Underpeak

irf, on 24 February 2012 - 10:58 , said:

Stick with it Irf, it does get easier as time goes on, but those nicotine receptors in your brain take about 12 weeks to die down - that is why nearly all stop smoking courses are based on 12 weeks. However, even after that, they are still there and ready to be 'woken up'. So many people get caught out, because they think that they have quit and can just have 'one', say at a party and they find they are addicted again even several years down the line.My advice is, after the 12 weeks are up,  keep an inhalator and cartridges with you all the time, Just in case you get tempted.Don't cut down on the patches/inhalator too quickly, It is easy to think you are doing well to manage with less, but statistics show that you are more likely to be successful if you follow  the course as planned, and sometimes even for longer.
As I say stick with it, you should be beginning to feel the health benefits already, and if you were on 20 a day you are about £30 better off financially, just after 5 days! A year will give you well over £2,000 to play with! - I'm sure you can think of some mods for the car!

My usual ramble, but I really want you to succeed, If nothing else just so you don't get ribbed rotten by the lot on here!!

Susie

Hi Irf,
first time I've got to use the computer for ages, Jeff is hogging the dongle if you will excuse the expression!! Roll on Tues and the new router!
Glad to hear that you are still sticking with it as far as giving up is concerned. NICE guidelines actually recommend using two Nicotine Replacement products - I would usually prescribe patches plus another product such as inhalator or gum etc. The patches are often not enough on their own, but do work really well in combination. The idea is that the patch gives you a basic level of nicotine and then you use the inhalator when you get a craving.
You have done well to cut down to 4-5 but the risk is that you then smoke those more 'thoroughly' than you would normally, so that you get more nicotine from those few than you did before. - Has the pharmacist tested your carbon monoxide levels? They can give a good indication.
Good idea to try to quit completely when you are off for a week, but I would recommend using the patches as well. Nicorette Invisi patch would be my choice - 25 mg release in 16 hours to start with.
My other tip would be to make sure that you are changing the cartridge in the inhalator frequently enough. I have clients that tell me that the inhalator isn't working for  them and then it turns out they are only using one cartridge a day!

Hope this helps, keep at it - you can do it! Give me a call if you want any help, stats show that you are much more likely to quit if you have help from an advisor. - you may already be getting this from your pharmacist?

As for Champix - it is true that if it suits you it does get really good results. You can usually only get it from your GP on prescription, but in Hillingdon now there are 25 pharmacists trained to prescribe under a protocol, so if you want to go down that route you may be able to find a pharmacist not too far from you.

As usual have rattled on, but good luck - it is not easy, but definitely worthwhile!

Susie

I doubt very much that it was just the tv prog that drove him to this. If she is the kind of person that can treat customers in such a callous way when it was for such an important day in their lives, she probably treats everyone around her in a similar way - perhaps it had just become too much to bear?? Who knows what goes through someone's mind at such a time. Just a shame that he couldn't see any other way out.
All in all a very sad episode,but none of the brides should feel any guilt at all - they've had enough to cope with already. It is down to the wife to spend time wondering if she had behaved differently would she still have a husband??

Susie

Sorry to hear your news. I had written a long post, but managed to delete it - perhaps for the best as I do tend to ramble on. Gist of it was that the funeral is for the benefit of the living, and if Miss Tingys dad is the chief mourner, let him have it his way.It really is not worth having rows about it, everyone can take from the service what suits them and can say their goodbyes in their own way. He must be completely at a loss at the moment and probably feels that the only way he can cope and keep control of himself is to take control of every thing else. Everyone reacts differently.
I hope it can all be sorted out amicably, because at the end of the day that is what Miss Tingy's brother would have wanted.
As said before make full use of the FD as they will be able to answer questions and quite possibly come up with suggestions that hadn't even been considered. They will also be able to advise about possible financial help available from gov or workplace.

best wishes Susie.

i have to admit that this is all gobbledy-gook to me, but I have found real pleasure in reading it and seeing a bunch of guys all working together and sharing info on a project in such a positive fashion!

Looking at that statement it sounds a bit patronising, but certainly isn't meant that way. Having seen some of the cr*p that goes on  on other forums it is just another example of how great T5D5 is !!