i stopped smoking 9 days ago i have lots of questions?

Question

ok i smoked 10 -15 a day since i was 12.
Since i stopped ( cold turkey no patches etc) ive noticed
A,harder to get to sleep
B,hot flushes
c, I can't stop eating which i'm not complaining about as i was only 7st 7 anyway.I've gained 4lb in 9 days.
I'm 27 and I wanted to know if all these symptoms relate to me quitting smoking please?
d, and i'm empting my bladder more too.

Answer 1

You are going through what ex smokers call "recovery symptoms ". All of these symptoms will disappear in a couple of more weeks. They are not harmful, but are hard to get through. Good luck !

Answer 2

Taking the last "symptom" first - I doubt if there's a link. Actually, we know from those ads on the telly that smoking can harm your erection ability - certainly no negatives can come from stopping smoking. it may be that without cigarettes to "distract" you then you are thinking about going to the loo more. Maybe it's subconsciously finding something else to do! As for weight gain, I'd imagine that will be temporary with you eating instead of smoking. If it starts to become a problem you may need to consider crunching carrots or chewing celery - less calories.. Hot flushes - probably just a symptom which will recede. Harder to get to sleep - I'd have thought the opposite would occur. Sure that's not caused by something else? Have you eg changed your eating habits - eating just before going to bed may be the reason for this, for instance. Sorry if I can't answer all your concerns - but what you are doing is for the best - just think "no pain, no gain!!"

Answer 3

First of all, congratulations!
Since you are passed to weeks of being a nonsmoker, most of the physical cravings are gone. Most of what you are experiencing as far as cravings are psychological. These are the "habit cravings". They will go away in three to five minutes with the light a cigarette or not.
The main thing for you to realize is that "you are always one puff away from a pack a day". Expect some challenges over the next six months. These will normally be associated with stress. The worst distress, the more you naturally, instinctively go to your lowest, denominator in ways of dealing with stress. In the past that has always been with a cigarette. At that time you must realize that "you're always one puff away from a pack a day". And make a conscious decision not to pick up that first cigarette.

Insomnia and hormonal irregularities can be part of the physical withdrawal syndrome. I always encourage my patients to drink lots of water and do some form of exercise on a daily basis. The exercise will generate endorphins that help with this whole withdrawal process. In addition, your metabolism slows by about 150 to 200 cal per day when you quit smoking. If you add onto this a feeling of deprivation by not having your cigarettes so substituting sweets or carbohydrates is a natural thing to do. In fact, some studies show that popping a candy will release some of the dopamine in the area of the brain stimulated by cigarettes. Avoid this substitution behavior. My exercising for at least 15 minutes a day (I'm not talking running marathons simply wanting fast enough to get your heart rate over 100) you will probably take care of your insomnia and weight gain.



Sincerely,

Kirk G. Voelker MD
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine
Founder Quit Doc Smoking Treatment Network
www.QuitDoc.com

Please Note: This note was dictated using Dragon Naturally Speaking v8.0 while exercising on an eliptical trainer, so excuse any transcription errors.

Answer 4

Most of what you say sounds exactly like cold turkey symptoms - withdrawal from NICOTINE which your body craves still but your brain is telling you, you do not want any more.

From a heavy smoker, me, now 65 and smoking since age 9 my advice to you is to keep going, do not give in and do not worry about the annoying withdrawal symptoms.

I think you are doing very well, keep up the good work. Also the fact you are not hooking into nico-patches is a good thing too.

What to do about the food. Nothing really. Do not worry about it. Once you've kicked the nico-habit you'll probably settle down to your normal ten meals a day.

In addition to my filthy smoking habit, I sometimes get mad cravings for things, esp. choc and buy six bars at once and eat them all in an hour. The no choc for a year. What the hell's all that about?

Good look.

Answer 5

I quit smoking after 10 years and I experienced many of those symptoms too. This is your body going through what is called "Withdrawal" which generally means it was used to have something in it (cigarette smoke) that it is no longer getting. So basically, your body is trying to adjust itself and function properly without the smoking. You will be fine, I quit cold turkey too going on a year now and I feel better than I ever did. Teeth are whiter too..

Answer 6

Try cutting the caffeine down to levels way below that which you used when you were smoking. Nicotine interferes with the caffeine in your body so now you are no longer smoking, it will increase the diuretic and stimulative effects you're used to getting from it.

As advised above, drink plenty of water to help flush the toxins out of your body and try to avoid alcohol altogether for a while as well as not going into smokey atmospheres. Good luck.

Answer 7

Fair play hun and weldone by the way! Noramlly its the first 3 days that are the hardest but by the sounds of it, ur flushing all the crap out your body...

As for the eating, dont over bloat yourself cuz the nicotine will still be coming out of your system and comes out in your sweat so try gum or summut!

Also i know it sounds stoopid, but go to the shop and buy some filter tips for roll ups...everytime you feel the urge to smoke put one between ya lips, its kills the craving a bit! You'l look silly but what the hell???

Weldone!!! xx

Answer 8

When I gave up I did eat and drink more so I wouldn't worry about that to much. Just watch the eating I did put on loads of weight after giving up. I would say that your body is just trying to get use to you not smoking. Best of luck I hope you can stay off them. I went back on them four year after giving up. I wish I could give up again maybe in the new year.

Answer 9

You have alot of toxins in your body and first two-three weeks going be the hardest, keep your self busy, take walks, and other excersize to keep your mind off it, you may or may not loose weight. I quit after 27 yrs cold turkey, now I can't even stand smell cigs--after all settled down I lost weight and kept it off without a cigarette.

Answer 10

These are all part and parcel of giving up. Most of it will pass the food thing doesnt, i gave up 16 months and 14 days ago i was 8&1/2 st when i gave up now i am heading for 11