freefallin14 0 #1 March 21, 2002 I have just recently quit smoking, so far have gone about a week without a cigarette, which is a huge accomplishment for me since I was pretty much a pack a day smoker. Just quit cold. The only problem is I have been feeling extremely sick since I have quit. Flu symptoms, horrible coughing, insomnia, no appetite, always tired, etc. Has anyone else experienced the same thing? Is this normal? How long will it last? The only good thing so far is that I have not had any bad cravings for a smoke. I have been too sick to even think about it! I have heard the first 2 weeks are the worst, any truth in that? Thanks for any advice or responses!Thanks,Bret Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveMonkey 0 #2 March 21, 2002 Never smoked myself, but my father quit (after smoking all his life) about 3 months ago. Just stopped completely. I think he felt a bit ill for a while, but he held out and now he's fine. Just a week to 2 i think. I'm not crazy - I'm a Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #3 March 21, 2002 Well, you are going to have a wicked cough, atleast I did for about a week or so. That's your longes trying to normalize. Beyond that, I know that my eating habits were off for a while, but I didn't get actually sick sick. You're not running a temperature or anything are you? If you are you might just have happened to get the flu or something the same time you quit. Try taking vitamin C or drinking a lot of orange juice and stuff..."ahhhhoo...the little guy hasn't done anything yet and you know its going to be good..." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrHixxx 0 #4 March 21, 2002 I quit 12 years ago cold turkey after about a pack and a half a day from ages 12-22. Man were my lungs F!@#$ up! I was sick for a few weeks as my body was cleaning itself out. Lots of congestion - coughin' shit up, nasty... Drink a lot of fruit juices to continue cleanin' the bod out and find something to chew on - gum, sunflower seeds. You'll be fine...-Hixxx"Sous ma tub, Dr. Suess ma tub" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #5 March 21, 2002 Nicotine withdrawal, I betcha. I used the patch, so I didn't have problems with insomnia, but I had the nastiest cough for a couple of weeks after quitting. It was almost enough to drive me back to smoking. Anyway, congratulations! Stick with it. The patch helped me a LOT, so if you find yourself in the drug store, intending to buy a pack of smokes, get some gum or the patch instead.No, it's not updated. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muenkel 0 #6 March 21, 2002 Yes, everything you're describing is completely normal. It is your body adjusting and cleaning the shit out. Every minute without a cigarette is moving in the right direction. The fact you got through the first week is a huge accomplishment. You are going to feel like shit for now, but all of a sudden you are going to feel great! Drink alot of water. It definitely cleanses the body. And when you are through the rough time reward yourself with something really awesome.Good luck and let us know how you are doing.Skydivers...they're just plain cool!Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumppilot01 0 #7 March 21, 2002 A question I have for everyone is how long after you quit do the cravings go away? I've heard many people say they last forever, but I mean the type of cravings that make you want to murder when you're at a bar with friends. How long until you're normal again?Blue Skies,-Adam Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #8 March 21, 2002 I went cold turkey and I was fairly good after a month or so. Although everytime I was really stressed or was drinking for about a year after that, I tended to want to smoke. It'll be worst if you actually do give in, then it'll be harder to get away from it again."ahhhhoo...the little guy hasn't done anything yet and you know its going to be good..." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Strynx 0 #9 March 21, 2002 Like the others said its normal. It'll take about 21 days b4 your body is adapted to the extrem change. My trick was to do as many pushup as i could. Felt like shit but as soon as my heart was pumping i got a good buzz.P.L.U.R. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiventom 0 #10 March 21, 2002 CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!I am so happy for you! I watch people smoke. I always remind myself.... it is a stinky habit and does absouletly no good at all.... and hey, you'll notice that after being around smokers that your clothes smell.... I can't tell you how happy I am that I quit when I was young. I learned alot after someone I knew died from smoking. I took her to her doctors appointments... I can't tell you how terrible it is to think about her and her life... If you really want to learn about smoking, stop at a hospital and ask around.... it will scare the shit out of you..... **** just a note: you'll find out that you have lots more "stamina" after quitting for a while... LOLLive Well, Laugh Often, Love Much Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #11 March 21, 2002 yeah, I got all those symptoms too when I quit cold turkey. It will get betetr, give it one or two more weeks.Every once in a while I will still get a craving, like after a really good meal, out drinknig or after great sex.....but slowly those cravings get less and less. I am "smoke-free" for just over a year now......SkyDekker"We cannot do great things, only small things with great love" Mother Theresa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chicagoskydiver 0 #12 March 21, 2002 The longer you go, the easier it gets. I quit using the nicotine patch...which is ok since it's not the nicotine that's bad for you, but it is what keeps you hooked. I think the most important thing is to take it a day at a time. Don't think about quiting forever, just think about making it to the end of each day. Good luck!Hackey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freefallin14 0 #13 March 21, 2002 Thank you everyone for the replies and support. Today was so terrible, sore all day and ran a fever up to 102.3. No good. Am feeling much better now, but am not looking forward to trying to sleep tonight. Maybe all the jumping this weekend will take care of it. Thanks all,Bret Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
axe96bam 0 #14 March 21, 2002 Man, I read all of these posts and just remind myself how lucky I am to never have started smoking. It seems like it is really hard to quit!Alex Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lummy 4 #15 March 22, 2002 Congratulations!!!! Best decision you'll ever make :)Didn't have a fever that I know of but plenty of coughing, especially a little tickle all the time. I would be concerned about the 102 fever tho.I'm not talking about your pig tails, I'm talking about your sex appeal.... hit the road and I'm gone.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #16 March 22, 2002 I quit cold turkey myself but didnt have any problems like that...of coarse by the time I quit I was only smoking like a pack a week!!jason Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dmddave 0 #17 March 22, 2002 I quit eight years ago cold turkey. The first two weeks for me were unbeleaveable torture and the next two were near unbeleaveable torture. After about six weeks the cravings became bearable and it took two years for them to dissappear completely. The funny thing is that I still have dreams where I bum a smoke from someone, then bum another, then eventually buy a pack. The guilt in the dream for having started again is horrible and I am SO relieved when I wake up. Cigarettes are poison. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiventom 0 #18 March 22, 2002 Hey, I'm so happy for you!!!! yay!!! ... after reading all this support and experience... I'm amazed how many people say that smoking isn't an addiction... Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #19 March 22, 2002 quite the opposite is true...smoking is ranked up there with heroin! it is a very addicting DRUG!!! and it is socially acceptable so people get dependant on them very easily! when you see someone sucking on a cigarette you dont think they are bad ppl(generally speaking) but if you saw a needle sticking outta someones arm you'd wanna get away from them right?! do you know what the only difference is(when we talk about addiction and effects of it)? the only difference is that the gov't says you can smoke tobaco. i could list 1,000 common trait but i wont offend your intelligence! congrats on all who quit. like they all said, freefallin14. that is your body thanking you. it can start running as normal now but first its gotta do some SPRING CLEANING! and make some room for the good stuff your gonna replace the cigarette with! my suggestion...habits are VERY HARD TO QUIT! but they are EASY TO CHANGE!! instead of sucking on those nasty little bad breath green mucus causing sticks. bring a bag of those little carrots with you. start a new exercise program. drink alot of water. a lot of ppl dont realize the tyour body need 6-8(8 oz) glasses of WATER to function properly everyday! it may hurt (you bladder) for a while but if you totally drink water like they've all been saying it'll clean you out and help keep the wieght off. my post is getting WAYY TOO LONG so i wish you all the confidence in the world(luck has nothing to do with it) you will feel liberated when those little things stop controlling your life! trust US!)and once again.....CONGRATS!!!!getting high is fun, but coming down is the best partJT Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
