Quit smoking a year ago - sick ever since!

I was on day 61 smoke free from quitting cold turkey when I waved the white flag. I don't want to smoke, but more than that I can't continue to feel like pure death. Other than smoking I choose to make healthy decisions for my body. I eat super clean, drink tons of water, lift weights, run, Yoga, take lots of vitamins every day & I have done this for awhile. When I decided to quit smoking I had no idea what I was in for. I was prepared for the mental stuff & I did experience the sadness & anger, but when all of these horrible physical things started happening I was shocked & p****d that this info is not out there. I had severe bloating, constipation, gas, acid reflux, nausea, blood in stool, insomnia, ulcers in my mouth, bleeding gums, night sweats, stuffed nose, 2 major colds, and a huge knot in my neck that I am assuming was my thyroid. I continued my usual healthy regimen throughout my quit & well, it obviously didn't help. I also gained 10 lbs while working out 6 days a week & eating clean 1200 calorie diet! WTH?? So, I get it that it could take years to undo the harm that I have done, but I just don't think I am up for it right now. I don't do the doctor thing & I honestly don't see the sense in quitting one thing just to become dependent on something else! Right now just pretty upset that people aren't being told about this especially if the goal is to keep people from starting! Tell a teenage girl that if she starts smoking & then wants to quit she will pass gas all day long & it will smell like roadkill....sorry for being so graphic, but the whole point of this is to be honest! Maybe I will report back later when I decide what to do with this revelation of what it is to stop smoking! Best of luck to everyone that is sucking it up! I truly hope it sticks!!

HI,

I think all of us would like to know more.

How many years have you been smoking? how old are you?

Istop

I am 34. Started smoking in my late teens, but have quit before during my pregnancies and didn't have any of these issues. I am sure there is a reason for that, as well. I should have NEVER started back, but I did. This is just bizarre! It's like a poison & the only cure is more poison....UGH!!!! Everyone knows about the cancer, but they also know that people that have never smoked die of cancer all the time...they need to know how tobacco & all the junk they put in it affect every single cell of your entire functioning body! The only logical reason I can come up with is that they don't really want to deter people :(

I am 35 years old and quit smoking 8 months ago after 20 years as a pack a day smoker.

Problems started 2 1/2 months after i stopped. Severe anxiety and depression which are still occurring 6 months later. Doesn't seem to be getting any better.

The anxiety led to insomnia and for a while i thought i was going to lose my mind. Awful feeling.

Good to hear i'm not alone.

I have had depression once many years ago but not anxiety/insomnia. 

I hate this feeling.

HI jonjon,

Don't hesiate to consult about your anxiety....I did it and it help very much!

good luck

Istop

My update:

This is my 3rd month and I have experienced the following

-much less stomach/nausea/pain problems

-much less body aches

-rib pain gone -dizziness is gone

-much less mucus on my throat

-as of lately I have some a weird sensation on my face , feels like my mouth is weak –scary

-sinus issues

-weird sensations on my throat   (comes and goes)

-very very dry throat (for one day and then it’s clear for 3-4 day …then it comes back)

-flu/cold symptoms - short in duration ( they come and go)  

-vision problems

-tired

-right shoulder pain (not severe)  makes my arm to feel weak  (I have this since month 2)

-I am much more aware of my head, ears and nose temperature. That's weird 

-I think there is a cycle with my symptoms Feel really down at the beginning of the week and allot better by the end.   -scared that something terrible is wrong with me -depressive, worried-to all this hot showers and gym exercises are the best cure. 

I had none of this stuff before stopping. With some of these symptoms I learn to live hoping that some day will go away.   

Last week I had my blood work done again. Everything came back normal including my, liver, cholesterol and D vitamin levels which were off last time. Based on these results the doctor tells me that I healthy.  So far I had: MRI for head and c-spine, chest x-ray , liver ultrasound, complete blood work done. ALL came clear. 

Tomorrow will be the first day of my 4 th month.  I really hope these are withdrawal symptom. Every other week something new comes. Some symptoms go away other get worse or new ones occur.

For last 2 weeks my flu/cold symptoms kept me away from the gym. I felt to weak to exercise. Tomorrow I will start the gym routine again.  

 thank you for reading and please don't forget to share 

HI Mambuna,

Looks like it's getting better.

Like you're saying...lots of exercises will help. It prooves that nothing serious is wrong with you.

Keep on posting !

Istop

my 2nd update... yes I'm still alive! :)

So, today is 9 months and 7 days smoke free since quitting cold-turkey after smoking for about 20 years.

I "missed" out on 6800 cigarettes! Sill no desire to start again.

No more cravings at all and only light chest pains few times a week. (getting less intense also) since my previous post.

I'm feeling much better the last few days. :)

Somehow I'm glad for the months of suffering. Its making my decision to stay smoke free so much stronger as I do not want to go through this sh$t again.

Too everyone else suffering.... Hang in there. It will go away eventually and when it has passed it's all smiles. 

 

:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D

 

cant see the edit button anymore - my previous post is here:
https://www.steadyhealth.com/Quit_smoking_a_year_ago___sick_ever_since__t85171.html?page=27#1195719

Hello All...

Congrats to all who have stayed quit and those who are trying. its been over 2 years since i quit. It hasnt been easy but things started to get better for me around the 1.5 year mark. I quit cold turkey from 40 cigs a day. my metabolism freaked and tests caused me to panic and worry like hell... which threw me into a downward spiral..then one day i said..wtf..im not gonna worry and stay quit we will see and face ALL... and from that point onwards which was near 1.5 year mark i got better...... im much better and i can tell u..as Blackbirdrider said above... hang in there.. it gets better.... just rem to not worry and drink some warm water with lemon every morning :)

Godbless you all!

Hello, first off i want to say that i'm so glad i found this site !! Who ever started this discussion 34 pages ago i want to thank you.I started smoking at age 30, WHO DOES THAT? Well that was 15 years ago, i'm now on day 30 of quitting. Went to the doctor today with basically every symptom everyone else has had. Before the doctor came in i talked to the nurse and told her that i quit smoking feb 8 and the first words out of her mouth was i may feel like hell for the next 6 months! She said it's going to take sometime for my body to get all the toxins out, but she said DON'T START BACK UP! I made it this far, hell i'm the one that put my body through that for 15 yrs now i've got to be patient and let it heal itself. Doctor checked me for strep and was negative, but she did not tell me what the nurse said. I'm just glad the nurse spoke up, that's what made me get on the computer tonight and i found all your stories. They helped me out, thanks again. I will be back in another 30 days for updates. Stay strong people !  :)

I quit cold-turkey 1 year and 1 month today!  This site helped me through the extreme tough times, and let me just say that have have been EXTREME!  For starters, like everyone else, I had severe anxiety attacks (got rushed to the hospital several times because of panic attacks) had trouble breathing (thought they were allergies) gained that famed 20 pounds although I work out 5 days a week (and I am a vegetarian).  Chest pains, severe congestion (nose finally cleared after 5 months)...but I have not and will not pick up another cigarette again.  I have acquired a great deal of information about the quitting smoking process so I gather I will be up and down for a while until my body levels out.  I also had extreme breakouts on my face (seriously???)

Don't give up...I felt extremely terrible for 6 months after quitting.  Couldn't go outside because I thought I had severe allergies (that's just your lungs regenerating from the damage that was caused by the cigarettes....yes...you are going to experience extreme discomfort) but I am feeling better these days....I am incredibly upset at the weight gain (I am on a 1200 calories a day diet just to get rid of the weight I have gained, but it is not GOING ANYWHERE and I just want to get back into my clothes...lol)  In all honestly what's a few pounds compared to lugging around an oxygen tank and being told you have "x" amount of time to live?

It's a slow painful process but its worth it.  I am now smoke free after smoking for 25+ years!

Don't give up!

(it's people like you that have shared your stories that got me through my tough and rough times and I want to THANK everyone for it!)

 

i have quit for 1 yr 6 months now from 10-15 sticks/day for 20 years, i am 37. almost all of the common symtpons have now gone but this persistent post nasal drip has been so depressing. it's just getting worst as time goes by and no matter what i tried to treat it doesn't work and now i'm regretting that i quit. i wish i could just smoke back and get my normal life again.

does anyone here have gone through the same with post nasal drip and gotten better? how long did it last and how did you treat it?

I'm sorry to hear about your ordeal, but at the same time I understand 100%. In the future, when you are ready to quit, don't feel bad about using nicotine replacement therapy like the patch or nicotine gum for a month or two. Use that as a buffer, and a way to step out of nicotine addiction. Also, tell yourself that because you're quitting smoking you're going to allow yourself certain indulgences for a month or two - fried food, or chocolate, or good wine or liquor, or whatever your guilty pleasure is.

Don't beat yourself up for going back to smoking. Take it from me, though, quitting is worth it.

Hi all....just stopping by for an update. Well...I made it to my 8 month goal :-)...thanks to the support of this board and the posts that virtually stopped me from lighting up at my weakest times...thank you everyone (yep I read them all :).

Everything has slowly returned to almost normal. The anxiety has pretty much gone away over the last month (thank goodness). My remaining problems are mostly digestive related. Still have occassional shortness of breath but nothing I can't handle. I never did cough after quitting so for that I am feeling blessed and thankful as I coughed every morning as a smoker.

Please please please try your hardest to keep up the fight...I know it will seem impossible in the beginning and even for several months but the reward will be worth it. 5000 less cigs that I have smoked and over $1500 in savings...that's huge for someone who is currently unemployed (not sure how I would have continued to support the habit).

So keep on quitting....your body will eventually thank you for it...it just takes time.

Be back next month for my 9 month update.

Take care and be kind to yourselves!!