I quit smoking and now I have dry skin, menstual changes, abdominal cramps, and constipation. Help!?

Question

I feel like I'm falling apart and shrivelling into a prune! It has been 1 1/2 months since my quit and I very quickly started getting really strange symptoms which are just getting worse.

These include

1) peeling, dry skin all over my body, especially on my face which has broken out in a red rash. My skin burns all over it is so dry.

2) a strange sharp and pulsing pain in my lower abdomen, near my ovary (but may not be) which comes and goes. It feels different than bowel/gas pain

3) constipation, with (sorry for too much info) sticky/smelly stool

4) painful heart palpitations

5) mood swings/building anxiety (although these could easily be related to the quit itself)

6) chronic and painful headaches

7) feeling dehydrated all of the time even though I am not

I can't think of any recent changes that would cause this except for the quitting.

Could quitting have triggered a dormant illness? If so, what could it be?

Answer 1

What you have is called "Quitter's Flu".

Nicotine withdrawal symptoms:
Mood Swings
Headaches
Tightness in the chest
Constipation, stomach pain, gas
Dry mouth
Sore/dry tongue and/or gums
Insomnia, or sleeping too much
Fatigue
Cough
Sore throat



Dry skin is very common during the winter months.

Chest pain is probably caused by anxiety. And since you admit to having anxiety, are you eating more or less since you've quit?

1 1/2 months and still having symptoms... seems too long. See a doctor.

Answer 2

You need to see your family doctor, as nobody here is fully qualified to answer this question. And if a person claims to be a nurse or doctor, you really don't know if they are being truthful.
~Your mood swings and anxiety are the only symtoms that can be associated with the fact that you quit smoking.
~If you are constipated, then you may not be drinking enough juices or water. You could not be eating enough fruit and vegetables. Many medications can cause constipation as well.
~Chronic headaches means that they have been occuring many times for a very long time. This can be caused by smoking itself, and by quiting. There are MANY reasons for headaches and you should consult your doctor.
~ Many people are dehydrated, yet dont realise that they are. You are constipated, so maybe you are a little dehydrated. Dry skin can also indicate dehydration as well as not enough fruits and vegetables.( There are secrets in fruit and vegetables that help moisturise skin! )See your doctor.

The best thing for you to do is see you doctor as soon as you can, due to the heart palpitations.
I honestly do wish you well, and hope you over come these symptoms. Please, see your doctor!
:o)

Answer 3

1. See your doctor about all these symptoms. They are somewhat normal for nicotine withdrawl, but seem severe.

2. If you smoked a lot for many years, your body is cleansing itself from all the nicotine! Your body is also adjusting to not having the constant stimulation of a very poweful drug. The constipation, headaches, mood changes, menstral problems even skin symptoms make sense to me, especially if you smoked for many years. Nicotine works on all systems of the body by altering the chemical receptor sites on most of your body cells. It effects every body system. The health benefits of quitting far outweigh withdrawal symptoms.

3. I would suggest doubling or tripling your water intake, increasing your exercise (both with help with constipation)

4. It will probably take 6 months to feel completely healthy

5. Don't discount the psychological effects of quitting!! Cigarettes are a real drug addiction with all the physical and psychological aspects that go along with addiction!

6. Most people attempt to quit about 5-6 times before they fully kick the habit - keep on truckin'

Answer 4

at least you don't have cancer, emphazema, Except #5 none of these are caused by quitting smoking, there is simply another reason, it has gotten colder all over the region lately so that can expalin #1 and #7, stress can easily cause #2, 3, 4,and 6. Whatever the cigarettes were helping you with in terms of coping are still there, now you have to work on them.

Answer 5

Geez...and I always thought it was smoking that was bad for your health, not quitting.

If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to convince yourself that you'd be better off and healthier as a smoker.

Answer 6

YEAH CONGRATS.. you have done the hard yard. for your skin, abominal pain and palpations see a dr. Colonics and acidophilous and bifidious could help your bowel. take care. You don't say your age but could early menopause. You need to check your hormone levels. BEST TO SEE DR.

Answer 7

1

Answer 8

this may not have anything to do with smoking at all but congrats for quiting! its the best thing u could have done 4 urself, i need to quit to, anyways back to u, u probably need to see a doctor and tell him or her these symptoms it sounds like it may be something else..... hope all is ok

Answer 9

It is your body fixing itself, it will go away. it still would not hurt to see a Doctor; and remember it is still far better than the torture of dying slowly from any combination of cancer {can cause different types not just lung cancer}, COPD, Emphysema, bronchitis, heart disease and stroke, and seeing your loved ones{ children, spouse etc} suffer emotionally from watching you die in tremendous pain and agony. That may sound harsh, but it unfortunately is very true. Also i agree with some of the others here too, we all seem to have some very good points for you.







P.S. Sex tends to get better;better erections for men, wetter {you know what!} for women.

Answer 10

treat your complaints symptomatically. whatever u do, don't return to smoking.