Nicotine Addiction :: Feeling Ill After Quitting Smoking!
I quit smoking exactly 1 week ago today (though it feels much longer) after smoking for almost 7 years.
For the past month and a half, I have had shortness of breath, which came on suddenly. I went to Urgent Care for it, and the doctor, after listening to me breath/listening to my heart, said "everything sounds good", and she said my shortness of breath is due to the fact that I have severe anxiety/panic disorder and a sinus infection. That was in the beginning of February... A couple weeks ago, my best friend's mom (who has been an ER nurse for over 20 years) listened to me breath, took my pulse/blood pressure, and she, too, said my lungs sounded "perfect", and my other vitals were good as well.
However... here I am, late March, and I still experience shortness of breath (though it has gotten somewhat better).
Like I said, it's only been a week since I quit smoking (which I did BECAUSE I felt it might be why I was having shortness of breath), and the first couple of days? I felt great!
Now, I feel awful. I feel like I am dying. My depression has gotten much worse, my anxiety is acting up, I feel "empty" both mentally and emotionally... I have HA (health anxiety) and I fear I might have cancer, or COPD, or some such thing.
Also, physically I just feel completely drained. I feel weak all the time, exhausted, sluggish, my heartbeat feels weak (to me), etc... I have difficulty thinking clearly, my concentration is horrible...
But mainly what bothers me is how weak I feel... Sometimes I feel so weak that I am SURE I am dying. I lay there and think, "this is it, I am dying". It's absolutely terrifying!
I use a nicotine patch, and it DOES seem to help when I have it on, but it only helps so much...
Is this all normal? Before I quit this past week, I had been quitting on and off for a couple months, but my "quitting" would only last 2-3 days. This is the longest I have quit smoking.
I just feel something must be terribly wrong with me... Could this all be just because I quit smoking? No one ever tells you what to REALLY expect when you quit...
Quitting Smoking After 17 Years - Tried Everything
I've been a smoker for 17 years now. I've tried everything and still can't quit. Any methods anyone can recommend that helped you?
View 1 RepliesCOPD :: Quitting Smoking After 48 Years
I have just been diagnosed with stage 2 copd (emphysema). I have smoked for 48 years. I am 65 and told I have lungs of a 95 year old. I am struggling to stop smoking. If I cannot how fast will my progression be.
View 29 RepliesAnxiety :: Lump In Throat And Feeling Of Swelling Around Throat And Bottom Of Jaw
I was wondering if this is a symptom of anxiety from the constant stress and worry l keep getting Lump in throat and feeling of swelling around throat and bottom of jaw i keep panicking i have cancer in the throat
View 2 RepliesQuitting Smoking After 40 Years - Tried Patches, Champix And Acupuncture
can anyone tell me which way they found the best, i don't really want to go on patches etc and i've heard bad reports on champix. I,ve tried acupuncture and found i cut down, but we all know what happens, creep back to full smoking again.
View 12 Replies(Age 18-24) Pregnancy :: Lump Feeling In My Throat
I have this lump feeling in my throat and it feels like vomit that's stuck there or food or something but I am struggling eating or drinking and on top of that I get heartburn like 24/7. Anyone else have this feeling
View 4 RepliesWaking Up Choking / Lump In The Back Of Throat Feeling
I am a 40 yr old male who has been dealing with a choking issue for some time now. What happens is when I lay down to sleep I will wake up a short time later feeling like there is a lump of junk in the back of my throat that I can't cough up. I ended up in the hospital the first time it happened and they ran x rays and checked me out and said they couldn't find anything wrong other than my throat is narrow and seemed irritated. We later found out we had mold in our home and moved out as my entire family was affected by it but now the problem is back and it's only happening to me and not my family. I've tried benedryl to see if it was allergy related and it didn't help,. Sometimes it will start with me just sitting in a chair and not sleeping(watching tv). Its a feeling of needing to cough up something that just isn't there but my air way feels obstructed. When it happens if I suck on a mint or a candy after about an hour it will relieve itself but if I lay down it starts up again. Anyone dealt with this or dealing with something like this?
View 4 RepliesWill Emphysema Go Away After Quitting Smoking?
I would like to know that if I were to quit smoking now, will my emphysema go away? I have been smoking for 3 years and I am only 22 year's old.
View 3 RepliesEasy Way - Quitting Smoking
Now, you've probably clicked on this link and have some serious doubts about what I'm going to say.
Quitting smoking is the easiest thing you can do and why? Because you don't want to do it in the first place.
Example 1: Let's say I invite you to your favorite food, would you say yes?
Of course you would, it's something you enjoy and it's free.
Example 2: What if I invite you to eat dog poo. Would you try it? Hey, it's free, right! But, you would probably say no.
So what do those 2 examples have in common? The #One you want to do and the other one, not so much.
Well, let's pretend I chase around the house, work and every area of your life, telling you to eat dog poo. Would you just give up and try it? Like really?
Because that's what addiction does it pokes you and chases you until you agree to do it.
I could write a whole essay on this, but I'll post some main ideas first and then will specify on some things.
Addiction is not a habit. Look it up in the dictionary. Not the same thing at all and the words are very different, even though they sound similar.
Psychiatrists classify addictions as a mental disorder.
So first admit and you've probably noticed that by being a smoker, you are different than other people. You think differently and you're aware that your life is dominated by cigarettes. When to buy, smoke etc.
If you smoke a pack a day, that's like 1 cigarette every 45 minutes, without counting 8 hrs of sleep. That is like brushing your teeth the same number of times a day. Doesn't sound like normal behavior right?
So, let's summarize this, smoking is an addiction that pokes you several times a day. And here comes the catch, why do you have to do it, just as the example with dog poo.
Because you think you are getting something out of it. Not the bad consequences, but you think it somehow lets you decrease your stress or keep emotions in control... etc..
There are two types of addictions, physical and mental. The mental part of the addiction is usually what makes it seem impossible to quit.
But there's an easy way.
Add your thoughts in some things I've said or ask more questions and I'll write some other posts that go deeper on why smoking becomes a problem and it's our mentality that makes us fail.
Quitting Smoking :: Day One Champix
So today I swallowed my first morning Champix tablet., I got them from my GP 3 days ago,. but had a real mind battle before making that 1st move.,I have smoked for 50 years,. this as taken a big toll on my Health & pocket,..hopefully now I have come to my senses to quit this awful habit,,my life can take on more meaning..
View 36 RepliesQuitting Smoking :: Chantix Helps?
I just went to the doctor and got a prescription for chantix today I picked it up and I have not taken it yet because I'm nervous about side and a little scared about quitting but also very hopeful that this work for me. Both my fiance and I smoke and have for many years but we both want to quit and are going to try. I have been reading these posts and decided to join and write my own because I know that I will need help and encouragement to get through this. Everyone on here seems very nice and encouraging so I hope with the chantix and support from my family and this site we can be successful!
View 5 RepliesQuitting Smoking :: Wellbutrin Helps
I am a 60 yr old woman and I have smoked for roughly 35 yrs. I have attempted to quit at least 3-4 times seriously. I've always had the horrible cravings even when using patches etc. this time I had my mind made up to do it finally and I just happened to be taking 300 mg of Wellbutrin at the time and I had actually forgotten that this could be helpful. I asked my dr to call in a prescription for the patches which he did. Anyway to say that it was easy is an understatement. You can imagine then my surprise to find out after using the 2nd box of patches that I had been using just the 7 mg patches all along. It Had to be the Wellbutrin that made the difference !! I was very surprised but extremely happy to become a Non-smoker !! It's been 10 months and I have no cravings. and I feel great ! I would gladly promote the Wellbutrin to any current smokers that really want to quit. I have put on a few pounds but that is well worth it to be able to live long enough to see my great grandchildren someday I hope and pray !!!
View 2 RepliesQuitting Smoking - Withdrawal Symptoms?
I quit smoking 36 days back. Took 21mg patch sometimes for first 4 weeks and then taking 1/2 of 21mg patch (by cutting it). Went through the craving -
- not having any more. Here is what bother me now:-
* Feeling fever but no temperature
* Pains around the eye (sinus), headache, usual discomforts that comes with fever
* If my back is touched with little pressure (or rather rubbed), it feels like burning. If I bend, I feel a pain on the left side of mid-spinal cord -- but when sit straight it does not pain. (I do lift 2 five gallon water refills once in a while to 1st floor -- if can be slip disk)
* Felt similar burning pain in some other part (but less) too -- arms and probably the head (touching hairs pains little bit)
* Took crosin -- night time sweating many times now but the heavy head goes away with crosin
* Morning cough out little pinkish cold once or twice
* Oxygen level is 95% on blood (tested few days before)
Do I need to go for medication/see a doctor now or just wait and watch (is it a kind of withdrawal symptom or an independent issue)?
Quitting Smoking - Acupuncture Helps
I think Many people don't know that acupuncture is a great tool to help you stay away from cigarettes. Needles will not make you quit, but they will help you stay on track. Acupuncture will help by lessening withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are (not limited to): stress, anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, and emotional distress.
View 2 RepliesInflammatory Bowel Disease? After Quitting Smoking
I stopped smoking 6 months ago and to be honest feel worse for it. Currently i am suffering from
UC and mouth ulcers. I have never suffered with mouth ulcers before and my bowel has been painful since stopping smoking. What i need to figure out is this: is it worth taking up smoking again or do i need to put up with abdominal pain, bloody diarrhoea, mucus and faecal incontinence and always
having to use pads. I am only 55 and feel like i am 85. I am beginning to think smoking is the lesser of the two evils!! Have read on many forums how people give up smoking and then suffer the indignities of UC. Is there any medical evidence on UC and stopping smoking? If not, why not?
Quitting Smoking :: Dangers Of Electronic Cigarettes?
I'm new and concerned about my health I recently quit smoking and am using the electronic cigs. I feel great My concern is that it could be harmful as well. I know it is clearly a better choice than the poisons in tobacco does anyone know if there are dangers?
View 4 RepliesPregnancy :: Quitting Smoking - No Damage Before 13 Weeks?
I know I need to quit smoking. My dr said no damage is done before 13 weeks, but I can't quit! I've tried tapering, I've tried cold turkey, I've tried gum... nothing is working.
View 4 RepliesAcid Reflux :: GERD? Throat Spasm, Lump In Throat, Lungs Feel Tight
I have been suffering with this for two weeks and I have no idea which symptoms may be connected to my newly acquired TMJ or my flare up of GERD.
Two weeks ago after a heavy meal and a few days after damaging my jaw I woke up in the night with a weird throat spasm and feeling like I had something stuck in my throat. Then over the weeks I started to get the lump feeling through the day with difficulty swallowing. I lost half a stone due to being unable to eat.
Now I have developed a tight chest, dry throat and lungs, feeling like my lungs are blocked, constant throat clearing with little mucous production, breathing difficulty and I'm still having these nightly throat spasms and lump feeling. I had some of my sons ventolin inhaler as I had asthma as a child and thought the reflux could be causing this but it did nothing.
I have been to A and E lots of times with it and also to my GP who has referred me for an endoscopy but its only in february.
I am going out of my mind. The breathing issue happened after a load of acid came up my throat a few nights ago and it felt like my throat and lungs were dried out by it.
Cannabis Addiction :: Haze After Quitting Smoking Marijuana
The last time I smoked marijuana was around the 13th of January, but I still have the feeling of laziness and like I'm almost looking through some kind of film or something. Like I feel when I'm high. Is this normal this long after quitting? Or is this "hazy" feeling potentially due to a medical cause. My sight isn't really impaired, but my sight is like I'm high still, like I'm looking through a haze.
I smoked multiple times a day for about a year and a half. It doesn't go away, and it hasn't gotten any better over the time since I've quit.