Chantix Day 14 - Quit Day 7

Had my first Chantix dream last night! OMG!!! Not only was it vivid, it was truly bizarre! Not scary bizarre, just weird and crazy bizarre. Actually, parts of it were kind of funny, just thinking about it now and I'm laughing my azz off! For the most part it was about normal everyday stuff... what made it so weird was who was in it. Of course this being a public forum, I can't name names, so I won't go there.

I will mention the doggy doo...yes, doggy doo, and I'm not even a pet owner. Anyway, long story short, there was this big pile of perfectly symmetrical doggy doo on the ground and huge crowds had gathered to look at it! Somebody grabbed my hand and pulled me to the front of the crowd to get a closer look...ok, I can't even type this with a straight face, so I'm going to stop. Wonder what the heck THAT means? My first Chantix dream and it's about doggy doo? LOL!!! And get this...that wasn't even the most bizarre part of the dream!!! Too crazy!

Chantix Day 13 - Quit Day 6

Too tired to type tonight, so I've copied & pasted most of my comments that I posted earlier today on Stan's blog:

As for blanking...yes, I'm going through that too! Until I read this, I wasn't aware that I was doing it (didn't even know the term blanking until now). But yes, I have noticed that I'm forgetting stuff, now granted I've always been forgetful my whole life, so I didn't pick up on it...but, sitting here now and thinking about it, it DID suddenly get worse in the last couple of weeks - since I've been on Chantix.

On that same note, I'm also having trouble focusing...nothing serious, because again, I've always been like that...a Type A personality, so much going on in my brain that it's hard to do just one thing. For example, I'll start one task and in the middle of doing it, I'll think of something else I need to do, so I drop the first task and start on the second one! Then I'll think to myself, hey, you're supposed to be doing so-and-so(whatever the first task was)! Again, now that I think about it, that behavior has gotten worse too (in the two weeks I've been on Chantix). It's like my brain is always "ON" at top speed! And while that is normal for me, it is more extreme now...like my brain is not just On, but on overdrive!!!

I guess this would qualify as my first "negative" comment about Chantix. Those that follow my other blog know how much i love my little blue pill and its magical powers! And, really imho, this side-effect is not a negative...it hasn't changed my personality, it's only made it more "out there" and, while exhausting at times, I can handle it...what's the worst that can happen? My brain might overheat and explode!! :-) At the end of the day when I'm still a NON-SMOKER, it's all worth it!

Chantix Day 12 - Quit Day 5

Still doing great!! 5 days without cigarettes and NO desire to smoke. Felt kind of blah today...I don't think it was the Chantix, I think it was just the Wed. "hump-day" blues at work or maybe just the work blues in general. Oh well, tomorrow is another day...another SMOKE FREE DAY!!! :-)

Chantix Day 11 - Quit Day 4

Still doing great, no cravings or urges to smoke, but there was a moment today when I thought about having a cigarette! Oh, no!!! Where did that come from?

I had just left work, after a particularly aggravating day...I was walking to my car and thinking about how happy I was to get the hell out of there! All of a sudden, I thought: I can not wait to get home and have a cigarette! (I bought a new vehicle a few weeks before I quit and I promised myself I would never smoke in it and stink it up like I did my old one). Luckily for me when I was smoker, it's only a 5 minute drive between work & home...so those last couple of weeks as a smoker, I managed to make it home every day before having my first "after work" smoke. I have never smoked in my new car and I never will. It's still clean and fresh smelling!

Anyway, the thought went away as quickly as it came and I survived the moment!! :-)

Chantix Day 10 - Quit Day 3

The little blue pill is still working its magic! I could copy and paste yesterday's post here, because I would say the same thing about today...another great NON-SMOKING day!!! The only thing I would add about today is that I had some mild bloating and gas when I first woke up, but that went away after about 15 minutes. Other than that, no more side-effects to report! And most importantly, I had NO cravings or desire to smoke! Wow! This is so easy (so far), it is blowing my mind!

It's not often that I'm at a loss for words, but I'm in such awe of this drug, that I can't help but to keep repeating myself, so, here I go again:

This is almost too good to be true!!!!!!! :-)

Chantix Day 9 - Quit Day 2

Another great day!! No cravings, no nausea, no drowsiness, no side-effects whatsoever. I still get that mellow buzz for a couple of hours after each does, but as I've said before, that's not necessarily a bad thing! :-) I have never been so calm and relaxed in my life...little things that use to set me off don't even bother me now. AMAZING!! I'm sure my husband is wondering where his "real" wife is, but at the same time I'm sure he's enjoying the peace and quiet! lol

Chantix Day 8 - Quit Day 1

Short post...I've been so busy today, I almost forgot to post on this most important day!

It's been almost 24 hours since I had a cigarette and I feel great! I have not had any cravings or any of those awful withdrawal symptoms. Also, no nausea or drowsiness today (actually, that nice mellow buzz is back :-) probably just temporary while my body adjusts to the new 2mg/day dose. Anyway, this has been an excellent day...almost too good to be true. I've had other quits and the first day never felt like this! Ok, I know Chantix is not a magic pill, but so far it's looking pretty magical to me.

Day 7

Another great day... two days in a row without nausea!! Nice! Still feeling very tired, but it's nothing I can't handle and hopefully it will pass too. Tomorrow is my Quit Day! Today is my last day as a smoker. Before I go to bed tonight, I will crush what's left in my pack of cigarettes and run water over it before I toss it in the trash. I will never buy another pack of cigarettes!

I was going to post my Quit Day plan, but at this point, it's not "ready". All I have are several pieces of paper with quick notes jotted on them at various times throughout the week. I was going to compile them all into a meaningful list, but I'm so tired and so HOT I can barely see straight. The main points of my plan are simple: avoid all smokers, keep busy, and if I get the urge to smoke, remind myself that SMOKING KILLS!! I have more specific plans, but those three points are the gist of my plan. I even printed out "smoking kill" posters to put on my bathroom mirror and on my refrigerator.

Anyway, came in this evening to an extremely hot house. Ok picture this: I'm in SC, daytime temps have been in triple digits for 2-3 weeks now, not sure I've lost track! And it hasn't rained in over a month! Right now, it's 10:45PM and it's still 75 degrees outside! Even worse, the thermostat in my house reads 90 degrees at this moment. Yep, 90 degrees INSIDE the house!! The a/c is obviously not working...hubby is looking at it now, heard him say something about frozen coils or something. Doesn't sound good. Anyway, I'm about to take my pm dose and TRY to get some sleep! Funny! I'm hot and very miserable, but I'm not freaking out! I'm still a smoker, until I go to bed, but you know what? I don't even crave a cigarette right now! Wow! That is truly amazing! :-)

Before I sign off, I would like to share my "Goodbye to Cigarettes" letter. Those of you who are doing the Chantix GetQuit Support Plan know what I'm talking about. I wrote the other day on my afternoon break while smoking a cigarette (how appropriate, ugh!). Here it is:

Dear Cigarettes,

Smoking kills! That makes you a murderer and I don't want to hang out with with a murderer. It is time for us to part ways. Wish I could say I'll miss you, but I will not! We've been together for so long, it will be hard hot having you around, but I WILL manage without you! Most importantly, I will live a healthier and longer life without you. So, cigarettes, goodbye and good riddance - I don't want you anymore!

Day 6

Today was another good day. NO NAUSEA!!! Yaaay!!! I did feel drowsy most of the day...and it was not that nice mellow buzz I had earlier in the week :-( Now, I'm feeling kind of drained and tired, like I don't have as much energy as I used to have (like back on Sunday when I had so much energy that I hand-washed my Jeep!). I figure it's my body adjusting to the double dose I started on day 4 (Tuesday). Anyway, it wasn't so bad that I couldn't function...ok, so at one point, I DID want to climb up on my desk and lay down for a quick nap, but I don't think my boss would have approved! lol

I was going to post my Q-day plan tonight (just a list of stuff to do on Saturday to keep me busy). But, I'm sooo tired, I'm going to take my p.m. dose and call it a night. I'll post my list tomorrow.

Day 5

Today was a good day. NO NAUSEA!!! I changed my routine a bit from yesterday (when I had the worse nausea I've had so far). I ate something earlier in the morning...had a strawberry Pop-Tart with my coffee around 8:30am (ok, not the most nutritious breakfast, but it's better than what I usually have, which is nothing!). Took my Chantix at 10am with a full glass of water. Had some yogurt immediately after taking the pill...it seemed to help to have something already in my stomach, instead of eating for the first time when I take the pill. No proof, just a thought - because I honestly think there is no rhyme or reason as to when the nausea hits, it just comes and goes at will. As Maggie said in her blog entry Nausea Revisited, the nausea is "First really bad, then not bad at all, then suddenly it came back, then left, and now it's become all about timing and meal size." I definitely agree!

Last night (day 4, after my first a.m. & p.m. dose) I had trouble falling asleep...and that's got to be the Chantix, because I usually fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow! When I woke up this morning I felt bloated and gaseous, but that passed before I even left for work. So, all in all, after yesterday's severe nausea passed, my days 4 & 5 went very well! Which reminds me, I haven't taken my p.m. pill yet...better go do that now. Goodnight and continued success to everyone!

Day 4

OK, had my first case of real nausea today!!! I did everything the same as yesterday and the first couple of hours were the same (got my Chantix buzz and all was good), but then around 1pm, I started feeling really nauseous at my desk, felt like I was going to throw up! I wasn't planning to go home for lunch, but change of plans, I came home for lunch. I had some ginger ale and popcorn (for its saltiness ). Not much of a meal and, trust me, I was VERY hungry, but I was scared to eat...didn't want it coming back up! Anyway, earlier today, I had read about sucking on peppermints to fight off nausea...I didn't think it would work, but I felt so bad at that point, I figured it couldn't hurt. Wow! It actually seemed to work, after sucking on a peppermint, I started feeling better after about 20 minutes. Went back to work and even work an hour over!

Took my 1st p.m. dose about an hour or ago after dinner. Feeling good, so far, though I do feel more tired than usual. O well, these side-effects are only temporary, they will eventually pass, where the effects of smoking do not pass, they eventually kill you! Today's nausea freaked me out, had me doubting if I can go through this for 12 weeks. Well, the answer to that is YES! The alternative is to continue smoking, and for me, THAT IS NOT AN OPTION!

Day 3

Today was the first day I've been to work since starting Chantix. I was concerned about the nausea and the buzz that I've been feeling...after all, there's no nice comfy couch for me to plop down on until the feelings pass, like I can do at home!

Started my workday as usual, running late! Had my normal workday breakfast: coffee and a cigarette. On my 10am break, I had some yogurt, took my Chantix 15 minutes later with a full glass of water. Munched on fresh strawberries and drank water until lunch. I kept waiting for the nausea to hit, but it never did! This was my first day with NO nausea! Mine is pretty mild anyway (so far), but today, I didn't even have a mild case...none, zip, zero! I did get that buzzed feeling, but as I've said earlier, it's not bad at all, actually it's kind of nice and mellow...I think it made me more productive! Anyway, it passed after a couple of hours and since then, I've felt fine all day! Of course, this could just be the calm before the storm, tomorrow is day 4...the day I double my dose. Not sure what to expect, guess I’ll find out soon enough!

Day 2

Feeling good today...really, really good! Not sure if it's the Chantix, but I have more energy than I've had in a long time, so much so that I'm going to hand-wash my Jeep after dinner! I can't remember the last time I washed my own vehicle...I usually pay $20 to a local car wash. Anyway...

I took my second pill this morning. I felt a little dizzy/buzzed for a few hours...nothing major, just a drowsy/mellow feeling that made me want to veg out on the couch all day. I also had a mild case of nausea... actually, mild discomfort is a more accurate description. That could've been because I didn't eat a big breakfast like I did yesterday...I only had a biscuit, OJ, and a glass of water. I'm not a breakfast eater, especially during the work week...this is a concern of mine, because I need to eat when I take the my Chantix pill. My plan is to take my morning dose on my 10am break at work (that's when I usually eat for the first time of the day).

Anyway, the discomfort and the dizziness passed after a few hours and I drove to the mall to do some shopping. Life is good!! :-)

Day 1

Picked up my CHANTIX™ starter pack prescription yesterday. It came in a box with 4 separate boxes/cards inside...a starting week card (11 pills) and 3 continuing week cards (14 pills per card). The starter pack is a month's worth of pills. For the first 3 days, you're supposed to take one pill in the morning.

After a nice big breakfast, I took my first dose at 11am (with a full glass of water) So far, so good!! None of the nausea that some users have described. A couple of hours later, I did feel a little drowsy, but nothing serious to where I couldn't function or even drive - the drowsiness might have nothing at all to do with the CHANTIX™ and I only mention it because this is a journal and I am recording my feelings...this is just my first day, so only time will tell if the drowsiness was a side-effect of the drug.

While on CHANTIX™, you continue to smoke while you take the drug for the first week. The goal is to stop on (or before, if you're ready) Day 8. My quit date is next Saturday, August 25, though it would be nice if feel ready to quit before then! Either way, I am committed to NOT SMOKING a week from today! I can do this and I WILL!!!!