Stop smoking before school starts?

[uglyrunt]

I can't decide if I should try and quit smoking before school starts in August. At our orientation, the instructors made it perfectly clear that

there will be no smoking during our clinicals and we better not smell like

smoke when we get there. We will be sent home if they smell smoke.

They also stated that our homework should not smell like smoke when

we turn it in. I agree with the instructors completely and I want to quit

but, it's kind of difficult to get the will power when I'm scared out of my

wits about starting school.

My doctor gave me Chantix and Wellbutrin to help me stop but, I haven't

taken any yet because I'm scared of all the horror stories from both these

meds.

Is anyone else out there going through this?

Thanks

[2winniethepooh]

I am nicotine free for 2 years already after smoking 2 packs a day for 8 years.

Also used Chantix for 6 month just to be absolutely sure that i wouldn't start again.

It was tough even with pills but i am positive not as tough as NS:chuckle

I experienced some side effects but it was well worth it in the end!

Good luck!

[CracklinRose]

Can someone tell me what side effects they experienced w/the Chantix? Thankyou

[uglyrunt]

Congratulations 2winniethepooh for quitting smoking.

I would also like to know what side effects people experienced

with Chantix and the Wellbutrin.

Thank you CracklinRose for asking.

[bmackd2]

I quit cold turkey but my hubby used meds. He first did the Wellbutrin. It worked well while he was on it. When he tapered off of it though all heck broke loose. I walked into our bedroom and he was on the bed crying. I asked him why and he said he didn't know why.

Withdrawal from the med caused him to have depression for several days. It didn't work for him anyway and he started smoking shortly after.

The Chantix worked really good for him. He hasn't smoked or taken the Chantix for several months now. He said it was the best thing he ever tried.

I hope this helps.

Smoke free for 19 days now

[2winniethepooh]

:DI've never tried Wellbutrin, but here's what i experienced with Chantex:

Nausea (really bad)

Sleep disorder (i have seen the most interesting and vivid dreams in my life!)

Gas (hated it)

tension

nervousness (shaky, difficult to concentrate)

anxiety (the only time i had to replace anything in my car was then - i hit a trash can on the side of the road accidently while driving and broke the side mirror).

Also first 3-4 months i cried almost everyday, sometimes with no apparent reason. I have read somewhere on the net that it's normal for smoking cessation - you kinda grieve through the whole process.

I did not have any suicidal thoughts or aggressive behavior (thank G-d!).

But i was a really heavy smoker (loooved to smoke!), tried to quit before many times unsuccessfully. All people are unique...

Again it was well worth everything for me. I would never quit smoking without Chantix.

I have not smoked for 2 years, still weigh 126 lbs (all gained weight was gone soon after i stopped Chantix), i feel good and smell good:D

BTW... i quit smoking under my doctors strict supervision for 6 month, so we controlled depression and shakiness and i was not alone.

Good luck to everybody who wants to quit smoking! After becoming a nurse it wouldn't hurt to be an example of healthy lifestyle;):heartbeat

[uglyrunt]

Thank you bmackd2.

I may just skip the Wellbutrin and do the Chantix.

I was going to take them together.

Congratulations to you and your husband.

[uglyrunt]

Thank you 2winniethepooh and Congratulations.

I was concerned that some people were reporting

memory loss with the Chantix. Don't need that if

I'm about to start LVN program.

[beeenieweeenie, RN]

I stopped smoking six years ago using Wellbutrin and nicotine patches. It was hard but well worth it. I have been tempted to smoke again at times, my husband is a smoker so that didn't help, however, watching my mother suffer through COPD made it easy to resist the temptation to return to smoking.

I think it's wise to stop smoking before school starts. Our clinical instructors said the same thing yours did, and I watch the smokers suffer daily because of it, and I'm so thankful that I'm no longer one of them.

[EMTBrooks]

I am also in the same shoes. I start school in August and we are not allowed to smoke during clinicals. I want to quit before school starts but so far have not had much success. I tried Chantix and quit for 2 years before starting back during a very stressful time. Now whenever I try to take Chantix it makes me sick and VERY moody. I have tried quiting 2/3 times this summer and after about the 3rd day I always start back. But I am not giving up and I am determined that one way or another I will succeed. I wish you be best of luck quitting and if you ever need someone to talk to while trying feel free to PM me.

[uglyrunt]

Thank you beeenieweeenie.

Congratulations to you for quitting.

[uglyrunt]

Thanks for the support, EMTBrooks.

Are you going to try Chantix again?

I have faith that we will both quit.

We are both beginning a new journey in our lives

and that will help us to conquer the smoking habit.

[EMTBrooks]

I wish that I could stomach taking Chantix again. It worked great the first time, never even knew I was taking it. I wish I never would have started back after 2 years. I have tried taking it twice this summer and by the time the 3rd day roles around I am just SO sick that I cannot stand it. I tried Wellbutrin but it did nothing. I think chantix is a great medication though for those who can tolerate it.