6 1/2 days now. I thought for a bit last night that I had gone to the patch too soon--I had a pretty bad craving. But I popped a stick of regular gum, and that alleviated it.

I thin I'm finally getting some of my mental acuity back, if my success rate on the Sudoku puzzles is any indication. (Or, it could just be that practice makes up for my diminished mental capacity. Hard to tell.)

Anyway, I'm still smoke-free after nearly a week.

Onward and upward,
airforce

Great job, friend! And by posting your cessation effort on here, that puts more pressure on yourself to be successful. Not a bad strategy.

I smoked for the better half of a year, and now I'm on my fourth week without a cigarette.

I feel better without it.

Guilty as charged! Although that's not the only reason I'm posting it--I thought by logging my experience here, it might help others when they decide to quit.

Onward and upward,
airforce

Great job another one hitting uncle obama in the pocket book.
I've been quit for 2 years now after 2.5 packs a day for the last 20+ years THANKS Chantics.
With out this pill my wife and I could not have done it they are like magic just make sure you eat a meal with them and not just toast,and then don't try to quit untill you notice your self cutting in half the amount you smoke with me it was almost 2 months but then just quit no problem.

Coming up on eight days now. Last night I ran from booking to F-24 Block (nearly a quarter mile) without getting winded. You can hardly call it a sprint, considering my old, war-torn, decrepit body. Still, that's an improvement.

I think I have the end in sight. When it comes time to trap rabbits for food while evading the horde of flesh-eating zombies looking for me, I think I'll be ready. (Heck, I'll even have enough energy to throw my Sudoku puzzle at them!)

Onward and upward,
airforce

"I think I have the end in sight" Nope! You most definitely have the end in sight my friend! Proud of you for kicking this monkey in the nuts.

Nothing in the way of heartburn, but I'm starting to see what you meant by "crazy dreams" from the patch.

Nine days gone now. I wish I could say the urge to smoke is gone, but I'd be lying.

Onward and upward,
airforce

Congratulations, hang in there!

I gave up snuff years ago and would go for months without giving it a second thought. Then I could just be around someone who was dipping and I would crave it so bad it would kill me. Took about 2 years to quit it completely.

Now I can get downwind of the stuff and it nearly makes me puke.

Well, it's coming up on ten days now. It's getting easier, but it still ain't easy.

Onward and upward,
airforce

Keep it up Airforce! You got this bronc busted. Proud of you Sir!

+1

Good job you are doing great keep at it

Hey, great news! You've beaten it now.

You can do it dude.

Yep. I'm coming up on two weeks without a smoke.

Onward and upward,
airforce

Great effort!

Are you finding that food tastes better? How about things smell better?

Congrats! You've got it beat!

I guess it's funny, but I'm really noticing bad smells more. We have an inmate in our jail who, by all accounts, hasn't taken a shower in three months. Now I can believe it.

Onward and upward,
airforce

Well, not everything is a benefit. But WTF, dont you have any fire hoses in there?

Yeah, but we aren't allowed to use them like in the old movies. We're a kinder, gentler jail.

Onward and upward,
airforce

Congrats on your accomplishment. Keep on truckin'

Let's see if I can help maybe a bit with those nasty smells...

You might try carrying a set of those "swimmer's nose-plugs" with you, and I would recommend assigning that certain inmate some good ol' time out in the 'exersize yard' during some of the stronger rain storms that might happen in the area! Oh... and absolutely NO umbrellas or raincoats, just in case there may be some lightening, ya'd hate to risk the inmate's safety.

But just in the case it may not look like rain any time too soon... certainly look into that firehose thing!
"Kinder, gentler jail" huh?... ok, that's still workable... this certain inmate just might enjoy the wonderful aroma as he helpfully scrubs out everyone else's toilets along the whole block! One good smell certainly deserves another!

IHTH

Great Job Airforce!

Michael

You might try a little VIC's vapor rub under your nose.

Actually, that was one of the easier problems to solve. I told him either he was going to take a shower right now, or he was going to spend the next 30 days in segregation (what some of the older inmates call "the hole," though it bears little resemblance to what that old punishment was).

He took a shower.

Coming up on 16 days now. I've had the 21mg patch on for 36 hours now and I'm going to try to stretch it to 48. (It's a 24-hour patch.) I figure this is as good a way as any to gradually wean myself off nicotine.

Somewhat off topic, but you really don't want to mask smells in a jail--or anywhere else, for that matter. Smells are one of our senses that warn us if anything is wrong. And in a jail, things can go wrong in a hurry.

Onward and upward,
airforce

Onward and upward,
airforce

Old movies?

They were used in The Last Castle, nevermind that it was about a military brig.

Coming up on the three-week mark now. I'm still working on weaning myself off the nicotine patch. I'm now wearing one for 72 hours instead of the recommended 24. I think I'll continue to do this until I'm finally out of them. By that time, hopefully I won't miss the nicotine too much.

Onward and upward,
airforce

Way to go Airforce! I'm proud of you kicking that smoking monkey squarely in the nuts. Keep on keepin on!

Amazing what a bit of will power can do. Kep it up man

Congrats on kicking those cancer sticks!! And I also think it was a great idea to put your experience up for all to read and hopefully give other smokers the courage and desire to kick the habit as well.

Hey AF, its been almost 3 months since the last up date. How are you doing?

Still tobacco-free, except for an occasional cigar (less than one a day). I still miss my 2 1/2 packs a day, but the extra $300 a month in my pocket definitely makes up for it.

Onward and upward,
airforce

Man first I have seen of this thread.

Good job bro, own your body and mind. I quit smoking and replaced it with wintergreen grizzly, im weak, Im an idiot, and I know better but still do it....