Can anyone who has quit smoking cold turkey tell me how long it was before youer SEVERE cravings went away?

Question

Also, how long before the nicotine is completely out of your system? I have smoked for 28 years and have not had a cigarrette since Sat. afternoon. I'm very close to climbing a tower with an assault rifle. I've tried the patches and gum etc. before and they give me chest pains.

Answer 1

I can SOOOOOOOO feel for you!!!!! I smoked for over 29 years before I quit, cold turkey, Dec. 17,2006. So, just over 3 months ago. I pretty much feel that the craving will always be there. I didn't even know I was going to quit. I went to Border's with my 2 kids, and was so out of breath after climbing 1 flight of stairs, that I said to myself, " I have to quit!" I just figured I wouldn't smoke the rest of that night. The next morning, I just kept going! It helped that my daughter, 14, and my son, 12, were ( and still are ) behind me all the way. I had to have all kinds of breathing and other tests done, because I still have trouble with stairs, and I feel (most of the time) like I can't get a really deep breath in without sighing or yawning. I've been told it could just be hyperventilation, or anxiety attacks. Whatever, I don't know. But, when I REALLY want a cigarette, I dance or walk up stairs, anything to remind me how I've got to stay off them. I wish you the best of luck! You CAN do it!!! The others that answered you, and myself, are living proof that you can do it. Also, the "one day at a time" thing really does work. I read even more than I did before, and just try to keep busy. Good luck!!!! Hang in there!!! You can do it!! Don't let the cigarettes be in control of you, YOU control them!!! Kerry


p.s. I've been told by different people that the actual nicotine is out of your body in 3 days. The rest is all mental and emotional. You will probably also go through the grieving process, soon. Sounds crazy, but I realized I was going through all the steps. It started with denial. The 1st few days weren't that hard for me, because I think I hadn't really realized that I'd quit. You know, for good. Then, I got very, very mean, and nasty!!! Talk about maniacs! I also cried a great deal. I told my dentist( who hates cigs') and she actually said "of course you're grieving, you lost a friend, in a way. It was always there for you etc".I knew she was right, but sometimes you have to let go of the friends who will harm you, right? With friends like that, who needs enemies, right? lol

Answer 2

I completely understand your feelings!
I quit cold turkey in 2001, and havent had a smoke since then. That year I did quit almost on a weekly basis, but on X-mas day I quit for good.
I think I had severe cravings for a cigarrette for at least 7 days after that, and to be honest I dont think a craving will ever go away, it just gets smaller and smaller. I would love a smoke right now but I know what it will lead to and I know better now.
As per the nicotine leaving your system, I remenber being told that it takes a few weeks, and to clearly clean your lungs out it takes half the amount of time you spent smoking. I smoked for 15 years, so it should take me 7 and a half to have my lungs working again at full capacity. Its amazing how bad cigarrettes are at the same time being soo good.
Best of luck to you, I hope you can kick this habit out for good.

Answer 3

Congratulations! I quit cold turkey on Dec 7, 1999 and still crave it and am tempted regularly, although it has gotten better as the years go by. I do love the smell (weird, I know) and love to stand downwind from someone smoking. That helps my craving usually. The key is that you have to decide that you're not going to start again. What I tell myself is that it was too hard to quit and I don't want to have to quit again. That and it's a lot more expensive now than when I used to smoke and I don't know what I'd have to sacrifice in my budget in order to smoke. Probably shoes and purses. NO WAY! lol Keep on keepin on.

Answer 4

Bad news for you, the cravings never totally go away. The will get weaker as time goes by. The first two weeks are the worse though. In about a week from now, you will realise that you have more energy, and that food tastes better. Try to avoid being alone, and try to avoid any activities during which you smoked previously.

And chew lots of gum, no need to be nicotine. I just find chewing gum takes the craving aways.

Answer 5

I quit 6yrs. ago, cold turkey, i am 75 yrs old now and i still crave.
Before you quit cold turk, see a Doctor you trust and have your heart and lungs CK.ed
If patches and the gum are not agreeing with you, find out why!
When i quit it was about three weeks before the craves left,
however i have never met anyone who can really say they have lost the crave.
I started smoking when i was 16.

Answer 6

I used a Nicorette inhaler to carry me over a long train journey in 2000. Was so pleased with the result that I continued with them for about a week; then stopped cold turkey.Never had any desire to take up smoking again. Was smoking 2 packs of unfiltered a day, and had been a smoker for 54 years. Keep on trying, it is worthwhile.

Answer 7

That is a long time of smoking. I am 34 and have been addicted since grade school. I have had a cigerette everyday since grade school (even when in the hospital) so that is 21 years.

Funny story (or pathetic), in 8th grade catholic school I snuck to the basement cafeteria to have a smoke. I was in a bathroom near the boiler room without lights on (so not to get caught) and started puffing away, got dizzy and disoriented, thought the light from the doorway was someone coming in a cubyhole opening!!! So I proceded to throw the cig on the floor, step on it, then pick it up, BUT, when I bent down I smashed my face off the sink. Then I went to run toward the light spot on the wall that I THOUGHT was the door opening, BUT, in fact, it was a large water pipe. I ran dead speed into the pipe and knocked myself the hell out. There I was lying flat on my back with a busted nose, TWICE. I had to go back to class and the nun almost had a heart attack when she seen me because I was covered in blood from my busted up face. They wanted to know what happened and of course I could not tell them the truth so I just said I did not know. What a mess. I got sent home and it created a whole mess. I sat there thinking what an IDIOT I am! Finally told my Mother what really happened 20 years later. She cried then went into a fit of laughter as she tried to tell me that I am not right!

I like your description of climbing a tower with an assault rifle. I can picture it and I can feel it. I always say I feel like I can put my head through the wall. It has to make the cravings feel better (OH! Wait I tried that in grade school, TWICE, and it did not work)!!!

I am trying to quit also. Lets do one less ciggy at a time. One craving passing at a time. It will get easier and easier. Pucker your lips up (DO IT NOW). I am doing it also. Now breath in deeply with your lips puckered and breathe out really deep. It makes a funny sound doesn't it? Feel better!!!! AAAHHHHH!!! It is okay! We will do it! Do you have any funny or ridiculus smoking stories??? I'd like to hear them in your reply if you do!!! I think by tonight the cravings will lessen. Then by tomorrow they will probably lessen a bit more and we will feel better! Thanks! YOU helped me by asking your question!

I just want to add something. Try to remeber that we have to quit sometime, now or later. Better to do it know! And people have been in the same boat as us and they did get through the cravings and they did stop. Just keep breathing DEEPLY with puckered lips and tell yourself and others that you QUIT, not that you are quitting, but that you QUIT, because you have! Make sure you replace smoking with something else like a hobby or chewing straws. I am doing knitting. It has been 3 days since your question was posted so I hope you got through. If not, its okay! Just try again! It is worth it!!!! Good Luck Friend!!!!

Answer 8

I think the amount depends on your body but it is in stages, 10 days will give you the best plateau. there are other treatments to curb cravings other than the nicotine replacement. you may try a more natural approach there are lobelia, st johns wort, ginseng, magnesium etc. you can also use the oral fixacion thing with toothpicks, gum and chew on carrots, these may sound dumb but it works if you really want to quit. i wish you luck and remember don't quit quitting

Answer 9

About 3 weeks

See if a Dr will give you an anti anxiety drug

I used ativan and it worked great