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Nicotine Patch: Long-Term Reward System

by Dr. Robert Rawding

Springfield, Ohio
United States

Both my wife and I used Nicoderm patches. I smoked for 35 years, and, before I quit, I smoked 3 to 3 1/2 packs a day of Camels or Pall Mall non-filters. My wife, also a long term smoker, was smoking 4 packs a day. We both quit at the same time, October 22, 1994. We had the last of our cigarettes together, broke then threw away every ashtray in the house, and got rid of every lighter and every book of matches. Just before bed we both put on the patch. The next morning? Amazing. No craving. The hacking cough subsided in about two weeks and the wheezing subsided almost immediately. I wore a 21 mg patch for about 5 days, switched to the 14 mg patch for about a week, then wore the 7 mg patch for 4 more days. There was some nicotine nausea and abdominal discomfort for about 2 weeks after that. However, we began to taste our food again!! My wife stayed on the patches for about 2 weeks longer than me. It's now been 5 years and 5 mos. I told my wife that if I were to ever go back to smoking, just shoot me!! We drank lots of clear fruit juices. Celery sticks, carrot sticks, and lolipops were all great to help "distract" us. We also avoided smoking areas and did NOT frequent our usual restaurants and pubs for a while after quitting. We do allow smoking in our home but in an isolated room. But you will NOT catch me addicted again, not at $30 a carton! WIth the money we save, we now go to Las Vegas every year. So set yourself up with a long-term reward system too. Now when we get to smoky areas we can really smell the offensive residue left in clothes and furniture. We personally know of at least a dozen friends and acquaintances who are now prematurely dead from lung cancer. WE DO NOT PREACH anti-smoking, but just say to smokers, "Is it really worth it?" We said, "Hell no!"