Day 1

[brianl]

Brian: It's good to hear that at least one person succeeded with a form of NRT.


City.... I didn't say the NRT worked for me. It didn't. It only delayed my Quit.
I was saying that I was being stubborn like you are but I did follow through with my word to the site and expect you to do the same.

Brian

[CitySpitter]

Brian: It's good to hear that at least one person succeeded with a form of NRT.

Mattyc: I think I would have failed already if it weren't for the support of this site. Regardless of my decision to use NRT, this site has been the game-changer for me. I decided to quit on my own, but the day I did, I found this site and it helped me make my decision real. I spend about an hour each night on here, just reading, absorbing, and reaffirming my decision.

bigduke: I wish I had read your post earlier. A lot of interesting stuff in there about the patch. Just for the record, I am using the patch exactly as prescribed, which is how I derived my quit date. I step down to 7mg patches on the 22nd, and I'm looking forward to it.

The more I read from everyone the more it seems like no one thinks the patch does anything to lessen the withdrawal once you finally stop nicotine altogether. I feel like it has to help in some way. You're training your body to receive less of the chemical.

The thing that sucks is I'll never know if it did help, because it is still going to suck big-time when I get off the patch. I won't have a cold-turkey quit to compare it to. Oh well, just thinking out loud.

24 days until my quit date.
Patch day 4 over.

Edit: I would like to change the title of this thread if possible, since my day 1 hasn't happened. Something like, "Day 1 (of the patch)" if an admin wants to do that. I feel stupid for putting Day 1 like I accomplished something already.

[bigduke45123]

Hey CitySpitter if you want to know what most of the people on this site think of using the patch go look at my intro titled "Trying to quit with the patch". It is great that you have a quit date in place but it would be better if it was moved up a little bit sooner like tomorrow.
I stayed on the patch for a few days and finally it seemed that everywhere I would put it it felt like a big charly horse. Listen to most of these people and keep us informed on how you are doing and if you need anything you can pm me.

Dan

[Mattyc]

Thank you all for the words of encouragement. It seems that everyone is against the patch, but I am going to stick with it. I don't mean to simply ignore the advice of seasoned veterans, but I feel I have set myself up for success.

I am approaching my situation from a logical, scientific standpoint. I am addicted in two ways: chemically and psychologically. I begin with quitting psychologically. I will break my habit of having a dip in my mouth, or feeling that I need something extra (or at least replace it with seeds or gum). While I may still get psychological urges, by the time I quit chemically, they will be lessened.

I will quit chemically when my patches run out. Dip was fun, patches are not. There is no pleasure or joy in them, simply the non-denial of chemicals which my body wants. I know I am still my body's bitch at this point, and that is not a good place to be.

I fully realize I have not Quit (with a capital "Q") until I am 100% nicotine free. So perhaps we can agree that I haven't quit yet, but I have planned my quit date. December 6th will be my first day with no patch.

Until then, since I can't post in Roll Call, I will post here each night before I go to bed. I promise to post--whether I fail or not. Having everyone tell me to get off the patch has given me a sort of challenge to prove the patch can work I suppose.

I also promise my posts will be shorter eventually. 'winker'

P.S. I'm curious as to whether those who tried the patch did the 3-step system, and whether they relapsed during the patch system or after making it all the way through.

City, not to discourage your patch use...but...for the last three years I have been on a whilrwind use of patch/dip/patch/dip...you get the point...I made it all they way through the 3rd step of patches, quit for another 4 months, and started dipping, because I didnt have the support of this site. 52 nicotene free days later, I feel better than I ever have in MY LIFE, thanks to my new brothers on this website...feel free to pm me for a # if you want to discuss further. I hope you stick with your decision, and get in here...ASAP!

[brianl]

I would like to reply to everyone personally, but there are many different opinions, and much to keep track of, so I will try to make a more general reply.

Thank you for the kind words of encouragement, as well as the words of doubt. Honestly, I think this site is helping me more than anything else, but I had started the patch before ever visiting the site. So while you are probably correct in saying I have a better chance quitting cold-turkey (by evidence of head-count alone, but the links point to it as well), I think I still have a great chance quitting with the patch. I have already committed to myself. I think to deviate from my original plan would be a failure in itself.

And I have committed to you all. I am letting my word represent me. I feel I have staked my manhood on the line here. I don't mean manhood in the sense of machismo, or any kind of testosterone fueled pissing contest. I say manhood in the sense of being a fully-grown human being, responsible and accountable for my actions and choices. To tell you the truth, I have never felt closer to being a real man. If I fail, you will see me fail, and I will have failed myself. And it will eat at me. And I will be ashamed.

But I will not fail. I will be 100% nicotine free Dec. 6th.

Patch day 3 over.

Obviously no talking you into cold turkey.

I too made a similar commitment with the nic gum and I did keep my word to a Quit date on this site. I got the same advice as you did and kept the same approach as you did.
I kept my promise to this site and stopped the gum when I said I would and I'm now sitting at 75 days.
So I hope you are man enough to back up your words....see you on Day 1, 12/6/10.

Brian

[CitySpitter]

I would like to reply to everyone personally, but there are many different opinions, and much to keep track of, so I will try to make a more general reply.

Thank you for the kind words of encouragement, as well as the words of doubt. Honestly, I think this site is helping me more than anything else, but I had started the patch before ever visiting the site. So while you are probably correct in saying I have a better chance quitting cold-turkey (by evidence of head-count alone, but the links point to it as well), I think I still have a great chance quitting with the patch. I have already committed to myself. I think to deviate from my original plan would be a failure in itself.

And I have committed to you all. I am letting my word represent me. I feel I have staked my manhood on the line here. I don't mean manhood in the sense of machismo, or any kind of testosterone fueled pissing contest. I say manhood in the sense of being a fully-grown human being, responsible and accountable for my actions and choices. To tell you the truth, I have never felt closer to being a real man. If I fail, you will see me fail, and I will have failed myself. And it will eat at me. And I will be ashamed.

But I will not fail. I will be 100% nicotine free Dec. 6th.

Patch day 3 over.

[chewie]

CitySpitter -

I'm a tad bit late to this party but just wanted to pop in and say congrats on a great decision to quit (eventually).

While I'm with the majority of folks here and think you should drop the patch today and start nic free, I can certainly appreciate and respect the plan that you've put in place.

I'll leave you with two things... one request and one link.

First, the request. December 6th is your stated quit date. That's actually coming up rather quickly here. All I ask is that you stick with it. Personally I set quit dates for YEARS before I managed to make one stick. So no matter what happens on the 6th - you wake up sick, your kid's sick, your wife wants a divorce, you lose your job, etc... make it stick. Cause I can GUARANTEE you that something will come up on the 6th so that it's not the "perfect" day to quit. Unfortunately, there's NEVER going to be a "perfect" day to quit. Personally I'd choose today, but the 6th is fine by me... just stick to it.

Secondly, here's some research I did a while back about NRT. I'm sure that you've done this type of research prior to going on and that you know most if not off but check it out if for nothing more than your information. http://blog.killthecan.org/?p=264

Glad to hear that you're using this section of the site... can't wait to see you on the 6th!

chewie

[tarpon17]

Thank you all for the words of encouragement. It seems that everyone is against the patch, but I am going to stick with it. I don't mean to simply ignore the advice of seasoned veterans, but I feel I have set myself up for success.

I am approaching my situation from a logical, scientific standpoint. I am addicted in two ways: chemically and psychologically. I begin with quitting psychologically. I will break my habit of having a dip in my mouth, or feeling that I need something extra (or at least replace it with seeds or gum). While I may still get psychological urges, by the time I quit chemically, they will be lessened.

I will quit chemically when my patches run out. Dip was fun, patches are not. There is no pleasure or joy in them, simply the non-denial of chemicals which my body wants. I know I am still my body's bitch at this point, and that is not a good place to be.

I fully realize I have not Quit (with a capital "Q") until I am 100% nicotine free. So perhaps we can agree that I haven't quit yet, but I have planned my quit date. December 6th will be my first day with no patch.

Until then, since I can't post in Roll Call, I will post here each night before I go to bed. I promise to post--whether I fail or not. Having everyone tell me to get off the patch has given me a sort of challenge to prove the patch can work I suppose.

I also promise my posts will be shorter eventually. 'winker'

P.S. I'm curious as to whether those who tried the patch did the 3-step system, and whether they relapsed during the patch system or after making it all the way through.

Wow, you got a long way to go. Seems really inefficient. If you dropped the patch today, you'd be 27 days nic free by dec 6. Almost a month. I won't judge you for your plan either, but I'd rather be nic free by Dec 6. Just me though. I wouldn't come in boasting either, just come by in a month and let us know when you're with us.

tarp

[RAZD611]

Patch day 2 is over. Nothing to brag about compared to the real quitters, but I'm still here.

GREAT Now, when you throw the fucking patches in the trash, please post DAY 1.

[Skoal Monster]

oooooooohhh I love science too, So lets quit scientifically, shall we?

Study after study after study- has proven that NRT ( nicotine replacement therapy)is ineffective . Not only that it has NEVER BEEN RECOMMENDED for quitting oral tobacco, or even studied by big pharm for this purpose.

YOur odds of success are actually less using the patch than they are cold turkey.

Check out the link below to Whyquit, which is a quit smoking site full of solid info about nicotine.

Your making it sooooo much harder on yourself,

http://whyquit.com/pr/110210.html

[GlennFtheKodiak]

CS:

there have been many before you that have taken offense to the advise given here in regards to NRTs.

Yes I would like to see you go cold turkey. Yes I think NRTs only prolong the addiction to nicotine.

yes, I was fooled too into believing I needed the gum when i first came here and immediately went cold turkey after I was advised better.

however, i appreciate and respect your decision to remain on the patch and even more so that you understand "our" rules about not posting role. the respect you have shown for this site is appreciated.

i do think you should reconsider this. it will suck ass, and trust me the nic you are receiving through the patch is more than you realize. i became violently ill when i got off the gum even though i was only using it sporadically.

still, 590 days later here i am nicotine free. i wish the same for you.

[redyota]

Thank you all for the words of encouragement. It seems that everyone is against the patch, but I am going to stick with it. I don't mean to simply ignore the advice of seasoned veterans, but I feel I have set myself up for success.

I am approaching my situation from a logical, scientific standpoint. I am addicted in two ways: chemically and psychologically. I begin with quitting psychologically. I will break my habit of having a dip in my mouth, or feeling that I need something extra (or at least replace it with seeds or gum). While I may still get psychological urges, by the time I quit chemically, they will be lessened.

I will quit chemically when my patches run out. Dip was fun, patches are not. There is no pleasure or joy in them, simply the non-denial of chemicals which my body wants. I know I am still my body's bitch at this point, and that is not a good place to be.

I fully realize I have not Quit (with a capital "Q") until I am 100% nicotine free. So perhaps we can agree that I haven't quit yet, but I have planned my quit date. December 6th will be my first day with no patch.

Until then, since I can't post in Roll Call, I will post here each night before I go to bed. I promise to post--whether I fail or not. Having everyone tell me to get off the patch has given me a sort of challenge to prove the patch can work I suppose.

I also promise my posts will be shorter eventually. 'winker'

P.S. I'm curious as to whether those who tried the patch did the 3-step system, and whether they relapsed during the patch system or after making it all the way through.

Addict justifications......

"You guys are right, but the rules don't apply to me."
"You people made this mistake, but it isn't really a mistake, I can handle it."
".....but my situation is different."
"I must handle this my own way....."
"It'll be too much to deal with at once, this way sets me up for success."

Let me give a you a hint as to why everybody here is against the patch, gum, etc....

It's not because many of haven't tried it, it's because it didn't and doesn't work.

Most of us that did try it were quickly convinced that it wouldn't work, gave it up, and are here to post about our quits days, months, and years later.

Those who weren't convinced, and continued to use the NRTs, are no longer here because they failed, leaving no one to side with you.

This leaves you a choice, decide to be successful, and quit the patch now, or continue down this path of futility towards failure.

I'd bet you that if you keep doing this "your way" that you will not make your Dec 6th quit date, but you wouldn't even be around to pay up.

Of course, if you make the change and do it our way, the right way, then we both can win.

[CitySpitter]

Patch day 2 is over. Nothing to brag about compared to the real quitters, but I'm still here.

[minuteofangle]

I dipped for 24 years....I tried to quit once, 166 days ago....you are only prolonging the misery....its like a band aid, rip it off fast and get it over with. why pull slowly and painfully? How ever you decide, I wish you well.

MOA

[DeezNutzz]

I see my quit completly different, however who am I to Judge. Knock yourself out and see ya Dec. 6th, When you post with the big boys!