Hello group members;
This is my first time to be at this site. I got a Rx of Chantix and will start tomorrow with quit date on the 13th.
My name is Carol and I live in San Francisco. I am 67 and have smoked since I was 15. This could really be a problem, time will tell but trying to go into this with a good attitude. I am disabled and it leaves me with chronic pain. I mostly stay home at the computer a lot and smoking more than ever, of course a lot of them just burn up. I would say smoking about three packs a day. My in-home support is Chinese and she started buying my cigarettes in Chinatown. They are way cheaper there and they are legal cigs although I have heard that you can buy illegal ones there but I want to have nothing to do with that.
My insurance did not cover Chantix then I got a letter saying that they will give me a one momth's supply even though I was turned down and I can have my doctor fill out a form. I hope I will be able to get more but at this point I do not know. I try to tell myself that if I get a good start with the Chantix and I do not get more maybe I can use the patch and still be successful.
Looking forward to meeting you and hearing your stories.
carol
Do let us know how its going & all my strengths.
Take care of you.
April
I start Chantix monday. I have you in my prayers.
I started chantix around June of 2010.My fist week I smoked regular,My second week I was down to 1 maybe 2 cigarette's a day,My third week I think I maybe smoked 1 cigarette,By the fourth week I was disgusted by the thought,smell,everything about them made me want to hurl and still to this day Jan 15 2011 I have not had 1 cigarette and they still make me want to hurl. You never know how badly they make you smell, How yellow they make your teeth, Or how bad they are for you until you have quit I suggest chantix to anyone who I hear say they want or wish to quit. Good luck to all of you I truely hope it work's as well for you as it did me.
Hello Everyone: this is my second time on Chantix and looking back I realize that I forced myself to continue to smoke the first time. . . .what an addict! I'm doing much better this second time around. My quit date was May 30, 2011 and although I have had a few slip ups I feel much better regarding my resolve. I'm 48, have smoked 35 years and am just sick of the control cigarettes have had over me.
I pray all of you have success in this. . . . .
Wendy
C'mon Just-me, Miranda and Grendy! You guys can do it! I did. I smoked for more than 30 years, 1/2 pack a day. I am smoke free for four days now. I am very determined to be a non-smoker. No real negative reactions, just a metallic taste in my mouth. Chantix worked for me so far. Good luck you guys! ChanceSD, San Diego, CA
HI Carole I sure am rutting for you. I am 54 and been smoking for 30 years past. I have tried chamtix in the past and quit,but one big stress put the **** back in my mouth darn,but reading your letter makes me want another rx. good luck to you great courage and strenght. bye Monique from Canada
I hope you are ready to quit. Chantix is a very effective drug for most. But I think too many think CHANTIX is a "MAGIC PILL" that will wash away the cigarette habit with no other effort- *Comit to the quit- Chantix can HELP you quit smoking, but YOU do need to to be READY, COMMITTED and DETERMINED TO QUIT SMOKING. The cigarettes are not buying themselves... There is much work to be done BEFORE and WHILE you are taking the little blue pills.
I never thought I'd be a non-smoker. I'm almost a month cigarette free using Chantix as prescribed. I didn't cheat or fall off of any wagon. I was very determined to quit. I got TIRED ENOUGH of being embarrassed that I was a smoker. Smoking costs a boatload of money and taxes on cigarettes will be raised to ridiculous amounts soon enough. Let's not talk about the HEALTH CONCERNS, we are made fully aware of the issues there on a daily basis.
In preparation try some of these tips before you begin your quit, even if you are trying the patch, gum, or Zyban (wellbutrin, yes I have tried a few of these methods and they didn't work for me) plus back then, I wasn't ready to quit either.
1. Reduce your smoking to half the average amount, so if you smoke 1 pack per day, reduce that to 1/2 pack per day, and change the brand you smoke to a brand or type of cigarette that you dislike, go menthol if you smoke regular cigarettes.
2. Stop smoking in certain places and at particular times. example, stop smoking in the house, car, or when going on basic errands leave your cigarettes behind.
3. Increase the time BEFORE these cigarettes- First ciggy in the morning- and the ones after you eat. try 15 mins. then go for 30 then 45 mins before each of these cigarettes. Crank that up to an hour or more.
4. Make healthier choices at mealtimes. ( I lost 15 lbs. prior to starting the chantix, figuring I would gain a few... I have gained 2 lbs. in my three weeks of living as a non-smoker.)
It's worth a few go-rounds with your insurance company to get them to cover the Chantix. Look at Costco Pharmacy there's a slight discount and there's an online $ off coupon on Chantix.com as well. Think of all the money spent on cigarettes if you quit buying them and got the chantix, you will be ahead of the game for sure.
I am smoke free since May 2nd, with no major side-effects or huge negatives. No upset stomach, Metallic taste in the mouth was strange, not terribly negative. No night mares, I always had silly dreams anyways.
Thanks Ann for the positive votes of support!
Cheers All,
Chance
San Diego, CA
Chance, excellent information, thank you.
April (from San Diego)