smoker a pack a day! Its hard but not as hard as the liquid diet!!! I ALWAYS want a smoke after I eat. So not eating eases the trigger. [emoji41]

I am PreOp, no smoking since Tuesday night. 35 year smoker a pack a day! Its hard but not as hard as the liquid diet!!! I ALWAYS want a smoke after I eat. So not eating eases the trigger. [emoji41]

Wow! Congrats on stopping! Keep up the good work! Cold turkey?

I smoked for for about 12 years, and quit 10 years ago using Chantix. I was heavily addicted. I couldn't go more than 2 hours without a smoke. I tried to stop every few months, but could never make it past a day or 2. I would get so irritated by everything, and then go back to smoking. My doctor prescribed me Chantix, and I quit after 4 days of using it. I have never smoked since. I can't stand cigarette smoke now. As a matter of fact, I can't stand smoke from smoke machines, fire, or anything else. My chest gets tight after hovering over a grill for too long.

For those of you that are trying Chantix, try using it for the entire 3 months. It is expensive, and most insurance plans don't cover it, but you can half the later doses to save on the cost. I got 2 full doses, and took a full dose for the first month, and a half dose for the next 2 months. I felt as though I didn't need the medication after the first month, but I continued to take it anyway. A co-worker that stopped at the same time as me only purchased the first month's prescription. She started smoking again after a few months.

The other thing that is important, is that you should follow the program as well, and not just take the medicine. You need to know what your triggers are, and recognize them every time they are present. It helps to also get online, and do the surveys, etc. If I remember correctly, the program asks you how you feel each day, and gives you little tidbits of information. For example, it might tell you congratulations on your 60th day without a cigarette, and then tell you that your life expectancy has increased by X amount of years or that you have the same life expectancy of someone that hasn't smoked in X amount of years. It is pretty interesting information.

Good luck on trying to quit, and please don't smoke shortly after surgery as it will mess with your body's ability to heal and can cause lots of problems. It just isn't worth it.