Feeling very ill after quitting smoking!

I quit smoking cold turkey about 6 weeks ago.  I had smoked for about 40 years and was a chain smoker  when I quit.  Withdrawal didn't seem too bad initially but seems to be getting worse with time.  I feel like a complete lunatic.  I am wondering if nicotine is something I needed as medication.  It has made me feel better that other people have experienced something similar but I still wonder how much longer before I feel normal.  My body feels like it has aged about 20 years.  Every joint aches and I am very weak.  Mentally I can barely function.  I feel depressed.  I am extremely short tempered.  I don't want to smoke and I am not craving cigarettes however I don't want to feel like this forever or have to take Xanax, anti-depressants, and ritalin to function as I did before and I am beginning to wonder if this is what I will have to do.  Any idea how long before I will go back to normal.  I did not take any medications prior to quitting smoking and was a relatively fit person even for all my smoking.  

It will probbaly take anywhere from 3 to 6 months for you to get over most of this, if your over weight it could take over a year. see your Dr and get some zanax or ativan to help you sleep and get some type of inhaler to help you breath. Its a long painful road and it can get very scary. Sometimes you think your dying but its just one of the many symptons you will have. Good luck. Ralph

You gotta love Ralph he just lays it on the line. He is correct it's a crazy ride and can play a toll on your mind. I am 7 months in now and still get days where the anxiety is so bad that I feel like I can't breath. It will get better and takes time so hang in there.

All phlemn shoud be gone in 2 and a half months all coughing should be gone in 3 months if not see your DR, and dont be on this board. maybe your a over weight if so lose the weight and thing get real easy.

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Everybody heals differently. I know people that have quit smoking over a year ago and still have mucus and need to clear their throat. You can't speculate they should be ok after 3 months? Do you know how long they have smoked for? I quit 7 months ago and still have anxiety and SOB not every day like it use to be but a few days a week. I am slowly healing but it does take time to fix the mind and cleanse your liver and lungs.

ive quit smoking around 2 months ago. in the mid of 1st month, i had strange rumbling or gas production in the stomach.A gastroenterologist i saaw did blood,stool and breath with urea test. all tests came normal .He did ask for an endoscopy ,but i didnt attend. Along with the bubbling in stomach,i had extreme fatigue ,like my eyes were sucked in.there was also an inner feeling that some was really wrong, like i had cancer or something else grave. sencond month ,around mid ,i started having lots of disgusting mucous which eventually turned into phlegm .... now the fatigue is reducing, mucous and phlegm continue to last . i think the best wasy to act is drinking a lot of water and eating a lot of veggies that purify blood,like beet root juice,cabbage juice.. things like that. it might be a very good idea to use up all that leave you had saved up for ,from your work . you could use all the reset you could get and some of exercise during the coping back days.

I feel the same ill its the tenth day since I quite the bad habbit I fell like I'm dying! I'm 24 years old and I was scared of lung cancer but like my doc said its very rare in my age group and he Would notice is! So I wan to know is any1 feeling the same bad belly an bK. My throat I don't feel like dOing anyrhing jusy like crying.

Dont worry so much, your suffering will be over in about 3 to 6 months, it is very normal to have all kinds of problems for awhile, get you some zanax and a puffer and stop worring so much,

Thanks for all the information. I've been reading the posts here.. And a lot of questions I had has been answered. I see I'm not alone

It's been only a week since I had my last cig. The first 2 days I thought that, it turns out to be very easy to quit. But after the 3rd day everything seems way out of balance. The funny thing is that smoking is the last thing I think about right now: I have panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, depression is strong, I don't want to get off bed. While on work I burst into tears for no apparent reason. I tried to speak to friends and colleagues and they said that is impossible to have all these as withdrawal symptoms. The unbearable fact is that i lost all libido, all appetite for sex and intimacy. I don't know what to do... I sometimes think to start smoking again. What can I do? Any ideas? Maybe wait. Maybe exercise? I think I lost it. Is it really so hard?

I just hit my 12th month and yes I had all of your symptoms you mentioned. It's all in your head. You need to keep your mind busy and try to stay off meds. I tried for 2 weeks and felt worse. You just need to remind yourself that this is all temporary and that you are not going crazy. Go get a full physical with blood work make sure health wise you are fine. That helps ease things up. Exercise is good, go for walks when you feel panic. Calmes Forte helps with the nerves. There are times where I still feel anxiety and SOB but it's all part of the healing process, I smoked for 28 years so it will take time. I can not explain why some people quit and never have a symptom and me, I fell apart but I'm much better now. Hang in there.

I am on day 10 of quitting. Our story is just about identical. You had same exact symptoms as me and we are both feeling the same now. So scared....

This is all normal and takes time to heal. Please hang in there don't give up it's so great not having to worry about having a smoke. You know what I mean too. We have all been through this and are still here so it is possible. Keep reading through all the posts it helps.

Yep , That's what happens when you quit. I had every symptom under the sun , the breathing problem was the worst and the anxiety. Plus the sore muscles. Had it all. Coughing up black muck too after 3 months .Lasted a good year then I took things into my own hands and got on a bike. Exercise just Exercise.. It will pass . Really it does .

I am so glad that I seen this post because I am experiencing the same thing you are. I know this is a little late but maybe you can help me now.....I am seriously thinking about going to see a psych just so I can get some anxiety meds to help me get through this. This is my second time quitting since February 2, 2015. This first time I quit I was doing pretty good but then I went out to the bar and relapsed. I was in the ER for having tachycardia (fast heart rate) from anxiety. I went to the doctor for a follow up including blood work and a urinalysis and everything was normal. Please Help.