Day 7 of Chantix

[jonzr]

Ten days of non-smoking for the wife and I, working on day 11.  Just got back from vacation a while ago, drove all night, 12+ hrs, brain numb, sleep soon.

No weirdness to report as the Chantix goes, though.  Thus far, two thumbs up.
 

[jonzr]

A couple more days will complete the first four weeks dosage and three weeks sans ciggies.  I think it's a little easier since the wife and I both have quit.  Well, that's my story, any little thing for further motivation.

I've found it smart to cut back on coffee - it increases the urge.  Whether that's just my own habit or there's some special thing going on between caffeine and nicotine, I don't know.  But it seems my caffeine misses the nicotine.  It's another evil ploy my brain has devised to rationalize a smoke.

But I'm onto you, brain, you bastard.

[Finnegans Wake]

A couple more days will complete the first four weeks dosage and three weeks sans ciggies.  I think it's a little easier since the wife and I both have quit.  Well, that's my story, any little thing for further motivation.

I've found it smart to cut back on coffee - it increases the urge.  Whether that's just my own habit or there's some special thing going on between caffeine and nicotine, I don't know.  But it seems my caffeine misses the nicotine.  It's another evil ploy my brain has devised to rationalize a smoke.

But I'm onto you, brain, you bastard.

Yeah, I seem to recall a coffee-nicotine connection.  Also, post-prandial and post-coital connections.  Didn't stop me from drinking coffee, or the others.  But at least temporarily, any way you can fool the brain, take away the triggers...

[LambertsFrontTeeth]

Jonzr,

Beyond the dreams and the potential for the runs, watch out for any significant symptoms of depression. In case you hadn't read, that is a more recent concern about the product. The occasional person has experienced severe depression with suicidal ideation.  If that happens, give your doctor a call.

Of course, I suspect that many going cold-turkey have experienced that depression as well, so it might not be just the medication. It could be your body missing it's old friend nicotine.

Can't be worse than an AFC championship loss at home, though, can it?

[jonzr]

Jonzr,

Beyond the dreams and the potential for the runs, watch out for any significant symptoms of depression. In case you hadn't read, that is a more recent concern about the product. The occasional person has experienced severe depression with suicidal ideation.  If that happens, give your doctor a call.

Of course, I suspect that many going cold-turkey have experienced that depression as well, so it might not be just the medication. It could be your body missing it's old friend nicotine.

None of that so far, but I appreciate the heads up.

Can't be worse than an AFC championship loss at home, though, can it?

No, it can't.

[sage]

Did 3 rounds (boxes) of Chantix and have been smoke free since April 6! I did remember my dreams more, but never had any fucked up ones, but i do know of people who have. It helped that really none of my friends or my girlfriend smoke, and only recently have i been able to be around people who do for fear of bumming one for starters. Keep up the good work my friend, it will get easier, but it took me about 3-3 1/2 months to feel confident about it. Watch out for weight gain though.....Good luck, you'll be richer when its all done with!

[jonzr]

Did 3 rounds (boxes) of Chantix and have been smoke free since April 6! I did remember my dreams more, but never had any fucked up ones, but i do know of people who have. It helped that really none of my friends or my girlfriend smoke, and only recently have i been able to be around people who do for fear of bumming one for starters. Keep up the good work my friend, it will get easier, but it took me about 3-3 1/2 months to feel confident about it. Watch out for weight gain though.....Good luck, you'll be richer when its all done with!

Congrats!

Yup, I just want to get this thing down the road a bit, 3-3 1/2 mths sounds great to me for comfort - so far I've not been around any other smokers.  Starting round 2 on Friday. 

[sage]

it will be tough. right around middle of second box i had one last fit of wanting a cigarette, but since then i've been good. fleeting cravings every now and then. i stayed away from smoking situations like bars and twhat not. it will work if you really want it to.

Did 3 rounds (boxes) of Chantix and have been smoke free since April 6! I did remember my dreams more, but never had any fucked up ones, but i do know of people who have. It helped that really none of my friends or my girlfriend smoke, and only recently have i been able to be around people who do for fear of bumming one for starters. Keep up the good work my friend, it will get easier, but it took me about 3-3 1/2 months to feel confident about it. Watch out for weight gain though.....Good luck, you'll be richer when its all done with!

Congrats!

Yup, I just want to get this thing down the road a bit, 3-3 1/2 mths sounds great to me for comfort - so far I've not been around any other smokers.  Starting round 2 on Friday. 

[jonzr]

it will work if you really want it to.

I thoroughly believe that, so it's gonna work.

[jonzr]

Finished the week 5 pack today, so today completes 4 weeks smoke free.  It's getting easier but there are still tweeks here and there.

As for Chantix side-effects, over the 5 week period, I do recall more dreams than usual.  But I've generally recalled dreaming soon after waking in the morning, so that's not unusual.  But it does seem to be a greater frequency.  The content is nothing out of the ordinary for me. 

There is one thing though, I'm not sure I ever get past the dream stage of sleep.  No matter when I awake, it seems like I was dreaming - of course, that's not unusual, that perception.  But even after getting 8 hrs I still feel sleepy sometimes.  Now I forget all the sleep stages, but I know dreaming is not the deepest one.  And I think we cycle through the stages through out the night, but if that deepest one is never in the cycle, that could explain the tiredness.

Just layman speculation.

Overall, still glad I'm using Chantix.