Day 40

Good lord! Day 40. Who'd have thought it? What's more, as I said yesterday, for the last three days I've genuinely felt that I've turned a corner.

To put things into some sort of perspective for you. The last time I bought tobacco was around day 9 or 10 and I've still got some of that packet in a drawer in my office. That was what facilitated my breakdown on day 27. Normally I'd kill off a 50g packet of Golden Virginia in three days at a cost around £12 per pack. That's £120 so far. In that space of time I've had to pay for two prescriptions at a cost of £4 each. Now, because I'm skint at the moment, that money hasn't been going in to a big biscuit jar but we're still talking about a very real saving of £112. It is a very real saving even if I don't have the cash to show because, believe me, with or without cash I'd have spent that money on tobacco and, either done without something else or, taken a hit on the credit card. I didn't give up smoking to save money and wouldn't have done but I'm still happy with the saving none the less.

The only health benefit so far has been the end of my cough. To be honest there's even been some slight upsets on the health front in that I got very spotty last week. Although I've stopped coughing I'm still clearing my throat quite a bit and, and this is quite disgusting, for the last few days I've been picking my nose a lot. Guess some of the stuff that's leaving my lungs is trying to set up a new home at the back of my nasal passages. Not exactly dramatic stuff though is it?

In terms of temperament I think the Champix has done a fair job. Because I'm giving up smoking I only need to say boo to someone and everyone thinks it's the withdrawal symptoms. Truth be known, pretty much anything I've sniped at since January is the sort of stuff I'd have sniped at before January. For me, and those around me, that's been the true benefit of Champix over NRT. In terms of killing cravings though, to be honest there's been times when I've been climbing the walls. It is of course entirely possible that Champix was killing cravings and that things could have been a lot worse without it. I'll never know. Not sure whether Kerry has heard anything from her doc about her reaction to Champix or whether Jo found some sort of alternative but, in the meantime, I'm assuming that no news is good news.

I've got my appointment with the doc on Thursday for my next batch. Believe it or not there's still six weeks to go.

Until tomorrow folks...watch this space