Stopped smoking.

Have you tried nicotine patches? I think that they really do help – and I have a friend who swears by nicotine gum (yuk). Take the patches off at night or you will have some really weird dreams – dinosaurs made of broccoli for example. My builder, however, reckoned he had the best sex of his life in dreams when he was wearing nicotine patches – so you pays your money and you takes your choice! I'm still iffy about the dinosaurs.

Didn't get breathless but I did get bad coughs most winters for several years. Touch wood, I haven't had one this year but then I'm retired now so I'm probably not bombarded with bugs. If I was you I'd keep talking to your doctor or nurse about that. Have they given you those tablets to help you stop [can't remember what they're called now]? I've got a feeling that someone said they gave them nightmares, but I might be thinking of something else. The coughing might just be your lungs clearing themselves. If you're trying to drink more water have it in one of those bottles with the narrow tops; I found that sipping water in that way kind of mimicked smoking and stopped the craving [a lot of smoking is down to the habit of doing it]. I also started chewing gum cause I found that when I drove to a garage instead of buying some cigarettes I'd buy the gum and unwrapping the packet was like opening a packet of cigarettes. Smoking is so much about the habit and ritual of smoking so if you substitute other things it can help break the habit.

Thanks Tegan, your kind words help. Did you get breathless or have a cough or wheeze though?

Well done for having 7 years of freedom. X

Can't remember having panic attacks but all I can say is stick with it. Giving up smoking is incredibly difficult because nicotine is so addictive but you will feel so much better. I haven't smoked now for over 7 years [I've still go a pretend ciggie next to the pooter though ]. You can do it. When we feel stressed our first thought is to need a cigarette. You're probably very stressed because of the move. But having a cigarette won't make you less stressed; it will just make you need another cigarette. Trouble is, a lot of the people that are there to help you stop smoking, such as doctors and nurses have never smoked themselves so they don't realise how difficult it is to stop. It's not easy, but you can do it.