Any tips on days 3-7 without a cigarette? I quit 2 days ago.

I quit 2 days ago. Am using patches & Chantix per my doctor's instructions. My favorite item so far is my fabulous plastic fake cigarette. Drags just like a real one, only I end up with a relaxing deep breath of regular air. So I get the "hit" of the deep breath.

Hi Jane. Congrats on taking the step to quit. I think you are doing everything right. I also tried to keep myself busy with activities like exercise...walking, running. It really helped in the first couple of weeks.

Good luck!

I'm curious about withdrawal in relation to length of time as a smoker, amount smoked, etc. I have smoked for the past 18 months, peaking at a pack a day, Marlboro Lights.

Anyone have any info on this?

I'm 52 hours now without a cigarette. Have felt terrible for two days...VERY tired, coughing, foggy headed...almost like having a cold, but not. Have been taking hot baths, lots of naps, drinking alot of water, baking breads... but I am feeling better than yesterday, and hope by tomorrow to have passed through the worst of the physical withdrawal.

I am on day 3 of quitting.. im not using any nicotine patches or anything. I feel so much better today then i did on day 1 and 2. Monday i was a hot mess. I wore sweat pants to work and slippers..lol.. then i drank my bosses coffee...but shes cool..she found it funny. i tend to feel bad in the morning when i get up and when im driving... I found the addiction isn't really an addiction its a habit. and anyone can quit if they put their mind to it. I have been smoking for over 20 yrs. and im doing it. Good luck to everyone.

Jane, you need get to through the first three or so week’s worth of chemical withdrawal. During this time you can expect to feel horrible, especially for the first few days, as your body does some major detoxifying of itself. Your body then needs to let go of the emotional and social aspects of smoking. Studies show these emotional and social cues to smoking are strong, even in people who have never smoked before. In fact, according to this research you are twice as likely to crave a cigarette after seeing someone else smoke, whether it occurs in real life, or on a TV screen. This might be why you like your little fake cigarette so much.

I want to be sure you are not using an e-cig. The FDA in the US has, in the past, stopped sales of these products. While nicotine inhalers are approved to treat smoking addiction and are similar to the patch and nicotine gum, the e-cigarette has not been approved for this purpose. In fact, the safety of the liquid nicotine in the cartridges has come into question, some studies showing leaky cartridges and hazardous chemicals in these cartridges. The fact is the concentrated liquid nicotine used to fill these cartridges can kill a small child if it comes in contact with their skin.

Please keep on a look out for side effects of Chantix as well. Numerous people have described horrible nightmares and my own brother-in-law got a rash, which is said to be potentially lethal, from using Chantix. By all means tell your doctor the minute and new symptoms arise from using this drug. Thanks for posting!