hi my name is ian I stopped smoking 4 months ago and still feel like i have been hit by a bus . I have pain in legs and get out of breath my doctor says that going cold turkey is the main reason . all the nicotine is leaving me after 36 years of smoking . I must admit that my skin looks better and i can breath better i just wish i felt better I have been told it will but will take time but will be worth it . i will never go back not now after all this .ALL i can say is put up and win
Ian, I quite 8 months ago and I was still a mess at 4 months. I did not start feeling better until my 6 month or so. Even now I still get shortness of breath and anxiety but not that bad. I had non of these issues as a smoker. I too quite cold turkey which I feel is the way to go. Just get it on with why prolong things with patches and such. Good luck and keep going through the posts you will see we are all in the same boat.
Keith
HI, I'M 70 YEARS OLD AND I SMOKED CIGARETTES FOR 55 YEARS. I QUIT SMOKING 13 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE BEEN EXERCISING LIKE WALKING A MILE OR TWO BUT MY BLOOD PRESSURE WENT WAY UP & IS STILL WAY UP AFTER 13 MONTHS AND I AM NOW ON THREE BLOOD PRESSURE PILLS AND OTHER PILLS LIKE CHOLESTEROL PILLS WHICH DON'T AGREE WITH ME EITHER AND NO DOCTOR SEEMS TO KNOW WHATS WRONG. DON'T TELL ME I'M NERVOUS FROM NOT SMOKING BECAUSE I'M NOT-I MISS THEM BUT NOT THAT MUCH. THERE IS NO REASON WHY I SHOULD STILL FEE BAD. MY WEIGHT IS CLOSE TO THE SAME AS WHEN I STOPPED. I THINK ABOUT CIGARETTES EVERY NOW & THEN BUT DON'T REALLY CRAVE THEM. QUITTING SMOKING IS PROBABLY THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF BUT ALL THIS BULL ABOUT HOW GREAT YOUR GOING TO FEEL IS JUST THAT BULL. THESE PEOPLE & PLACES THAT TELL YOU HOW GREAT YOUR GOING TO FEEL HAVE NEVER SMOKED. YOU SHOULD TELL THE TRUTH TO SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO QUIT. YOU WILL PROBABLY FEEL JUST A BIT BETTER & SMELL A LOT BETTER. IT'S STILL THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF & FAMILY. I AM STILL WAITING TO FEEL BETTER FOR MAYBE IT TAKES LONGER FOR ME BECAUSE I SMOKED FOR SO LONG. GIVE THEM UP BUT DON'T EXPECT MIRACLES. THATS THE TRUTH. BOB
My father in-law quit when he was 70 after 45 or so years and never had a problem. Me, I quit 9 months ago after 25 years and still have shortness of breath and anxiety which I never had as a smoker? We all heal differently I guess but I will never go back. I am slowly feeling better but not as good as I did when I smoked which is funny I find. I know in the long run I will be better off which is soon I hope? For now, I will take just one day at a time. ~Keith
I gave up smoking nearly 4 years ago because of an expected grand daughter. In one way I am glad I gave up although I have been ill since. I didn't have such shortness of breath and underactive thyroid was discovered. Also Psorisis (excuse the spelling) I can't sleep easily and feel completely worn out I get even worse anxiety attacks. Pains all over and carpel tunnel in both hands. Very painful knees and my back problem had worsened. A very painful left thigh. Weight gain and I cannot see any health benefits at all. Only good thing is that I do not smell of cigarettes now and I save money.
So you are saying that you had none of these issues as a smoker? 4 years is a long time. I can see a year or so but 4? What do the doctors say? Have you had full blood work done and a stress test? I quite 9 months ago and feel better than I did in months 3 and 4 but still not 100%. I have anxiety and SOB which I never had when I smoked so I know quitting brought these out and hope they improve soon. I can not see going through this for 4 years. ~Keith
For what it's worth, I think the body makes certain adaptations to the immune system when tobacco is introduced and some of them are to protect the body. So, when you withdraw from smoking; especially after a long time, these adaptations to the immune system stop and you get sick. Same thing with alcohol withdrawal.
Not sure if you still read the posts but did the panic attacks go away? How do you feel?
I really feel exactly like this. I am only on 15 days quitting. I have been to the hospital, all heart tests came back fine. I fight anxiety terribly and often feel I am going crazy too. I will hang in there and not be so afraid if all this feeling aweful and so weak and sick is truly temporary. thank you so much for sharing your info on your experience.
So it has now been 15 months for me and I smoked for about 40 years. I still miss cigarettes but still making the decision not to go back to smoking. I gained about 35 pounds and am finding it is not so easy at 57 to lose weight. I started having what I call anxiety after I quit and still experience it. No anxiety before. I really felt better as a smoker, LOL. If I could just get rid of the anxiety I would be so much happier.
4/11/14 Day 23 no cigarettes. Lightheadedness to a minimal and feeling much better. The anxiety has been a suprising monkey on my back. I was shocked as I never had this before. It can really cramp your style with your job and duties! It has robbed me of so much sleep and to curve this without feeding in to it and allowing myself to see a Dr for anxiety med's which show as more dangerous than helpful. I finally bought my 1st bottle of wine. I go to bed at 10 pm so at around 9:15 I start in on a half a glass of wine.
This amount was so very helpful in a good night sleep and the good night sleep resulted in a very strong work day the next day so although i would not want this to be a habit, It worked and I feel a half glass of wine before bed is better than a pack of cigarettes a day. I do not plan on drinkong wine on the week end nights and will try from time to time getting good sleep without the wine but having Anxiety my Dr said will cause major heart problems so this was my safest choice and anxiety has gone to about a 1 rather than a 10. I am finding inner peace after smoking.
funny you say felt better because I felt better as a smoker as well. I'm only at 10 months but I too have SOB and anxiety which I never had as a smoker. My anxiety happens when I start thinking about my breathing and I then get SOB so I know it's all mental. I really hope this does not stick around that long because I don't want to have to take meds to control it. I find that Calmes Forte helps a lot with the anxiety.
Just wanted to add my 2 cents as a 5 year smoker and a 10 year cope long cut chewer. I quit smoking for basic training , but continued to chew after that. I am 2 months quit, exactly, and have experienced sever dizziness, sinus pressure, forhead and head tingling, upper teeth hurt, roof of mouth pain, eyes bulging. That was been the biggest thing. The 1st day after I quit I felt like my eyes would bulge out of my head and then came the dizziness. Was diagnosed with ear/sinus infections initially, but I think that was just due to massive ear fluid buildup. I would place the chew in my upper lip, like a snuser. Recently went to an ENT and they said everything looked good, but swelling had created a vaccum in my ears. Funny thing is my face is much more slender now, especially my cheeks. Still concerned I have a brain tumor, but this sight has helped.