Nhs Quit Smoking Group

[Jestadud]

Here's a strange one.

My wife has quit smoking for 7 weeks now. (All on her own)

Tonight I went to a Quit Smoking Group on the NHS (National Health Service. UK) I had mentioned to them before I went that I had Ptsd as they had asked various questions such as did I suffer from depression.
I was worried about being in a group but surely even people with Ptsd can try to quit. Maybe it's paranoia but I felt they weren't used to having one of us in the group.

They went through the options available NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) Zyban and Champix.

It was clear that they favoured Champix but we were asked to chose our own option and when they asked everyone if they had chosen I was unsure, so they handed out a leaflet about Champix and the possible side effects that might be experienced, well almost all of them fall within the scope of Ptsd symptoms.
We then went on a one to one basis to state what we had chosen. I went last out of our group of four and had underlined all the side effects that fall within the bounds of Ptsd. (almost all of them) So it was decided I would try the NRT. I was the only one to choose this the other three went Champix.

When I got home my wife was waiting to see how I got on and before I could tell her I just burst into tear's.

For just a brief moment I couldn't catch myself quick enough, and writing this I've started again.

 

[NIKI]

I'm sorry that the meeting upset you. I hope you feel better soon. :tup:

 

[mamachick]

Im not familiar with Champix. I used Chantix in 2007 and depresseion became severe and I had constant suicide thoughts. I did not quit and was unable to increase the dose as prescribed. Even after I went off, it seemed my brain chemistry changed. The depression was very severe and my anti depressant had to be changed to get better.

I am so sorry for your experience. Maybe the group was just not use to people being so honest. I find that often people with say they had some depression once but minimize it. Good for you for your honesty. I dont know how often the meds have these side effects but I did not read and was not told what could happen.
Good for you for quitting:-)

 

[Grama-Herc]

I suggest you speak with your doctor about what NRT would mesh well with any meds you are on. As someone who smoked for 40 years and was up to 2 packs a day I appreciate the difficutly you are facing. I stopped cold turkey in June of 2003 and have never smoked again.

How you ask! On a Friday morning I got a bunch of my favorite old movies to watch, several gallons of ice cream, took the phone off the hook and spent the weekend in bed doing whatever the hell I wanted. By Monday I was out of ice cream and old movies and discovered I was also out of any desire for a cig. I've had one desire for a cig but that was about 6 months after quitting and it was situational(yard sale--I always smoked a ,lot when having a yard sale)

# weeks after quitting, my home was borken into one night while I slept and I was robbed. NO CIG NEEDED.
2 years ago my mother had an extremely serious health issue(she is 87), I almost lost her. NO CIG NEEDED

I'm not saying my way of quitting is the right way to quit, but it sure WORKED FOR ME!!!!! IF YOU CAN SURVIVE THE 1ST 3 DAYS the rest is simple mental habit Your body is over the craving and now you need to len how to read the paper with coffee nin the morning and discover your car WILL run without a cig.

Good luck, if I did it I know you can. ;)

 

[becvan]

I am just over the one month mark for no smoking. I am using the nicorette inhaler. I stopped smoking in the house one week before my quit date. The night before of my "day zero" I smoked like a feind. I literally smoked till I couldn't. :laugh: Day one was horrible for me in the sense of feeling sick. I just felt like I had the worst flu ever. I don't really crave cigs that much I just get little "ooooh that looked good" moments and they pass. I love the inhaler. I chew the crap out of it actully. Everytime I think I want one or have that habit moment, out it comes and I puff (mostly chew) on it. It sends a little puff of nicotine into your mouth and it hits the back of your throat. It tastes disgusting but it works great IMHO. The box said to use six cartridges a day and I have yet to use 12 and it's been over a month.

Anyways, Jest. I'm sorry the meeting was so frustrating. If you are going to quit smoking, come up with a plan that works for you. Try what you think will work. Remember that quitting often takes many, many tries. I've been trying since 2001 and this is the first time that I KNOW I quit. Don't let anyone push you around when it comes to quitting smoking or how to do it and ignore all the hype of "I did it so you can too!" crap. Do it your way and be nice to yourself.

bec

 

[Srain]

I useed chantix, I think it was, and had a horrible reaction! I spoke with a pharmacist who quickly advised me to speak to my dr and I dropped it. So I just went to the nicotine patch and stepped down pretty quickly. The first day I just left town for a couple of days and came back with my whole routine changed but to tell you the truth the biggest difference was that after 33yrs of smoking with NO plans of ever quitting was that I really wanted to quit smoking. Cigarettes had lost all appeal to me and tasted awful, I had no enjoyment what-so-ever. I did crave them off and on for a year and think that I smelled smoke here and there but other than that I haven't smoked in almost 6 years, very odd.

I think your reaction is normal. I cried for 3 weeks before quitting, I was giving up a very close "friend" and coping mechanism, though it no longer worked for me. I could not imagine life without them or me without smoking as I had smoked most of my life. Grieving a habit and an image may sound silly but when you identify that as part of yourself then it can begin to make sense. When I allowed myself to do that then I felt I was ready to quit. I had never done that before, it was just to scary, but I did that this time I did for as long as I felt necessary.

I have no idea if this is what is going on with you but I have spoken with others who have felt the same.

Rain

 

[Tinyflame]

Though I quit once for 3 years and once for a year, I've smoked (heavily) for 26 (other) years, and cannot currently imagine coping without it.

I used NRT (The Patch) when I quit for 3 years- it helped for the morning 'edge' but wouldn't have worked without being wholly committed to not smoking.

I have a friend with ptsd (and some depression) who became suicidal on Champix, one who died from complications with Zyban.

I have tried Nicorette gum but it gives me chest pains- how ironic is that! :rolleyes:

When I did quite successfully, I felt very ill and caught every cold, flu etc in the book. After about 6 months I felt like normal- unbelievably enough like I had never been a smoker (as per cravings) or being identified with/ by it, didn't miss it even when surrounded by it.

 

[Jestadud]

Thanks for all your thoughts and ideas.
I have to say that I didn't tell the group, I just told the people who were running the group. Basically they asked when registering do you suffer from this that and the other and there were at least a couple of things that came under the Ptsd banner. When I turned up they got my notes and there was PTSD written on the front of them. (which gave me a panic in case anyone else might see it)

About 20 years ago I gave up for 3 1/2 years and like you Grama-Herc I picked a bank holiday so I had a three day weekend and just sat on the sofa with my arms folded tight and went cold turkey.

I would assume that Champix and Chantix must be very similar and it certainly does seem that it's worth avoiding for people with Ptsd. I was wondering if as we already suffer from all the side effects listed it could do no harm but from what you're saying it amplifies the problems.

I'm down for the nicorette patches and inhaler, the inhaler more for something to occupy my hands. As this is what you have chosen Becvan I am already happier with my decision.

I went to see my Doctor (one in a group practice) about what happened and he seemed unable or reluctant to understand what I was saying and unlike some here who can express themselves well or maybe get angry, I seem to slip into a bit of a depression and think what's the point. Our meeting ended with him wishing me good luck and giving me a fist up gesture. I could have slapped him.

Last Wednesday (that's not good for me either) I came off the rails big time. I'm ashamed but probably should be honest and mention that when I came home around 9.00 I also hit the beer in a big way drinking 11 cans while staying up till 4.00 in the morning.

Ptsd played a big part in that group session although I don't fully understand what.

I will go this week but am considering warning them that I might have to leave abruptly, no point my discussing Ptsd with them as they are not Therapists.

 

[Srain]

I gave myself a quitting time of a month out and then picked a day nobody expected ;), I didn't want anyone watching and waiting. Don't push yourself for others, I can't stress that enough. I think you are doing great catching where you are tripping yourself. I'm sorry about the PTSD stressor the other night sounds like it was a rough one.

Do it how you have to, I'm surely pulling for you!! You might also check the websites for support that come with the patches, I actually found them helpful and my own private little "yeah Rain" party in my email :laugh:. The actual tips were helpful and kept me busy by making things fresher and cleaner in my car and home. That rancid good old smokey smeel is replaced by fresh air smelly dogs HA! Plus my husband just assumed I would quit and everyone never expected it, ...seriously felt like I was on my own with it so having that extra support was entirely helpful and not as cheesy as I thought it would be.

Please take care,
Rain

 

[Pennyroyal]

Hello Jestadud. Hope you're feeling brighter now. I smoked all my adult life and quit nearly 7 years ago. I used NHS Smoking Cessation advisor at our local surgery and she prescribed patches & inhalator and I never looked back. I am sure you will be too! It truly is marvellous how effective they are, providing you follow the course of patches to the letter. I know people who have been lulled into a false sense of security and stop using them far too early and then go back to smoking.

I was determined not to, because it was my choice to quit and I it is just about my proudest achievement. I used the inhalator with a capsule in for a few days and every now and again after that but found that just holding it and sucking on it (mainly fresh air!!) was enough for me. Please ask if you need any advice. Let us know how you get on.

 

[Srain]

Just checking to see how things are going.

Rain

 

[Jestadud]

I went for the second week and made no mention about all I've said here other than to say "Not great" when asked how my week had been.

My start date was the day after this second meeting and when asked how I felt about it I quickly got the impression that "Flat" wasn't a common answer. But with all the peaks and troughs we have with this thing I wasn't up there feeling all excited and looking forward to giving up, but I wasn't down there dreading or fearing it either, I was somewhere in between feeling resigned to giving up. (A Prozac feeling although I hadn't taken one.)

I put my 24 hour patch on when I went to bed to hopefully ease the morning craving and I've gone without for one day, although I've had two bad nights with the sort of dreams that would normally make me get up to have a fag and coffee before trying to go back to sleep.

Very disappointed with the inhalator it doesn't look like a cigarette, doesn't feel like a cigarette and doesn't taste like a cigarette. :tdown: Must have been designed by a non smoker, I will probably be better off sucking on a pen!

Of course the short answer is "So far so good."