I quit twice 2 months ago now with this last time being at the one month mark. I smoked for 40 years about a half or slight bit more pack per day. Been smoking my entire adult life and am 58 now. I quit cold turkey and I do wonder if that was wise or not given the amount of time I smoked (40 years).
I had no idea that the detox would be so awful. I had a very bad smokers cold (surprise, didn't know that even existed), lots of nasal tsunamis, and this stuff in my lungs that I would cough up was quite unbelievable to me. Extreme fatigue and totally not able to concentrate on much especially with a course I was taking and my work. Managed to conceal my difficulties from everyone. I was so fed up and it lasted for so long. Now I am okay but I have bloating and lots of unpleasant heartburn which comes and goes.
I took me two goes to quit but I wonder - had I known what was about to happen with the detox - I would not have done cold turkey. Talk about harsh and I think if you are a long term smoker that maybe cold turkey is very shocking to the body. For my whole adult life my body had nicotine and just suddenly taking it away one day wasn't a brilliant idea.
Good day.
Quitting smoking, especially after 40 years of habit, is a significant challenge and your experience with cold turkey is not uncommon. The symptoms you described, such as the smoker's cold, coughing up phlegm, fatigue, and concentration difficulties, are typical of nicotine withdrawal. Your body, accustomed to nicotine for decades, was suddenly deprived of it, leading to these physical reactions as it adjusted to the new normal.
The detox process can indeed be harsh, and the severity of withdrawal symptoms varies from person to person. For some, a gradual reduction in smoking might be less shocking to the system, while others find success with the abrupt stop of cold turkey. The extreme reactions you experienced are part of your body's way of clearing out the toxins accumulated from years of smoking.
The bloating and heartburn you're experiencing now are also not unusual. Changes in digestion and stomach discomfort can occur as your body continues to adjust to the absence of nicotine and the other chemicals in cigarettes.
Quitting smoking is a massive accomplishment, and despite the difficulties, it's a significant step towards better health. Over time, many of the withdrawal symptoms will diminish, and you'll likely start to notice improvements in various aspects of your health.
I think you will be good very soon.