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really trying posted 9/3/2013 01:07 AM

I haven't heard of any negative side effects from stop smoking so I'll tell you mine. I hope these are only temporary. If you've had any, I'd love to hear positive stories...

I've quit for 4 months.
I've gained 10 pounds and it's NOT coming off, no matter what I do. My Dr. says it's temporary but temporary to my body could be whenever. I am miserable at this weight.

My throat burns most the time. Like when I breath in smog. Goes away for a day or so but always comes back.

At the base of my throat, hard to explain, I call it where my flapper is, most the time it's hard to breathe out. Not in but when I breathe out. Hard to explain.

I exercise all the time.

Tightness in my chest. Like a twist in there and always in my chest. Heart Dr. says it has nothing to do with my heart.

Sometimes my chest feels like it needs to be stretched. When I stretch it, i.e, put my arms back behind my back, it feels like it's pulling something, loosing something in my chest.

I smoked for 40 years! I do not feel better for not smoking.

The good news I guess is that my heart is good and strong. How sad, that's the only good news so far.

I have a spot on my lung that I'm having checked again this month through another CT scan. Hopefully it's just a scar.

I don't know, everyone talks about how great they feel after quit smoking, I don't get that.

I will NEVER smoke again, don't miss it, don't want to, just wish I never did.

I smoked the E-cig for a few months, didn't enjoy it, didn't want to find one I would enjoy as I don't want to smoke anything and I do not now. I'm proud of myself for that but boy, I sure caused a lot of damage to my body and some of it, I'll never get back!

I know people that quit and have no side effects. I'm so jealous of those people

So please if you've had any of these or other negative symptoms and they have gotten better with time, please share!

click4it posted 9/3/2013 01:37 AM

really trying you are in my boat! meaning that I have not felt "great" yet now that I have stopped. I too have gained some weight, been moody and VERY antsy.

The physical stuff you are describing, I am going to take a big guess: anxiety. You made a huge change and its scary and your body is reacting.

I've heard of the throat burning, but I haven't had that.

Keep this in mind, the "side effects" of what you are feeling now are WAY better than the smoking side effects that were happening all along. That's what I have to remind myself.

I too had a spot on my lung that I had to get scanned twice, turns out it was scar tissue...but the doc told me STOP SMOKING. took me 3 years after that to actually do it.

I wish I felt this new sense of accomplishment, but I don't yet. blah.

let's be each other's cheerleaders.

really trying posted 9/3/2013 01:47 AM

thanks Clickity,

I read your posts and am proud of you, I felt awful for posting this because everyone on here was raving how great it was to stop smoking but yet, I don't feel any better. I have this feeling of dread come over me at times and it's an awful feeling. Like it's too late for me.

Thanks for understanding, we're okay.

MovingUpward posted 9/3/2013 07:16 AM

Any possibility that the effects you are feeling are do to higher anxiety maybe even some acid reflux. I know people smoke to take the edge off, could it be that you are struggling to deal with the day to day without the ability to take the edge off?

click4it posted 9/3/2013 11:19 AM

We are OK RT.

I really think you should look into the anxiety thing, because I honestly think that's whats going on with you right now. Are you taking any medication for it or willing to?

h0peless posted 9/3/2013 11:29 AM

I quit about 4.5 months ago and I've experienced a lot of the same negatives as you. On the plus side, I haven't murdered anybody, my teeth have cleaned up nicely and I haven't murdered anybody.

LisaP posted 9/3/2013 11:33 AM

For me, the 4 month mark was the top of the mountain with high anxiety. It was all down hill from there.

Give yourself time...this is a huge accomplishment!

really trying posted 9/3/2013 11:37 AM

yes, I have xanax but don't really take it, perhaps I should give it a try and see if what you're saying might be true.

I'd love to feel better. I'm not sorry I quit, not saying that at all, just thought I'd feel nothing. My moods are fine, it's just physical stuff.

And hope, keep up the good work on not killing anyone.

[This message edited by really trying at 12:00 PM, September 3rd (Tuesday)]

FeelsSoRight posted 9/3/2013 12:06 PM

It could be your body fighting the nicotine addiction that is not being met. That could cause anxiety too. And even if your moods are good, sometimes anxiety can present itself through your body more than your mind.

click4it posted 9/3/2013 12:09 PM

oh my goodness RT, you're moods are fine?! You are doing awesome then!

Deeply Scared posted 9/3/2013 12:19 PM

I didn't have any of those side-effects except the weight gain and huge angry outbursts. Like wanting to kill someone because they rolled through a stop sign

That fades after about a year (for me anyway) but the weight gain was a huge struggle. over 6 years I packed on 65 pounds

I was finally able to shed it 2 years ago, but that was on a very strict diet under my doctors care. It worked...thank God!

Don't get discouraged...any of you!! You're doing great!!!!

really trying posted 9/3/2013 12:20 PM

yeah, I'm fine in that department.

I do you guys, I know smoking's going to kill me, But I'm not going to die smoking. If that makes sense. I feel so much dread at what I've done!

click4it posted 9/3/2013 12:21 PM

Like wanting to kill someone because they rolled through a stop sign

lmao!!

Hmmm is that what's going on with me when I want to get out my car and slap someone silly?

really trying posted 9/3/2013 12:23 PM

oh my DS. Glad it came off, you look so good, I never knew. That's a lot of weight!

Was it when you did the SOuth Beacht diet?

We are all awesome!

[This message edited by really trying at 12:29 PM, September 3rd (Tuesday)]

click4it posted 9/3/2013 12:25 PM

RT - I know. This past weekend, I was like what did I quit for??? Why not just HAVE a cigarette??? I don't feel better!!!

But then that little voice in me says - nope, you said you are done, so you are DONE. And I have to find the things that I do feel better about - but I have to really dig to find them. I don't have to hide anymore, I don't have to smell like smoke when I come into the house, I am being a better role model to my kids, I can say "i am a non-smoker" now, I don't have as many chest pains as I used to...I can live somewhat less guilty...I'm sure there is more.

What are some of the positive that you can find RT? Dig if you need to.

Deeply Scared posted 9/3/2013 12:32 PM

Was it when you did the SOuth Beacht diet?

No, this was a reduced calorie diet and no booze diet

ajsmom posted 9/3/2013 12:37 PM

'k...weighing in here so take this all with a grain of salt.

I've never smoked. That said, I watched both of my parents die from lung cancer after lifetimes of smoking the hard stuff - unfiltered Pall Mall's. Trust me, that is not the way you want to leave this planet.

My X quit cold turkey right after we were married. At that point, he had been smoking for 15+ years. It took a lot of time for his body to settle down from the effects of the nicotine (which, as you know, is a stimulant) and the smoke itself. You smoked for 40 years. You've quit for 4 months. Your body is still in a state of shock and needs time to adjust.

I found this timetable on the internetwebz…it’s pretty spot on to what my X went through. Please – DON’T GIVE UP. You can do this! Hope it helps!

If you quit smoking right now, at 01:31 PM (EST) on September 3, 2013, here is what will begin to happen immediately:

• 1:51 PM (in 20 minutes): Your heart rate drops.

• 1:31 AM (in 12 hours): The carbon monoxide (a gas that can be toxic) in your blood drops to normal.

• Sep. 17, 2013 - Dec. 3, 2013 (in 2 weeks to 3 months): Your heart attack risk begins to drop and your lungs are working better.

• Oct. 3, 2013 - Jun. 3, 2014 (in 1 to 9 months): Your coughing and shortness of breath decrease and your lungs start to function better, lowering your risk of lung infection.

• Sep. 3, 2014 (in 1 year): Your risk for heart disease is half that of a smoker's.

• Sep. 3, 2018 (in five years): Your risk of having a stroke is the same as someone who doesn't smoke.

• Sep. 3, 2023 (in 10 years): Your risk of dying from lung cancer is half that of a smoker's. Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas also decreases.

• Sep. 3, 2028 (in 15 years): Your risk of heart disease is now the same as someone who doesn't smoke.

AJ’s MOM

tushnurse posted 9/3/2013 12:43 PM

Really it sounds to me like you have a couple of issues going on. Good news is your heart is ok, bad news you have all of these new complaints. Nicotine is a stimulant and vasoconstrictor. Therefore, it's possible that now without the nicotine you are having some reflux, which in turn causes what we now term "reactive airway syndrome" In laymans terms, asthma/asthma like symptoms from reflux.

The trouble breathing out, is a HALLMARK sigh of asthma. It getting worse when you exercise, again very typical of asthma. The throat burning is very indicitive of GERD.

My name is tush, but I have a ton of experience in both ends of the GI tract. I would recommend that you talk to your Dr about the symptoms, and/or try with an OTC prevacid. Take it first thing in the morning, 15-30 minutes before you eat or drink anything else. This allows the drug to really work. If it is reflux, then these symptoms will improve with the prevacid within a few days. The reflux itself can cause the chest discomfort, as it is acid washing up your esophagus. If you are having symptoms throughout the day eat some tums, or gaviscon to see if that helps as well.

IF none of this helps get thee to your Dr. It is not normal to feel worse physicall yafter about 1-2 months.

really trying posted 9/3/2013 12:57 PM

thanks for the timeline AJs and suggestions tush. I'll try anything and what you're saying makes sense. I want to say that my throat problem feels better once I've exercised. ? But constricting is a good word.

I had an upper GI in December and then this CT scan in March. Nothing was found in the GI.

Lots of positives Click, don't miss it at all.

[This message edited by really trying at 1:08 PM, September 3rd (Tuesday)]

nowiknow23 posted 9/3/2013 13:04 PM

Love all these SI quitters!!! So very impressed by every one of you.