Hmmm... I know I haven't written for a while. Well, check it out... I made it to week 8, WEEK EIGHT I tell you without having a smoke... unless you count that slip in will power on day 7. Well, I made it this far and now, I am FINALLY starting to think that I can actually do this, and do it for GOOD!!

Nothing much to report really... except for the following points.
1. Got off the 16mg patch and am now on the 10mg ones. I decided NOT to follow the advice on the booklet i.e. use the 16mg patch for 12 weeks, the 10mg ones for 2 weeks followed by 5mg for the last two weeks. The 16mg ones were making me sick believe it or not... I used to get a little light headed / nauseous when I first put them on in the mornings. The 10s are heaps better... and cheaper I might add. Also, the size of the patch is smaller!! I can't wait to get on the 5mg ones... they should be TINY . I've been on the 10s for 4 weeks now and am doing quite well I might add.

At the time of writing, according to the little script up above that currently states that I've saved $336.16 (1,245 ciggies not smoked) since I quit smoking, I'll like to point out that I've SPENT approximately $538 on patches!! Grrrr!!! Short term savings this is NOT!!

2. Don't believe the nicorette booklet... you canNOT swim with the patch on... why? Well, the stupid thing falls off!! This I know. I went away on one of my little island holidays in week 4. I am in the water a lot on these trips of mine. Well, there I was snorkeling to my hearts content the day I arrived and lo and behold, the plastic covering of the patch came off during my first dip. FYI, the patch has a plastic, flesh coloured covering on it. This is NOT water proof. I hate to think that a dolphin or a turtle or even a big fish might swallow it and die *sigh* . So, I went in with a flesh coloured patch, I emerged with a metallic patch on my thigh. Lovely.

Then, thinking that that was the worse of it, I went in again and the patch then started flapping in the water... I kept on pressing it down but to no avail. In the end, I just ripped it off and stuffed it into my bikini top. I didn't want any more "accidents" happening!! Grrrrr... So the lesson for the day is, "one canNOT swim with the patch on for extended periods of time". I suggest you plaster / stick it down somehow, around the edges. This I did... I plastered the patched down with band aids on the 2nd day I was there. Basically, I used 2 strips of band aids and stuck the patch down. This worked quite well actually. I didn't lose any band aids / the patch. Marine life was saved and I had the strangest looking tan line on my thigh.

3. You know, when I decided to quit smoking, I promised myself and those who smoke around me that I will NOT nag them or guilt them into quitting. I will NOT turn into one of those irritating people who lecture other about the evils of ciggies. Hehehe... the opposite has happened. Right now, I am responsible for two lives... yawp, two friends of mine have quit smoking... one totally, the other one has cut down BIG TIME! How good is that?? They have been toying around with the idea of quitting for a while but never took the leap... I "inspired" them hehehe... they basically said that if I could do it, anyone could!! How good is that? Now, I am under pressure to keep it up.

4. One of my ex boyfriends once commented that it was a pleasure to kiss me when I had quit smoking (that attempt lasted less than a week). I didn't understand what he meant until now... I mean, I always had mints on me and made sure that I had sucked on one before I sucked on his face . NOW I know what he means... mints or not, smokers have this smell in their lungs. It doesn't matter if they had a ciggie in the past hour or past 12 hours... the smell of a ciggie is in their lungs. How do I know this? Well, the BF smokes. If he has one the night before, I can smell it on his breath the next morning, even if it is 8 hours later and even if he brushed his teeth before climbing into bed. How "good" can that be for your lungs? You know about morning breath can be right? It was always something I took for granted. Anyways, I have noticed that morning breath is a LOT less extreme for a non smoker than it is for a smoker. Yawp... morning breath is somewhat "sweeter" for a non smoker, mouth wash or not .

5. Believe it or not, there have been days when I completely forget to put on the patch!! Yawp!! Ridiculous right?? I can now go for about 5 hours without a patch. I don't know if it is psychological or not but as the 6th hour approaches, I suddenly think about it and then NEED to slap one on. I pity anyone who is within screaming range of me. Right now, I don't know if I am still physically dependant on nicotine or whether wearing a patch is a comfort thing for me. Regardless, the plan is to stay on the 10mg ones for the next 4 weeks, then migrate to the 5s for 2 weeks.

6. I recently met this renowned general surgeon on a diving trip I took with the BF late last month (week 7 & 8). Now, this guy, he USED to be a smoker... let's call him Doc X. He is still a practicing surgeon and a well respected one at that. But surprise, surprise, he used to be a smoker and a heavy one at that. He's quit before but started again, quit and then start. One would think that doctors would know better right?? Anyways, he is currently a non smoker and has been for the past 5 years or so. When he found out that I had quit smoking (well, it was really hard to miss my band-aided-stuck-on-patch on my thigh when I am in a bikini) we started talking about it. He told me about his experiences.

You know how new non smokers are SUPPOSED to get put off by the smell of ciggies?? Well, it hasn't happened to me thus far... sure, I find the smell of stale ciggie smoke a little repulsive but fresh smoke... oh mama... BRING IT ON!! YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY!! I mentioned this to him and he said that it doesn't happen. Even after 5 years, he still loves the smell of a cigarette burning!! Grrr... Then he goes on to tell me that it is worth not smoking for 6 months to finally have that first drag of a cigarette... so you can capture that "high" feeling again. Lovely Doc!! Encouraging this is NOT! Great... I now know that I may NEVER EVER get over my love for cigarettes!! LOVELY .

7. Remember my "rosy" cheeks?? Well, I saw a doctor about it and turns out that it's an allergy... to what I have no idea but I suspect that it's due to the nicotine patch. Am on antihistamines now. The splotches of dry skin on my body is going away as well... if you are planning on going on the patch, just be aware, you can be allergic to it. So at the end of week 8:

I have put on and lost a total of 8 kilos... I'd put on 5 but I've lost 3 so far... talk about your all time rapid weight lost and gain!!

My complexion is now non red (just ignored my sun burnt nose)

My appetite is somewhat under control although I've developed a sweet tooth which I didn't previously have. Ooooh dessert is SUCH a good thing to have!! YUMMY!!

I only think of having a ciggie every other day or so... it was BAD when I went on my last diving trip though, don't know why. It could be that the BF was smoking particularly heavy during that time and it smelt, oh SOOOOOOOO very good!!

I have successfully made it half way through my self prescribed treatment

I find out that I may be doomed to a life of longing for cigarettes

I am no longer coughing up yucky phelgm like substances

My room, clothes, car, sheets all smell oh so much better

I've NOT saved any money thus far... this has infact cost me more

I've taken up drinking alcohol again, albeit in small doses... lovely. I quit smoking and I start drinking!!

There is a shortage of 10mg patches in the Kuala Lumpur district. I am hoping that this is due to the recent Muslim fasting period where smoking isn't permitted. I had to go to FIVE different pharmacists the other day to find a box of 10mg patches!!

I am no longer as irritable as I once was when I started

Well, I'll be in week 9 tomorrow... I don't know if I am going to continue with this diary or not... nothing eventful seems to be happening, nothing exciting that is... As long as that counter is on my page, rest assure that I will be a non smoker.

PufferGal, non smoker extraordinaire.

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