Quit smoking leads to severe digestion problems...

Um...I have never read such absurd stuff in my life. Of COURSE this is from stopping smoking...lol..omg please whoever writes that this is "life"...yes people it is a fact that nicotine DOES in fact stimulate digestion and thus when the very powerful drug is taken away the opposite effect is achieved. Good grief.

This has been going on for me now for 2 months and I cannot stand it..Also , heed this, exercise will NOT in fact cure this my dear because it has nothing to do with it. And in fact exercise will NOT help you achieve weight loss as it is not designed for that. Don't believe me....? The latest scientific studies done have proved it...period. Still don't believe me? Exercise your ass off for the next two weeks and see yourself gain weight...why? Yes it will change the composition of some parts of your body but ultimately your body is getting the signal to store fat when you exert it like that....the best thing to do is simply be more active....walk around more, move more, sit less etc.....

I am taking HCL tablets and digestive enzymes and probiotics with every single meal and still I am in bad shape. I am eating NOTHING but protein and good carbs and still in bad shape. I have gained 20 lbs in a matter of months and my life has never ever been worse. God this sucks.

P.S. All these ppl giving advice to eat more fruit? Stop it. If you are not going to the bathroom people the LAST thing you want to do is add in food that ROTS in your stomach. Jeez please do some research before posting this ridiculous stuff.

I recently quit smoking 2 weeks ago after 30 years..The stopping smoking has been a piece of cake compared to The constant heaviness and bloating I'm now dealing with. I had known others who had quit over the years but no one prepared me for this!! Thank you to all who have expressed your issues here, this seems to be a common thing. I have yet to know what triggers my bloating and constipation but I'm going to start logging what I'm eating. I have found drinking Prune Juice at night has helped and also taking  PROBIOTIC'S which helps digestion. You can find it at any drug store in the laxatives Isle.
I love my coffee it seemed to always help me when I was a smoker but I'm hearing that coffee hurts not helps is that true? I hate to hear that if it is. I gave up one of my favorite habits I would hate to have to give up the other also :) although I only drink 1 or 2 cups a day now.

I smoked for thirty years. When I could quit, I would get horribly constipated, so I would start smoking again. In 2011, I was determined to quit, despite all the harsh digestive effects. Back in May/June, I did quit. But I would, as expected, end up constipated, so I started to self-medicate using cigarettes. When things returned to normal after a week or so, I would quit again. Constipation would return, so I could smoke again for a week. But something happened ... I developed severe digestive issues. Everything you are talking about here - severe bloating, gas, diarrhea, you name it. On top of that, severe bowel urgency. It's been six months and it's affecting every area of my life. I can't even leave the house anymore without a LOT of careful preparation and even then, I don't know when and where the urgency will strike. Any disruption in my life can create that urgency, and my system is all out of whack and very, very painful. I had a colonoscopy three months ago and all is clean and clear. My doctors just shrug and say it's IBS. I am 47. I walk/jog 3 to 5 miles every day. I am in good shape and good health. But this has taken all the fun out of life. Every day now is just a struggle and I'm rapidly losing any confidence that I will get my life back. Thank you for posting your stories here. It's good to know I'm not the only one.

You sound like my twin....I have talked to three different doctors and they act like I am crazy....even the gastro dr just seem to dismiss it like it is nothing.....I am afraid to go anywhere..nothing seems to help

why would quitting (smoking) ever hurt or is it like a wrong love that you cannot let go? My opinion is- it is all in your mind (oh I'm being sarcastic here). Quitting smoking cannot harm you in any way, at least I want to believe, since smoking itself is dangerous and poisonous and so on, how would quitting hurt? We can go on and explain from a chemical point of view of addictions and so on...blah blah blah, but please let us remember that not smoking is one thousand times healthier than smoking! And I am not undermining your health problems. Anytime I quit smoking even for a day I feel 100% better, not as tired, can breath a lot better, voice sounds less irritated, stomach feels awesome, (smoking cases indigestion too and messes with your appettite), food tastes so good. I have rediscovered the real taste of ice-cream after smoking for years, again...hold on a litlle longer and you will feel a lot heathier at the end of the day.

I am 32 years old and have quit the habit 2 months ago.  I am currently suffering from Bloating, Diarrhea, Gum Bleeding, Skin Problems, Fatigue, Nausea, and Insomnia.  Feels like I will be joining my creator soon.  I also started developing anxiety that worsen my situation now.  Before, quitting I am smoking more than a pack a day for almost 19 years and have no idea that you have to pay the price of quitting.  But now I am a little bit relieved knowing that others are facing the same ordeal.  Unfortunately, the way my body reacts on the quitting process, I don't know if I can push further and the sad part about it is that I will relapse not because of the urge but because I want to bail out from further stress and sickness.  Hope I can cross the finish line.  I need prayers. 

I quit smoking in 2009 after 13 years. I suffered intense stomach cramping, bloating and constipation for almost a year. I have always been very careful with what I eat (am a vegetarian) and have always exercised regularly. Then I started long distance running which helped boost my metabolism and took the focus off quitting smoking and instead I focussed on how far I could run now with my new clean lungs! Last October I had a cigarette while on vacation and that was it, I was back to smoking again. I was pretty disappointed with myself as It had been so hard to quit and my two years of non smoking just went down the drain. I am on day 7 of my second time quitting smoking cold turkey and again started suffering from digestion issues. I looked like I was pregnant, I was that bloated! Went to a health store and picked up a good probiotic geared to replenishing the healthy floras and after about 3 days of taking 2 a day I am feeling MUCH better. Next weekend I am planning on doing the wildrose cleanse to detox the remaining toxins in my body and the supplements are really good at getting the colon and liver working efficiently. To all my fellow non smokers, there will be a moment months or years from your quit day where you'll be tempted to "just have one". DON'T, with cigarettes one is too many and a thousand aren't enough.

Hang on there... I am on day 117, son it'll be 4 months. I get different symptoms every other week and sometimes I feel like giving up already. My biggest problem is my head, it's been dizzy and hard for my eyes to focus everyday. I couldnt even drive or go out of the house. But I don't wanna go back to smoking, Hope we feel better soon.

Like you, BJO, I managed to quit successfully only by vaping, about one year ago. At the same time someone near to me was dying, and the reflux and gas that accompanied quitting tobacco I assumed was related to stress, but it never went away, and over the last few months has worsened! I read in an online medical journal article about ulcerative colitis that tobacco cessation can be a factor....agree wholeheartedly that the medical community should be more aware of this side effect of quitting and investigate it. VERY uncomfortable! Yesterday I experienced rectal bleeding which I'm assuming has to do with the irritation of the lower bowel, because I have had repeated attacks of diarrhea. Will try an herbal cleanse and have been wanting to try acupuncture, thanks for the tip.

wow, i am amazed, I never knew, I have never wanted or had the desire to quit, but now I am terrified...I am so sorry for all of u and also so proud of each of u..but me doing the cold turkey thing my future daughter in law quit and she is having these exact problems at the age of 26, bless her heart. I will definitely tell her about the excercise/herbal cleansings/accupunture...TOTALLY believe in accupunture, as i have treatments for my migraines and it has worked miracles for that, so maybe...one day..GOD bless ya'll - good luck and thank you for all of the heads up

I hope you haven't started back smoking because of the digestive problems, sure do hope all has balanced out for you...I am 56 and am on my 25 th day without a cig, I have been having awful problems with gas...never even heard of this side effect from anyone until now. have been told that it will not last more than 6mos hope this is true.

I quit smoking for maybe the 10th time almost one month ago. Pretty much the only reason that I ever started back again was because of the severe digestive problems. Same as everyone else pretty much - severe stomach bloating, gas,constipation etc...not to mention that a few times I have gained upwards of 20 lbs within two months time. Even if I dieted strictly when I quit, I still could NOT lose weight and the digestive problems still hit me.

Its gastroparesis!!! look it up. the same thing happened to me after I quit. It's a nightmare and only gets worse

Yes you can call its form of gastroparesis only because the stomach does not have the ability to empty its contents. It's because of some damage to the nerve that the chemicals do while smoking. It is the nerve that tells the stomach to move food down and the same nerve that tells the intestines to move food out.



However, it is NOT permanent and NO it does NOT "only get worse". Please get a grip and stop scaring people would you? That is ridiculous.

Some good info on here, thanks all.

Am 6 months into quitting and still have the symptoms everyone else describes. Im 29 now and was smoking pretty much 40 a day since the age of 14.  Over the last 6 months I have put on one belt size (i have no idea how much that is in fat) although that could be because i drank more Alcohol to make up for my cravings. (I thought drinking and not smoking would be impossible, turns out it was a suprisingly affective way of making my cravings go!)



Although not fully cured these things have helped me feel much better, you might find them useful too -



Symptoms              Supplement

GERD               -      Omeprazole (prescription) and the occasional Rennie antacid. Gaviscon.
Bloating           -      Reenie Deflatine, Swanson Digestive Enymes and Probiotics (All of these work very well)
Constipation    -      Fybogel Drink - my digestive system LOVES this stuff. - my breakfast used to be a couple of cigarettes!



Daily Diet

 - Breakfast      -      Fybogel Drink usually alongside a large bowl of fruit salad.
 - Lunch            -      Hummous with Carrots/krisprolls ( Remember Krisprolls next time at the supermarket - AMAZINGLY HEALTHY)
 - Dinner           -      Usually Chicken Stir fry with Fresh Chicken and Veg or a Tuna/Salmon dish. Or Chicken/Veg Soup.
 - Snacks           -     More Fruit Salad! Banana (great for constipation too) Ma Baker Giant Bars (Delicious and Healthy)

 - Vitamins         -     Super One Formula by Holland And Barrett.



WATER IS NUMBER 1

I smoked for 14 years, i NEVER drank water, it was either Diet Coke or Alcohol - oddly its only since quitting i began to really feel thirsty for water, either that or another side effect is dehydration. Or perhaps smoking supressed my dehydration for so long hence all the bad quitting side effects.


I cannot emphasise enough how much drinking LOTS of water has helped me, not just reducing my quitting side effects, but with other physical and psychological problems such as dry skin, fatigue, water retention, foggy brain, depression etc ...Obviously too much could be dangerous but drinking atleast a couple of litres a day (on top of the water you get from food/fruits etc) will bring bucketloads of benefits. Also whlst perhaps certain acidic fruits (such as orange) should be avoided because of the reflux problems when quitting don't just skip the rest, a regular intake of fruit does wonders.

Breathe better, skin has more colour, can think better, more energy, dont smell., can keep it up longer ;)    .. slightly fatter ... so what!! Have the energy now to burn it off with some moderate exercise.


Cheers.
W