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stopped smoking and severe stomach bloat

By doe17637 | 363 posts, last post
Angelica Giron, MD answered this Dealing With Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms
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Guest

I can relate to this. Whenever I tried to quit smoking, I would have bloating and constipation, which I would attribute to any smoking cessation aid I was using at the time (nicotine gums, electronic cigarette, inhaler, nicotine patches). But, I now know that bloating and constipation was a direct result of smoking withdrawal, and had nothing to do with the somking cessation aid tools. I've been smoke-free for 15 days, and the only thing that helped me in strong vegetable digestive enzymes. I'm now on the patch, and vaping my electronic cigarette all day, and since I take a digestive enzyme pill every meal, I have no symptoms whatsoever. I wanted to share my findings since I myself been avoiding quitting smoking for years thinking I was allergic to smoking aid products, and I wish I had known I can use any product I want, or none....as long as I take digestive enzymes every meal, I'm fine.

Good luck to all smokers hoping to quit!!!

By the way...I'm not sure if this influences anything but I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

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bjo210152

You wrote your post over a year ago, so I doubt you'll see this response. I've become an advocate of detoxifying cleanses and acupuncture to deal with this side effect of quitting smoking. It's also possible that switching to an electronic cigarette will help you. My ENT was happy that I started "vaping" - his opinion is that nicotine is the least damaging element in regular cigarettes - no worse for you than caffeine. The electronic cigarettes did not prevent the bloating and constipation; however, my symptoms do not seem to be as intense as yours. Next time you quit tobacco cigarettes, you might try "smoking" (vaping) electronic ones instead of going cold turkey. AND, I highly recommend acupuncture to get your system back under control.
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Molly Redmon212504

I am having all the same issues as well!  With the exception of vomiting, I am experiencing the massive bloating etc...I can't lose weight around the middle and I am VERY active...walk every nite and until I stopped smoking, was blessed with an awesome metabolism!  Wore size 3 pants til a few months after i quit.  I don't want to be a 3 again really but the jiggle around my waist, no matter WHAT I do is depressing!  I have to tell you guys tho...I gained a cup and a half size in my bra after a month of not smoking and to the day it has been a year and a quarter since I stopped! :))  I would nearly trade my boobs for my killer abs at this point!  I eat a high protein, high fiber diet, but something I know I'll have to cut out is soda...this never made a difference before, but apparently everything about my body is different now!  Any advice anyone can give that they themselves have tried will be greatly appreciated.  Also, it's not just in the front, but getting worse on my entire lower body altogether, including my lower back...anyone else seeing this as well?
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kinaiscute

Wow. After finding this thread and reading all these posts, I can't help but wonder what's really going on! This issue is not being addressed or resolved for a reason! Whatever they put in these cigarettes is doing this to us so we can't stop! Today was my 8th day cigarette free and the changes my body is going through is ridiculous and way more severe than the whole withdrawl process that was explained to me. I survived the triggers and I survived the cravings...started working out again..i've always eaten healthy and these last few days i've been feeling really good about myself and my future being an ex smoker...but today the bloating and abdominal pain got so bad to the point where I couldn't focus on anything but how uncomfortable I felt and how bloated my stomach was. Then I found this site and after reading the posts laughing and crying at the same time, I went to the store and bought a pack of cigs. Halfway through my first cigarette I felt the pressure on my stomach release!! I mean it was almost instantanious! 

I'm trying to devise a plan where I can smoke juuuust enough to keep the bloating down, but not get back to my pack a day habit...at least until something definitive comes along that can really help this. I'm so disappointed because I was sooo proud of myself and what I had accomplished and what I was on the way to accomplish and now I feel like that was all taken away from me. 

These tobacco companies know what they're doing and it's not fair! They are making our bodies completely dependent on the damn cigarettes and how are we supposed to compete with that??? I'm looking forward to reading more posts and hopefully with more help.
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Guest

ive read all the posts with great interest... My stomach is big (as if pregnant) ...all the way round and my thighs good lord i dont know why?! i too have packed in smoking in september! Ok, i am eating more, but not a huge lot more! ...I walk 30-40 minutes a day, I am an active 39 year old with young children. Okay i am not a keep fit fanatic, but i am not sat down all day long either.  My stomach is bothering me now! First action is to give the priobotics a go I think.  Loved reading all the info and that other people are in same boat
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lioness55

I'm glad I found this site, I gave up smoking 7 weeks ago using an electronic cig, I too have a belly like a balloon it feels so uncomfortable with the most horrendous foul smelling red hot wind, I can see why people go back to smoking, I'm so fed up I don't know how much longer i can deal with the way my body is feeling, both my daughters have given up and they too are struggling with the bloating and fierce wind.
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Lori

I too have the exact same problem and it is very frustrating and depressing and very uncomfortable! I quit for the second time and same thing, within a few days I look like I'm having a baby any day? I can't stand it but I have to quit. Did you ever find out anything? I know this post was over a year ago but I just found your post.
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Dr N

Simple: Nicotine is a diuretic and a laxative (alcohol too) so once you quit your body is going to be a little confused until it figures it out by itself. In the meantime watch your sodium intake and drink water with lemon. Good luck and hang in there :)
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Guest

Hi I have been reading your posts with great interest! I gave up smoking 7 months ago but am so depressed about the stone in weight gain. I won't go back to smoking but really have moments when I want to to help me lose the weight. Weight gain in the past has felt very different. I feel like I'm going to pop my whole body feels swollen and full! Is anyone else experiencing this? I have been working out every day and eating 3 healthy meals a day for the last month and only lost half a pound! Any ideas for getting this moving any quicker ?
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Guest

Good job to all the hard-working aspiring ex-smokers!

For me, nicotine replacement, digestive pills, and patience were what helped with the excrutiatingly painful bloating and constipation. The pain and the pregnant-looking belly were back to normal after only 2-3 weeks. So try to resist the temptation to buy a pack for 3 weeks, and you may be amazed at how everything gets better.

On the weight issue, I read that nicotine is what keeps you slimmer when you smoke, by making your basal metabolism faster through increased heart beat, etc. So, although it's probably better not to be addicted to nicotine gums, it may assist you in managing your weight for the first few weeks, and, it's better to be addicted to nicotine gums than to tobacco. I am on nicotine replacements since I quit smoking months ago, and I haven't put on any weight yet.

Good luck!

 

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Joeymaloy

I have been quit for 6 months and I am still having the bloated tummy and gas problems. I'm really hoping it will go away but 6 months...
I sometimes think about starting again but I watched someone I care about die from lung cancer, he was only 47. I guess we have to just stick with it and hope for an improvement in the symptoms as time passes.
Smoking literally destroys your body so there is going to be an ajustment period after you stop, especially if you have smoked all your life like me (20 yqers, I'm now 37)
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Quit4life

I quit 9 months ago and am still having digestive issues along with really bad panic attacks where I can't even leave my house at times. It's pretty severe and I am suffering because I smoked soooo much before - however coughing up phlegm and digestive issues are just signs of your body detoxing itself, don't go back to smoking - you have to live through the withdrawl symptoms and hang in there. Be strong - smoking is evil and it should never have been invented.
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Guest

Hi, im really suffering at the moment from severe stomach bloat, its been going on for about 6/8 weeks, how much longer can i expect this to last ? some days its worse than others .. ..
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kinaiscute

I've seen people on this thread that are stll suffering from bloat years after quitting. I couldn't handle it. I started smoking again.
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Guest

I found some relief from supplements from a holistic doctor who muscle tests but the most relief came from the vitimin b complex supplements  I look and feel much better
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