Feeling very ill after quitting smoking!

Hi, I am 20 months into my quit. I can tell you I have been to the ER 3 or 4x in the beginning of my quit. The anxiety was insane since I never had it as a smoker. I went to see a psych and they put me on Lexapro and Kolonopin. That made me feel worse more zombie like and worse anxiety. Lasted 3 weeks on that c**p and stopped. Even being on it that short of a time caused withdrawal issues. They told me give it a few months. No Thanks! I knew that I would be able to get through this because I never had an issue while smoking so I knew what I was going through was from quitting. I read a lot of forums and found most people said they felt better 6 months to a year. I changed my eating habits, ate more healthy, joined a gym and did a lot of exercise. I practiced deep breathing and listened to relaxing music at night in bed. I took a good fish oil pill and loaded up on vitamin D. 5000UI daily. Blood work said I was low to begin with. Smoking depletes your counts. Try Hylands Calmes. They say it's for sleep but you can take it any time it really helps to calm your nerves and it's all natural. CVS carries it. Fight the anxiety don't let it get to you. There were days it was so bad and I could not breath but I fought it and still went out and did things and slowly the anxiety feelings went away because it could not get the best of me. Sounds strange I know because it's your own mind causing it but you need to treat it as if it's someone else that is causing you to feel this way. After 12 months I was like a new person. I still get anxiety but not much and it quickly goes away because I know how to handle it. If I was on pills I would not have known how to deal with it because the pills are doing the work and I did not want to be dependent and them. I have read many stories where people were away ran out and went crazy because they had to wait until they can get home to fill a new prescription. I want to be free of all that and I now am and you can too. Please post questions and keep reading this forum it helps. Keith

I'm so glad I found this forum.  There is nothing officially out there that really talks about how serious the detox from quitting can be.  I mean, I think most people expect some level of withdrawal but the way in which quitting smoking can make space for feeling things so intensely isn't discussed in popular quit smoking literature.  I think though that, while there is a downside that includes feeling awful physically, crying fairly spontaneously and feeling scared out of the blue, it has been quite nice to face some old demons.  Since quitting smoking about 2 months ago I have figured some really fundamental things out about myself and how I feel about my life and the people in it.  I think I just chain smoked before when I felt stressed or threatened by a socially difficult situation or even excited about something.  Thanks to everyone who has shared their story here.  I'm going to feel unwell and anxious and unsure and all that other stuff but it just feels like it's probably going to be ok.  I mean I believe you guys.  We can do it!

Been about 6 weeks for me...long time heavy smoker. Quitting smoking has been very difficult.
I have been quite sick quite often. Hard time eating...everything tastes bad. consuming v-8, protein drinks, bland food. Trouble sleeping ..feels like delerium. Sometimes I feel like a have a fever.....sometimes I feel like I am freezing.
Alternating between able to function somewhat.....get to store....do some yardwork to can't do nothing but lie down and moan with interruptions for retching breaks.
Websites discouraging......
did these people smoke a half a pack of VIRGINIA SLIMS for a month before they decided to quit?
I am a recovering drunk....AA's "happy, joyous and free" is pink cloud....gotta have some pink cloud for the newbies....
most of the web sites I have seen are on pink cloudy side....
who wants to tell person that desires to quit smoking that the process could involve weeks and weeks of alternating states mildly sick to very sick

I am doing nicotine gum which helps somewhat with the urges but does nothing for the actual detox process.

Hey, I've not smoked now for 1 week today. This is my third time and my last. I've quit 'cause I don't want my son to learn this ugly and addictive habit.

The first few days were the hardest. I got cravings after all the things I would normally have a fag after. Drinking coffee, tea, after food, waiting for a bus etc.

I'm, like you, on patches. They help reduce the craving but as I rolled my own fags I needed something to do with my hands. Many substitute fags for food so I bought chewing gum. And for my hands I started reading.

It's all for a good cause. Mine is my son. Others for their health. Remember it's the better choice in all aspects :)
And good luck x

Thank you. I am at 6 weeks. I do not crave cigarettes, but I really thought by now I would be happier and active. I feel like I am living in slow motion. Dizzyness and anxiety attacks. I can do this but I really needed to see that someone else was having a difficult time.

Are you fine now

Thanks for your input. I'm 65 days smoke free. Cold turkey after 37 years of a pack to a pack and a quarter per day. I feel like c**p (experiencing about 15 physical and psychological repair symtoms) about 50% of the waking day. I think and feel it to be a temporary healing period. I am just beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I too find drugs to be a counter productive method in coping. Cold turkey is a whopper. But I think it encouraged me to clean (detox) my body faster during those first two weeks. I ate a truck load of vegtables and some fruits every day. And I have stuck with a much healthier diet without effort. It just feels better to eat food loaded with hydration. I speculate I need about 3 more months of repair (body, mind, soul) before I feel really normal through the majority of my waking moments.

You need detoxification of lungs. Start having a spoon of honey daily. Also, start exercising. Its all the trash coming out and the body is cleansening itself. It took me 4 months to realise how much good I did to myself by quitting. It will take time. Stay quit!

Keep it going, I have quit for 11 days now, never felt so rubbish in my life. Smoked for 35 years. Getting headaches, spots, runny nose. I am sure we will come out the other end.

Aother 4 months have gone by and I am now at 6 months. Not one puff. The past month has been pretty good. My anxiety spells are down to a minimum and feeling pretty great. By month four I had packed on a good 20 pounds and I am now concentrating on getting rid of that and getting healthy. Life is good.

Congratulations on your quit! It takes a while I had a terrible bout with flu like symptoms for about two weeks at about a month in. Stay strong!

I quit smoking on the 23rd august 2015, i also feel unwell since i stopped though the first few days were OK but i think this was due to me being happy with myself.as i never thought i could stop, several times a day my chest gets very tight and its scary but if i manage to cough up a little mucus i feel much better.
I thought once i stopped smoking my chest would clear very quickly but that's not how it's working for me .
I am on an E lighter but i think it might be adding to the tight chest, im concerned if i stop the E lighter i will go back on to cigarettes .

Try to quit the E lighter. Do your best. Stay strong. It will hurt for a while yet but it will get better trust me.

The tubes leading down to your lungs -- the bronchioles are lined with tiny hairs called ciliated epithelium. These wave to and froe to protect your lungs from foreign particles entering. While you smoke these ciliate become paralyzed and do not function to set off the cough reflex. When you quit these little hairs start to work again and that is why you are coughing. This shows that your quitting is already doing you good. Be resolute. You are getting there.