Quit smoking leads to severe digestion problems...

Hi, sorry to hear you are none the wiser, It's very frustrating. I know what You mean about fodmaps, extremely time consuming and wasn't the answer for me I'm afraid. I had my second round of acupuncture Monday and having felt no difference the first time I have had a couple of "good days" this week - when I say good I mean what would've been considered normal before! I'm hoping it's not just coincidence as I can honestly say I wasn't holding much hope for acupuncture but hey whatever might work ill try! He also gave me herbal tablets for bloatedness and wind the first visit so these may be now doing something too, I'm taking 4 a day. Might be worth a try for you too? Also, I've ordered the metagenix product as advised by other poster

I've heard great things about acupuncture for bloating and digestion too. I am eager to hear if things continue in the right direction from that so please keep us posted! I will go if you say it's definitely worth it. I am the one using the Metagenix Glutagenix and it's made a big difference for me. I put 1 teaspoon in a small amount of water, stir and drink before each meal. what are the ingredients in the herbal tablets? Thank you! Maybe working together we can all get some relief!

Hello again, I can't login for some reason today! Yes, I honestly didn't think acupuncture would be the answer but I've had a good week for the first time in months so we will see if it continues. I still have the belching and occasional heartburn but it isn't going on as many hours during the day plus all the other troublesome issues have eased this week too so please god! I'm back again Monday so I'll let ye know. I'm just hoping it's not wishful thinking. Some of the ingredients listed are: Chinese angelica root, wolf berry bark, tuckahoe...do you know what's in the metagenix that helps you? Aristox

The acupuncture definitely sounds promising! Where do they put the needles? L-Glutamine is the ingredient that mostly helps, I believe, but the other 2 ingredients supposedly help digestion too so I can't say for sure.

On the two occasions I've been they put them in each foot, the lower left leg, 3/4 in different sections of my stomach and one in the centre where I'd have indigestion, one on the inside if my wrist and another one above my eyebrow. Don't ask me what those areas mean. The only ones I ever feel a pinch from are the feet. The hardest part for me is sitting still after they are put in as I find it quiet boring but that's no doubt part of my problem too - the inability to relax and chill out! First time I didn't feel any benefit, second times a maybe hopefully third times lucky. I will let you know...

I find that so fascinating. All those areas are somehow connected. I sometimes have a hard time just staying still too especially when I have a lot going on that I could be doing instead. Yes, please keep us posted and I'll do the same.

Hello again, well I'm back to square one again (not sure I ever left it!). Unfortunately those few good days I had last week were short lived and everything is as bad as ever. Not sure if I gave the acupuncture a fair go but after 3 goes I did expect something so not sure I'll be going again. I feel like I'm going to go mad from the constant belching not to mention the disgusting wind and constipation. Any other ideas / solutions welcome!

I talked to an acupuncturist today. I explained what was going on with my digestion. She said she can help me but she is sure this is part of the detoxing process and all we can do is help the body to detox faster/better by assisting the liver. I have an appointment set up for next week so I guess I'll find out more details then. I figure it can't hurt to try it.

Yes the acupuncturist I went to was quite confident too at the onset but unfortunately it didn't work for me. Hopefully it might for you though. Let us know how you get on

I am 58 years old. I have been a smoke for almost 38 years. Never tried to quit. I smoked at least 20 cigarettes a day. My quit smoking journey started on the 22nd March 2015. The starting was good; I didn’t have much craving so I haven’t thought about using any nicotine replacement therapy. Time went on there started my withdrawal symptoms. Second week I started to get dizziness. The whole world was spinning in front of me. I managed for some time. Then there came my sweaty palms. It wasn’t a big deal. Then my smelling senses became very sharp. Everything started to smell very strong. Fishpond, my back yard every thing even my own pooh started to smell horrible. My taste buds have become alive. Every thing tasted so good and I got the appetite of a hungry pig. I ate quite a lot, but it didn’t last long. After four weeks I got further withdrawal symptoms. First it was a bad sore throat then, shortness of breath and bad flu like symptoms. My GP couldn’t find out the reason. He said it may be allergic condition or condition aggravated by change of climate. The above symptoms started to ease down but I started to get a very bad stomach pain and bloated tummy. To make the condition worse my rib cage was sore as if I had a big fall. It was May 22, 8 weeks after quit smoking, we went for dinner out to celebrate my wife’s birthday. The pain in my tummy was horrible. It was like as if somebody got into my with a butcher’s knife and make strips on my intestine. To add further I felt somebody tied both ends of my intestine and pumped sulphur di oxide. I cannot be released. I cannot burb or fart. One Monday morning after my 8 weeks of quit smoking I couldn’t wear my work trousers. I couldn’t button at the top and can zip only up to halfway. I was wondering how I could put on this much weight in two days. It took a while to realize I got bloated tummy. Few painful days passed. My GP couldn’t diagnose anything other than blaming my spicy food and two bottles of white wine I drink in the night. I am a big curry muncher, a Sri Lankan curry muncher. We cook two Kilos of mutton with 4 tea poons of hot chilli powder and 4 tea poons of hot curry powder in diced tomato. My GP prescribed for endoscopy and colonoscopy. Specialist couldn’t find out any reason. I was not ready to give up my curry and wine. I don’t smoke any more but what is the point in living if I can’t eat curry and wine. Any Sri Lankan man from north would agree with this statement. Then luckily I checked in Google. One good man mentioned that nicotine was the culprit about nicotine spray would help. Buscopan, De gas helped a bit, but nicotine spray helped a lot. I released lot of gas and the pain has gone down. I am almost on my 13th week of quit smoking. I am coming into terms with my body. I abused my body to the maximum and my body is taking the revenge back on me. This is the only consolation I have. I am sure I will get away from all my withdrawal symptoms and my body will pardon my abuse. Good luck all quit smokers. Jey

Hi just signing in with an update or lack of...symptoms no better, bloated etc on a daily basis. Have cut out bread to see if that helps, has maybe made 1% difference. Also bought Opti-Bac Probiotic supplements for every day as read some really great reviews on these for stomach/digestive problems. Wondered if any of your tablets have helped?

Outlander, no improvement here either. Im having a bad night after going for dinner with a friend (first time in months), only had a salad but suffering terrible wind and cramps since. Im faltering with regard to smoking recently also, wondering is it all worth it...aristox

Oh no, please don't give up! You've come so far! How long have you quit for? I'm at 7 months and am still hoping the digestion issue will resolve eventually. I have my first acupuncture appointment on Tuesday. I know you didn't get any results with that but I'm willing to try anything. I find when I eat salads or a lot of vegetables, that's when my stomach is the worst. If I eat just eggs or meat with not many vegetables it seems better. Have you ever noticed a difference in what you're eating? Karen

Its been 14months since I had a cigarette and 7 months since I stopped using efag so I definitely dont want to go back. I actually found salads agreed with me and had stopped eating all meat recently. Today I had a wrap and same thing again, had to open button on jeans within ten minutes and still feel like ill burst! So now its happening when I eat in general. Yes do try the acupuncture it may help you, I hope it does. My last resort is homeopathy which im thinking of trying next week...

I have a naturopath and have some homeopathic drops for digestion. I'm not sure what's in it but I believe it's digestive enzymes. The naturopath has recommended curcumin for bloating but I haven't noticed any difference with it. Maybe the acupuncturist will recommend something tomorrow. I'll let you know. Something has to work!