To think o can give up smoking with patches only ?

[pamda12]

I desperately want to give up cigarettes. I'm the type of smoker who can do without them for 8-10 hours during the day and then will have maybe ten form four to eight pm in the evening.
I have given up twice before .
Once with Allen Carrs book and the other time , I went straight to vapes. Vapes made me very chesty and generally sick. I'm back on cigs a few months. I want to go off them now as I'm worried about my heart and longevity.
Any success stories appreciated thanks.

Stop today. When you think you are craving a cigarette tell yourself you are missing them but they are no longer in your life. If you call it a craving then it makes resolving that craving by smoking a possibility. You have to treat it like a bereavement. You loved smoking but now it's gone. This mindset is the only thing that worked for me. We used cigarettes to supress feelings. When your feelings are about wanting to smoke you can't do that. You need to ride the discomfort and tell yourself you miss it but it will pass. Good luck

I gave up using only patches over 20 years ago. The very best thing I have ever done for myself without a doubt.
I doubt I would be anywhere near as fit and healthy as I am if I had carried on smoking.
I’ve also saved an absolute fortune, I don’t stink of fags anymore (yes all smokers stink but just nose blind to it) and don’t have to keep nipping outside for a fag whatever the weather.
It is actually liberating.

Yes you can do it if you can go 8-10 hours a day without one. I've quit a few times in the past cold turkey. I've stupidly started smoking again each time after a few months, one time after 4 years. This time I'm on patches and it's going well. It's definitely possible and you don't sound reliant on cigarettes if you can go such long periods without them, just need to break the habit of the 4-8pm ones.

I did it with patches 17 years ago

It's worth a try. GP surgeries can offer support too.

I’m interested in this too and have bought the patches and gum but keep putting it off. Like you OP I can go for hours without but then when I can smoke tend to have a wee run of it. I’ve quit a few times before once for over 3 years. Decided to treat myself to a smoke in a beer garden and it slowly crept back in 😡 really angry with myself for that one.
For everyone who did the patches did you have any side effects?

Yes you can! I gave up cold turkey 6 years ago and haven't touched them since. The first few weeks fucking suck, as with dropping any addiction, but it gets easier and easier as time goes on.

You can do it! Find something else to occupy you in the time you'd normally smoke. getting out of the habitual "one after dinner" "one on my lunch break" "one before bed" was what I found hardest.

@Spasisters the area itches for a little while after putting the patch on, and it does leave it red for a day. I switch the area each time and have been advised it's okay as long as there's no blistering or worser reaction.

@PepaWepa thanks. Hoping to get the guys to just go for it soon!

I did it lozenges not patches. Most important thing was the day I decided to give up I threw away everything in my house to do with smoking - including lighters (I also had tobacco, rolling papers etc). It’s the habit that got to me more than missing actual smoking if that makes sense. I changed my routine a bit and started replacing my cigarette breaks with other breaks - tea/cofffee/smal biscuit/walk/game on my phone - depending on the situation.

Good luck! It’s so wonderful and liberating once you’ve done it. I believe in you.

Yes agree with above with changing things up. I always had a coffee with a cig so I don't drink coffee anymore, only tea.

This.

Think 'I don't smoke anymore'. It's over. Don't bother with patches or vapes or gum; you need to get off the nicotine! It clears from your body in 4-5 days so just try and keep busy until the physical addiction fades. Think of yourself like an alcoholic- you cannot have even one. Not ever again. I did it 34 years ago.

I did it with the gum. Rationed it to the recommended 8 per day then tapered off adding normal gum. You’re not sat there chewing gum all day, it’s the odd chew. Fruity gums made me want more, but the minty ones much less so.

I mention this because patches never worked on me.

My DP did it just with patches. Well, sort of, he had a 4 week stay in hospital not allowed to leave his bed so he had little choice. The hospital did provide the patches then when he was home, he continued with them.

Unfortunately he did start smoking again 12 or so months later but only one or two cigarettes every 4 or 5 days at most so although it's disappointing it's not the huge number he was smoking before.

Well Mounjaro has completely killed my nicotine cravings!

My mum has successfully quit a few times using patches and something quick acting like lozenges/spray

I gave up with no patches, gum or anything. I recognise that I was lucky to be able to do so, but it shows that of course people, in general, are able to give up without patches.

Dieting is quite another matter for me... no problem giving up cigarettes or alcohol, but not food 😢.