I haz nicotine gum!

[Imdanny]

Hi everyone, I didn't want to say anything about this because many of you gave me a tremendous amount of moral support when I was trying to quit smoking a few months ago but failed. I've been struggling with this decision and tried several times to quit cold turkey. I had a feeling I was going to have to quit soon and dealt with this by smoking even more. I don't have any idea why but I kept telling SO I didn't want nicotine gum when he offered to get it for me. Finally, I got frustrated and asked him if he would get it. He got Equate brand 2 mg x 20. They work like a charm. I can chew a piece at the exact same moment in my day I want a cigarette (for example, when I get up in the morning) and it's just like having a cigarette, except without the smoke and smell. This is my 3rd day without a cigarette.

 

[movie zombie]

 

[tyty333]

My DH used to chew tobacco (lovely right?)...he said the gum worked wonders for him. He now chews gum constantly (and I
do mean constantly) just not nicotine gum.

My best wishes are with you! Lots of healthy dust!!!

 

[Mrsacornblue]

Good luck! Glad it's working for you this time around! Lots of dust that you can continue on your good streak.

 

[pregcurious]

That's great, Danny!

 

[stargurl78]

Best of luck to you Danny! Sending dust your way!

 

[kenny]

Doesn't that gum smell bad when you light it?

Sorry.

Best wishes for quitting!!!!

 

[artdecogirl]

Woohoo go Danny!!!!

 

[Imdanny]

Doesn't that gum smell bad when you light it?

Sorry.

Best wishes for quitting!!!!

Kenny,

Q: Do you mind if I smoke?
A: I don't care if you burn.

Quit smoking? I'm no quitter!



Thanks!!!!!

 

[Imdanny]

Thanks, everyone!!!!!

 

[Jennifer W]

Danny, I quit using gum too. It worked really well for me, sounds like it's working for you too.
I had endless cold turkey attempts, each one more doomed and short lived that the last, but gum worked like a charm. Wish you all the very best of luck with this, but I'm pretty sure you won't need it.

 

[Maisie]

Keep going! You are doing really well!

 

[Imdanny]

Thanks!

Jennifer, a week ago I quit for about two hours until I changed my mind!

Maise, I will! I'm on Day 4!

 

[Maisie]

Thanks!

Jennifer, a week ago I quit for about two hours until I changed my mind!

Maise, I will! I'm on Day 4!

Excellent! I mentioned your thread to my husband in the hope that he will agree to try the gum (he used patches last time). He agreed it might be worthwhile trying the gum but not quite yet. I suppose he is the only one who knows when the time is right.

 

[House Cat]

Awesome Danny! That is exactly how I quit my 20 years of smoking.

When you want to quit the gum....(I chewed it for 6 months!) Start chewing half pieces. Then, start substituting regular gum, like dentine ice for a half piece of nicotine gum...


Yeah, yeah, I know...very immature, but believe me, you'll wanna know!


Congratulations. You will love being smoke free, believe me!

 

[diamondringlover]

Congrats Danny, keep it up, you can do it I quit almost 27 years ago and I have no cravings what so ever...matter of fact I cant stand cigarette smoke....you will be saving a ton of money and your lungs....

 

[tuffyluvr]

Yay! You didnt fail at quitting--you just had a setback, and all you can do is just keep trying. My guy quit for about 3 years and started up again (he smokes and dips(chews) yuck! Nothing grosser than dip spitters! He has been trying to quit for at least a year. He goes on-and-off the Nicorette gum. It definitely helps him, unfortunately I feel that the most important part of quitting is the smoker WANTING to quit and being committed. My guy, when he quit for 3 years, found Wellbutrin tremendously helpful in weaning him off the nicotine without such bad withdrawals. If you can, maybe you can get a prescription for that or Chantix? Anyways, DUST to you!!! You can do it!

 

[Jennifer W]

Thanks!

Jennifer, a week ago I quit for about two hours until I changed my mind!

Maise, I will! I'm on Day 4!

That reminds me of a guy I used to work for. We quit together, and relapsed regularly. People would ask him how long he'd been an ex-smoker and he'd ask what date is it today? The 22nd? Of November, right? Hmm, let me think .....3 hours.

Danny, may I be permitted a small threadjack here please? MAISIE - please can you email me. Thank you!

Thanks Danny, and apologies.

 

[Imdanny]

@ 5 days without.

Anlkles, feet, and LEDs broke out in rash.

Feet swelled to left twice normal and right four times- entire left foot would not bend vis a vis leg.

Decided not to go to hospital. Swelling went down in 24 hrs.

Feet are in pain. Skin itches.

Still feel smoking withdwawl.

Very short tempered. Going to sleep now and sleeping until evening.

More later.

 

[junebug17]

Oh wow Danny, sorry you're having such a rough time, but it's wonderful you made it 5 days and you should feel good about that! Are the rash and swelling part of nicotine withdrawal? Just wondering, but at any rate if it continues maybe you should have it checked out.

Hang in there - congrats on making it this far, and I hope things get easier for you very soon.

 

[Imdanny]

Lousy two days.

Yesterday both anlkes never did this before ever swelled, left foot so bad I couldn't move the foot at all.

Today I slept all day.

I woke up in a fowl mood. The swelling went down but thre different parts of left foot were in agony.

Fowl mood lasted hours.

In so much pain and so depressed.

Bought a pack of cigarettes.

Can't smoke them at home. Landlord thinks a person can quit in six hours. Doesn't have the faintest clue what is involved.

I'm parked somewhere where he can't find me and he can never know.

Plan to not buy another pack.

Weeks of misery ahead of me.

The gum is a perfect way- patches dose you constantly. Gum mimics cigarette nicotine delievry system og cigarettes.

It's not the gum.

Nicotine is a traquilizer. Cigarette cessation reveals physical and emotional pain. I became almost completely overwelmed today.

 

[Imdanny]

Oh wow Danny, sorry you're having such a rough time, but it's wonderful you made it 5 days and you should feel good about that! Are the rash and swelling part of nicotine withdrawal? Just wondering, but at any rate if it continues maybe you should have it checked out.

Hang in there - congrats on making it this far, and I hope things get easier for you very soon.

Thanks.

The rash is a stress reaction.

The ankle swelling is a complete mystery. This never happened to me before.

 

[junebug17]

I'm really sorry you're struggling so much Danny. Don't beat yourself up - you're trying really hard, and that's the important thing. Just keep plugging along as best you can, it's all any of us can do! (((hugs)))

 

[Imdanny]

Thanks! I wish SO saw it like that. He's in a rage.

I tried to tell him I didn't want to buy anymore but he doesn't believe me.

Sigh. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.

 

[lulu]

Danny, I think these are very unusual reactions to quitting smoking and you should be doing this under a doctor's care. A doctor may be able to relieve these other symptoms and make this easier for you. Keep trying-it's worth it.

 

[iLander]

YEAH!!!

Hi Danny!

Hope you're hanging in there!

I got so busy with Thanksgiving cleaning, that I didn't post anything. I am SOOOO glad to see this!

Best of luck to you, my friend!

 

[Missy]

Sorry you are having a such a tough time with it. Wishing you the best and hoping you start feeling better soon!

 

[iLander]

Oh, wait. . .

Just read through the posts; what's up with that? Ankles?

I did finally get a rash from the patch, after all those months, even though it was only 1/4 of a patch. So, maybe the gum can give you a rash.

I suggest you try the lozenges. The new gum, that has that chiclet coating, is just nasty beyond words. But I do have to pop the lozenges in and out of my mouth all day, to keep from getting dizzy.

None of this cr@p is easy, is it?

I've quit smoking for both pregnancies, cold turkey, no problem. But this time was/is really hard. I think they're putting something in the cigs now, something even more addictive, or processing them differently. Something is different, and I'm sorry you're having a hard time with it.

But remember, cancer is even MORE uncomfortable. Emphysema is a nightmare.

Try again, Danny.

Please?

 

[manderz]

How are you doing today, Danny? Don't get discouraged, it's a long process, and each attempt will get you closer to that finish line. You can do it!!

 

[Imdanny]

manderz, today I feel more relaxed but I have to say the last few days including SO' rage about many things including things only tangentially related to me (my MIL and I had a falling out, I'd like to talk about it in a different thread sometime- I mention it here only to let you guys know how many serious distraction i've had) have been something.

It seems that today everything important started to go my way. I found out from my uncle that my aunt left me $1500. I had no clue about this. It was a complete shock.

I did buy a second pack but when they're done it's back to the grind.

Except this time I will be more stoic.

ILander,

Thank you to all of you who have posted. I am humbled by your kindness.