nicorette addiction

[yvonne55]

am a woman 54 yeras old
I considere myself smart
but wnen it comes t ... [More] o nicorette I am like an auturche head in the sand
! would like to be free of addiction codependance and stil be able to function at work
(memory energy)
I am actually on synthroid and effexor
stop smoking for 5 years but I have been addicted to nicorette gum for 4 years
I seem to think that I need them to function
like a boost of hormones...
I am menopaused since 14 years
I am worried ++ about sinds of vascular symptoms in my legs ++
hard time sleeping pins and needles ect
I feel guilty and stupid to still be addicted to at least 15 gums of 2 mg a day
How can I have support and information to be able to kick this habbit and take better care of my health



This discussion is related to SCARY EFFECT FROM NICOTINE WITHDRAW?.

[anotheroldrocker]

Thanks for the referral to that Website, I'll check it out. I hit 3 weeks today from the opiates, been a great day, best I've felt yet and I even slept great last night for the first time since I stopped. My target nicotine quit date will be July 15 (I have several obligations the first half of July and the stress of quitting would probably mean failure, so I picked a good date to start back on the patches. The patches have a recommended step down time frame, last time I pretty much doubled that, I was even cutting the smallest (7mg) in half the last week lol. But by the time I totally stopped, that first day I had really mild discomfort and the second day I was fine.

[kathyjo]

One thing at a time, one day at a time : )
I agree with you in that the patch is more effective as a means to quit and the gum just trades addictions.
You might like to visit whyquit,com and read some of the articles there. It may help you identify with the stories and bring you closer to understanding why. You can even download a free "quit" meter there and keep track of your accomplishment.

Good luck!

---
2y 6m 1w 4d 11:47 smoke-free, 20,334 cigs not smoked, $4,880.16 saved, 2m 1w 3d 14:30 life saved

[anotheroldrocker]

I just went cold turkey after years and years of opiates (pills) - 19 days clean today and doing pretty well now. I am battling one addiction at a time! But that leads to this discussion - I'm in my mid 40s and have been smoking on and off (mainly on) since my late teens. I used the patch to quit back in 1997 and stayed off nicotine/smoking successfully for 4 years. Like an idiot, was sitting on the front porch chatting with a buddy who smoked and having a few beers and asked if I could have one. Within a week I was back up to a pack a day. I decided to quit again in Dec of 2004. Decided to try the gum instead of the gradual intake method of the patches that worked well before. I've been hooked on the gum now for 5 years. To make things worse, when I started the gum, it tasted like cardboard, then they came out with all those great flavors a few years back. I prefer the Nicorette Fruit. And I chew a lot of it, like 2 at a time and probably between 10-20 pieces a day. After I get through a few months off the Vidocen type of pills, I'm going to re-tackle the nicotine addiction. I hate being addicted to anything now, just not sure I could do both at the same time. When I quit, I'm going to do the step down method with the patches - with a little will power, I know that works. I was a 2 pack a day smoker when I did it last time!

[kathyjo]

I am your age, taking synthroid and stopped taking effexor a few years back but going through the same "changes" in my life so I know what you are dealing with.

While you have quit smoking, you are still addicted to nicotine, trading one for the other and you and like many others find themselves chewing to keep the nicotine level up. I have heard many horror stories about Nicorette side effects so what you need to do now is stop. You will have to go through withdrawals, just as you would if it were smokes that you were kicking. 72 hours of physical withdrawals, not too long and if I could do it, anyone can : )
More then the physical addiction is the emotional attachment we have to it. When we are stressed we reach, when we are unhappy, we reach, when we are hungry we reach....I don't know if you chew a piece when those situations arise, but I'm going to bet it's the same.
There is an excellent website, whyquit.com and it will help you with both the physical and emotional addiction.
For your health, you should try to quit ASAP
Good luck and if you need support, we are here for you (smoking addiction forum)

[fogmussher]

Hi.... I wonder if Whey Protein would help. You may need the "Aminos" too. Im 55 and I didn't realize that, was what I was lacking, and I have felt like a new person. Give it a try and let me know. The great thing is you will feel better almost immediatly! I would go get it to night and you may feel better in the morning. It may take 3 days but I doubt it. After I used it 3 days I was craving it. It helps produce the happy chemicles that we are lacking in the brain do to poor nutrition over working, stress etc.