Good luck to you both. My father-in-law just had 2/3 of a lung removed due to lung cancer - and he is exceedingly lucky to be alive. When he sees someone he knows smoking now, he starts to cry. He quit 20 years ago.

I hope you stay with it, and wish you luck.

Wish you luck and strength.

Wow guys,

Thanks for the great support. I really, really, really, really, hope to never smoke again.
- The patch seems to be working ok, I am chewing up pens though. I was thinking a pacifier might help for my oral fixation.

Juan, if it gets harder, I will take your advice and go on wellbutrin. I have heard it is a pretty successful alternative to the patch. I do understand it's an anti depressant, but hey, I miss my cigs :mad: maybe I can use some :) anti depressants.

Thanks again for being not such a great enthusiast site, but such a great support group as well.

You guys are the best...
Seth

We are 100% behind you B-line. It's the best and smartest thing anyone can do and I wish you the best of luck. Stay strong!!!

Good luck Seth. Stay strong and hopefully you and the fianceé can support each other through it. My dad smoked for over 25 years, the kind of smoker who lit up upon opening his eyes each morning. He quit cold turkey and hasn't smoked since, which has been over 15 years. You can do it!

Ditto! My father in law just had his surgery two months ago. Had half his lung removed. When we all found out about 3 months ago, everyone sat around crying for hours...Worst thing I ever had to do. His 16 year old has been smoking since 13. His son(22) was so distraught after the news, he put his "fags" down right then and there, and 3 months later, hasnt even looked at one. The 16 year old has started smoking a lot more...

Its the best thing you will EVER do Im sure...Ive never smoked, and I keep asking myself why do people start in the first place? But Im sure I wouldnt understand...

Good Luck :thumbup: Stay strong Stay focused and if I can do it so can you. I quit cold turkey 2 years ago. the First few days are the hardest. Few suggestions that helped me....Lots of lollipops (helps with the habit of having something in your mouth) I heard after a while smoking is more a habitual thing. One thing that worked for a friend of mine... its gross but it worked He out a bunch of butts in a glass of water and drank it :wow: ;puke; GROSS. But all in all Good luck to you two :D

Yes, Wellbutrin (Bupropion) is a type of anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medicine but it is not a Serotonin Selective Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) like Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, or Paxil (which raises usually only your serotonin levels)

Wellbutrin raises your both your norepinephrine and dopamine levels. After you smoke, the nicotine does put a bump up on your dopamine levels. It is the raise in dopamine that is associated with the pleasure. To prevent the withdrawal effect (quit nicotine, thus a sudden drop in your dopamine level), you can use Wellbutrin (Bupropion) to prevent you from feeling the cravings of the nicotine. Usually you should have been taking the medication for about 2 weeks or so to allow the medication work before trying to get off the cigarettes or nicotine patches. Most of my patients states that after they start Wellbutrin, if they try to smoke, the cigarettes does not taste good and it smells bad and they don't even get the "buzz" from the nicotine. :wow:

Also, find out if your doctor or medical group or your health insurance plan or your work place has a "Smoking Cessation Class" or support group. Studies show that combination with a class or support group and medication, you improve the chances of smoking cessation.

Interesting tibit, there was an observation of depressed Veteren (VA) patients who were treated for depression also tend to reduce the amount of cigarettes or even quit smoking. The researcher narrowed it down to the use of Wellbutrin and there was a huge multi-center VA trial which showed that Wellbutrin did help improve the chances of smoking cessation.

Again, good luck with your smoking cessation.

BTW, try using cinnamon sticks to chew on....they taste better than pens and look better than using a pacifier.... ;)

Smart move. Keep it that way. We are all proud of you.