Quit smoking a year ago - sick ever since!

Neil wrote:

healthnfitnessguy wrote:

jayjay1979 wrote:

I was 30 at the end of July and made a promise to my partner that i'd quit before i was 30. Cigarettes and alcohol have always gone hand in hand with me all through my 20's and i started drinking and smoking more and more. So on the 13th July after getting ill from being very rundown i quit both cold turkey...ouch!!

Ugh, that's quite a feat! I wish you a lot of luck though. You will do well quitting. After three months, you'll be compeltely in the clear. Just be careful. Since the two behaviors are the same in your head, if you do one again, you'll end up doing both again. I really applaud your efforts though. I know you are gonna do great!

GOD DAMN IT!!!!!!

I feel like I am getting screwed brutally after I quit smoking...Its been like 15 odd days and I am determined not to to smoke again ever. I am 29 years old and been smoking from last 9-10 years, almost a pack everyday, then some as****e who I thought was cool introduced me to weed and it was a different world. I started smoking that on almost regular basis, but last one year I have gone mad and started smoking weed joints as normal cigarettes on daily basis, almost 4-7 rolls every day.

15 days back I realized that what the f**k I am doing and decided to quit it for good. I never got sick before and never visited doctor, but after quitting smoke of all kinds

I FEEL SICK, can't sleep in night like my heart is racing and I feel like having an heart attack, I can hear my heart beat in my brain, my head is spinning, my throat is burning and now I have acidity as well, I burp all the time . My hands are shaking and even I feel pain in my arms...WTF and yeah I am shouting on TV, my girl friend, my mom and almost everything that I see moving.

ADVISE????

TRY BOTTLED WATER, MASSAGE TURN YOU ROUNTINE TOTALLY AROUND,, MY FIRST DAY EKG,, I FELT JUST AS YOU FEELING TOOK ME LIKE 2 YEARS BUT IT GOT LIGHTER EACH COUPLE MO JUST LOOK AT IT LIKE WOW I WAS BAD BUT NOW MY BODY FIGHTING TO GET HEALTHY AND IT WILL!!! DONT GET OVERWHELMED TRY RELAX AS MUCH AS YOU CAN KEEP YOUR EYE PN THE GOLD AT THE END,, GOOD LUCK YOU CAN AND WILL GO THIS

I too had been a smoker for 16 years, recently quitting at the age of 31. I have felt horrible ever since. Digestion problems, no energy, angry and depressed. I just wish people would tell you that you may experience these things when quitting. People make it sound like quitting smoking will be a cure all and you will feel great and happy with more energy. I have also gained a bunch of weight despite working out for 1-2 hours a day, 7 days a week and counting calories. It's so depressing!

I cannot take it anymore. I had my last cig july 6th, and not even a full 3 weeks went by that i experienced the worst. I have smoked since i was 15 and i just turned 21 last week. Smoked about 10 ciggs a day to a pack. I did it for my family and for my girlfriend. This is the run down of what is going on with me.

The first few days was the common need and want for a cigg. The common urge to light one up. The I realized that i would fall asleep fine but would wake up around 5 and be up since then. Still have that going on. And as of yesterday i feel into deep depression. Today it got to the point that i feel on my knees and cried like a little baby. It hurts. I feel like nothing good is with me and as much as i want a cigg i cant do it anymore. I realized yesterday that when i found out that i will see my girlfriend that i started to feel better. So last night when i went over my girlfriends house that i felt amazing, like the depression is all gone. But then i wake up to day and its worse then i had it yesterday. Now Im experiencing heavy breath, like my lungs are really heavy. And im also having bad breath. I dont know if thats just me but i have to ask my girlfriend.

I really want to quit and i dont want to get back into smoking, but i cant deal with this bad depression. Its killing me to the point where i just want to cry, and as a 21 year old male its not something to be proud of. I really wish the depression can go away. I believe my girlfriend is my only cure. We will see when i go and see her again. 

I want to wish you all good luck and to feel better. I know this is all temporary but im only worried about this depression problem. I dont want it to stick with me.

YOU are a real Job's comforter aren't you. I can't stand people like you who jump on any bandwagon so that you can lecture someone and feel powerful. The fact is that when you stop smoking. like I did, it takes ages to feel right, It's harder than kicking heroin and yet you think that saying "you should avoid becoming addicted" that will solve everything, all it solves is your ridiculous ego. Arsehole.

There is a much earlier post I saw on this website where someone went to a GI doctor was prescribed omeprazole and domperidome and all his stomach ailments ceased. Something to do with helicobacter pylori?

Now that u have stoped smoking u must embrace q healthier life stle to make up for all the harm u have done, eat healthy and excersize drink lots of water most people who stop smoking in the first year deal with a lot of stress which actually can affect the immune system. Daily vitimins and rest as well as check ups just becuase you are not a smoker qnymore dose not mean u are not at risk for cancer. Consult your physician if you seem to have lack of appitite mood swings and low sex drive this could be depression due to change of life style

[21 August 2012] I'm 26 years old. 9 years smoking. This is my experience in quit smoking.

I quit smoking since 20 April 2012. When I stop, I was suffering food poisoning. With this opportunity I resolve to quit smoking (cold turkey). The following are symptoms that occur to me since the first day I quit smoking:

3 days - 2 weeks = abdominal pain, high fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fainting, loss of appetite, fatigue, blurred vision, loss of interest in the hobby.

As a result of all these symptoms, I did not attend the test at my college. I also vomit after I play badminton and begins to lose interest in that hobby. There was a day I feel tired all day and feel like want to die. The whole body feel cold, around me became silent, just heard my heart beat very fast.

2 weeks - 2 months = Anxiety, depression, high fever, nausea, vomiting, phlegm, sore throat, dry throat, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, lung irritation, chest tight, strong heartbeat, tiredness.

As a result of all these symptoms, I went to the doctor 2 times and tell me that I was normal but a little stress. Anxiety and depression is killing me. I feel like I want to die. Longing to cigarettes started playing in my mind. But I still managed to hold. Discomfort in my chest cause I think something strange such as lung cancer and heart disease. Perhaps this is the detox process.

2-4 months = Anxiety, shortness of breath, lung irritation, dizziness, fainting, sore throat, dry throat, strong heartbeat

At this time, I think my condition has improved. Only a few remaining symptoms. I have started doing normal activities in my college. Just short of breath and heart beat very fast that interfere with my activities.

4 months - now = Anxiety, shortness of breath, lung irritation, dizziness, sore throat, dry throat, strong heartbeat

Above symptoms often occur at night. When I try to play badminton, 5 minute play I feel dizzy and short breathe.

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In my mind now.....

1. Is that nicotine withdrawal or I have other diseases? 

2. Why such a long time and many other people easily quit smoking.

3. I smoke an average only 8 per day and I'm sure I'm not heavy-smokers. Why has not fully recovered since 4 months i quit?

My Experience for everyone – I hope it can give you some ideas.

I am 30 and smoked for 15 years - 11 years of half a pack a day – and a lot more during party nights and weekends. Everything I did revolved around smoking. Even when I exercised I compliment my body with a cigarette. Pretty much my body was accustomed to everything I did with cigarettes.

I was not familiar with the withdrawal symptoms. I stopped smoking Cold Turkey on July 12, 2012 (Thursday). The next day I felt I was floating around. On Saturday I had some serious chest pains. It was a combination of heartburn and pressure. I gave it one more day. On Sunday, the same symptoms were still there so I went to the E.R. I thought I was going to die. I was so depressed the first 3 days I barely ate anything. Like I said – I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I was not aware of withdrawal symptoms.

While In the E.R (I have NO insurance by the way) - They obviously they did a bunch of test - X-rays, blood work, Urinalysis, you name it. They didn’t see anything wrong and the doctor said it was GERD – Acid Reflux, also I never told him I just recently quit and I have never had heartburn in my life. With my heartburn I had a weird feeling in my throat. I thought it was GERD (Still was not aware of nicotine withdrawal). I was prescribed some prevacid for 2 weeks and I changed my diet.

Week 1 and 2 – This was complete hell for me. I also quit all my Coffee intake and Soda pop cold turkey -for two weeks for my GERD. I used to drink a 24ounce of Dr.Pepper and a large cup of coffee everyday for years with cigarettes. So along with my nicotine withdrawals I was having caffeine withdrawals symptoms. So it was a combination of physical withdrawal symptoms. lol

 I had nonstop chest pressure; hard of breathing, parts of my body was aching. Constipation, a weird feeling in my throat, lower abdominal pain that moved around. The most troubling aspect was the ANXIETY, STRESS, and Depression. This was the worst – the whole time you feel like you are dying. I barely ate anything because of it and also I was worried the Acid Reflux would not stop. It sucks I can’t get a full nights rest.

Week 3 – I finally stop the prevacid and started drinking coffee again. The heartburn didn’t really comeback. But I still have some chest pressure off and on. Had some weird chest pains on my top left chest. The anxiety and stress was still at an all time high making me feel like c**p.

Week 4 – Chest pains still off and on. I started to get a bubbly sensation in my pelvic area and the left oblique muscle. It comes and goes. Still have anxiety and stress.

Week 5 – I feel better but still suffering from Anxiety and stress. I can sleep better. This week I get weird pain sensations that moves around my body. It goes to my left neck, knees, pelvic region, both oblique muscles, upper back and shoulder. Some muscle twitches and rumbles at times – weird.  Anxiety and Stress – still there.

During all this anxiety and stress I lost 12 pounds in 3 and half weeks because of my diet change. I am maintaining the weight now because i am not on the oatmeal, banana and tons of water -  GERD diet.  But my stomach kind of reset and now I have a less of an appetite. I am still having weird sensations in my parts of my body.

I smell better now at least and I get so disgusted by the smell of smoke now. And with all my health anxiety I get – I will never smoke again. I know I am only 39 days in but the anxiety and stress is the hardest part. I think that’s the main reason I get weird feeling off and on. I am hoping I feel back to normal soon. I wish all the best for the new quitters out there. 

This thread was a godsend.  Thank you to everyone who has posted here to share your experiences with cigarette withdrawl.  I thought I was alone.  Nobody ever told me it would be like this.  I heard “Food will start tasting better” and “Your sense of smell will improve” and “You’ll feel so much healthier"

Nobody said, “You will feel like you’re dying.  Every system in your body will violently revolt against you.  You will question your sanity, and even reality.”  That is how it feels.

I’m a male in my mid-30’s.  I smoked a pack a day for 17 years.  My last cigarette was June 10th of 2012, and it currently has been 2 months, 14 days, and 15 hours since my last cigarette  ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** web addresses not allowed*** Please read our Terms of Use

I wanted to contribute my own withdrawal symptoms and experiences in hopes of helping someone the way I was helped by previous posters.  Thanks again, you made me feel not so alone in this.

Over the past two months, I’ve had spikes in blood pressure (going as high as 185/115 for 30 minutes).  I’ve gone to the ER because I thought I was dying (twice).  I’ve developed an irregular heartbeat called Premature Atrial Contractions.  Even though I’ve been exercising like a manian and eating healthier than I ever have, I’ve put on 10 lbs and have not been able to take it off.  My food seems to take longer to digest and I have indigestion more than ever in my life.

I’ve come to realize that most of the above is caused by every day stress that I suddenly have a hard time dealing with.  I don’t feel overwhelmed, or anxious, or panicky, however, I don’t feel right.  I was a member of the US military.  I’ve been shot at, and at times knew that there was a very good chance I could be killed or maimed.  I never felt stressed in those situations, or really any other situation my entire life until I quit smoking.  My doctor said it could be since I always had my cigarette crutch my entire adult life, I never learned how to deal with stress as an adult without it.  Add to it my change in diet and increase in exercise, my body is trying to find a new rhythm and way to work, and that will take some time – again, according to my doctor.

Over two months into it, and I still don’t feel as good as I did when I was a smoker.  I’ve gone through some serious $#!+ these past few months – enough to make me NEVER want to smoke again.  Thanks to previous posts, I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  I’ll post again in a few months, and hopefully my experiences can help someone else get through it too.

In the meantime, feel free to message me if you need words of encouragement or want to talk to a kindred spirit.

Good luck with your quitting, you’ll need it…we all need it.

Wow...I'm so happy I found this site.

My last smoke was June 17th 2012. For the first 2 weeks, I was on patches and used the inhaler at time. I felt good and happy about stoping.

BUT, 2 weeks later, I decided to stop the patch as I found it was not sticking very well and simply use the inhaler.

At 3 weeks, I started not feeling well urinating...just a bad sensation. well during that week I was rushed to the ER and found I had a Kidney Stone. They gived my some anti-inflammatory for 1 week and told me it would soon get out naturaly. It did 1 week later and I stopped my anti-inflammatory.

At 4 weeks (just after the kidney stone), I was not felling well : Stomac pain, nausea (specially when waking up in the morning), dizziness. I also started to feel depressed...thinking about things and then just cry. I was never like this.

At 8-9 weeks, I was still having these symptoms so I decided to see my doctor. She said that it should be a mix of Nicotine withdrawls and the fact that I took anti-inflammatory. So she told me to take some PANTOPRAZOLE for 1 month. She also gived me WELLBUTRIN for the depression (but i didn't start them yet).

Well...I didn't know that it was so hard to stop. Not for the nicotine but for what your body goes through. My body really is affected by this. I'm 44 and I've been smoking for 28 years... I thought I was alone having these symptoms.

Now I'm on my 11th week and my stomac/nausea are getting better but I still feel depressed at times...and for no reasons (specially in the morning)

Mornings are the worst.  It makes me angry that the stop smoking sites and literature does not talk about the ongoing symptoms of smoking cessation.  They make it sound like the worst thing is the initial cravings.  Those were nothing compared to the dizziness, stomach problems, skin problems, anxiety, depression etc etc.  Doctors are not informed either.  When I had a panic attack after quitting I wound up in the ER.  I told them I had quit smoking, but they did not put 2 and 2 together.  But they did test me for illegal drugs and alcohol.  Why aren't doctors being educated as to how to help someone quit smoking, and what are normal quitting problems.  It really makes me wonder how many people have committed suicide because they quit smoking and nobody told them it was normal to be depressed and possibly suicidal after quitting. 

I am totally in tune with you. I went through all the same symptoms as you are describing. I quit on 24th June 2011 cold turkey and I can honestly say it took a good 9 months before I started to feel better. I still have some anxiety and depression but the craving has gone completely. I think those who say they are helping you to quit don't tell the truth because it would put people off trying to quit.

Fiona491 wrote:

fijibroad wrote:

Mornings are the worst.  It makes me angry that the stop smoking sites and literature does not talk about the ongoing symptoms of smoking cessation.  They make it sound like the worst thing is the initial cravings.  Those were nothing compared to the dizziness, stomach problems, skin problems, anxiety, depression etc etc.  Doctors are not informed either.  When I had a panic attack after quitting I wound up in the ER.  I told them I had quit smoking, but they did not put 2 and 2 together.  But they did test me for illegal drugs and alcohol.  Why aren't doctors being educated as to how to help someone quit smoking, and what are normal quitting problems.  It really makes me wonder how many people have committed suicide because they quit smoking and nobody told them it was normal to be depressed and possibly suicidal after quitting. 

I am totally in tune with you. I went through all the same symptoms as you are describing. I quit on 24th June 2011 cold turkey and I can honestly say it took a good 9 months before I started to feel better. I still have some anxiety and depression but the craving has gone completely. I think those who say they are helping you to quit don't tell the truth because it would put people off trying to quit.

It would probably discourage some from quitting, but it would also help people who had quit not to start smoking again. I would rather go into a negative situation knowing what to expect rather than being blind-sided.

fijibroad wrote:

Fiona491 wrote:

fijibroad wrote:

Mornings are the worst.  It makes me angry that the stop smoking sites and literature does not talk about the ongoing symptoms of smoking cessation.  They make it sound like the worst thing is the initial cravings.  Those were nothing compared to the dizziness, stomach problems, skin problems, anxiety, depression etc etc.  Doctors are not informed either.  When I had a panic attack after quitting I wound up in the ER.  I told them I had quit smoking, but they did not put 2 and 2 together.  But they did test me for illegal drugs and alcohol.  Why aren't doctors being educated as to how to help someone quit smoking, and what are normal quitting problems.  It really makes me wonder how many people have committed suicide because they quit smoking and nobody told them it was normal to be depressed and possibly suicidal after quitting. 

I am totally in tune with you. I went through all the same symptoms as you are describing. I quit on 24th June 2011 cold turkey and I can honestly say it took a good 9 months before I started to feel better. I still have some anxiety and depression but the craving has gone completely. I think those who say they are helping you to quit don't tell the truth because it would put people off trying to quit.

It would probably discourage some from quitting, but it would also help people who had quit not to start smoking again. I would rather go into a negative situation knowing what to expect rather than being blind-sided.

That is so true.

I had the test for helicobacter pylori which can be a cause of ulcers. I had an ulcer once but it was from aspirin overuse from migraines. I did not have the helicobacter pylori show up on the test, so I was given nothing for it. Since my digestion was ruined, I was hoping it might be an answer.