Weeeeeeeeell.......

I have done myself a disservice. I started with the 21mg patch. The box said if you smoke 10+ cigs a day that's the one you should have. Problem is I wasn't even getting 21mg of nicotine a day at my heaviest smoking point. 

You see different brands have different levels of nicotine in the cigarette. Kings, Lights, Menthol also play a factor in how many mgs you get out of each cig.

Long story short, I was more jittery, irritable, and clock watching on the patch and it just didn't make sense til I did some research and found out I was pumping way more nicotine into my body than I needed. It got to the point that I set the timer back to 1:30 where I was comfortable.

I stopped the patch on Saturday and it's been a lot smoother. The timer is back at 1:40 and tomorrow it'll go up to 2 hours. Now I hardly look at the timer before it goes off. I'm no longer jittery or agitated.

I did miss my quit date, but I'm still truckin' along. Jase and I talked it over and decided it was really for the best. Slow, steady, permanent. That's the real goal. I'm not even setting a new quit date. I am fairly certain I will just not buy anymore when my pack runs out.

I was reading a quit guide today and this part had me saying "EXACTLY"!

If you find a program that allows you to keep smoking while you are learning how to quit, you will have more of a chance of quitting calmly, comfortably and permanently. You need to be ready and prepared before you actually stop smoking so you don't feel like you lost your best friend or got hit by a freight train when you finally do stop smoking.

This is the info I found on nicotine dosages.
You may be on too high of a mg. dosage of nicotine patch. Contrary to what the patch manufacturers or doctors tell you, you need to look up the nicotine level of the cigarettes that you were smoking to know what level of patch you need to be on.

Nicotine makes your heart-rate beat 10,000 more beats a day and stresses out the heart.
There are 3 strengths of nicotine patches
21 mg
14 mg
7 mg

The patch manufacturers and doctors will ask how many packs do you smoke a day and then if you smoke a pack a day they will put you on the 21 mg patch.

They say if you smoke 1/2 pack a day they will put you on the 14 mg patch.

Many times people can't even sleep because the nicotine level is way too high.

To make sure that you are getting the right amount of nicotine if you are going to use a patch, look at a nicotine chart.

It depends on the nicotine level, not on how "many" they smoke.

Now I am going to list the symptoms I've been experiencing thus far.

Gas or flatulence- who knew?! I was full of hot air after all!

Constipation - This may last for several weeks. Cigarettes used to act like a diuretic and also like a laxative. Holy crap! Actually, not to crap! This one is the worst!

Swelling/Bloating/Tight Waistbands - This is due to fluid retention. Drink a lot of water and cut down on sodium. People tend to gain 3 to 7 pounds of temporary water weight when they quit smoking cold turkey. I am HUGE! Can someone send those waistband extenders?

Sinus Congestion - This is caused by a clearing out of the sinuses. It is almost as if (for a short period of time) someone turns on a little water hose in your head. This symptom may last up to 2 months. Fun!!!!

Cough, Throat Clearing

Hoarseness - This is also due to the fact that smokers are not "smoking" the soft tissues in the throat and the new non-smoker is getting some tender "baby" tissue almost like when a baby is teething. Basically, the tissue in the throat is regenerating. This may last several months.

Vivid Dreams- Again, fun!

FATIGUE, SLEEPINESS, DROWSINESS, AND DON'T GIVE A RIP! When you are not getting that punch of nicotine, you get tired, sleepy and lethargic.

And we're off!

My timer is now at 1 hour 40 minutes and the hacking, nose dripping, crud is upon me. Weeeeeeeee! I can't tell how many cigs I am at per day because my awake time per day varies. I know it's half a pack or less.

I can tell you I've only had 1 coke in a week. That coke tore my stomach up so I don't plan on drinking anymore for quite some time. The horrid nightly heartburn that would back up into my ears is gone as is the constant IBS type symptoms. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

Anatomy of a Quitter.

 

I'm such a badass.

Assorted Suckers. 

Dum Dums, Blow Pops, Tootsie Pops, Heart Shaped Suckers.

Countdown Timer

Rearing it's ugly head.

Bitchiness.

I've upped the timer and Super Bitch has made herself known. This is not a drill! This is the real thing, people! She has the uncanny ability to blow shit up and bite the heads off of mere mortals.

Super Bitch, Super Bitch! She's Super Bitchy!!!!

 I think I have finally started to lower the nicotine in my body because it's freaking the fuck out. With the patch on the nicotine lvl was staying pretty lvl but now that my smoking has greatly decreased it's figured out what I am trying to do. IT AIN'T HAPPY.

This is the part I dread. I pride myself on being a super nice person but not now. What scares me is that this is the way I might actually behave the rest of my life.
If it is I'd rather live life as a nice, loving, smoker than die a mean old bitch.

This is so not me.

Now that she has shown up I am rethinking my quit date. I want to take this slow and easy and not risk going too fast. I feel if I go too fast the fear of Super Bitch will send me back to the pack like it did before.  If I feel I am ready on Feb. 14th then I will quit and not look back. If I am not ready I will set another date and keep working towards that goal.

I will not feel guilty for it. I will not allow The Voice to use it against me. I will do this in the most comfortable way possible so I can ensure success.

Jase is even offering to take me to the doctor to see if I can get something to steady my nerves and mellow my mood. Maybe I will try Chantix  again since I've weaned myself so far down.

I'm down to half a pack of cigs (10 cigs) and half of a soda a day.

What's the point of drinking water if you just pee 5 mins later?