So I've been having difficulty quitting smoking. I don't think I'd have as much of an issue if I wasn't swimming in stress at the moment... Anyway, I have an appt w/ my endo 2moro & we are going to discuss different meds; either something to help me quit or a different form of E. I was wondering if any of you ladies had suggestions one way or the other. I've heard meds for quitting smoking can cause depression, suicidal thoughts, etc, & I'm already dealing w/ depression issues, i don't need to exacerbate them... I've also heard that E patches lower the risk of blood clots, as well as deliver E more consistently. I'm leaning more towards these as my schedule is erratic & I've had difficulty in dosing my HRT meds at the same time everyday. But do patches stay on if you sweat/shower? What are your thoughts? Thanks!
PS- DEF going to quit either way, just trying to be safe til I do.

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Well I had an on and off smoking habit. I could give up and then go back. But I could never quite give up.

Then I had a bit of a cough.

Then I found out I had laryngeal cancer.

They removed my larynx.

I can't speak and I breathe through that hole you can see in my neck.

I gave up smoking straight away and very easily, but it was too late.

But maybe you can give up smoking before you have a hole in your neck and can't speak?

It is hard to give up but not as hard as to live like this.

I think quitting smoking is the first and wisest choice no matter what type of E you choose.

I smoked on and off for 40 years and the only thing that enabled me to stop long term (now 2.5 yrs) was a combination of using an e-cig for nicotine replacement and HRT for reducing the dysphoria stress.

E-cigs may or may not be totally harmless; there is evidence both ways there.  But they are orders of magnitude less risky than tobacco.  Of particular benefit is that they allow your lungs to clean out and breathe normally again.


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You might want to stay away from chantex. My dad tried it when he quit and it kind of whacked him out. He was sleepwalking and sleepeating and said it made him feel stoned and just generally like crap. He only used it for 2 days. After that he did the stepdown thing with nicotine patches.

Quote from: Cindy on September 27, 2017, 07:28:48 AM
Well I had an on and off smoking habit. I could give up and then go back. But I could never quite give up.

Then I had a bit of a cough.

Then I found out I had laryngeal cancer.

They removed my larynx.

I can't speak and I breathe through that hole you can see in my neck.

I gave up smoking straight away and very easily, but it was too late.

But maybe you can give up smoking before you have a hole in your neck and can't speak?

It is hard to give up but not as hard as to live like this.

Yikes, that's some motivation right there... I've had "a bit of a cough" for a long time, before I even started smoking... I operated a stone crushing plant from '03-'05 & breathed in a lot of silica dust. They didn't provide me with any breathing protection, & I didn't complain. I was trying to "be a man," I guess... (more to convince myself than anyone else, really... lotta good that did, haha! Ah, if only I'd known...) 12 yrs later I still cough that ->-bleeped-<- up sometimes, only there's a  lot of other nastiness w/ it. I'll try & keep reminding myself how close I may be to what happened to you (which I'm very sorry that it did). I have a good vocal range, & I want my voice to transition with me. Thanks, & again, I'm sorry...

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Quote from: Deborah on September 27, 2017, 08:06:12 AM
I think quitting smoking is the first and wisest choice no matter what type of E you choose.

I smoked on and off for 40 years and the only thing that enabled me to stop long term (now 2.5 yrs) was a combination of using an e-cig for nicotine replacement and HRT for reducing the dysphoria stress.

E-cigs may or may not be totally harmless; there is evidence both ways there.  But they are orders of magnitude less risky than tobacco.  Of particular benefit is that they allow your lungs to clean out and breathe normally again.


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It's kinda funny, HRT has eased a lot of stress, but caused a lot more of a different kind... still, sooo totally worth it! Anyway, Ive been wanting to switch to vaping, but the setups are so expensive... What kind did u use? Do u still do it or were you able to taper off? The advantage of vaping is that you can get whatever % nicotine you want, & (somewhat) easily taper...

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Quote from: JessiCalypsoƸ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ on September 27, 2017, 05:01:59 PM
It's kinda funny, HRT has eased a lot of stress, but caused a lot more of a different kind... still, sooo totally worth it! Anyway, Ive been wanting to switch to vaping, but the setups are so expensive... What kind did u use? Do u still do it or were you able to taper off? The advantage of vaping is that you can get whatever % nicotine you want, & (somewhat) easily taper...

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I haven't really tried to taper off it completely because I like it and do not believe it is harmful.  I did taper down the nicotine from where I started at 18mg to 6mg.  That keeps the beast at bay and doesn't really put much nicotine into my system. 

I use a moderately expensive setup, about $100, that's for low resistance atomizers and has variable power up to 220 watts.  I like the way that vapes with a lot of warm vapor.  In the past I've used everything down to the simple ones that look like a cigarette and have a light on the tip.  That was really all there was when I started this back in 2011.  There is really no comparison for me to the vape quality you get between an inexpensive and moderately expensive setup. 

However, even with the early model back in 2011 I was able to quit tobacco instantly with minimal withdrawal.  I unfortunately started up again in 2014 during a particularly bad episode of dysphoria.  Once I started HRT in early 2015 I stopped tobacco for good. 

The particular model I use right now is a SMOK Alien 220W.  I generally use it with a six coil .15 ohm atomizer. 

In the long run this is cheaper than tobacco even though I vape a lot.  Worst case is it's about $22 a week (it's usually less).  When I was smoking I was up to about 1.5 packs a day.  Even with the cheapest gag worthy cigarettes that came out to about $40 a week.  Add the dysphoria coping alcohol consumption and that was another $15 a week.

HRT at full price is less expensive than that was. :-)


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Another thing to remember is that smoking lowers estradiol levels.  You dont want that!  I smoked from 14 to 27.  For many years I was at 2 packs a day.  I quit cold turkey the day I started hrt.  It freaking sucked but was worth it.  Hrt was more important to me than ciggie butts.

Im not down playing the emotional connection to smoking or the pleasure and soothing it provides.  I can say with full confidence that I loved smoking and it was genuinelly part of who I was.  I had to look at it like a bad boyfriend, I might love it and have fun with smoking sometimes, but in the long run its gonna be a terrible choice to stay with.  I really felt a loss when I stopped, but once the hrt kicked in I felt much better

Jessi, I am with Deborah on this.  While the jury is still out on the harmful effects from vaping, i seriously doubt it will be as bad as cigarettes 4000 harmful chemicals.  I started vaping several years ago at high nicotine levels and over several months stepped myself down to 0 nicotine.  So I was in effect only vaping water.  I was not dependent on the nicotine but still got to do the whole habit thing.
UNFORTUNATELY, one night I was jonseing for just one cig.  A good one.  Just that one hit.  After dinner treat.  And BAM, I was addicted again just that fast.  So know please, if you quit cigs that you are still an addict to them.  Quit and never go back.  Just don't. 
I am trying to go full time vaping but it is a struggle.  Was easier the first time.

Quote from: Julia1996 on September 27, 2017, 10:48:39 AM
You might want to stay away from chantex. My dad tried it when he quit and it kind of whacked him out. He was sleepwalking and sleepeating and said it made him feel stoned and just generally like crap. He only used it for 2 days. After that he did the stepdown thing with nicotine patches.

Thanx 4 the info! I'd heard it has some negative side effects, but I didn't know it did stuff like that... No thanx!

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Quote from: JulieOnHerWay on September 27, 2017, 11:39:20 PM
Jessi, I am with Deborah on this.  While the jury is still out on the harmful effects from vaping, i seriously doubt it will be as bad as cigarettes 4000 harmful chemicals.  I started vaping several years ago at high nicotine levels and over several months stepped myself down to 0 nicotine.  So I was in effect only vaping water.  I was not dependent on the nicotine but still got to do the whole habit thing.
UNFORTUNATELY, one night I was jonseing for just one cig.  A good one.  Just that one hit.  After dinner treat.  And BAM, I was addicted again just that fast.  So know please, if you quit cigs that you are still an addict to them.  Quit and never go back.  Just don't. 
I am trying to go full time vaping but it is a struggle.  Was easier the first time.

Are you still back on them or did you switch back to vaping? & unfortunately I'm all to familiar with the "once an addict, always an addict" thing... I was addicted to opioid painkillers off & on for 3 yrs, then heroin (IV) for 2 yrs as a coping mechanism for GD. I've been clean for 6 months thanks to methadone (I stay at a low maintenance dose; unlike most, I don't get high). Since that substitution worked for me, I was thinking vaping for nicotine might too.

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Quote from: Pisces228 on September 27, 2017, 08:30:11 PM
Another thing to remember is that smoking lowers estradiol levels.  You dont want that!  I smoked from 14 to 27.  For many years I was at 2 packs a day.  I quit cold turkey the day I started hrt.  It freaking sucked but was worth it.  Hrt was more important to me than ciggie butts.

Im not down playing the emotional connection to smoking or the pleasure and soothing it provides.  I can say with full confidence that I loved smoking and it was genuinelly part of who I was.  I had to look at it like a bad boyfriend, I might love it and have fun with smoking sometimes, but in the long run its gonna be a terrible choice to stay with.  I really felt a loss when I stopped, but once the hrt kicked in I felt much better

I did not know that about lowering E! My doc told me I could take the pill sublingually (under the tongue); as, opposed to just swallowing, the absorption levels can be up to 5 times as much that way. From failed attempts at getting clean via Suboxone (sublingual opioid substitute), I know not to smoke 20 mins prior to/after taking it, as it can negate the absorption... And I've been doing it anyway, essentially! [emoji35] I've got to start looking at it that way, that HRT is FAR more important to me than a dangerous addiction I don't need! It's also probably MORE dangerous for me, as I damaged my vascular system via IV drug use; as such I'm already more likely to suffer from blood clots...

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Quote from: Deborah on September 27, 2017, 05:24:40 PM
I haven't really tried to taper off it completely because I like it and do not believe it is harmful.  I did taper down the nicotine from where I started at 18mg to 6mg.  That keeps the beast at bay and doesn't really put much nicotine into my system. 

I use a moderately expensive setup, about $100, that's for low resistance atomizers and has variable power up to 220 watts.  I like the way that vapes with a lot of warm vapor.  In the past I've used everything down to the simple ones that look like a cigarette and have a light on the tip.  That was really all there was when I started this back in 2011.  There is really no comparison for me to the vape quality you get between an inexpensive and moderately expensive setup. 

However, even with the early model back in 2011 I was able to quit tobacco instantly with minimal withdrawal.  I unfortunately started up again in 2014 during a particularly bad episode of dysphoria.  Once I started HRT in early 2015 I stopped tobacco for good. 

The particular model I use right now is a SMOK Alien 220W.  I generally use it with a six coil .15 ohm atomizer. 

In the long run this is cheaper than tobacco even though I vape a lot.  Worst case is it's about $22 a week (it's usually less).  When I was smoking I was up to about 1.5 packs a day.  Even with the cheapest gag worthy cigarettes that came out to about $40 a week.  Add the dysphoria coping alcohol consumption and that was another $15 a week.

HRT at full price is less expensive than that was. :-)


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Yes, financially it def seems worth the initial investment! My former drug dealer switched from cigs to vaping w/ minimal issue as well. He started @ 36 mg (I think) & within 6 months he was down to  be think 3 mg. He was planning on upgrading to the same model you have, & was going to give me his old model (think it was a SMOK as well, an 80 watt maybe?); but unfortunately (& this is the ONLY unfortunate thing about this!) I severed ties w/ him last February when I finally got clean. If only he'd given it to me 1st, lol! There's a great vape shop in my town; depending on how my appt goes w/ my endo (leaving in an hr!), Perhaps I'll hit it up afterwards! Thanx 4 the info, I appreciate it!

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Oh, & on a side note, I just wanted to say... Um... I hope you all don't judge me for having been an IV drug user... I was a "functioning addict," in that I WORKED to support my habit. I've NEVER stolen for it. Through therapy I've learned that it was how I coped with my dysphoria. I don't think any of you would judge me, but just sayin'...

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Quote from: JessiCalypsoƸ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ on September 27, 2017, 07:14:37 AMI've also heard that E patches lower the risk of blood clots, as well as deliver E more consistently.
...
But do patches stay on if you sweat/shower? What are your thoughts? Thanks!

I can't comment on quitting smoking; I never smoked.  I know it is hard, and I wish you luck with it.

I don't think patches lower your risk of clots.  They just don't increase it as much as other forms of E do.

They do stay on in the shower, but they don't stick terribly well when I sweat.  I have only had one become more than 50% detached.  I just replaced it early.  But it's not uncommon to have one have quite a few unstuck bits around the edge after a couple of hot days.  The smaller ones tend to stick better than the big ones.

E when taken non-orally (i.e. patches) is NOT affected by smoking but orally, yes. Studies have confirmed this. Levels decrease if E is taken orally.

In men with prostate cancer, patches containing E were found to actually decrease overall coagulation and authors concluded it might actually protect against the risk of DVT. In transpatients with an increased risk due to genetic predispositions, patches were not found to increase the rate of complications and recent articles state patches containing E do not increase the risk, at all and can be prescribed to populations at increased risk of DVT.

Quote from: KathyLauren on September 28, 2017, 08:25:42 AM
I can't comment on quitting smoking; I never smoked.  I know it is hard, and I wish you luck with it.

I don't think patches lower your risk of clots.  They just don't increase it as much as other forms of E do.

They do stay on in the shower, but they don't stick terribly well when I sweat.  I have only had one become more than 50% detached.  I just replaced it early.  But it's not uncommon to have one have quite a few unstuck bits around the edge after a couple of hot days.  The smaller ones tend to stick better than the big ones.

Im sorry, I worded that incorrectly. I def meant patches are not as likely to cause clots as other forms of E. And my endo did end up prescribing the E patches for me. I put one on a few hrs ago in 1 of the places she recommended (rear flank, kidney area) but I don't think it's a good spot for me... I have very little fat, but that's one area I DO have it, & it came a little loose between walking & showering... If you don't mind me asking, where do you put yours?

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Quote from: JessiCalypsoƸ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ on September 28, 2017, 03:03:11 PMIf you don't mind me asking, where do you put yours?

I stick mine on my lower abdomen.  I alternate right-middle-left.  Since each patch is on for 3.5 days, that gives each site a full 7 days to recover.  It is also easier for me to monitor them, how well they are sticking, than if they were on my butt.

Studies have shown that absorption is best when applied to buttocks and the femoral triangle (i.e. inner thigh, close to genital area).

Quote from: JessiCalypsoƸ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ on September 27, 2017, 07:14:37 AM
So I've been having difficulty quitting smoking. I don't think I'd have as much of an issue if I wasn't swimming in stress at the moment... Anyway, I have an appt w/ my endo 2moro & we are going to discuss different meds; either something to help me quit or a different form of E. I was wondering if any of you ladies had suggestions one way or the other. I've heard meds for quitting smoking can cause depression, suicidal thoughts, etc, & I'm already dealing w/ depression issues, i don't need to exacerbate them... I've also heard that E patches lower the risk of blood clots, as well as deliver E more consistently. I'm leaning more towards these as my schedule is erratic & I've had difficulty in dosing my HRT meds at the same time everyday. But do patches stay on if you sweat/shower? What are your thoughts? Thanks!
PS- DEF going to quit either way, just trying to be safe til I do.

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I think I successfully stopped smoking after I read the book "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" by Allen Carr 6 months ago. Before that, I tried to stop smoking twice about 10 years ago, unsuccessfully. The reason I failed I think now was relying on meds. I can say that meds actually make it more difficult to stop smoking.

I can say that stopping smoking is not about physiology, but about psychology. You may try to read the book by Carr, which can be searched and downloaded in the internet.

barbie~~