Stop smoking before WDW?

[denanbob]

Ok, I determined that this is the appropriate forum for this because my concern is for my hubby's health while riding the RIDES ("theme park attractions"). So here's my question:

My husband is a pretty heavy smoker (one to one and a half packs per day) and has been smoking for about 17 years. He's tried to quit numerous times with no success. He called the 1-800-HELP-YOU-QUIT (or whatever) line back in January and they told him our insurance would pay for the Nicoderm CQ patch. Well, it finally just arrived in the mail on Saturday. My DH thinks it's a great idea to start this patch this Saturday, but we leave on May 6th for Disney (18 days away........14 days from when he wants to start this patch). I say he'd be better off to wait until we return to start this because I'm afraid the stress of not smoking will possibly be dangerous for him on the thrill rides. Can't that cause increased blood pressure and such? Don't get me wrong, I never thought I'd say "Don't quit yet", but under these circumstances, I'm worried he won't be in the greatest health, let alone MOOD, for our much anticipated vacation!!! What do you all think?

 

[elastigirl]

Never been a smoker, but my first thought is to tell you to call your health care provider. Your DH's doctor would be the best source of information for the effects of stopping smoking in the situation you describe, much better than a message board.

Good for him for starting the process to quit though!

 

[Stitch65]

My DH thinks it's a great idea to start this patch this Saturday, but we leave on May 6th for Disney (18 days away........14 days from when he wants to start this patch). I say he'd be better off to wait until we return to start this because I'm afraid the stress of not smoking will possibly be dangerous for him on the thrill rides. Can't that cause increased blood pressure and such?

Actually an ex-smoker here, both my husband and I quit 7 years ago. From my understading (but please check with a doctor) that it's the lack of nicotine that stresses your body out. The patch will give him the nicotine his body is used to, just without the smoke that usually went with it. I think the sooner the better, but hey, I'm one of those annoying ex-smokers that wrinkles my nose at smoke.

Good luck either way!

 

[oshun]

Quicking smoking is one of the hardest things my husband and I have done. I have not smoked for 8 yrs now and my husband has been smoke free for 8 months now. I am so proud of him.
It is a personal preferrence and you really have to want to quit. Word of advise is just remember that quitting means none at all! If you pick up one cigarette and think -oh I will only have one - believe me it does not work. I quit smoking about 5 times before I REALLY QUIT.
Tried the patch but it did not work for me so I took Wellbutrin for about 3 months. That is what finally did the trick. Best wishes to your husband if he truly wants to quit. It is so nice to eat food and really be able to smell it and enjoy the taste. Also, it is good not to smell like a walking cigarette butt or to have to kiss an ashtray. LOL!

 

[swillis]

I can't speak on the health effects of stress and thrill rides, but I'm an ex smoker of over 1 year and I can tell you what worked for me.

Your husband may find that quitting smoking while on vacation may be the exact change of routine that he needs to kick start his program. I have found that I needed to change a few of the ritual things that I was so used to associating with smoking.

I switched from coffee to tea in the mornings. I chewed gum only in the car. I went out to dinner with all of my non smoker friends. I booked a vacation (great to fly w/out stressing about how long it would be until the next ciggarette) I spent my monthly ciggarette money on massages and pedicures. ANd I gained 10 pounds

I drank tons of water, and took Motrin every 5 hours whether I had a headache yet or not. I used the patch, and had great success. I have fallen off the wagon once or twice on the past year, but usually only for a day or two. I quickly find that I just feel gross when I smoke.

I wish your husband much success!

 

[LadyZolt]

I agree with Sunni. I know a married couple who quit the day they went on vacation and she swears by it because there was so much to do that it made it that much easier not to smoke. Strange location, nothing normal in the routine, not even sleeping in their usual beds. As for me, I quit smoking after smoking for 25 years and went on vacation three weeks later and it was great being smoke-free. Like another poster said, you have to be committed to quit, but if he is, I think quitting two weeks before is great beause he'll be beyond the first week (called "Hell Week") and even the second ("Heck Week"), and he'll be getting used to doing stuff without smoking.

I used the gum and my husband used the patches and both of us stayed quit. That was over three years ago. Give him lots of love and support and I think the vacation will give him something to look forward to in the early days and then something rewarding to enjoy as he adjusts to his new life. Tell him I said "congratulations!" on his decision to quit. He will not regret it.

-LadyZolt

 

[MzDiz]

He should quit now! 18 days is 12 short of the thirty he needs to break that habit. The first three days is the worst, IMHO. It's also extremely inconvienient to smoke at WDW. You'll all go nuts while he looks for a designated smoking area.
FYI, blood pressure drops to normal within 10 minutes of your last cigarette.

 

[BTown]

Well, as a smoker and avid Disney fan, here are the pros and cons of your situation. The added increase in stress and blood pressure, etc from stopping smoking won't really effect his health on the rides. However, that added increase in stress and withdraw may affect his mood while at Disney. Only downside, he seems like a pretty heavy smoker (I go through at least a pack a day myself) and Disney isnt very kind on smokers. Each park has limited smoking areas, and they are often hidden and not easily accessable. So, if he has to take frequent smoke breaks, it may be difficult to wander too far. So, you have to pick the lesser evil: stress of kicking the habit, or the stress of having to confine your habit to certain areas.

 

[LadyZolt]

The added increase in stress and blood pressure, etc from stopping smoking won't really effect his health on the rides.

Physical stress actually decreases, as does the blood pressure, when one quits smoking. This is because smoking restricts oxygen flow to the extremities. One can get emotional stress over quitting, but after two weeks, even that shouldn't be very much. It really is the first three days mostly, and after that, it gets easier and more "do-able" each day day.

-LadyZ

 

[Mulan82]

ok. i am a smoker. but that isn't the point that i was trying to make. i have a friend who recently just quit smoking. he used the patch. again. the nicoderm one.. the clear one. i don't know if that is the one that your hustband is using. anyways, i know the patch has some side effects. he had horrible night terrors or whatever. and depending on where he put it, he felt like he was having a heart attack. note to all. the underside of your wrist is a BAD spot to put a nicotine patch. i would wait.

 

[john2u]

I have been smoke free for over a year now and I have to agree with oshun, Wellbutrin has worked for me in the past.

Have a Disney Day

John

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I do agree about the possible side effects of the patch. But if he is starting the patch 12 days before you leave, any side effects would show before the trip, so that should not be a factor in the decision. DH and I are smokers, and have tried to quit about 6 times in the last year...one of us breaks and the other one tumbles right after. kind of like Jack and Jill.

Anyway, we were going to try again when we left, but decided we would set our quit date for the day we get back. For us, this will be easier, as I have anxiety/OCD and vacation with hordes of people I don't know is EXTREMELY stressful. Also, for us, we smoke FAR less in WDW, as another poster said, due to the sheer inconvenience of it and being too busy to think about it. We go from about 3/4 pack per day to about 3 or 4 a day on vacation.

I say let him give it a shot. If he cracks and goes back to it....he can just start again when he gets home. I think it will only benefit his health while on vacation.

Just make sure he understands: NO SMOKING WITH THE PATCH ON!!! Bad bad bad.

Good luck to him...I hope he kicks the habit.

 

[philaround]

I quit a 42 year 3 pack a day habit almost 2 years ago, just one week before a two week trip to WDW. I did not use the patch but I did use the Committ lozenge. I had absolutely no problems and I am still smoke free as of this date BUT I quit too late as I am now missing part of my left lung and am actively fighting cancer in my chest.

 

[jmhkd]

Tomorrow will be 12 days since my last cigarette and I was a close to 2 packs a day smoker. I am using the patches and agree that the first three days were the worst and my mood swings were horrible. Since then the cravings have decreased greatly as my body adjusted to the amount of nicotine it was getting from the patches and by the time we leave for WDW in a little over a month I will just be finishing up my last week of patches. Hopefully smoke free forever.

So far I would reccomend the patches definitely and agree any change in routine helps to kick the habit.

 

[dyna]

When I quit a few years ago I used the Nicoderm CQ patch I didn't notice side effects what I had trouble with was if I got even slightly sweaty the patch would come off and would not stick again. This was in the fall of the year during Indian summer. I think the patches I had would have slid right off at disney. I did call the company and they did send me a couple weeks worth of free patches out of the deal.

Since that time I fell off the wagon so to speak and visit before last I decided I was gonna quit smokin at Disney. It was not the place to try quiting esp not on the 1st day. Went to MGM with no cigs it was not pleasant believe me. I was pretty much fine till I got a few whifs of smoke that did me in. Between the crowd and no cigs I lost it ended up just goin back to the room cause I was not good company for anyone not even myself LOL Of course I was trying to do this cold turkey no patches no nothing. I should have known better as I always find MGM to be a very annoying park. Love the B&tB show and a few things there just enough to put up with it.