stopped smoking and severe stomach bloat

Hi I gave up smoking 18 and a half weeks ago and to start with my stomach was horrendous. Usually I start smoking again, but not this time due to being scared off by my doctor re very likely that I would get emphysema. I tried Fennel tea and would really recommend it. It worked for me. Good luck, I know it's horrible.

I smoked for a long time, almost 20 years. Feel so much better now though.
Give up now while you still have the chance. Good luck :)

Hi Today is my 3rd day without a smoke, Yesterday I tried to zip up my jeans and it was impossible.  I am so bloated it is ridiculous. It cannot be because I am eating more or not excersing, I am glueten free and do not eat very many carbs maybe 1200 at the MOST a day.  I have never been overweight, it is not in our heads.  I cannot beleive that there are no doctors that have helped anyone on this blog!  I am going to try a few things you guys posted and will get back to this blog if I have any luck.  To all of those who want to start smoking again to stop the bloat, my mom had met. breast cancer which spread to the liver.  They had to surgically implant a port in her abdomen so they could "drain" her abdomen every week since her liver was not working anymore.  Now that is bloating, it was horribly painful to her...  We can beat this bloat, but if dont quit smoking and start back we will be facing a lot more than bloat down the line if we were to get throat, lung, or cancer of the esophogus from these bloody cigarettes.  Don't give up you can do it, will get back if any of these tips work!

 

 

Were you chewing a nicotine gum while experiencing these awful side effects ie THE GAS!

no I wasn't.

I just quit chewing nicotine gum after about 12 years. It's been about a month and a half since i quit and I don't have cravings really any more; however I have the gastrointestinal issues that are described in this thread and that is enough to make me want to start again! It's bad when you can wake yourself up from a sound sleep! 

Fortunately I bought some probiotic/enzyme pills and they really do seem to help me!! So, stay the course and don't give up!! It does get better!!!

I thought I would also add that exercise (cardio, 30+ mins 3x a week), plus between 25 - 35 grams of fiber a day are really important components of the solution. I am staying away from dairy which also might help a little bit.

I see a couple of people have mentioned peppermint capsules and fennel tea. I had really bad bloating after quitting smoking so I started taking a herbal tea called Twinings Digestif. It contains both fennel and peppermint and really helped with the bloating.

I have now given up cigarettes for 6 months and no longer have any bloating issues.

I too have tried to stop smoking many times and found the bloating/wind so severe that I started smoking again.  I stopped again 2 weeks ago, and after 3 days the bloating started again.  I was determined to try and find a cure for this - and I have found something that has worked for me at long last!  Root ginger and probiotics - I think it is more to do with the root ginger than the probiotic tablets but may be a combination of the two so am having both.  I read somewhere that ginger tablets helped - however, they didn't sell them at my local chemist, but the pharmacist suggested I make ginger tea using fresh root ginger.  I went to my local supermarket, spent 38p on a biggish piece of ginger, went home, used a half a thumbnail sized piece of ginger, peeled it, sliced thinly, put in a cup and poured boiling water over it.  Left it for 10 minutes, drank it and within the hour most of the bloating had gone.  I did the same the next day (as well as taking the probiotic tablet) and have continued each day - I no longer have the bloating/wind.  For me, it felt like a miracle - I hope if you try it, it works for you too.

I am having exactly the same problem (amongst many others) since giving up smoking. It's been 8 months since I gave up and I look about 7 months pregnant and have started waddling now. I have been reading many things online about my various problems since giving up and I realise I am not alone. I think it is just a matter of time before you start to feel the benefits of quitting and it just varies from person to person. Good Luck everyone!!!

I have stopped on the patches and gum in the past and had no side effects : )
but this time i go cold turkey with no aids at all..
BLOATED up to my eyeballs and reflux and a felling of gagging ..
i have a constant gas build up in my chest and a bloated stomach allthough the gas is all up top no gas at the rear ..
i also feel dizzy or loss of focus when have been coughing or trying to get rid of the burping :(
but when ive tried and vigorus excersize after a few mins it clears...

im constantly eating antacid tabs and gavisgon type liquids which helps a bit

I wrote on this post two years ago because I experienced the bloat and after eight days decided to go back to smoking. I'm super happy to be able to come here today and say that I found a solution and have been smoke free for a month and haven't had any bloat or even so much as a craving! I feel its my duty to share my solution with you guys. Prior to quitting I did a gnc seven day total body cleanse, then when I decided to quit I went on a water fast for three days. I drank nothing but water...like ten bottles of water a day. I don't know if the water flushed my system or what but I never had any desire to smoke. After the water fast I tried to make sure I ate plenty of fruits and veggies and to be on the safe side I occasionally drank a Epson salt and water solution to make sure I was passing the food I ate. Now I have no desire to smoke and no bloat plus I also feel healthier because I'm putting good stuff into my body rather than toxins. Just try it!!

My mother quit smoking about 5 months ago after smoking for 50 years. She cut back gradually over several months -- and then used the patch the last few weeks. She has had terrible problems - bloating, gas . . . all the posts make a lot of sense. We had been trying 1 enzymes and 1 probiotic with meals -- but that sounds like it isn't enough. Then she got so frustrated -- her doctor suggested metamucil and that seems to be working -- but she stopped everything else. Based on what I'm seeing here, we were on the right track -- she just needed to take more. This is the strangest thing.

I am 5 months free of any nicotine after smoking on and off for 40 odd years. This time has been the hardest because I have the time to think about how i feel. I get bloating if i stop using Kefir which is pro biotics to the previous posters.

I exercise for 45 minutes a day and eat half what I used to but still suffer withdrawall!

I would stay clear of shop bought pro biotics because they have to be quantifiable and exactly the same every time and will generally have only a few bacteria instead of kefirs 40 ish. if you do a search for Dom's kefir whilst remembering the site is not called this but is Australian you will find out all the info you need.You will find that people all over the world share kefir for free & if anyone is in Thailand I will also do this. just remember google is your friend.

I also forgot to mention about fennel which was used as an appetite suppressant by the Roman soldiers whilst they were marching so is well known in dealing with disorders of the stomach.

One thing i will say to all of you is do not look for an excuse to go back to smoking and remember the old adage " no pain no gain"