The time has come, so say your prayers (to the tune of midnight oils song)

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

Ah. My wife and I are doing the travel nurse thing to investigate places we would like to live. I (more than her) think we found that place in WA. Problem is, we have not been doing it long enough to put away the savings we'd want before we go into buying a home. Have to step up our savings plan if we want to get a house soon.

I was thinking, I'm spending money on a personal trainer. When I quit cold turkey (3 years str8 no smoking) before, I was exercising before I quit for about a month. Then I quit. It does help, or at least it helped me. I'd love to put down the smokes again now. It'll help the savings and I'll feel better.

Problem is, first time I quit cold turkey, I was a beast :angryfire for a month. Not sure that'll mix well with nursing. When I quit before, I was a student, no danger of losing a job over being short with people. Now I'm not sure if I can do it unless I am between assignments or something, but I'd rather not wait.

What can I do to stay compassionate? Self awareness is not enough.

[philanurse74]

I quit with nicotine gum, never looked back. I was not quite a beast, nor was I a sweetheart for a few weeks.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

I feel silly chewing gum. I dont mind others who do it, but I just dont feel right. Might be a Freudian thing, my school HATED students who chewed gum during clinicals and......made things difficult for you if you did. I never did anyway but I remember it.

I was considering patches though. Pretty much the same thing.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

The way the nicotine gum is supposed to be used is you bite it and then let it rest between your teeth and inner cheek. It's not meant to be chewed like chewing gum, so no one but you would know you had it in your mouth!

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

Ah, kind of like snuff. Hmmmm...........IDK, maybe my best bet. I think I might try it.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

worth a try anyway...

[flightnurse2b, LPN]

i just used orbit gum. i bought the family packs at sam's club. i chewed probably 3-4 packs a day.

i was a nasty nasty person for about a month. and my hands were very unsteady.

but..... i've been smoke free for a year and a month! best choice i ever made.

good luck, eriks. :)

[netglow, ASN, RN]

What can I do to stay compassionate? Self awareness is not enough.

Well, you can "fake it till you make it"....just kidding.

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

today they have patches and pills to help people quit smoking. Talk to your Dr about the latest Quit Smoking plan.

[kellyc034]

I quit using the Committ lozenges. I was crabby for a week, but after that the lozenges really helped. HOWEVER, I found it was harder to get off the damn lozenges than the cigarettes! Hubby had to take my debit card away and ration me lozenges every day until I was weaned off of them. They did work though! Good luck!

Kelly

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

i just used orbit gum. i bought the family packs at sam's club. i chewed probably 3-4 packs a day.

i was a nasty nasty person for about a month. and my hands were very unsteady.

but..... i've been smoke free for a year and a month! best choice i ever made.

good luck, eriks. :)

I love the bubblemint by Orbit. The chicklet style is especially good.

[leslie :-D]

i used the patch one time, and it helped me for 3 weeks.

i mean, it really, really helped me.

then one day, i got this uncontrollable urge to smoke and when i resumed this filthy habit, i was smoking twice as much.

my doctor has been trying to persuade me to try chantix.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stop-smoking/HA00020

leslie