stopped smoking and severe stomach bloat

Whenever I stop smoking, I take to the gym, watch what I eat and then severe stomach bloat. I look like I'm ready to deliver a 10 lb baby. This has happened many times. I have search online for years and can't find the answer to this problem. My pcp has put me on fluid pills and it does not help. I soon as I start smoking the bloat disappears. This happens also when I start any excercise program. It is not muscle developing, but severe bloat. I wonder if anyone out there may know the cause. My PCP is at a loss. Last year I stopped smoking for 3 months and did aerobics everyday. I gained 3 inches around my abdomen. I have a large belly to begin with and the frustration of looking like a weeble is devistating to me.

My family thought this was all in my head because they felt I wanted to start smoking again. Until the last time I quit and my husband watched my efforts and could not believe the weight gain around my abdomen. I need to stop smoking but I can't go on looking like Mrs. Claus. Thank for any input.

When my best friend quit smoking, a few days later she got paralyzed and couldn't get out of bed. She couldn't move her legs at all and leave the bed. She panicked and the first thing she took was the cigarettes. Once she has her cigarettes, the paralysis went away. In the mind or not???

doe wrote:

Whenever I stop smoking, I take to the gym, watch what I eat and then severe stomach bloat. I look like I'm ready to deliver a 10 lb baby. This has happened many times. I have search online for years and can't find the answer to this problem. My pcp has put me on fluid pills and it does not help. I soon as I start smoking the bloat disappears. This happens also when I start any excercise program. It is not muscle developing, but severe bloat. I wonder if anyone out there may know the cause. My PCP is at a loss. Last year I stopped smoking for 3 months and did aerobics everyday. I gained 3 inches around my abdomen. I have a large belly to begin with and the frustration of looking like a weeble is devistating to me. My family thought this was all in my head because they felt I wanted to start smoking again. Until the last time I quit and my husband watched my efforts and could not believe the weight gain around my abdomen. I need to stop smoking but I can't go on looking like Mrs. Claus. Thank for any input.

I am upset to see that no one offered any inout after the previous cry for help regarding a bloated stomach after quitting smoking. It is true hell!
I have experienced the same phenomenon twice now. I actually went to the doctor lat time for it-they were clueless. I eventually just passed it off as weight gain, and guess what? I started smoking again. As soon as I started smoking again the distended stomach was suddenly a problem of the past. Well this time I am excercising and eating very healthy to avoid the gain. Unfortunately my stomach has other plans! It is so distended all the time. If anyone knows what the hell to do for this please HELP!

I am upset to see that no one offered any input after the previous cry for help regarding a bloated stomach after quitting smoking. It is true hell!
I have experienced the same phenomenon twice now. I actually went to the the doctor the first time I quit -they were clueless. I eventually just passed it off as weight gain and started smoking again. Once I started lighting up again the distended stomach was suddenly a problem of the past. Well this time I am excercising and eating very healthy to avoid the weight gain. Unfortunately my stomach has other plans! It is so distended at times that I feel and look as though I am pregnant.The distension is so extreme that my pant size varies from sizes 4-10! If anyone knows what, why or how to help-please let us know!

I am 67 years old and quit smoking 24 months ago after puffing away for 50 years.
Ever since I stopped smoking, I have developed severe digestive problems (vomiting, diarrhea, bloating). I eat and 3-5 hours later, I throw up or fill up with gas. All foods are a problem. I am down to eating only soup. Weight is way down.
Have been tested for everything: Crohns', gall bladder stones, colonoscopy, etc. Was recently found to be lactose intolerant but feel that this is a red herring. At my age, I don't exactly gorge up on milk and milk derivatives.
I suspect that my gut flora is (totally) out of whack but could that be related to smoking? Anybody out there has any idea? Should I start smoking again?

I am having the same problem. every time I quit severe bloating and gas. my doctor just gave me a fluid pill for it. I wish someone new what to do. the last time I quit, everyone was asking me when the baby was due, ha ha Im 51. You wouldt think the docs would know what this is with all the people that are quitting now adays

Guest wrote:

I am upset to see that no one offered any inout after the previous cry for help regarding a bloated stomach after quitting smoking. It is true hell! I have experienced the same phenomenon twice now. I actually went to the doctor lat time for it-they were clueless. I eventually just passed it off as weight gain, and guess what? I started smoking again. As soon as I started smoking again the distended stomach was suddenly a problem of the past. Well this time I am excercising and eating very healthy to avoid the gain. Unfortunately my stomach has other plans! It is so distended all the time. If anyone knows what the hell to do for this please HELP!

I also am experiencing the bloating problem. I have quit smoking twice and I can't remember if this happened the first time or not, but I have been cigarette free for four days and my stomach has been so bloated and distended it's killing me. I look pregnant. I am really discouraged now after reading these postings.

I have had the stomach bloat everytime I quit smoking. 10 yrs ago I had it for 6 months when someone asked me when I was due. I started smoking again. Since then I discovered the problem. I quit 2 months ago and emediately swelled up to look 9 months pregnant along with gas and indigestion. I went online to swansonvitamins and ordered digestive enzymes with bile, hydrochloric acid, and ultimate probiotic formula (whic is the good bacteria you intestine needs). two weeks later I feel 100% better, most of the swelling is gone now, no gas, no indigestion. It could take longer if you've been this way for a long while, but it will definately work. I just cant figure out why quitting messes up our digestion. It didnt matter if I quit cold turkey or used a quit smoking aid either, and the doctors dont know either. I went the water pill route also. It did nothing. good luck

Thank you so much for this information. I thought I was the only one who suffered like this every time I stopped smoking.

gladg wrote:

I have had the stomach bloat everytime I quit smoking. 10 yrs ago I had it for 6 months when someone asked me when I was due. I started smoking again. Since then I discovered the problem. I quit 2 months ago and emediately swelled up to look 9 months pregnant along with gas and indigestion. I went online to swansonvitamins and ordered digestive enzymes with bile, hydrochloric acid, and ultimate probiotic formula (whic is the good bacteria you intestine needs). two weeks later I feel 100% better, most of the swelling is gone now, no gas, no indigestion. It could take longer if you've been this way for a long while, but it will definately work. I just cant figure out why quitting messes up our digestion. It didnt matter if I quit cold turkey or used a quit smoking aid either, and the doctors dont know either. I went the water pill route also. It did nothing. good luck