Everywhere you look, you will find information supporting the fact that nicotine is out of your system about 3 days after your last cigarette. For some reason they associate that timeline with how long people will experience withdrawal symptoms after years of heavy smoking.
You will hear it over and over again, that if you can just make it through the first week or two, you have it made! I am convinced that this particular misinformation plays a major role in why so many people fail in their attempts to quit smoking.
The truth is that if you have been a heavy smoker over a long period of time, you might feel like crap when you first quit.
The problem is that very few people will warn you about this part. They are so busy talking about all of the wonderful things, that they don’t mention that you may experience sadness or depression, and have absolutely no energy. Activities as basic as getting off the couch may require an act of congress!
Your gums, tongue and throat may be extremely sore, and some folks will begin coughing more than ever. You may feel achy all over, as if you are coming down with something.
Although you will hear about people gaining a few pounds, how come no one talks about the never ending ravenous feeling of hunger that nothing seems to fill?
When the doctors mention that you may feel a bit airheaded for a few days, why don’t they come right out and tell you that you might feel so distracted for a few weeks that you may do stupid stuff, like sit at a stop sign waiting for it to turn green? Or, lose the truck at Wal-Mart because you can’t remember where you parked?
Did anyone bother telling you that you may react VERY differently to caffeine after you quit smoking? You may very well have been able to swim in pots of coffee any time of day or night before, and now all of the sudden, just thinking about coffee keeps you from sleeping at night, even though you spent the entire day barely able to keep your eyes open!
Guess what? Some of these things can last well beyond a few days.
If you are not prepared for this, it can be overwhelming. You may start to ask yourself if it is all worth it.
Here is the deal though, it doesn’t last forever.
You will start feeling better.
The alternative is that if you continue smoking, you won’t get better.
Do I want you to know all of this so you will get scared out of quitting? Heck no! I just firmly believe that if you know exactly what to expect, and for how long, you can prepare yourself to face and deal with everything, one step at a time.
I have now been 100% nicotine free for three weeks!
213 Comments
I am on my 8th day and FELL LIKE CRAAAP!!
Are you still smoke free???
I am glad I found this, I almost gave up!
Take Care!
Kimzy
UUUGGHH!!! Cant spell either!
I meant, I FEEL LIKE CRAP!
Thanks Again!
Hi Kimberly,
I’m 22 days smoke free, had felt pretty good up until my 19th day…then i started to feel crappie!!! My tongue & gums are sore & my tummy is bloated…& yes everything is achy lol!!! I’m hoping on top of my feeling down that all these symptoms don’t last too much longer, i’m glad i found Crickets answers lol…nice to know i’m not going batty or that i’m not alone lol!!!!
Oh & i’m still smoke free…
Hello, fellow quitters Today is my 15th day of not smoking. The day I quit, I had been on Chantix for 2 weeks prior. It was NOT the drug for me. I stayed sick all day every day I was taking it and I am still sick with some of those symptoms PLUS the smoking withdrawal symptoms. I had a hallucination on that drug that I would not care to repeat… a terrible vivid dream while I was awake. Like ya’ll, I feel like CRAPOLA. I have been researching and it seems loads of people get sick as dogs after they quit. Why the hell nobody in the damned medical profession ever mentions this, I don’t know. My throat is sore, my tongue is swollen and sore, my voice is raspy, I have had crying jags every day, urination problems, I’m bloated like a dead whale….. my husband has been on run out of the room like hell mode for a month. It’s a wonder I haven’t killed him in his sleep my moods have been so nutty. I had so many horrible side effects from the Chantix. That is some bad drug! I had absolutely horrifying dreams every night, that is when I could sleep because it also gave me insomnia. I was afraid to go to sleep for having nightmares. And like I said, I had one daytime hallucination that still creeps me out if I think about it. I felt fine when I was smoking! I felt GREAT! I thought I’d feel better getting off the Chantix but I still have residual side effects plus the smoking withdrawal symptoms.
I just wish SOMEBODY had warned me…. had warned us!
So, Cricket… are you still smoke free? Kimberly, good luck to you!
I have quit for just over a week now after 22 years of smoking!!! I went cold turkey! I feel shit! panic attacks! nightmares! sad! moody! but……… I aint going back……….. I have quit and thats it!!
And nobody gives the right advice on stopping smoking!
Stop because you dont want your family and friends coming to see you die of throat/ lung cancer
I quit four weeks ago and still feel like crap. My chest is tight and feels like something is in my throat. But I will not go back to smoking. Does anybody have this feeling?
Hi, Charlene – today is day 91 and I feel like crap. I smoked for 40+ years. I cough, I have no energy, and am unable to exercise like I did when I smoked. I’m beside myself. I suppose I wanted to feel better immediately, but that didn’t happen. Yet.
Yes, I quit cold turkey on Dec. 8th, after smoking for 30 years… Today is Jan. 2nd (almost 30 days!) and I feel like a weight is sitting on my chest and I have a lot of phlegm (clear) constantly in back of my throat/nose. I don’t have a cough (disturbing?)… this detox is rough but Im hanging in ther
Yes I have chest pain and feel like I have the flu. I am 12 weeks no smoking after 30 years. I am with you I am never going back to smoking
Yes I do and alot of other stuff b UT I am going to hang in there. Yesterday was the first day I didn’t even think about one until later in the evening. But it passed really quick.I will be so glad when this is done and I either don’t want one are can push yhe thought out 9f my head.
I am just shy of three weeks and yes.. chest sore panic attacks and will never put a cigarette in my mouth again ..
Yes I quit like 5 weeks ago and I still have this tingling in my throat that always makes me wanna caugh but over time it does get better I will never go back to smoking
It’s been two weeks now, and for the last week, I’ve felt like crap: no energy, headaches, and I feel weak, like you do when you’ve got the flu and you’re joints and legs are all achey. I feel a little sick to my stomach in the mornings, but that might justbe me being peckish (I used to light up a butt first thing upon opening my eyes…)
Argh.
Anyone else feel like this?
Yes and that nausea I did that too.I actually think I enjoyed every side effect everyone is talking about. And I was going to ask if anyone else was coughing up that nasty crap I am and my right Ling feels soooo heavy.
MY back and legs ache, I have anxiety all the time which doesn’t help with my breathing, aftee feeling everything I have experienced so far I will never put a cigarette in my mouth again, this is just like hell…. dizzyness, feeling like you are berthing through a straw at times… sore back and muscles. . Freaking crazy.
It’s been three months for me and I feel like CRAP. I have been trying to quit smoking for three years, and this is as far as I have come so far. Three Months…and it feels like three years. God Help Us!
I don’t know if anyone is still reading these – but folks, all of you are right on!!! I’ve been quit now almost 3 months and I feel like all of you – like CRAP!! You are all right in that the medical profession plays up how good we’re going to feel and downplays how intense the detox really can be. It’s not the climbing the walls, chew your arms off kind of thing – but the body is most defnitely detoxing. I also am bloated like a whale, having GI unplesantries, raspy voice all the time…all kinds of sensations…I know what it is and that has helped. But I think you are right in that because they down play the ongoing detoxing and emotional issues, people get discouraged and say “#&!!” this and go back to smoking. I think it would be more helpful if people knew that it takes from between 6 months to 1 year for the body to release all the toxins from the muscles, tissues, organs and cells. I have been feeling quite discouraged because I don’t feel as wonderful as they said I would. I’m glad to hear people here being honest.
Its been eight years since you made that post. I amd three months quit and feel as you described. Did you stay quit….did it get better.
Hi to all well I went cold turkey after 16 years of smoking and its been 2 months but I feel crap . Sinus , blocked ear , tight chest and difficulty breathing
Good luck to all of us
Yep it is straight up hell. And I have fibromyalgia and severe stenosis and chantix also enhances my pain level and good god I sure hope I get past all this faster than a yr I can handle a few months but feel like shit.for a year can’t do that.I have heard some really great things about chantix and knew I would have some side effects but my lord was not expecting about l this iam bloated passing gas like a 400 lb dude.but better out than in as they used to say. And my knees are killing me areal swollen and the worst part though is this hacking up that nasty stuff it stinks and tastes horrible.
I wish I would have known this ahead of time. Next time I will.
Well I hope there ain’t a next time I hope you beat it and stay away from them.
hey guys and gals.. I stumbled on this when I was surfing the net. I am on day 13 of being smoke free and I wished my doctor would have told me what to expect , instead of me freeaking out each time a symptom showed up.
I can say my cravings are pretty well gone.. had the sore throat, dry mouth, a bit of a cough, fatigue, no energy.. all the stuff you are going through is normal.
One thing I would like to mention here is this : If you see a bit ..just a bit of blood in your saliva or mouth-relax.. its more likely tissue rebuilding in the throat. I had blood in my mouth 3 times.. twice to the doctor, once to the dentist.. both doctors stated it was nothing more than either a sinus infection or tissue repairing itself. the dentist poked around and found nothing out of the ordinary… so relax if this happens to you.
Another thing that amazed me is how little information / support groups there is online to tell you all the things you will go through when you quit smoking.
Anyway… CHIN UP ! It will all be worth it in the end.
just a foot note to my previous post:
The reason why doctors DO NOT tell you about all the things you go through when you have quit smoking is because they do not want to scare you into thinking you are better off smoking than to quit.
So every time something happens, we freak out and think there is something wrong when in reality… everything is fine. It’s just the body detoxing itself ( remember all those years of abuse has to be cleaned out ). But doctors for some reason or another never bother telling people that. Why ? I dont know. All I know is that for every little thing we go through, its normal detoxing.
Hi everyone,It’s been 10 days for me and I also feel like CRAP!!!! Although it’s an awful feeling I’m glad to hear that it is normal.I had the crying as well the first few days and wasn’t quite sure what was happening.
I heard that you should try some goldenseal for quicker cleansing of your system.I think I’ll give it a shot. Good Luck everyone.
Karen is absolutely right! I smoked for 12 years and am now on my 3rd month of being smoke free and I feel like crap! My lymph nodes are going CRAZY. I had a personal trainer who smoked for a really long time and she said your first year not smoking you are going to get every sickness you can think of because your body is weak broken and trying to heal. I knew about it and still thought, “Not me!” It’s worth it though. Next year I’m going to be awesome! Also what really helped me quit is deep breathing and identifying the emotions of a craving and working through them without smoking. It also made me realize that for the most part I never fully felt my emotions–I stuck a cigarette in my mouth.
I was a light smoker (1 to 2 menthol ciggies a day…up to 5 or 8 on clubbing nights which happened every 3 to 4 months on average) for 5.5 years having quit for 4 years in between that time (yeah, why did I EVER smoke again right) but I quit 2.5 months ago and I’m hoping it’s for good this time because I came down with a bad flu last month and have been hacking since.
Now I swear I will NEVER pick up another ciggie again because the detox and healing for me this time was even worse than the last time.
On the side, I have headaches and feelings of nausea but I remain strong, exercising, drinking water and including more veggies and juices in my diet. I am not going to let this phase me.
On top of that, I’ve been having panic attacks, a recent UTI (urinary tract infection) sore throat, boredom and sheer fear of dying.
But you’re right. More medics have to clue us smokers on what to expect when we decide to quit instead of just playing up the good parts because we need to know what we’re going in for or else you’re going to have one scared s**tless quit community that’s just going to go berserk. Heh-heh!
Stay strong everyone! Don’t let the ‘niccies’ bring you down!
I was a smoking for about 6-7 years, last monday i got really sick and ever since then i havent be able to smoke a cigg which i guess is good in a way, but from me now smoking i gained weight, i feel like crap, my stomache hurts,my nose is runny, i cant stop couching, i feel nausea almost everyday. i’m going to try to start eating heathly and exercise so i dont gain to much weight, but i will never touch another cigg again because i do not want to go through this ever again.
Hi eyeryone, I have been smoke free for 12 days after smokeing for 50 + years. A month ago my brother was told he had lung cancer and is now receiving chemo treatments. If you think you feel like “CRAP” you would only need one day of what he feels like to realize how lucky you are to have saved yourself from going through chemo treatments, anything you might have to go through in order to quit smokeing, the bad dreams, the sadness, the cravings and all else that goes along with it, you just might be saving your life. Good luck to all of you and keep trying.
I am glad I stumbled across this site also. I am a member of another “quit forum” but didn’t find anyone who could associate with my current situation. I quit chewing Copenhagen 19 days ago after 4 1/2 years of use in the Military. I thought this would pass quickly but it hasn’t. I think this article described how I feel to a T!!!! On and off sore throats, runny nose, headaches, aches and pains, and sudden fits of extreme fatigue! Not to mention paranoia. I never thought of or saw any signs of any cancerous or pre-cancerous areas but after I quit I got really worried about every little bump or uneven spot in my mouth. Turns out they are supposed to be there…..this is HARD but worth it!!!!
I have quit and started again quit and started again quit and started again but pretty much I have hardly been smoking at all since August maybe like two or three packs a month. Just once-in-a-blue-moon I will get away from everything and smoke. I still feel like crap. My eyes are all puffy and I have dark circles under them and sometimes I just get ‘twitchy.’ I smoked for about ten years but always on again and off again. Bill
It has been 3 weeks for me. smoke free….I have sore throats off and on, but my main concern is my tongue!! It is so sore , why??? It has been real sore the past 2 weeks. If anyone knows how long that lasts, please let me know…..I guess everyone is different, I never had headaches, and I was a heavy smoker, 2 packs a day for 22 years, I quit cold turkey and I do think that is the best way!!!
Me 55, I started smoking at 25, YES I was an Idiot, problem being I enjoyed smoking those cigarettes
for all those years that I smoked.. Ring any bells????
Then 13 weeks ago I decided enough is enough, come to think about it when I started I promised myself I would STOP
one day. God knows how many Cigs I must have smoked in that time, LOTS and I mean lots.
Like so many I had no idea about these withdrawal symptoms, as I type I feel ghastly, chest hurts, mouth is sore
I have suffered mouth ulcers for the past 5 weeks not the same one, when one disappears another comes to
taunt me. Press anywhere on my body and it feels if I am pressing on some bruise.
I feel fatigued, I have not had a decent nights sleep for weeks, my thinking pattern is bizarre, I worry about
this, I worry about that, in fact I worry about things I would not have cared about 14 weeks ago.
I feel completely different, I was once Mr Confident, now I feel inadequate.
I have NOT suffered any craving for another cigarette, in fact I almost feel cheated for not doing so,
I assumed I would, I assumed I would be pulling my hair out fighting off such cravings, but I simply
do not want one, YES I still have a head of Hair :-))
Do I feel irritable? Yes I do, have I put on weight? Yes I have, but not alarmingly, can I breath in
deeply ? YES I Can, but I could when I was smoking but without feeling ‘TIGHT CHESTED’
Is this it? I sincerely hope not, I read what I am going through is WORTH it,
someone told me to think of my LUNGS as a carpet, a carpet that’s not be cleaned,
for years, just think of all the GUNK in it, ‘he said’ well your body is cleaning it for
you now, the COST you are paying for such neglect and foolishness is BLOODY
UNCOMFORTABLE’ I would not disagree.
I Don’t feel sexy anymore either, although tell that to ‘you know who’ hahaha
and I am reminiscent of being a Teenager again if you catch my meaning.
So here we are having been a GOOD BOY and NOT having had another fag
and I feel like CRAP, its been three months for me, I just hope the feeling of
‘well being’ returns soon.
Good luck to any fellow sufferers, its certainly not pleasantis it??
10-4, hear you. Smokes for 30 years, quit for 4 months and still feel like a piece of crap. I hear it takes a full year before you feel normal again.
Cheers
Same – quit Nov 20, 2011, in early fifties
Did the patch and gum for two weeks and then decided to go cold. So I guess it has been 2.5 months. What I have noticed
1) Weight gain – 11 pounds
2) Reduced energy, feel fatigued most of the time
3) Almost no sex drive for about 6 weeks – thank god this ended
4) Brain dead – still not as sharp as I was when smoking, tend to be more forgetful
5) Not as confident – I find this odd
6) Body aches, muscles feel like cement at times, feel weak – again I find this odd
7) Sleep – no problem, weird dreams at times, some smoking related
Overall, I really feel crappy most of the time. I know though that it will get better. Thank goodness I have this confidence
oh thank god for this site… i thought it was just me having these symtoms. im on my third week joined a forum all i hear is you will crave blah blah blah.. what they dont say is you will feel crap you are going to go through a living hell.. i havent craved this week at all feels like ive got flu constant cough.. skin sore to touch.. all these and more.. but im determined to get through this. my chest squeaks more now than it did when i smoked!!
but good luck to everyone on here
I’m 4 days shy of a month and I feel like I have chronic fatigue syndrome and you are all right no one tells you what the side affect are after you quit. I hope this doesn’t last to much longer as I need some energy
Okay, three weeks of no smoking for me and I am so glad I found this site. I was getting my will ready if you know what I mean! All of the above I’m feeling. Achy, flu like, depressed, sad, mood swings, sinus problems, nausea, you name it………..what the hell?!! Getting past the cravings has been the easy part! I will never smoke another cigarette! Anyway, good luck to all of you and hang in there.
help…………………… i only smoked for 2.5 years, and not smoking for few hours, my chest feels like ITS STICKING OUT, LIKE A BUMP, HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO QUIT IN ORDER TO NOT HAVE THE URGE TO TOUCH A NICOTINE CIG?
Yes its me again, Bryan, (last messaged January 11th, 2009 at 10:52 am ) I thought I would give a progress report.
Well its 4 months now for me since I had a cig, so how do I feel now? Well sorry to have to say this but I still feel like CRAP.
I have not been tempted to have another Cig, I don’t want one, its been like that since the day I stopped,
However the inside of my mouth is still sore, not all the time, but then mouth ulcers come and go.
My sleep pattern? slightly improved, but still not as good as it was when I was smoking, I also keep
having ‘flashbacks’ by that I mean I am re-living moments of my life like some video in my mind.
some pleasant moments, some not, like a nightmare really.
Weird eh??
I Still do not feel fit, my fault really, I feel too fatigued to do anything, yes easy to make such excuses
but I cannot motivate myself, well you have to be in the mood don’t you :-))
So how long before I feel like Superman again??? I really have no idea, I just keep clinging
to the thought that one day I will feel much better for not smoking those ‘bloody’ fags.
OH well lets see how all is in another 4 months time.
Pity there is not a 1001 cleaner for the lungs, OLDER Brits might understand that. :-))
Good luck fellow sufferers, I am thinking of you all, and those to come.
Hi everyone,
I’m on day nine of my quit. I feel bloated and my skin looks awful! I have dark rings around my eyes, mouth ulcers, feel so tired and my head is banging. I can’t ever remember looking or feeling this crap when I smoked.
But come on, isn’t 6 months to a year worth all this horror? I mean I’m just concentrating on the good side of it. The freedom of not having to plan when my next cig is going to be. Not having to stand outside in the rain instead of in a warm pub/club when I go out, not reeking of stale smoke, being able to keep money in my purse instead of handing it over for ANOTHER box of 20. And at least we all know what’s happening to our bodies now, detox, and the outcome will be worth it.
The doctor’s don’t bother telling you how crap you’re gonna feel because what’s the point? Surely knowing you’ve poisoned your body over several years – you KNOW how bad you’ll feel when all that poison is coming out?
Good luck everyone, don’t give up! We’ll all see the benefits of this torture one day!! 🙂
Oh My how glad I am to have found this sight also…..I have been smoke free for 1 month!!! Yeah for me!!! BUT like most on here..I FEEL LIKE SHIT!!! I have NO<NOT<NOTTA energy…I feel like I could sleep ALL THE TIME….I have a headache ALOT… I also am thinking that this might not be worth it and WHEN IS THE WONDERFUL FEELING going to start??? I was honestly thinking of going back till I found this sight….Although I will say I do not crave a smoke….I just can’t stand the non feeling of what was the comment not being superman or woman anymore….I use to go and do and you name it……My Brain also is foggy alot….and concentration….well its not all it use to be either….I just want to thank EVERYONE….I now think that all will be well knowing I am not alone in my FIGHT!!!! I will check here alot to see how all are doing and I will do as some others are doing and if ANYTHING HELPS or things get even the slight bit better…I will pass it on………EVERYONE OF YOU are in my prayers and now my thoughts knowing I am not alone……..THANK-YOU!!!!!!!!
I am really glad that I have found this site! I have been smoke free for two weeks now… 14 whole days. My heart sometimes beats fast and I seem to be having gastrointestinal problems. I feel nausea and sometimes I have a nagging hunger in my stomach. I told my husband the other day that people that say that you will feel better in a few weeks are just flat out liers or they just do not know what they are talking about. I think that cigarettes evidently have alot more hold on people than I even realized. Of course myself included. May God Bless and help all of you and I will get back with you in a few weeks. This site has really opened my eyes to the fact that it takes alot longer to get free from cigarettes.
Please do hang in there Kim …Now for me it has been…3 more weeks since my last comment(six weeks free now)…..Things are getting easier…..Don’t get me wrong.I still do get the pang for a smoke every once in a while but not as much…..My energy is getting better…Although I have started taking Herbs for my thyroid and gland support though an Herb specalist not my dr. But Oh my do I feel 97.99% better than I have…I also bought a Wii and work out and play with it for exercise and now that the weather is breaking here where I live I will be outside more and well….All in all…..Its getting better……Although I have gone from I could sleep all the time to not sleeping very well at night…..I never did say on here but my husband still smokes (but not in the house anymore) and that sometimes makes it more difficult..but then I listen to him coughing and hacking all over the place and then He smells REALLY REALLY BAD…so I keep thinking well….At least I dont smell like that anymore…As for gas problems…..Boy I was having that also…It is still some but not as much as time goes on and well….Its not knocking me out anymore……LOL…..I am still eating but trying not to do it ALL the time as to not put on too alful much weight…..I do not know if I will have a relapse on the energy and all but I am going to keep fighting like its something that someone has told me I could never do…..I LOVE A GOOD CHALLENGE AND HATE TO LOOSE so this helps me think look I’m winning…And yes I’m saving money….but I am also spending it on things I really really want and need…..so that is a plus….keep doing it…..I really in my heart think it is worth it a little more now and hope I will think it even more the longer I go……I will keep posting on my results and I hope all will do the same also………God Bless and As always…….each and everyone of you are still in my thoughts and prayers…..yeah!!! For Us!!!!
ps. Something that also helped me was a book I read by Allen Carr called
“The easy way to stop smoking” I had stopped before I read the book but WOW….let me tell you it is insightful and makes you think and understand all of this alot better…..Not sure if I’m allowed to plug something or not but my friend had me read it and I still turn to it for guidence once in a while when it gets tough…..And let me say I am not a big reader and I could not put this book down it is only like 215 pages long..And if I knew any of you personally I would let each and every one of you borrow it…LOL..just please keep the faith…..you all keeping it helps me keep it…..Till again…..THANK-YOU!!!!!
THANK U! THANK U! THANK U! I quit 2 weeks ago and I was about to start again. I quit cold and live with my boyfriend who is a smoker. I believe in his right to still smoke and don’t want them even though it is around. I have quit and I have set my mind never to smoke again. However I have been feeling like crap! I have felt more like shit than ever and didn’t think it was fair if I had done somethang good. Anyway does anyone know if we can do sumthang to help detox’n do faster?
-V
DO NOT GIVE UP>>>>>>you are at the hardest part and the easiest now…….I wish I could tell you yes there is a easy way to detox faster…And if there was believe me I would of looked OR found it…but there is not……But you have come this far…..It is great……..do not give up…..two months for me…..I feel better…..Do I want a smoke?????I can’t lie…..YES But not as much now….But now I know it is an ADDICTION….and well I am going to win this time……..I have tried MANY TIMES,,,,,But this is IT….I am hoping….I do not want to go back….As I SAID ( wrong spelling the last time I hate to LOSE!!) READ THE BOOK….ALLEN CARR,,, THE EASY WAY TO QUIT SMOKING….Believe me I am not a reader…..But my friend Sharon said read it …..if you want to stop or not stop…….WOW……you have to realize it is not just the addiction it is a way of thinking…….Amazon $6 bucks with shipping $9 maybe.. well worth it Like i said ……..it helps……..Quiting is HARD!!!! NO DOUGHT!!!!! But it can be done…….Look at me …..I was one in the last few back said the same thing……IS IT WORTH IT????????? YES IT IS>>>>>>stay with it V……I have a friend Sharon (Which I mentioned a few lines before) that backs me and checks on me……..I’m gonna check on here for you to see you CAN DO IT!!!!!!! In my thoughts EVERYONE………BETH
It’s good to know I’m not the only one. My husband and I both did Chantix and it worked great!! There was a little nausea the first 3 weeks and we had some wild dreams, but all that went away after the first month. Well, we did the full 12 weeks of Chantix as recommended, but found we still seemed to have the oral habit so we tried herbal cigs. WOW! Are those nasty!! They were just the trick, though. It helped us get over the physical habit in about two weeks. Mainly because they tasted so nasty and they made you cough a lot. The husband and I have now been smoke free for almost 4 months now, but I have been sick nearly the entire time!!! I didn’t get this sick as a smoker (bleh!) The husband, however seems to be doing fine.
Oh, and we both read the Allen Carr book too! While it didn’t help us stop smoking – it was still encouraging and gave us a better understanding of what we were experiencing so I recommend reading it. Keep up the good work everyone!!! Madonna B
i quit smoking 8 days ago and am a Police Officer, biy what rough days I have had especially the 8th day. I got into a mood and cant shake tae irritability. I feel like punching sopmeone in the face. !! I am sure this will pass
I am pleased to see that I am not the only person who feels like CRAP! Totally smoke free for 3 weeks now and yes I woild Kill for a smoke as I am posting this comment.
On the way home today I was having a panic attack and this women pulls up beside me at the stop liight taking deep long drags on her smoke I wanted to slap her. The next 4 lights she was always there either beside me or behind me smoking I couldn’t get her out of my site and my mind. It was like she was this crazzy smoking Lady from Hell sent here to torcher me seriously.
As you can see I am getting very paranoid my throat feels like it’s got something pemanently stuck inside, I am coughing up this disgusting grey/brown mucous., I feel out of breath as if I can’t suck in enough air almost hyperventalating, my teeth gums and tongue hurt, I can’t sleep but then I also can’t wake up when I finally do fall asleep and by then it’s time to go to work, I gave my boss shit (well deserved), cant’t stop fidgetting, thought I was having a heart attack turns out it was a panic/stress/anxiety attack.
OK well those are a few of the bad things going on. Thera are several POSITIVE things going on too! EVERYthing now tastes so F***ing good I actually gained 12 pounds in three weeks (not so good) My sense of smell is back. I don’t smell like an ashtay anymore I always smell fresh (good). Well at 42 years old I am now getting spontaneous morning glory but at very spontaneous moments as if I was 17 years old again(good?? depends were and who is around I forgot how embarrasing that use to be) OK I degress but sorry it’s true.
I really don’t want to start smoking again I just want the bad stuff to end and the crazzy smoking Lady from hell to stop following me I swear I think she’s parked outside smoking and waiting fo me at this very moment!! I can smell her. I should check…OK hold on guys Be right Back!
Holly shit she’s out side I kid you not!! Looking out my window I can see her car, and her cigarette but going bright red every time she takes a drag on it. Am I being paranoid or has she been sent by the tobacco company to sabotage my efforts HMMM!
I am stronger than the tobacco companies or the ccrazzy smoking Lady from Hell. Please Let me Know if you are bing followed by her also, or other agents sent by the tobacco companies to make us ssmoke again.
Please give us your secrets or tips to stopping forever Here is something I do it is kinda disgutsing but it works for me. My old ashtray the one I used to keep in the garaget is really gross and still full of cigarette buts all clumped together. I put the entire ashtray in a ziplock bag and it sits on my dresser. Everytime I get areally bad urge to smoke I open it and take a really good wifff. Then voila I feel like puking and no longer feel like smoking.. I know it’s sick but hey it woks and thats what smokers smell like to me now. YUKK!!
So don’t give up
Ciao
Gianfranco
Hey Patrick do you still feel like punching someone in the face?? Since you are a policeman maybe I can help you aleviate some tension. You see there is this Crazzy Smolking Lady From Hell.
She is part of a Tobacco terrorist group who are actually staking peolple like us and deliberatly trying to make sure that we don’t succeed. She has been stalking me. Think maybe you could take care of her. She is a demon sent from hell so technically she’s not human. Let me Know if you are interested.
Just Kidding:)
Ciao
Gianfranco
I quit almost 2 months ago. Cold turkey. I never want another cigarette. However, I feel like crap. Tight in the chest, gained weight, coughed constantly for weeks. Very little energy. Hope this gets better. Any Dr.’s out there willing to comment?
gianfranco,
hell ya I’ll punch her right in the face …twice!!first I’ll slap the smoke out of her mouth and smack her everytime she tries to open her mouth to say something. I figure it will take awhile for her to catch on that she should keep her mouth shut. I am doin ok today but feel the monkey on my back. I started in iraq sitting behind a machine gun in the baking sun. Good luck to all and its nice to vent here, of course i wouldnt really smack the lady I meant puch.. LOL Kidding stay clean and smoke free..
Hello again. It’s me Gianfranco or should I say the Soon to be GoodYear blimp. Well I am a little freaked out because I have to go on a diet at the same time as quiting smoking. At present it is about 4 weeks and I have gained almost 20 pounds:(
Television is off limits as of now because I go crazzy and get hungry, really hungry and about every 5 minutes theres a fastfood comercial, it’s absolutely ridiculous.
I have the Crazzy Smoking Lady from Hell stalking me, I am gaining wieght faster than Opra can loose weight, can’t watch tv, and now I have to go on a diet before I explode.
At this moment I am going to go work out after posting this message I just gotta do something.
On a more possitve note my smoking urges seem to be dissipating (slightly), I seem to be sleeping a little better, and I reaally needed to start working out.
But can I survive all three at once Quitting, Dietting, and excercise this quitting is becoming more and more time consuming. Guess I am headed for a complete life style makeover.
Scares the ***** (<–fill in the blanks) out of me!!! I haven’t worked out in ages. Ouch!!
Take care
And don’t light up!!
Iam on day 20 of not smoking and i dont feel like crap as much as im having mood swings. dont get me wrong i still feel like crap, but is getting harder to control my mood. even as i type now, with no one around i feel my legs begin to shake, my stress level rising, and that adrenaline feeling you get right before a fight and all i want to is have a smoke. since i quit ive been working out(lifting weights, running for 1.5h a day, biking)etc.. i thought that when i quit i would feel better after a couple days, a week max but that dosent seem to be the case. ive been reading all your comments and i start to really ask myself if its worth it, i mean i havent been sick in 9 years but i got my first fever two days after quitting. ive always had problems sleeping but never this intense. I dont know how anyone could stand to be around me right now. its gettin harder and harder to remain smoke free, good luck to you guys, as for me im not so sure.
I really am glad i found this sight, i was just telling my mom and brother how i felt. (I smoked at leasted a pack an a half for over 20 years, if i was sad or bored i smoked more. My sister and i decided to guit back in dec. so the last cig i had was dec. 21 2008.) OMG i feel like crap, i can’t believe how bad it is i feel like i could sleep all the time like i never get enough sleep, my brain feels all foogged up, just like i read here things i really could have cared least about 5 months ago bothers me now. I really thought i was going crazy this is why i never did hard drugs like acid or anything like that cuz i didn’t want to feel like this. But now that i know it well get better in about a year i guess i can hold on knowing i’m not the only one going through this. I do wish someone would have told me about what goes on in your brain when u quit. evrybody knows u gain weight when u quit, but i really don’t think u know ur going to feel like u r going crazy too. So i’m sure when all these things clear up sooner or later it will all be worth it !!!!!!
OMG I am so glad this site exists,I was a pack and a half aday guy for 25 yrs. I thought I was a goner, I felt like shit almost the day I quit. The first symptoms for me were severe fatigue. I got out of bed and headed right back, Then along came another problem, Lets say I spent alot of time in the bathroom, That lasted for weeks. I was thinking what the hell is wrong with me. Then the sleep problems, The worst was GI probs, Gas, Lets not forget the kidneys jumping on board with a little pain., I quit January 1 2009 cold turkey, It has been 4 months now and I still feel like shit, I finally went to the Dr. He examined me left the room came back in and I asked him ” So how much time have I got” He laughed and said all was well. I could have kicked his ass for keeping this kind of intel from me about how siick I was going to get. Oh Lets not forget the Sinuses theey climbed on board last month and are now kicking my ass to. I have a craving everynow and again other than that I will never pick up a Smoke again, Plus being a non-smoker affords me (3) trips a year to Cancun with the money I will be saving, If I live that long. Good luck to all of you, HANG IN THERE, It will be worth it, I hear. Mike
It has been almost a month since I quit and I feel worse now than I ever did as a smoker. I could sleep 20 hours a day and still be tired. I quit cold turkey and and most of the time I feel like someone is sitting on my chest. This feeling has to go away soon right???
Stacy
Stacy It will get better but it’s going to get worse before it gets better. I am on month 4 or 5 and thought I was done with the crappy feeling, Nope woke up exhausted today, Part of it might have been staying up till 2 am drinking beer, But regardless, I have days when I feel really good then days when I say “shit, What the hell ” Here is what I did, I kept a routine, I got up the same time everyday, I kept a schedule, No matter how bad i felt, I powered through it. I kept the same diet, You can loose the pounds later, At times like this a person needs comfort and food is comfortable. I gained like 8 LBS. I went to bed at the same time every nite. My morning routine was get up grab a cup of coffee and head out to balcony, I sold the balcony furniture. I drank my coffee at starbucks, THEY don’t allow smoking, I needed to re-train my brain. I am still experiencing weird aches and pains, But will never pick up a cigg, I wish you the best of luck. Mike
I’m so glad I found this site. I quit 10 weeks ago, I was a pack a day smoker since I was 13 now I’m 20, any way my withdrawal has been a nightmare! First few weeks had headache, g.I. Problems, insomnia, chest pains fatiuge, hot flush feeling, then at about 4 weeks the insomnia eased as well as the g.I. Problems, but weird aches all over my body continue even today, I’ve had so many tests done by my doxctors, full ct scan, literally 20-30 blood tests done and I’m healthy according to them, I was allso checked into the hospital for 3 days for dehydration, the good news is things seen to be getting better very very slowly, detox sucks, any one else gave muscle pains that come and go all over? I hope this go’s away soon
I found and wrote to this site a couple of days ago. Not sure why it didn’t post, i’m sure it was something i did wrong, but here is a shorter version… (and the last post did’t even have foul language).
My husband and I are in our 5th month of not smoking. It’s been very easy for us to give up smoking for some reason. I am 60 and have smoked almost my entire life (at least 48 years). My husband is 72 and has smoked for around 40 plus years. I loved smoking and never wanted to quit – being from Massachusetts, it pretty much came to eat or smoke (just kidding, but almost that bad). Frankly we were tired of hiding to smoke – we just decided to give it up – it was easy.
However, like everyone else on this site – I have never felt so bad in my life. Will, my leg muscles are killing me… all of a sudden. I can barely walk. Primarily I am constantly exhausted – don’t sleep well, having exhausting dreams. Have hair balls in my throat, started getting teenage acne (actually more like water boils) – that was a fun stage.
My husband is going through similar issues – frankly, we were starting to think that at our age, the benefits of not smoking hardly outweighed what we were going through if this wasn’t about to stop.
So, although I’m NOT happy to be among all you fellow sufferers – I’m really glad to know that we’re not alone. I’ll try to keep you folks updated and hope to see your progress as well.
Good luck to all and thanks so much for being honest about your experiences.
Thank goodness I found your site – it’s been a week and “I feel like crap” just like everyone else. My husband and I are on Champix (Aussie version) and have been blaming it for the nightmares, panic attacks, heart palpitations, bloating, indigestion, hallucinations, lack of energy, depression etc, etc etc ad nauseu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. However, it sounds like everyone is in the same boat.
Do you think if I write a book on the real effects of quitting smoking that it might be a best seller?
Good luck everyone – we are determined to succeed, that’s if all the symptoms don’t finish us off first.
I’m only on my 3rd day…geesh! The habitual side of it has lessened somewhat, but my body…oh I feel baaaaaad. I feel as if my body is here typing, but my head is like 3 feet away watching…so disconnected. I have to focus a good bit for my job and this is very bothersome. I’ve been having night sweats, vivid dreams and not sleeping well at all.
I tried the chantix a few months ago and it did not work for me, it gave me some major kidney problems so I had to stop. Plus it never made me want to quit or think they were yucky. So, it’s cold turkey for me.
My sense of smell is better, but I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not because my car smells like cigarettes. I’ve had the crying jags and it’s the pits, just start crying all of a sudden. I also have felt very dizzy and no amount of Advil is going to help this “hangover headache” (that’s what it feels like) right now.
Near as I can see (being a 45 plus year veteran of sucking on nicotine and tar), it makes perfect sense that the longer you used them, the longer it might take to purge all this tar from your system. Not sure about you, but when I look at what smoking did to my windows and indoor paint, it’s pretty scarey.
I stopped taking all the vitamin supplements I started taking when I quit smoking. I stopped doing all the things I ‘thought’ would be good for me when i stopped smoking. I’m not advising anyone else to follow my lead, but I felt that adding things to my system while it was gong through this detox process was not likely to give me any information about how my body was changing. Someone mentioned above about caffeine – I was a heavy cigarette/coffee addict and I read that caffeine and nicotine somewhat balanced those effects. Made perfect sense that caffeine would have an incredible impact to my sleep without nicotine to offset it. That assumption lead to the others about taking supplements to try to feel better.
I am dieting and drinking lots of water. Don’t advise that to anyone either, but i felt that the less i had to eat and the more water i drank, the more flushing was happening and perhaps that would help get rid of the toxins. I can’t tell you yet if that’s helping.
I’m a week shy of completing my 5th month of not smoking. Quitting was one of the easiest things for me. I miss smoking, but don’t have any urge to smoke. I’m happy about not being addicted to smoking. But, I feel ten years older than my 60 years and while I smoked i never ever felt 60. I felt like a kid trapped in a not-so-young-body.
Good luck people!!! If you find an answer to our ailments, please post. I’m watching.
Yep. Over two weeks for me and I still feel like crap too. Got very worried about it and convinced myself I was dying, but after going to the doctor and getting x-rays and an ekg the doc told me to just chill out. But my chest has been very tight, my back hurts, I’m tired all the time, and really, really want to feel good again. I’m hoping (and judging by the comments) it will happen soon, and I look forward to it.
Cheers
I’ve really enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. I didn’t start smoking until I was 23 and quit when I was 35 and stayed off cigarettes for just over 9 years…and had no cravings whatsoever. When I quit I remember feeling like I’d lost my best friend…very down, lethargic but was determined to stay away….and felt great for it! Then, after 9 years I started dating someone who smoked…well I lasted 6 months and started lighting them for him. The next thing I knew I had bought a pack of my old favorites…every single cigarette made me feel sick…I butted some and managed to get through some whole ones until I was a full blown smoker (a pack a day) again. Now THAT WAS stupid! Well he’s been out of my life for 3 years and I was still smoking. What was with THAT?!
When I turned 50, I read about a volunteer study at a local cancer treatment hospital that had a program that was privately funded for early lung cancer detection screening. I immediately volunteered. My first CT scan at 50 was totally fine. I had my second scan a month ago (two years later) and the scan detected small fibroids at the top tips of my lungs indicating the beginning of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). I was told that if I was under 50 it could be reversed, but not as likely now. COPD leads to chronic bronchitis, emphysema and early death. You’ve likely seen those folks carrying around their oxygen tanks, or have heard of those who have passed away from ultimately heart failure. It is caused mostly by smoking, second hand smoke (from smoking parents likely) but also from other pollutants such as living with mold. So my decision was made for me. I consider myself blessed that I’ve had the privilege of having the CT scans, where many would never find out until it’s too late. Trust me, many have COPD and don’t even know it. You know how we are all in denial…well I am hoping that my 9 years as a non smoker will be an advantage…but that is NO guarantee.
I’ve now been only 22 days without a cigarette my second time around and yes, I’ve felt worse this time around quitting…the exhaustion, the nightmares, the lack of sleep, the fogginess at work, the intestinal ‘issues’, the tight chest…all worse than I ever felt when I was smoking….and worse than when I had quit the only time before. Now my Dr. says I have to cut my red wine consumption down…forget it! Well at least for now!
Let’s carry on this chat for all of us who need to share our thoughts and feelings. Thank you to all of you who have contributed thus far. Chin up everyone…take it One Day at a Time and don’t forget to Congratulate Yourself! There is always someone in your life who loves you more than you’ll ever know who wants you around for a long time to come! Let’s applaud each other! And don’t be so hard on yourself…forgive yourself if you screw up…and just ‘let go’. Blessings to all of us!
Thank god I found this site! I quit January 18th, ’09 and I feel like crap.
I have been searching and searching for answers. I have the sleep problems, the stomach problems, the depression, the coughing, the concentration problem, the I need an act of god to get me up in the morning problems, the eating problems, the I don’t care about anything anymore problems, and I’m fat now. I wonder how long this continues on. I know I won’t ever smoke again because I never want to go through this again! But does anyone know when it starts to get better?
Hi all!!! Beth here….smoke free now for really really close to five months now…I have to say it is still hard but easier I kinda guess I have cheated. On mothers day I said to my husband…..I CANT DO THIS ANYMORE! I Cant stand the weight….and still just not having energy and HUNGRY oh my ALL the time. Anyways I stopped at the store and bought some snuff pouches….Well I will tell you I got high as a kite then I puked!!! What a help…LOL…..Then I heard of this camel snus. Non- spitting pouches in frost or mellow flavors. Well I am not real proud but it has done the trick for me!!! I have more energy! Not hungry all the time and well I know it is still a nicotine but at least for the time being I am not killing my lungs maybe my gums but it is not at all like skoal snuff so so mellow and like I said is like a mint.I would ONLY recommend this to someone who was about to give in completely though because well. Like I said I suppose it is cheating but I can also do this anywhere…….Church included if needed because you do not spit. Thank-god….I am quite the country girl but I still dont want to spit like a man…..LOL…the only drawback I have had is that if we all get together and there are alot of smokers I tend to put in one after the other and then end up with HEARTBURN!!!! but all in all I only do a few a day just to take the edge off and when I want to eat alot or even have the urge to smoke..the can says to put one in and enjoy for up to a half hour….But I have found that the flavor last a long long time and have been known to have my in an hour or more because I have forgotten about it and the flavor is good…….Oh yes and NONE of my friends or family would never even know if I had not told them…..The only thing is my sister tells me since I am have been a tom-boy all my life hunt, fish, ride 4-wheelers, play football with the boys, skeet shoot…you name it I grew up on a farm if the boys do it I always tried to do it better….LOL…That I am officially no longer her older sister (even though I am married to a boy…lol) but this is a very long ongoing joke in my family because even though I have long blond hair I have pretty nice set of guns and am strong……LOL….Anyways…I wanted to let all know how things were going…Hope I have not dissapointed any of you for what I have done….But for me it is working….And I do believe that in a while if I wanted to or need to I could and prob will give this up alot easier….Ps. If I run out I do not freak like I would if I ran out of smokes….So for me it is my savior………I still keep you all in my thoughts and check on here often to see how things are going and if anyone else is new to it….Again!!! Good luck to all………. one more note…I have also dropped almost ten pounds because of it…and my energy is back so to me it is a plus…..OH yes and my thyroid……Fine in fact all my test came back and I am healthy as a horse……and will be 45(ewww) in 14 days…..and now plan to live as long as my grandmother….she will be 102 in october ( well that is if my 16 year old daughter does not put me into an early grave with worry..lol) Again your all in my thoughts!!!! God’s speed………Beth
This is so true… I am 2 weeks clean of smoking after almost 25 years.. And everything you have said, I have.. my entire chest feels as though I have been kicked… My throat is driving me crazy.. I am light headed half the day.. I crave chinese food lol and food all day!! ITS AWFUL………… I know it will get better, but people need to realize that this happens when they quit..
This is the best website ever… I started smoking when I was 15 and am now 25… I can not count how many times I have tried to quit smoking, I honestly believe it has been an ongoing effort for the last 5 years, though I like others have had every excuse in the book not to quit smoking…I have had the tightness of the chest (like a heart attack), tirdness, in the begining the gi flush and now the constipation, the confusion, the nausa, I have been to the er 4 times thinking I had a heart attack, shortness of breath, and hungry all the time! I sleep all the time and eat the whole time I am awake, being in illinois you can litterly smoke almost nowhere since the January 2007 no smoking laws so it has made it very difficult to smoke. I being a pack to a pack in a half a day smoker could last no longer than 4hrs without getting moody and notably seeing a difference in attitude. I used to be on the top of the world and now like others thought I was dying. I quit smoking for 12 days and could not stand the withdrawl symptoms so much that I took back up smoking for a day when my ex came around… then quit for a day… then smoked aprox 2 cigs… then quit for a day… then smoke aprox 3 cigs… and then quit for what now is day 6 again. The worst is having to go through counting the number of times I have been on day one, or day two, or day three (again). I still crave the habit of going outside and relaxing with a cup of coffee and smoking, or sitting on the back stoop and smoking looking at the sky, or the social agenda that allowed all smokers to become friends while destitude by our selves bumbing a liter from a now new friend outside stores, bars, college, work. But I will have to say No to this erge and am going to do that no matter how much weight I keep gaining. Good luck to all and am glad like others to have found this website.
5 months of smoke free HELL…This is the only honest site on the net, if I’d known this, I never would of quit.
No backing up now. It HAS to get better. Smoked heavy for 40 years, so I guess it will tke a while to get cleaned out. Thanks for the web site, you are SO right…..
Smoker for 40 yrs approx 15 to 20 a day
I quit 1 month ago (cold turkey)
my side effects are currenlty,
back aches around the kidney region,
generel aches and pains around the body,
tingling fingers and feet ,
ringing in my ears,
lethargic,
previous symptoms were,
raspy voice,
flemmy throat,
blurry vision,
bad toilet habits,
some smoke cravings in the first week,
i havent put on any pounds
mainly becuase i now only eat fruit and vegetables
, as part of my cleansing procedure,
does any body esle have my symptoms
or do i need to see a doctor soon
Regards to all
Ron
Thank you for this! I have been smoke free for 2 months now. I feel so much healthier. But I still have crazy desire to eat everything and I am still moody. Not as bad as at first but its true takes more than a few days for all the withdrawl to end.
Well here’s a slightly different one for y’all out there and pot smokers listen in.
I started smoking pot at 18, started mixing it with ciggy tobacco at 20 and now im 46 with a full blown psychological and physical addiction. Over that time, more and more baccy went in the mix until it was about 50/50. Never smoked or wanted to smoke either separately. Chronic eh! The last few years at least the filthy retched habit has cost me at least 200 bucks a week! Do the math on that-no don’t. Its buggered my health, and many other aspects of my life. Pleaded with doctors over the last 12 mths to help me out with this and not one of the half dozen or so suggested anything apart from patches or counselling. Useless!!
Then someone, not an MD, mentioned champix to me nearly 12 mths ago, and how they quit cigs with its help. I dont know why i didn’t start taking it then, because i knew it might work in my situation. So i finally started the course 3 weeks ago, went through a fairly anxious couple of weeks leading up to the quit day and yes, thank God, gave up the bongs the day BEFORE my quit day. In other words champix kicked my combined pot and tobacco addiction fair in the butt.
Day 6 for me and yes, I’m going through all the same withdrawls – sweats at night, insomnia, moodiness, throat, tight lungs, fluey, brain dead, etc, etc. But guess what, Ive quit, for life and I was prepared for these withdrawls considering the crap i’ve pumped into my system for near 30 years. Think about it everyone, the body’s abilty to recover is pretty quick after all the poisons we’ve pumped into it over a LONG time..
So to anyone out there with an addiction to both- like the majority of pot smokers, I say give champix a go cause its worked for me. Just cant wait to get through the withdrawls so I can start my life again, at 46. Dont take it if already a mental nutcase cause you’ll blame it when you really start going batty.
I given up for a month, if i lay in too long my rib cages feel like their gonna explode! this subsides when i get up and start moving around, but very similiar to back ache, very weird. Keep it up guys, good to read these pages and see everybody else struggling, smoking is seriously disgusting, i gave up for two and half years once about 10 years ago,(25years old) found it easy, 2nd time around, 20years on this is terribly painful and very emotional…if your 25yrs old and giving up give up for good cause the longer you leave it the harder it gets and the detox is hundred times worse!
Good thing i found this. I quit a week ago and everything was relatively ok until this morning. Exactly the side-effects everyone is describing. Zero energy, light-headed ect…. in my case, my stomach is also messed up.
Nice to see so many people getting rid of this. WTF do they put i these things !?
cheers!
I agree w/ Morey…..Good thing..
I have been smoke free for 11 weeks now & still feel like crap.
Syptoms: light headed, stomache issues, tight lungs, & like
BOUNCing BALL SAYS:…if I lay on my sides to long,….i feel like i’m going to explode. Lower back pain..constantly tired.. not to mention the pyscological withdrawls:
depression, fear of being sick, googling every symptom..lol
wow!!!! its good to know I am not alone.
feel free to email me for support or just to vent…lol
usmcvince@yahoo.com
I have been smoke free for 2 1/2 months & have wondered why I still have shortness of breath & cough. I believe it will get better, but still wish it would be quicker. I had $4400.00 of dental work done in December & knew the smoking played a big part in my poor oral health, so I decided enough is enough. Went to the dentist yesterday and she said I was doing very well, which means it is worth staying the coarse. I know it is tough being an ex-smoker and wish all of us the best of luck. I’m going to stick with it because the small steps will add up in the long run.
Thank all of you for sharing. March 15 was my quit date and I thought by this time (4 weeks later) I would be fine. So wrong. Lost my best friend of 40 years – cigarettes – and am still grieving hard. Not to mention all of the physical symptoms, which I thought would be over by now. And crying jags, never even heard about that side effect, but are seriously disturbing.
Thank heavens for a site like this. Yep I read all the positive things about giving up and decided to go for it. I reckoned from all these people who ran a marathon a few days of giving up it wouldn’t be too bad.
So here’s my experience.
I am a 63 years old male……smoked since we all had a great idea of doing it behind the school bike shed…well it seemed a good idea at the time.
So twelve weeks ago I stopped smoking.
I wore a strong patch for the first three weeks and felt great so stopped wearing them and then for the next few weeks I felt wonderful. Went for long walks, two miles, three miles, five miles,ten miles. Went for a walk nearly every day.
Started riding my bike anything from four to six miles, some of it up hills. Yeah Ok I got out of breath going up the hills but everything went back to normal on the flat.
Then after about six weeks it all started going down the crapper.
I felt like crap. I cant describe it but just felt as thought things inside were wrong to the extent that one morning I nearly called an ambulance as I felt this it the end.
Then the bloating started and the gas…it stunk. I have now put on about eight pounds and I am so gassy I look pregnant and at times would give anything to just do a mountain of crap ( sorry but I am being honest here ).
The the breathing got hard. When I went for a walk I was so gassy my stomach went solid I couldn’t breath, puffing and panting even on the flat. I had a dreadful need to burp and felt dreadful. After a while I would start to burp really bad and the pressure eased. After about two miles I would feel better.
It has got worse and is now about the only thing that occupies my mind, every time I walk even around the house I think I am going to get short of breath.
I got chronic back ache and went to the doctor. he said I was over doing the exercise..what a load of crap.
So I am at the end of the eleventh week and feel like s**t.
On a positive note I dont miss smoking. Occasionally I get the urge but ignore it. My skin has lost most that grey smokers look and now looks very good.
But after nearly three months I dont feel great. I am sleeping really well and my appetite hasn’t increased but the bloating is bloody awful and at times there doesn’t seem to be enough room in me for the lungs and the stomach.
I have gone back onto a medium patch to see if it will help. I feel bloody annoyed that a lot of us are feeling like crap but the medical profession doesn’t tell us about it. I said to the doctor that it isn’t easy and his answer was “nothing in life is easy”…real big help that guy.
Is anyone else experiencing this shortness of breath. When I first gave up I did the two mile walk and was thrilled how good I felt but now I dont even want to go for a walk. Like to hear of any one feeling the same.
I started cancer sticks when I was 14 years old. It was the hugest mistake of my life. Now I am 45 years old I have found giving them up is extremely difficult. I tried all of the quit smoking products but none did the trick. Then I found the electric cigarette. The electronic cigarettes uses a nicotine fluid that contains simply nicotine. No cancerous substances at all. They have literally changed my life. Stopping sucking in cancerous substances feels awesome!
Well Today is 3 months and I feel really bad. My whole routine is upset. I feel like I am missing a huge part of myself. I have to relearn to live without 2-3 packs a day. What a World, What a World.
Hearing you loud and clear mate/so delighted to see this… I’m thinking it’s going to take at least a year for the crappness to go!
Hi, I’m so glad I stumbled across this site, I was getting desperate.
On September 5th 2010 I had a heart attack (frightened me to death) September 6th had 2 stents inserted to open up arteries. On 5 different tablets a day for the forseeable future. I haven’t had a cigarette since 5 minutes before my heart attack, don’t want one, don’t crave for one. I just feel so crap! I ache all over, have headaches, chest pains (keep thinking i’m going to have another heart attack) feel anxious and teary all the time. I thought the heart attack was the reason I feel so crappy but after reading all your comments think its withdrawal symptoms, made me feel so much better….Thank you and good luck to everyone x
I gave up on 11th October 2010 – around three months ago… and I still feel like crap!
I’m sleeping ok (though it took ages) but my throat feels like there’s an ash tray sitting it. While I was smoking I went to the gym and went jogging regularly… now exercise is a real struggle, like there’s nothing in the tank. Anyone else feel this way after three months of quitting? I’m bearing with it though in the belief that slowly but surely my body will come back to me… I’ve also gained weight which is making me a bit miserable… though have started walking every day to try and counter-attack the weight gain…
It’s been two months since I quit and I haven’t got dressed or left the house in a month ! I feel like crap !
I am very glad to know that I am not the only one feeling this way. Today is day 11 for me, and I feel like death. Exercise was a struggle this morning, and I have had a sore throat and been sick and lethargic all day long. I pray that this does in fact go away. At first I felt amazing having not smoked, like the first 3 days, now…ughh. Also, I have been SUPER depressed lately, and I don’t like that one bit. I really hope this does go away pretty soon. Good luck everyone!
It’s been almost two weeks and I feel like I’m falling apart at the seams. Nice hearing that I”m not alone in this.
Have you ever considered adding more videos to your blog posts to keep the readers more entertained? I mean I just read through the entire article of yours and it was quite good but since I’m more of a visual learner,I found that to be more helpful well let me know how it turns out! I love what you guys are always up too. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the great works guys I’ve added you guys to my blogroll. This is a great article thanks for sharing this informative information.. I will visit your blog regularly for some latest post.
Hi all,, I’m glad I flound this blog. I quit only 5 days ago. At first I was all pumped up with adrenaline thinking ‘I’m going to do this’. Then the withdrawal effects kicked in. I’m still off them but trying to play golf yesterday was really weird as I was really lightheaded. It may be extra oxygen getting into the body after 20 years of smoking,, I really don’t know,, but the dizzy feeling is frustrating. Thanks to all that have informed us about the long lasting effects of quitting. We all know the negative effects of smoking (when we choose not to ignore the information). It really takes great resolve to stay off them but EVERYONE who has quit for good says it was worth the effort. Wishing us all the best of luck and derermination. R
Morning all,
I’m glad to have found this site as well. I’ve been quit for 3 weeks now, and I NEVER appreciated the side effects of quitting would be so severe. I knew that cravings to light up would always be there, but I thought I would deal with it by will power and cold turkey.
I can handle the odd craving with relative ease (I was on 20/25 per day), but nothing really prepared me for feeling like utter sh@t.
So far, I have dealt with stomach pains / cramps after week 1 that have since gone – I added in a lot of fibre and drunk lots of water. Days 6-15 I have a permanent headache and lack of concentration.
Days 1-22 I have have woken up with sore throats and gold symptoms, that seem to come and gonwhen they want to.
The MAIN withdrwal symptom though is the excruciating lack of energy!! Nobody told me about that one. I feel like I could sleep all day!
Anyway, things will get better eventually and I’ve already saved nearly £150…so it’s not all bad
Stay positive people!
I have written here before. But this week marks 18 months quit, that would be over 8000 cigs not smoked and over £2500 not spent on the disgusting things.
Yep I had a real crap time of it. I read all the time lines and yeah it may apply to some but for many it is crap. I thought to myself well after three months they say it gets better, but it didnt, then it got to six months and then nine month and then a year so I gave up hoping for that “I feel great moment” But I carried on and yeah it got better in many ways. I rarely think of a smoke now. I am 64 years old and fitter than I was a few years ago. last week I walked a total of 10 miles and rode my bike for a total of 60 miles. Believe me riding a bike in Lancashire is not easy, everywhere seems to be uphill’s.I must admit 25 miles of it was a flat ride along the canal towpaths. But at least I did 25 miles without puffing and panting. Last week we walked over the Cambrian fells…seven mile walk which included a climb of 2330 feet uphill to the top of a place called Branstree near Haweswater. The week before we did an eight mile walk and up 1700 feet over the fells near a place called Grasmere. Never felt ill or out of breath.Yeah Ok puffed hauling ourselves up 1700 feet but most people would.
So far this year I have done walks over the fells and dales of just over 300 miles.
We bought a new car last year and for once we have a car that hasn’t got a ciggie burn on the drivers seat. I dont stink anymore. I walk past people outside pubs smoking and I dont have to join them. if we are with friends I dont feel like a freak having to slip away for a smoke. So yeah it does get better but for some of us it takes a long time. I smoked for over 45 years so it was never going to be an overnight success. I had just about every withdrawal symptom going but got through. My doctor was a waste of space so for many of you it will be a lonesome road to follow but you can do it. Please stick it out. Yes it is very hard for some of us but everyday you dont smoke it is a day you are not poisoning yourself and day closer to recovery. I changed my diet as well, cut out beer, greasy food and almost anything unhealthy. I reckon smoking encourages you to eat crap as well.
Please guys and girls dont give up trying. I never did get the “I feel wonderful” moment but I do feel better and I looked healthier than I did for years. Please stick it out.
Oh and a big thank you to my wife who has never smoked put stuck with me through the bad times.
I have smoked for about 12 years. Today is my eight day smoke free. I still feel like crap. I am glad to hear I am not the only one. I don’t want to smoke again right now. I can’t believe how sick cigarettes can make u. Let’s all hang in there.
38 years-old; smoked 1-2 packs a day on and off for 19 years; quit 4 weeks and 4 days ago with the help of a smoking cessation program which advocated Bupropion XL, 150 mg and nicotine replacement therapy (patches and inhalers).
The first 3 weeks were easy. I don’t miss smoking, don’t crave cigarettes. Emotionally/psychologically, I actually feel pretty good. However……
Physically, I FEEL LIKE CRAP! Here are my symptoms:
Body aches like with the flu
Joint pains and stiffness
Feeling of hair in back of throat
Hoarse, raspy voice
Extreme hunger
Extreme Fatigue and weakness
Constipation (possibly due to medication)
I thought each week would get better, but I have a feeling the worst has yet to come. 🙁 On a positive note, maybe I will live to enjoy my retirement unlike my dad who died two years ago at the age of 62 after a 7 month battle with pancreatic cancer. Good luck to all of you!
It has been 17 weeks quitting for me after a 12 year, 1 pack a day habit. I feel like I am going crazy, I have extreme fatigue still, lower back pain, and bad sinus problems. I am imagining all kinds of ailments, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and I am getting very depressed and anxious. I have no health insurance to help deal with all these things whether they are real or not. The only good thing is a little bit more money in my pocket and I dont smell so bad. Anybody feel the same?
YES!!! I smoked same amount of time as you, same amount of cigs, and I have been experiencing same stuff. I feel like I am constantly dying. Wandering if I have this or that, I’m anxious 24/7. Now trying to start anti depressants. Haven’t slept since I quit. I wake up scared. Its awful. I will never smoke again, but was hoping to find some relief by reading this not knowing what was going on! Hope you are doing well.
It will be 6 weeks for me this coming sunday october 23rd. I still feel like crap. I couldnt breathe right at all
Since i quit smoking. I ended up going to the er, found out i have plureisy(lung infection/inflammation of the lining of the lungs) still felt like crap so went again 12 hours later, found out i had a sinus and ear infection. This was the 2nd and 3rd of october. Its now october 21st, and i feel a tiny bit better, but im on meds, and my ear infection is gone. The doctor said that my sinus infection is gone as well, but there still inflammed. Im only 22 years old. I smoked for about 10 years, like not even half a pack – a pack. It really depended. I do not crave cigarettes, and never want to go back. But ive also been paranoid. And not smoking, will impact your anexity levels. Wish everyone luck. Anyone need to talk. My email is iceyprincess3489@aim.com. its really old from my early teens.
I AM SO GLAD that I came across this blog. I quite smoking 4 weeks ago. The first 4 days were hell. I had a hard time physically with nausea, shakes, bad headaches, leg and body aches, and more. By 2 weeks of not smoking, I seemed to feel somewhat better. Now I am feeling like crap all over again with sadness, irritability, trouble concentrating, extreme fatigue, crying spells, extreme leg and back aches, dizziness and light headed. I thought I was having some sort of delayed depression or something, but after reading what other’s have experienced I am so grateful to learn that I am not the only one feeling like this. This is hard but not smoking is so worth it and I hope that I will continue on being a non-smoker. In spite of feeling this way, I have forced myself over the past 4 weeks to get out and go to the gym where I take yoga, core training, walk/run the track, and other fitness training. I am so thankful for my gym membership as I feel that it has help me so much through this time. It has been 4 weeks and I continue to be a non-smoker that quit cold turkey.
Oh, I forgot to mention I have severe trouble sleeping and a feeling like I am never really rested and sometimes I feel like all I could do is sleep. My son looked at me the other day and said, “Mom, you look so tired and you have bags under your eyes.” He’s right, I do have bags something I never have had before. Is this what coming off of the addictive stimulant nicotine does? I really can’t wait until I feel better. Oh what a glorious day that will be!!
Glad I found this site! Just starting week 8 of quitting, with the aid of Champix. Absolutely sick of my life at the moment – tired all the time, can’t exercise, and bad tempered. I’m not craving a ciggie, in fact I don’t even think about them half the time, but feel like crap – teary, depressed, can’t sleep, can’t be bothered to do anything, am really tired all the time, can’t concentrate and have back ache and the stomach problems that seem to be so common. I was starting to get worried (especially with being on the Champix, as I know about those side effects as well) but these posts have given me a wierd sort of strengh – even though it appears from what others have said that I can expect to feel like crap for a while longer. Wish people would tell you what it is like – mind you, there’s no way I’m going through this again! It helps me not smoke when the craving does get me!
Hey all, 48 year old here. Smoked for 30 years and quit over 4 months ago cold turkey. Everybody is right here. You “will” feel like crap for a lot longer than 3 days. I still feel like crap to the point of having to go to bed on weekends during the day because I’m so tired. My sleep patterns are still screwed, I look like I’m in my 5th month of pregnancy, and I am not as happy I used to be. I can’t crap, piss, or have normal conversations with people. It seems like everything is moving in fast forward and every little thing pisses me off. I now feel I have to do everything quickly. I don’t procrastinate anymore. I’m like an energizer bunny sometimes and other times it feels like my batteries are dead. I have constant head aches like the center of my brain is starting to die. It feels like there are ants in my skin, but only on one arm. I scratch the arm so bad sometimes it bleeds. I have wicked gas in the morning to the point I could power a small company for a day if they could handle the smell. Just started recently, every night I have to chow down 2 tums to kill the heartburn. No idea way, haven’t changed food intake other than to feed the one in my belly. I worry about things I never used to worry about, but I hear this is what it will probably be like for another 8 months. That’s right, I’ve heard it takes a full year to sort of fully start to feel normal – that’s right normal. I’m not looking for that feel great moment, just feel normal. I can wait another 8 months, but not much longer than that.
Cheers
I Gave up 5 weeks ago and feel crap tight chesy, can,t sleep ache all over hot cold crying, hope its worth it I smoked for 30 years.
Good Luck
Smoked for 25 years. Just turned 40 years old and quit. It is the hardest thing you will ever do in your life. I have not had a smoke in 25 days now, and I feel like DOG SHIT! Main problems – tight chest, G I problems, swollen tongue and back pain. I cannot wait until this part of my like is in the past. I didn’t feel this bad when I smoked!
I think I am on week 11 or about 80 days and yes I feel like crap all the time. To be honest, I have some productive times now and don’t have a thought about wanting one except I still smoke in my dreams a lot. haha. Then I wake up and for awhile feel like I’ve blown it and then whew it was just a dream. Maybe I need to quit in my dream life too! har. Smoked for about 30 years and just hated it. Having some chest pain, coughing, bloody sinus drainage, dizzyness, rashes, itchy. I know, real sexy! 😉
Wow, I’m I glad I found this site, I see we’re all going through so many similar things. I quit 10 days ago cold turky after 12 years smoking filtered al capone cigarillos – and boy-oh-boy do I feel like crapola, but this site and all of you give me and probably each other inspiration that this is the price we all pay for being stupid – by killing ourselves one puff at a time. Hang in there and good luck to all of you.
I feel like crap. It sucks. I hate everyone. Want to kill something. I feel dizzy, my teeth hurt and can’t stop itching. I gave up drugs 25 years ago and it wasn’t as bad as this. Had I known it would be like this I would still smoke. I don’t want one now because I am sure I would throw up. Good luck to the rest of you. This sucks!!!!!!!
I quit smoking 8 days ago. Got alot of bullshit going on in my life, but i’m trying to hang in there im not sick i have always exercised and been an athlete. I smoked about a pack a day I would push my self to the limits when working out and nothing I wasn’t getting bigger like I wanted so I quit smoking and i just feel mad, nightmares sometimes even when i’m awake didn’t know that was possible but its weird. I wear the patch i have smoked for 12 years and targets brand seems to help me the best. just rambling on here bad night almost smoked but the girl did not have a cig on her maybe it was a sign. good luck everyone if i can quit this long so can you
Hi All –
This is reassuring. It’s been six days since my last cigarette (I quit cold turkey) and I feel awful! I’ve “gained” about 8 pounds (in water weight and bloat), my face is super puffy, I have trouble sleeping and when I do sleep, I have very vivid nightmares (many of which are about smoking, ironically enough! ha ha).
I’m going to stick with it, though. I feel so sick that I actually don’t want to smoke and have been experiencing something since day 3 of no cigarettes similar to a low grade flu/severe cold. I also have an awful taste in my mouth.
The cravings are subsiding and I’m finding that now it’s more mental that physical. I do feel like a water balloon from all the water weight gain – that’s been the worst part, honestly.
best of luck to all!
So glad I found this site. I quit cold turkey on new yrs day. Was a 1/2 pack a day smoker for 10 years. I’m 30 yrs old. The first 2 weeks weren’t bad, and I thought quitting was going to be easy. Boy was I wrong. Right at about two weeks I couldn’t even get out of bed. My appetite was gone, and I was having anxiety attacks big time. That lasted for a few days and I’m feeling better, but still fatigued and anxious. Went to my doctor and my vitals all check out, which has helped with the anxiety. Hopefully this fog will lift soon and I can be myself again.
Thanks for heads up. 24 hours after 21 years. No turning back now but I feel like I am swimming about in horseshit.
Well I finally found somewhere that people are telling the truth..not that the others were lying they just conveniently forget to mention the real oain and suffering some of us go through trying to quit the demon cigarettes and other tobacco products.
I smoked for over 40 years. I took my first plain end cigarette when I was 14. My cousin and I were at my house and he suggested we try one of my parentas almost empty pack..they always left 3 or 4 in a pack laying around. At first I said no, but eventually he talked me into it. He choked and gagged, I choked and gagged but I got a buzz and the spins,,needless to say I have smoked ever since. I have had numerous quits over the years but they never lasted because of loneliness of quitting was just too unbearable.
This time I am 3 weeks nicotine free and I am hurting like hell. hot and cold sweats, grumpy, tired, scared at times, and just a general feeling of not being well
stay nicotine free..they say..whoever they are..one day at a time it will get better
cheers all and good luck
JB
Good luck JB – stick with it
Just an update. I have written here before about the trials and tribulations of giving up.
I had a hell of a time, moods, severe bloating, gained about half a stone, short of breath, headaches, sometimes desperate for a smoke just to see if the symptoms would go away but never gave in.
It took me well over a year to get over the withdrawal symptoms. At times I thought I would never feel well again. I smoked for 45 years so I guessed I wasn’t going to be one of those “You will run a marathon after three days ” guys. I think one of the worst parts was all the ” Hey you will feel great in a few days ” crap they tell you.
if they told us the truth at least we wouldn’t be crapping ourselves that we had something awful wrong. My doctor was a waste of space. My stomach was solid and looked eight months pregnant and all he could say was “” people put on weight as they get older ” bl**dy idiot.
Anyway it didnt get better for me until after about 14 months. Its been 23 months now, never even think of the things and yes I feel better for it.
So you guys and gals, if you feel like s**t that’s even more reason to stay quit. It does eventually get better.
We all have regrets in life, quitting smoking will never be one of them.
I smoked for over 24 years….I had my last cig on 2 weeks ago today!!! I am also glad that I found this site. I feel so bad most of the time….not sleeping well and just so fatigued. I am using Chantix. I still think about smoking at least once a day now….the first few days I was in a living hell. The hell that I went through is motivation enough for me to remain smoke free( I hope). Good luck everyone and stay strong!
OMG!! I am so glad i found this site i thought it was all me over exaggerating i am 31 years old, i started smoking at 17 years old (Yes stupid) i lost my father on 10/10/10 to cancer (which riped our family apart) he made me promise that i would give up smoking well it took me 2 years to get the courage up to do it, but its been 4 weeks on 18/2/12 i feel very confident that i will not smoke again, i used hypnosis i dont have any cravings, but man i feel like crap no enerygy, crying, like i just cant be bothered, i started at the gym to try and get fit but still no energy, my father in law hit me up today and said, you are so flat, your not happy anymore are you struggling, everyone can see it, Well no im not stuggling none of them smoke so they dont know what i am going through its a long process but i am so proud of myself for doing this, and as for my family well you have to take my bad moods as they come wheather they can handle them or not i am doing this they want me to be healthy they got to take the bad with the good, because in the long run I WILL BE A WINNER>>>>>>>>>>>
P,S has anyone any ideas how to stop feeling so flat ????
Just one more thing, good luck to everyone, its hard work but in 12 months time we can all come back on here and say how good we are, so GOODLUCK to each and everyone of you
thank you, thank you, thank you
I am so glad I found this website
I gave up smoking 28 days ago and feel crap, tight chest, ache all over, hot & cold, crying, no energy and tired all the time 🙁
hope its worth it I smoked for 30 years.
and I quit on the patches….
Sisters and brothers, you are awesome. I found this site after waking with yet another day of heart palpitations and an odd feeling in my lungs, but you’ve all collectively put my mind at ease. Even though a trip to a cardiologist and a few tests confirmed that my heart is fine, I can’t help but feel a great amount of anxiety when it does its little dance. I suppose it all stems from the fact that nicotine constricts the blood vessels, and they need to adjust now that the nicotine is gone.
We will get through this. We will be victorious. We can do it — I know this because we ARE doing it. We must remember that this will take time, and all the strange stuff that’s happening is our body’s way of readjusting. Cigarettes put a huge strain on us, and now that our bodies are relaxing back into normalcy, it’s gonna feel strange to us. We’re used to another form of existence, but not this one — not the smoke-free one.
And how about those dreams?? I laughed when I read Phillip’s comment — I too had a dream the other night that I smoked. Woke up thinking I had to start all over again. Otherwise, my dreams have been bizarre, with a cast of thousands. Last night, for example, I dreamed I went to a Pogues concert, dreamed I went to see a financial manager, and dreamed I escaped from prison — all in one night. Very vivid, and very bizarre, all around.
Here’s to being strong and tackling this thing that has consumed our lives for so many years!
Your friend,
Tim
It’s been 4.5 weeks and I feel like CRAP! Mostly I just want to hurt anybody that gets in my way – I have zero tolerance for anyone – and normally I’m a very mild mannered person. I wasn’t a heavy smoker (8 cigs a day – well, my definition I guess) – but enough that I was habitual. Driving, escaping the office, after dinner, etc. I describe myself as crabby, moody, affected by incredible vivid dreams and hungry all the time. Quit social drinking too – since the two often went hand in hand – so BOTH my comforts are now gone. Grrrr. Thought all of these symptoms were just part of my “age”….but comforted now that I’ve read all previous posts. I think I’ll just stay away from people for the next few months!
Cheers
Tess
I quit feb. 1st. 25 years now, and I just turned 40. I also just had a baby. I have quit before for as long as 1 1/2 years, but went back to it. I would feel really bad while I was smoking. No energy, drained and then when I quit I would feel great! The only withdrawl symptom I had was trouble sleeping. I would jerk all night and not sleep. So I would use a patch or chew the gum before bed and that would keep me from jerking. This time is completely different because now I am married and my husband smokes so it’s much harder. I have more cravings so I use a patch everyday, all day. This time I feel like crap! Not just crap, really, it’s more like crapity crap crap on top of being hit by a semi! Flu like symptoms, aches, pains, headaches, some sleeplessness, and now my throat is sore and swollen. The one thing that is good is I have sooo much more energy!
I think it’s possible that most people don’t go through this yuckiness, therefor, it’s not talked about by most people, not concidered common.
I quit for three days now cold turkey. The only bad side affects that im really feeling is lack of concentration, major bloating in my stomache, and no sex drive. I think the bloating is caused by me constantly drinking water and coffee all day, instead of eating evrything in site. I used to go the whole day without eating.. Im 36 and smoked a pack and half of cigg since i was 17. I feel alot more energy though .. Just hope this sex drive thing goes away.. Anyone with feedback let me know?