I'm back on day 100 since my last smoke.
Quitting sucks but it does get better.
The anxiety issues are still there but nowhere near as bad as they were before. I'm finding out that some of my issues are weather related because we had a stretch of nice warm weather here (south-east Michigan) and I was feeling great, then when winter reared its ugly head again, my off balance/chest heaviness came back.
I'm thinking that I must have always been suffering with the winter blahs and the smoking covered it up. Now I have to learn how to deal with living life clean and sober. I was having some major problems grocery shopping, having what I call mini-panic attacks in the store but those have gotten better to the point of being gone.
I'm not sure if the prescription for Celexa is working or not but I'm going to find out in another month or 2 when I start to wean off of it Someone above talked about B Complex and Vitamin C.. I started both of those around the same time as the Celexa (both are water soluble so your body will get rid of any extras that it doesnt need). Don't know if it helped but it sure as heck didnt hurt anything.
The insomnia is gone for me. That's been about 3 weeks or more since that cleared up. I tried both Ambian and Lunesta and all either one did was knock me out for a hour or 2 and then I was back up dealing with no sleep. I started reading in bed before going to sleep and also started taking the melatonin supplement. I think that my body just had to learn how to sleep again..
If you are having problems and have a family doctor, go to them and get some help. If you don't have a doctor, find a health food store and talk to them about supplements to help with stress, anxiety, moods swings ect. I discussed supplements with my doctor while he can't give any "scientific" information on them, he does not discount them. There are things available to you to get you over the hump.
I don't think the cigarettes/nicotine that we are trying to quit are the same ones that my uncle and grandfather quit over 30 years ago. If they are, then unc and gramps are just a heck of a lot stronger than I am and I’m just a big old sissy :o)
Try keeping a chart with your progress. It might sound dumb because I thought it did but every morning I mark the day off and it does make me feel like I've accomplished something.
I work with an ex-smoker (over 2 packs a day for 20+ years) who quit. He said that he felt like I did, off-balance, sick, panic for 6 plus months before he started feeling better. He said it was over a year before he felt "normal" again. And that's another thing, if you've been smoking for 20 plus years, you don't know what normal is anymore. How can you? You're not beating the hell out of your body coming up from the nicotine, then crashing back down, up and crash up and crash all day long.
I still missing smoking mainly because I never WANTED to quit... I had to quit for reasons I wont go into here. I walk past smokers outside and it still smells wonderful but I haven't had any cravings for one in a few weeks. When I do have a craving, it passes quickly.
My wife asked me the other day if I felt better since I quit and I can also honestly say that…no, not really. At least not yet I don't but I know its coming. As I said on day 50, after going through what I've had to go through to get to this point, I know I will never ever smoke again. It might be a good thing because if I was easy, I might have a harder time warding off the temptation that I will encounter for the rest of my life.
Good luck everyone, keep with it and you'll get past it. I'll try to pop back in around the 6 month mark for another update.
Quitting sucks but it does get better.
The anxiety issues are still there but nowhere near as bad as they were before. I'm finding out that some of my issues are weather related because we had a stretch of nice warm weather here (south-east Michigan) and I was feeling great, then when winter reared its ugly head again, my off balance/chest heaviness came back.
I'm thinking that I must have always been suffering with the winter blahs and the smoking covered it up. Now I have to learn how to deal with living life clean and sober. I was having some major problems grocery shopping, having what I call mini-panic attacks in the store but those have gotten better to the point of being gone.
I'm not sure if the prescription for Celexa is working or not but I'm going to find out in another month or 2 when I start to wean off of it Someone above talked about B Complex and Vitamin C.. I started both of those around the same time as the Celexa (both are water soluble so your body will get rid of any extras that it doesnt need). Don't know if it helped but it sure as heck didnt hurt anything.
The insomnia is gone for me. That's been about 3 weeks or more since that cleared up. I tried both Ambian and Lunesta and all either one did was knock me out for a hour or 2 and then I was back up dealing with no sleep. I started reading in bed before going to sleep and also started taking the melatonin supplement. I think that my body just had to learn how to sleep again..
If you are having problems and have a family doctor, go to them and get some help. If you don't have a doctor, find a health food store and talk to them about supplements to help with stress, anxiety, moods swings ect. I discussed supplements with my doctor while he can't give any "scientific" information on them, he does not discount them. There are things available to you to get you over the hump.
I don't think the cigarettes/nicotine that we are trying to quit are the same ones that my uncle and grandfather quit over 30 years ago. If they are, then unc and gramps are just a heck of a lot stronger than I am and I’m just a big old sissy :o)
Try keeping a chart with your progress. It might sound dumb because I thought it did but every morning I mark the day off and it does make me feel like I've accomplished something.
I work with an ex-smoker (over 2 packs a day for 20+ years) who quit. He said that he felt like I did, off-balance, sick, panic for 6 plus months before he started feeling better. He said it was over a year before he felt "normal" again. And that's another thing, if you've been smoking for 20 plus years, you don't know what normal is anymore. How can you? You're not beating the hell out of your body coming up from the nicotine, then crashing back down, up and crash up and crash all day long.
I still missing smoking mainly because I never WANTED to quit... I had to quit for reasons I wont go into here. I walk past smokers outside and it still smells wonderful but I haven't had any cravings for one in a few weeks. When I do have a craving, it passes quickly.
My wife asked me the other day if I felt better since I quit and I can also honestly say that…no, not really. At least not yet I don't but I know its coming. As I said on day 50, after going through what I've had to go through to get to this point, I know I will never ever smoke again. It might be a good thing because if I was easy, I might have a harder time warding off the temptation that I will encounter for the rest of my life.
Good luck everyone, keep with it and you'll get past it. I'll try to pop back in around the 6 month mark for another update.
I want to thank you all for your information ..... I recently quit smoking my self and have been sick ever since . I thought i was never going to get over it . I feal so much better knowing im not the only person . thank you all once again it was so helpful reading your post here!
Thank you all so much for your post, finding out I'm not alone.
Hi all, just so glad I've found this site. I quit smoking 8 weeks ago after 30yrs of a pack or more a day, first 2 weeks were fine, cravings were'nt as bad as I thought they were going to be but then I got sick. Started with headaches, chills and a sore throat and since then it seems to be one thing after another. I've had intermittent bouts of diahorrea, feel generally anxious about my health to the point where I feel there must be something seriously wrong. I've never been a person to get ill but I seem to be becoming obsessed with my health at the moment and I hate it.
I've been to the docs and had bloods done, they all came back fine, doc seemed to dismiss my idea that feeling generally ill was related to not smoking, went back and saw the practice nurse because I've now developed bleeding gums and a horrible metallic taste in my mouth all the time, she glossed over it and as soon as I mentioned I drank quite a lot of fizzy drinks started lecturing me on the dangers of becoming diabetic, did my blood sugar which was high but I'd just had a drink, just feel that nobody seems to understand.
I'm so glad now that I'm not the only person to feel this way, I've no desire to start smoking again, I've gained weight but I can deal with that and I really love having the extra cash in my pocket, just knowing that I'm not alone has made me feel better and more positive, I will be coming back here for a moral boost whenever I can.
I've been to the docs and had bloods done, they all came back fine, doc seemed to dismiss my idea that feeling generally ill was related to not smoking, went back and saw the practice nurse because I've now developed bleeding gums and a horrible metallic taste in my mouth all the time, she glossed over it and as soon as I mentioned I drank quite a lot of fizzy drinks started lecturing me on the dangers of becoming diabetic, did my blood sugar which was high but I'd just had a drink, just feel that nobody seems to understand.
I'm so glad now that I'm not the only person to feel this way, I've no desire to start smoking again, I've gained weight but I can deal with that and I really love having the extra cash in my pocket, just knowing that I'm not alone has made me feel better and more positive, I will be coming back here for a moral boost whenever I can.
@sharialanta
congratulations on your quit.
dont worry, ....i have been going thru the same feelings as you and its been 6 months since i quit... and i like knowing that others on here have had same troubles is good thing to know coz we are not alone in this...
most of us quitters have to go thru many if not all kinds of weird symptoms one by one and this seems to be a depressing thing. So dont let it depress you.. you been smoking a long time and it takes time for the body to re arrange its circuits. drink loads of water and take vitamins and do some deep breathing exercises( as in yoga).the nausea comes and goes and so does the bad taste and this can go on for a long time..months even an year or more but you will heal....only thing is that you and we dont like the rough time the healing process demands... and yes we didnt expect to fall sick after quitting a bad habit.!the gum pain and bleeding will also heal in time. i had the same..it comes and goes still...but its not as bad as before.
put a clove in your mouth if you feel a sick taste in the mouth.it also helps heal gums.
do not change to a totally fat free diet "suddenly"...rather.. cut down gradually over a few weeks... and even then take a little of every kind of food... ( sudden changes in diet can make you fall really sick too) but avoid consuming fried and greasy stuff as a meal...drink soups instead. drink lemon to help you digest.
REMEMBER ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.... play havoc with digestion and will definately make you feel weaker, fatigued and sicker.
its could be a while before you feel perfect again..so settle in for the ride.. you WILL beat these troubles finally... just stick to healthy habits.
cheer up and go and do stuff that you love...laff a lot.... and enjoy things you like doing.
keep yourself busy!
take care and godbless. :-D
congratulations on your quit.
dont worry, ....i have been going thru the same feelings as you and its been 6 months since i quit... and i like knowing that others on here have had same troubles is good thing to know coz we are not alone in this...
most of us quitters have to go thru many if not all kinds of weird symptoms one by one and this seems to be a depressing thing. So dont let it depress you.. you been smoking a long time and it takes time for the body to re arrange its circuits. drink loads of water and take vitamins and do some deep breathing exercises( as in yoga).the nausea comes and goes and so does the bad taste and this can go on for a long time..months even an year or more but you will heal....only thing is that you and we dont like the rough time the healing process demands... and yes we didnt expect to fall sick after quitting a bad habit.!the gum pain and bleeding will also heal in time. i had the same..it comes and goes still...but its not as bad as before.
put a clove in your mouth if you feel a sick taste in the mouth.it also helps heal gums.
do not change to a totally fat free diet "suddenly"...rather.. cut down gradually over a few weeks... and even then take a little of every kind of food... ( sudden changes in diet can make you fall really sick too) but avoid consuming fried and greasy stuff as a meal...drink soups instead. drink lemon to help you digest.
REMEMBER ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.... play havoc with digestion and will definately make you feel weaker, fatigued and sicker.
its could be a while before you feel perfect again..so settle in for the ride.. you WILL beat these troubles finally... just stick to healthy habits.
cheer up and go and do stuff that you love...laff a lot.... and enjoy things you like doing.
keep yourself busy!
take care and godbless. :-D
Thanks so much for the reply, will definately take your advice, going away for a week now so hopefully the rest and fresh air will help.
Hi All,
Thought I'd post again, I quit April 15th 2010, so I've just passed my first year smoke free!!! I posted back in May last year (from memory) I was having the same quit symptoms. One year later I feel considerably better. Its difficult to say at what point did I notice, over the months I just feel healthier. I gained weight which i am now shedding which again helps boost my general feeling. I was lucky quitting cold turkey and not really feeling cravings (I was 3 packs a day). All I can say is 1 year later I feel better, and wont be lighting up again. If anyone wants to talk send me a message.
Mike.
Thought I'd post again, I quit April 15th 2010, so I've just passed my first year smoke free!!! I posted back in May last year (from memory) I was having the same quit symptoms. One year later I feel considerably better. Its difficult to say at what point did I notice, over the months I just feel healthier. I gained weight which i am now shedding which again helps boost my general feeling. I was lucky quitting cold turkey and not really feeling cravings (I was 3 packs a day). All I can say is 1 year later I feel better, and wont be lighting up again. If anyone wants to talk send me a message.
Mike.
@mike7883uk
Congratulations on your 1 year quit!! am glad to hear that you are feeling better and healthier.if you could share the symptoms you faced during the year it would be nice and good for those going thru the same. let us know what all you overcame thru your 1 year journey. thanks!
Congratulations on your 1 year quit!! am glad to hear that you are feeling better and healthier.if you could share the symptoms you faced during the year it would be nice and good for those going thru the same. let us know what all you overcame thru your 1 year journey. thanks!
My symptoms included, no energy, tired all the time but when trying to sleep i would wake several times a night. My stomach felt bloated, and i had awful gas. I experienced strange ache's and pains around my torso/back area and my mind really did work overtime thinking the worst. My gums were always bleeding, and seemed to have a stuffy nose all the time! I gained weight which was annoying but everything seemed to become easier this year. I'm losing the weight and everything else seem's fine now. I was lucky the withdrawl was fine for me, from 3 packs a day to nothing and i found it easy. The withdrawl your body goes through was tougher than the addiction. Anything else I can tell anyone please just ask.
Thanks,
Mike
Thanks,
Mike
@mike 7883uk
thanks for sharing the information.
i am on month 6 and still feel fatigued most of the time. specially in the legs and sometimes getting up also takes an effort. at other times which are fewer, i am a full of energy . i had lower back ache which increased since the weakness and fatigue set in. how long was it till your fatigue left you completely??
at month 6 i have strange tummy pains like little cramps in the upper abdomen left and right side and some times lower. a few weeks ago i had a dandruff and itch in the scalp which i usually never have and also itchy /mild burning eyes for about 3 -4weeks also my body felt itchy but rashes didnt break out. i dont know if was the side effect of cholestrol meds that i took for a couple of weeks( i stopped them after two weeks of discomfort and i think the side effects take time to go away in case a med didnt suit you)
breathing is a lot better...apetite is OK ..so lets hope all else will get better soon.
thanks for sharing the information.
i am on month 6 and still feel fatigued most of the time. specially in the legs and sometimes getting up also takes an effort. at other times which are fewer, i am a full of energy . i had lower back ache which increased since the weakness and fatigue set in. how long was it till your fatigue left you completely??
at month 6 i have strange tummy pains like little cramps in the upper abdomen left and right side and some times lower. a few weeks ago i had a dandruff and itch in the scalp which i usually never have and also itchy /mild burning eyes for about 3 -4weeks also my body felt itchy but rashes didnt break out. i dont know if was the side effect of cholestrol meds that i took for a couple of weeks( i stopped them after two weeks of discomfort and i think the side effects take time to go away in case a med didnt suit you)
breathing is a lot better...apetite is OK ..so lets hope all else will get better soon.
Quit Smoking 1 year and 2 months ago cold turkey after 40 a day from the age of 17-28.
Day 1: Test it out (Lasted) wasn't so bad just kept busy
Day3-5: Hanging out didn't know what to do with my fingers.
Day 5:10: ENGERGY BOOST excited and joined the GYM it was like I was on a 5 days stink on SPEED Felt heavenly.
Day3-5: Hanging out didn't know what to do with my fingers.
Day 5:10: ENGERGY BOOST excited and joined the GYM it was like I was on a 5 days stink on SPEED Felt heavenly.
Day 10+ I got sore throat for a week.
6 months+ Still reaching for a cigarette in the glove box for a smoke when things get stressful.
12months+ When a little bit of stress kicks in I feel like buying a packet of smokes and also after
a couple of glasses of red wine.
I am considering starting again for the pure fact.
Life is SHORT, Cigarettes were my best friend and I enjoyed life on them gave me time to sit down and think whether it was pro - active or not who cares. I miss them dearly.
Hmmm. Maybe I am depressed. When you quit smokes you will miss them the rest of your life simple.
Every stressful situation is a FIGHT against having a smoke.
Anyway thats my thought!!!! Just needed to let that out!
I know this thread is old but I feel Like I have lost my best friend !!! I've been so depressed Like why do i even care but reading the other posts have given me hope not to mention my lips and skin is clearing up and I no longer smell like Assitol LOL i'm delirious sorry!But I am glad that we are all here together supporting each other ! HORRAY TO THE QUITTERS!!!!!
@an27168
The honest answer is i dont know when the fatigue completly disappeared. I started loosing the weight i gained in January, and feel more energetic!
I also had ab/stomach cramps I think its our bodies way of detoxing and coping without the chemicals.
To the above posters the only small part of advice i could give is try reading the Allen Carr easyway stop smoking book, thats how i quit and it de-constructs why we think we smoke and what the tricks are, it has a high success rate and even though you have now stopped it might still be worth reading.
Mike
The honest answer is i dont know when the fatigue completly disappeared. I started loosing the weight i gained in January, and feel more energetic!
I also had ab/stomach cramps I think its our bodies way of detoxing and coping without the chemicals.
To the above posters the only small part of advice i could give is try reading the Allen Carr easyway stop smoking book, thats how i quit and it de-constructs why we think we smoke and what the tricks are, it has a high success rate and even though you have now stopped it might still be worth reading.
Mike
@mike7883uk
thanks for the feedback.
i think this is a good place for all of us to meet up and support each other.
smoking is a hard habit to kill but kill it will if you dont quit. i quit alcohol also an year ago so i guess i have mixed withdrawls. i was a moderate to heavy drinker for 15years.i was a heavy smoker for 23 years and so i know i have some more time ahead to ride it over but i do see the end of this tunnel and have learnt to get around some of the symptoms.
i can see clearly that most of my strange body reactions only started after i quit smoking. so i think quitting smoking has to do with it more than alcohol withdrawl.If anyone is having alcohol withdrawl symptoms after an year,do share with us. thanks!
cheers all and stay smoke free!!
thanks for the feedback.
i think this is a good place for all of us to meet up and support each other.
smoking is a hard habit to kill but kill it will if you dont quit. i quit alcohol also an year ago so i guess i have mixed withdrawls. i was a moderate to heavy drinker for 15years.i was a heavy smoker for 23 years and so i know i have some more time ahead to ride it over but i do see the end of this tunnel and have learnt to get around some of the symptoms.
i can see clearly that most of my strange body reactions only started after i quit smoking. so i think quitting smoking has to do with it more than alcohol withdrawl.If anyone is having alcohol withdrawl symptoms after an year,do share with us. thanks!
cheers all and stay smoke free!!
just an update. i quit 14 months ago.
no more ill effects from it. i can say that i'm finally feeling really good. damn good in fact.
so hang in there. the unbelievable feeling of accomplishment is fantastic.
no more ill effects from it. i can say that i'm finally feeling really good. damn good in fact.
so hang in there. the unbelievable feeling of accomplishment is fantastic.