What happens to your body when you quit smoking by cold turkey, Chantix or Zyban
100
There Are More Side Effects When You Stop Smoking Cold Turkey
DON'T SUFFER QUITTING SMOKING WITH COLD TURKEY
Main Cold Turkey Methods are:
- Chantix or (Champix in Canada)
- Zyban or Wellbutrin
- Hypnosis, acupuncture
- Nicotine patches
- Commit Lozenges
SYMPTOMS......DURATION.......TREATMENT
OF STOPPING SMOKING COLD TURKEY
Smoking can affect the body in monumental ways. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms. Here are some of the most common complaints when a smoker stops smoking with cold turkey methods.
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DIGESTIVE
- Acid Indigestion/Heartburn - If you had acid indigestion before you quit, it will get a bit worse and then it will go away. If you never had heartburn this symptom can last for about 3 weeks to 3 months. Try Tums or DGL (Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice), which may help acid reflux too.
- Gas or flatulence - This may last several weeks. Don't eat gas producing foods like beans, cabbage or cauliflower. You can also try Beano.
- Diarrhea -This can last a few days. Try any over the counter remedy. The body is adjusting to the new digestive changes.
- Constipation - This may last for several weeks. Cigarettes used to act like a diuretic and also like a laxative. Try an over the counter remedy for relief.
- Nausea - This symptom almost seems like the flu. It usually lasts a week. Drinking any carbonated beverage should help.
Natural Ideas for Sinus problems
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RESPIRATORY
- Sinus Congestion - This is caused by a clearing out of the sinuses. It is almost as if (for a short period of time) someone turns on a little water hose in your head. Take an over-the-counter medication until the "dripping" stops or use a Netipot to help clear things out. This symptom may last up to 2 months.
- Cough, Throat Clearing - This is due to a cleaning and clearing of the reactivated cilia in the lungs; your body is clearing out the debris, tar and phlegm. We can't get our Oreck vacuum down in the lungs so coughing up the debris is a good thing. This may last a few days to several months.
Phlegm - This is also due to reactivated cilia. It can last a couple of months.
Hoarseness - This is also due to the fact that smokers are not "smoking" the soft tissues in the throat and the new non-smoker is getting some tender "baby" tissue almost like when a baby is teething. Basically, the tissue in the throat is regenerating. This may last several months. Use lozenges or whatever you would do for a sore throat. Hot tea with lemon and honey can help.
A Netipot Can Help Sinus Problems
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CIRCULATORY
- Dizziness - The dizziness is due to increased circulation of oxygen to the brain and the symptoms should only last a few days until your brain gets used to the extra oxygen. Give your body time to readjust to all the extra oxygen!
- Stiffness/Leg Pains - This means improved circulation. Remember you are changing at a cellular and muscular level. You will have temporary muscle changes. This almost feels like when you were having growing pains as a little kid. Take a hot bath, get a great massage, rub on Tiger Balm or just put your legs up to rest. This process may take several weeks so give yourself a break!
- Tingly Fingers & Toes - Have patience. This is also caused by improved circulation. This may last a few days to a couple of weeks.
- Swelling/Bloating/Tight Waistbands - This is due to fluid retention. Drink a lot of water and cut down on sodium. People tend to gain 3 to 7 pounds of temporary water weight when they quit smoking cold turkey. For you men, this is the closest you will ever come to PMS!
PUMP UP YOUR METABOLISM!
Afraid of weight gain when you quit smoking? The time to start pumping up your metabolism is when you stop smoking! You don't want that 3 to 7 pounds of "temporary" water weight gain to become permanent! Create new habits and routines to take care of your body.
Check out the article called How to Avoid Weight Gain When I Stop Smoking.
Craig Pepin-Donat wrote a book called "The Big Fat Health and Fitness Lie", which is a great resource on fitness. Listen to the podcast that I did with Craig on his website fitadvocate . It is about 3/4 of the way down his home page. I am proud to say that I am the Smoking Cessation Expert on Craig's Advisory Board.
Pat Altvater has a great weight loss program based on the law of attraction. The Secret to Permanent Weight Loss
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SLEEP CHANGES
- Insomnia - After you quit smoking, you don't go into such a deep sleep as you did when you smoked. You tend to go into REM-Rapid Eye Movement (or lighter dream state) more often, usually every 90 minutes. Sometimes new non-smokers are not used to this "lighter" sleep and mistake the high quality REM state for not sleeping well. It almost feels like you have been up all night. Your body will get used to the new higher quality, lighter sleep.
Calms Forte is made by Hyland's and it is a great sleep aid. It is herbal and non-addictive. It makes you feel rested and not drugged in the morning. I have taken it and have told many students about it and even had my mom taking it!
- Dreams - When you quit smoking, sometimes you might have vivid dreams, maybe even nightmares. Having dreams or even nightmares is a very good sign because it means that you are working out the problems of the day at night and not smoking for them during the day. Everyone needs to dream and if you don't dream at night, you will need to daydream during the day.
- Vivid Dreams with Zyban Wellbutrin or Chantix - Although is is typical to have very vivid dreams when you quit smoking, I have heard that the dreams that you get from taking the drugs, Zyban or Chantix are more "over the top" or a lot more dramatic than the dreams that you would get by using natural methods to stop smoking.
TROUBLE SLEEPING ON THE NICOTINE PATCH
You may be on too high of a mg. dosage of nicotine patch. Contrary to what the patch manufacturers or doctors tell you, you need to look up the nicotine level of the cigarettes that you were smoking to know what level of patch you need to be on.
Nicotine makes your heart-rate beat 10,000 more beats a day and stresses out the heart.
There are 3 strengths of nicotine patches
- 21 mg
- 14 mg
- 7 mg
The patch manufacturers and doctors will ask how many packs do you smoke a day and then if you smoke a pack a day they will put you on the 21 mg patch.
They say if you smoke 1/2 pack a day they will put you on the 14 mg patch.
Many times people can't even sleep because the nicotine level is way too high.
To make sure that you are getting the right amount of nicotine if you are going to use a patch, look at a nicotine chart.
If you smoke 1 pack of Carlton's that would be 20 x .1 = 2 mg of nicotine so that person should go on the lowest patch of 7 mg and that is even very high.
Let 's say you have some one that smokes:
1/2 pack of American Spirits Ultra lights so that would be 10 x 1.79 mg of nicotine = almost 18 mg nicotine. That 1/2 pack a day smoker probably could start out on the 21 mg dose or even the 14 mg patch.
It depends on the nicotine level, not on how "many" they smoke.
A lethal dose of nicotine is 50-80 mg. all at once, and that is why you are told not to smoke when you are on the patch..... that much nicotine is very hard on the heart.
Pregnant women should not take ANY drugs to stop smoking.
FATIGUE, SLEEPINESS, DROWSINESS, AND DON'T GIVE A RIP!
Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, therefore, constricting your blood vessels and stressing out your heart. As a smoker your heart must work harder, making your heart beat 10,000 more times a day.
When you stop smoking your heart rate slows down to 10,000 beats a day, thus slowing down your metabolism. When you are not getting that punch of nicotine, you get tired, sleepy and lethargic.
Don't worry this is only temporary and will only last a few weeks. After that period of time you will have more energy than when you were a smoker!
You can take cat naps, go to bed earlier, drink fruit juice and water.
If you have to drive or run heavy machinery you can get some Enerjets. Enerjets are a coffee flavored lozenge with caffeine in them and should keep you awake and safe or you could just have another cup of coffee.
Fatigue is the chief cause of smoking, so it is important to get your rest.
SORE MOUTH AND BLEEDING GUMS
When you smoked, you were literally smoking your gums and throat. Your gums and tissues built up a crust just like if you were smoking a salmon.
When you quit smoking that old, hard crusty tissue will slough off and in its place you will get new, baby tissue, almost like when a baby is teething.
Only about 1 out of 30 people that quit smoking or chewing get sore mouth, gums and tongue, but if you are affected by this symptom your mouth will feel like it is hot and on fire.
Don't suffer with this symptom. It may last as long as 8 weeks.
A student in one of my Nicotine Solutions classes had to have her dentures relined because there was that much of a change in her gums from quitting smoking.
Try Amosan to relieve sore mouth, gums and tongue. Amosan is a soothing mouth-rinse. It comes in a powder and you mix it with water and rinse with it and then spit it out. It is very soothing and you will be glad you didn't suffer with this symptom.
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IRRITABILITY
Irritability is caused by fluid retention and there are 2 things you you can do to stop irritability when you are in the process of quitting smoking or chewing.
Physically - Drink as much water as you possibly can and cut down on foods that are high in sodium.
Foods that are high in sodium are soups, pickles, packaged or highly processed foods, or any food that you can see the salt on.
Salt makes you retain water and water retention makes you cranky.
Emotionally - You need to teach people how they are going to treat you. In the past if you quit smoking they said, "oh you were nicer as a smoker". Now you have to explain that you are going to handle life in a different way rather than smoke for it ...and trust me..... eventually it will all smooth out.
I really like the book and the calendar called "Getting in Touch with your Inner Bitch" ..sorry guys there is no male counterpart.
People ask "is it more difficult for men or women to stop smoking"?
Women sometimes have a slightly more difficult time to stop smoking because when you quit smoking there is a hormone change. Women naturally have more hormones and are usually more affected by quitting smoking.
There is more of a chance of being cranky or irritable if you quit cold turkey. If you find a program that allows you to keep smoking while you are learning how to quit, you will have more of a chance of quitting calmly, comfortably and permanently.
Drugs are not always the answer because stopping smoking is such a multifaceted habit that you need to deal with it on many levels.
It takes more than just a pill like Chantix, or Zyban to stop smoking. It also takes more than just hypnosis, which is just mental, or acupuncture which is just physical to quit smoking.
The smoking habit has a little bit to do with nicotine (maybe 5%) and more to do with stuffed emotions, behaviors and habits. The nicotine is only in your system for 72 hours and after that, all you are left with are your feelings, emotions, behaviors, habits and routines. Those are the things that need to be dealt with while you are still smoking in order to quit permanently and to be happy about it!
You need to be ready, prepared and detoxified before you actually stop smoking so you don't feel like you lost your best friend or got hit by a freight train when you finally do stop smoking.
Stopping smoking does take preparation...it doesn't happen overnight.
It takes 21 days to break a habit and smoking is a habit.
OTHER SIDE EFFECTS
- Itchiness -If you are doing a lot of itching, it is just better circulation, and it will only last a few weeks.
- Depression - If it continues take an herbal drug remedy called Sulfonil by Thorne. You need more than a pill to quit smoking, but it will help the depression or anxiety.
- Headache - This is usually caused by cutting down on caffeine. Increase your caffeine and it should go away in a week.
- Excitement - Your emotions are all over the board. Give yourself some time to smooth out.
- Hot Flashes - I had hot flashes when I quit smoking in 1978. I would have smoked in the shower if I could have kept them lit. There is a hormone change when you quit smoking for men and women.
I had hot flashes when I
- quit smoking
- lost weight
- went through menopause
When you quit smoking, hot flashes will only last a few weeks and you can use a natural progesterone cream. Rub a 1/4 tsp on a fatty part of your body in the morning and in the evening.
I recommend a natural progesterone cream called ProGest made by Emerita because both men and women can use it. It doesn't have other ingredients in it like Black Cohosh and it is natural. (It is NOT hormone replacement therapy or HRT).
Note for Men...you will not grow breasts if you rub this cream on! If you have been a smoker, natural progesterone cream will also help with osteoporosis. Smoking is one of the main causes of osteoporosis.
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Author of My diary of giving up smoking with Nicotine Solutions
Is she a Movie Star?
She stopped smoking with Nicotine Solutions and here is her diary!
Ha! True confessions!
http://hubpages.com/hub/My-Diary-of-Giving-up-Smoking-with-the-Nicotine-Solutions-Course
Don't Suffer Through The Horrible Side Effects of Cold Turkey
COLD TURKEY IS SO YESTERDAY... At Nicotine Solutions You Keep Smoking While you Learn to Quit.
It takes at least 21 days to permanently change a behavior and that is why taking a pill like Chantix or Zyban or doing hypnosis or acupuncture does not address this mutifaceted habit.
The habit of smoking has you Emotionally, Socially, Psychologically, Physically and Financially.
You need to smoke while you learn to stop to :
- Detoxify from the nicotine
- Change youy habits and routines
- Learn new routines about what to do first thing in the morning & last thing at night
- What to do after meals
- What do you do with your hands
- How do you reward yourself
- How do you complete activities
- What do you do under stress
- How do you deal with emotions
- Who will be your new companion
- How will you get escape or "me time"
- And....most importantly how to start your car without that cigarette!
If you are ready to quit forever and become a happy non-smoker, then there is help out there for you, like Nicotine Solutions. You don't have to suffer and it can be calm and comfortable.
Stephanie Eldringhoff helps non-smokers support smokers to stop smoking
How Can I Support a loved one to Stop Smoking?
WHAT CAN A NON-SMOKER DO TO HELP A SMOKER QUIT SMOKING?
Non-Smokers often feel like they are walking on egg shells and that they are going to say or do the wrong thing. The best thing to do is to ask the new non-smoker or smoker "What can I do to support you?" You might be surprised at the answers that you get.
Things that don't work are
- Telling a smoker that smoking is not good for them.....like "duh"... they know that.
- It won't help to take away or throw away their cigarettes...that will just make them cranky.
- Having them quit for you....the smoker needs to quit for themselves. If they quit for you, what happens the first time they get annoyed with you ....yes! They smoke to spite you.
Stephanie Eldringhoff facilitates Teleseminar support groups for non-smokers so they can learn how to support someone that is going to the process of quitting smoking.
The Support group covers:
- Listening skills
- How to inquire effectively without interrogation
- Managing anxiety
- Acting from Your strenghts
Stephanie's Website is Subtle Energy Work
Non-smokers check out how to support a smoker
Non-smokers check out this website
stop smoking
- FDA Warning on Stop-Smoking DrugsMedicineNet.com4 days ago
Title: FDA Warning on Stop-Smoking Drugs Category: Health News Created: 7/2/2009 Last Editorial Review: 7/2/2009
- Stop Smoking and Kill Yourself [Health]Gawker4 days ago
You should stop smoking, doctors say. Here, we have medications to help you stop, doctors say. But oh—these medications could make you kill yourself. What the hell is science good for? Chantix...
- Laws 'necessary' to stop smoking in carsSky News Australia4 days ago
A health expert says legislation is the only way to stop adults smoking in cars with children.
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Comments
Thanks for your comment, Misha
Lela
This is an incredibly comprehensive hub! Wow, I never knew that there were so many side effects when a person tries to quit! No wonder my friends who smoke don't want to quit. ALthough, I think they are using it to cope with stress and it feels overwhelming to think of letting go of the comfort of that "friend" and still deal with life. SO glad you are out there!
Lela,
Hey! I have a friend that went through your program (I really think think it was you, NicotineSolutions is who she quit with) and she is a happy non-smoker now. She had the beginning stages of COPD and was desperate to find solutions. (You may or may not remember her.) She found you through a COPD website that recommended your program.
She has had fantastic results! I am so glad I found you to thank you for giving her the tools to reclaim her health, and her new found freedom (now she isn't sneaking around as a closet smoker anymore! Yay!). Your program is so comprehensive! I am grateful for all that you are doing to help smokers. Thanks for being out there!!! SO glad you are on HubPages!
Thanks Carla!
I know the student you are talking about that just went through my Nicotine Solutions class.
Nicotine Solutions is recommended in the Book called Natural Therapies for Emphysema & COPD. She was on a blog about early stages of COPD and another student that quit smoking with Nicotine Solutions recommended my program on that blog.
Everyone of my classes are very small (no more than 9 people) and tailored to the students.... so I get to know all my students very well!!!
What an excellent informative hub, wow I didn't about all this stuff, will pass this on to family. Thanks!
Thanks Chantel!
I love you hub on crafts ....My mom and I did some amazing Christmas cards over the years.... I sure do miss her.... Your hub reminds me of how much fun we used to have crafting... I am going to get back into it.... thanks for reminding me!!
Lela
T
This hub is great and is filled with very useful information! I think that you've addressed every side effect that someone might experience while they're trying to quit smoking. What's surprising, and what I did not realize, is that there are so many side emotional, psychological and physical effects. I’m convinced that it’s unlikely that medication will do the trick to quit smoking. I think that it will take old fashion hard work. Thanks for sharing this information and I will send your hub to friends and family who are trying to kick the habit.
Lela,
Thanks for taking this important task on, helping people stop smoking. I hope all the people out there who decide they want to quit will check out your program. It seems to me that quitting smoking would be really tough both physically and psychologically. It's clear from your hubsite that you consider many factors and that's why your program will be so successful.
Hi Mstroy!
Thank you so much for looking over my Hubpage and really "getting" my information! Yes it does take more than a pill to really quit smoking!!
Do tell your friends!
Lela
Hi Ealindq!
Thank you for your comments! I am glad you enjoyed the hubpage!
Lela
Great in depth hub. Gosh I too did not realise how many problems people can have with giving up smoking. I gave up 24 years ago and was lucky I guess. I remember one night three months after giving up I was at a party and just HAD to have one. It made me so giddy and nauseous I couldn't decide whether to sit it out or bring it up. Yuk!!! LOL . So.... I was right after that.
Hi Marg,
Not everyone gets a lot of symptoms, but I'm sure most smokers quitting experience a few of these. It sure doesn't have to be painful when you quit!
I looked at your hub and learned a new term.....conversational hypnosis... that is a new one for me.
Lela
The hub would be a great help to anyone wanting to quit you have covered everything.
Conversational Hypnosis is just a name for a program, to assist with life skills, coping with people etc. It's all related - a tool to bring about a positive outcome - just like you say it can assist with smoking too.
I like the bit about "giving up" smoking. I can relate that to "losing" weight - one should think of "getting rid" of there as well.
Marg!
Great insight!! You get it!!
Lela
Obviously a tough thing to do - but so worth it! Great information.
Hypnosis-review,
Thanks for making a comment! I looked at your hub page and I never thought about using hypnosis for sales!! interesting!
Lela
Hey, thanks for the quit smoking tips, and some great looking programs too! Cheers!
Thanks Affiliateprograms!
It is always nice to know more about affiliate programs! If you know of any smokers that would like to quit calmly and comfortably ....send them my way ...quitting doesn't have to hurt or be painful
Lela
Excellent article, Smokers take note - I love the funny faces and grimacies. Although I never physically smoked, I inhaled lots of second hand smoke over the years in the workplace. You're doing a great community service by publishing this Hub. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Seige44,
I love the funny faces too!! Send any smokers my way!
Lela
I quit smoking several years ago after about 5 unsuccessful attempts using the patch. I would quit for a few weeks and then slip back into the habit. Something finally clicked and I was able to quit for good. I guess its been around 8 years now.
I had many of the problems that you mentioned, and wish I would have had access to information you have presented here, it would have made things much easier.
Good job!
Hey Texa-Tutor I am glad you brought up the patch!
Quitting with the patch is like me saying that I am going to quit drinking white wine...but what I will do is go on a Vodka drip!! ha! Do you think I would ever quit drinking.....nooooooo.....
Going on the patch to quit smoking is just getting the nicotine from a different delivery system!
I am glad that you were finally able to quit but how sad that you had to experience a lot of these symptoms of cold turkey (because that is what the patch is) and have to try 5 times!! whewww....
Like you said, I could have helped you avoid a lot of those cold turkey side effects.
Thanks for stopping by,
Lela
Hey Happy hour,
Thanks for stopping by wow you have got an amazing number of slipcovers. I will come back to you in a few weeks...Lela
I'm 29 and will be turning 30 in september, i've been smoking for about 10 years and decided that i should be a non-smoker by 30. It's been 3 weeks now since i stopped smoking after reading allen carr's book. I was browsing the net and came across your website, it is really infromatiave and thorough and i'm going through some of the side-effects and it's great to know that they're a passing phase and i can look forward to feeling better at the end of it all.
great website and thank you for all the insight.
really it will help me...cause i am going to stop smokoing from today.
though i was thinking for 2years to quit
Excellent article, good for me, I am still into early days of my cessation period, quit only 5 days back and it is hell of a mental and physcial battle but i have managed to hold on by now and hope i will stay away. Tried everything from gradually cutting down or increasing the period between smokes, nothin helped, 9 long years of 15 Ciggs/day weighed down every time and then one night, i just threw everything into nearby lake and went cold turkey ..........
Not everybody get all symptoms though but I am getting few of them but one thing about the article is real true - WATER helps, anyone who wants to quit - gotto increase it to 3-4 lts a day .......
This site is really informative. I quit 2 weeks ago, and having some really bad cravings. Was thinking that I may have tumor or other issue from all the side effects that I'm having.
Guess I just need to wait it out a little longer. Thanks!
GT
Thanks for your comments. For sure not every one gets all the symptoms..but these are all the possible symptoms. If you need more help in quitting try my free intro for http://www.Nicotinesolutions.com
It is soooo much easier too quit with help. The symptoms that you go through with cold turkey are way more severe than smoking for the first 6 weeks of Nicotine Solutions to be able to detoxify and learn how to change all of your habits so by the time you are ready to quit and you are prepared... so good luck and if you need more help or even want to call me call 866-735-3580
Lela
Hi Jeff,
You either need to wait a little longer through the symptoms or you can attend a free intro as I mentioned in my comments to GT!! No matter how you quit it is the best thing you can do for your body!!!
Lela
Help , I am struggling with giving up and it really scares me. I gave up for 6 months on Zyban, and about 2 months on Champix, but I am still smoking. Not sure what I can do next as my Husband and I have been expelled from Quitline for smoking for 6 months and there aren't any alternatives.
Cindy, you can't do anything - until *you**decide* to quit. As soon as you do, it just takes care of itself.
Give yourself some time to get ready and make that decision, don't torture yourself with ill-prepared attempts. :)
If I did it, you can, too :)
Misty
I can help you stop smoking ..how very silly of Quitline... I am going to contact you and I will set up a meeting over skype with you and your husband. You are 8 hours ahead of me we can work this out!!
I have taught thousands how to stop smoking....
lela
Thanks Misha, I am sure we will manage in the end, I just wish it was now:)
Hi Lela, thanks for this, I received your email and have emailed you back :)
Hi Lela,
I am seriously thinking about enrolling both my Husband and I in your program as looking at your site I am really impressed, and the testimonials are great. I do have a natural fear of failing again though, and it leaves me so very down when I slip up and start smoking again. It is also hard when your Husband smokes, as he usually weakens before I do and smokes, at which point I know there are cigarettes in the house (even if he has hidden them), and so I immediately find I have to have one.
The other problem we have is that our two best friends smoke, and we see them socially most weeks and don't want to stay away from them. It isn't as bad here in Guernsey as it used to be, because smoking is now banned in pubs and workplaces (which makes it easier to smoke less), but of course after alcohol our willpower goes down, and we end up going outside with them for a cigarette.
Do you think your program could get us around these concerns??
Thanks :)
Hi Mistyhorizon2003,
What great questions!
Nicotine Solutions has a 90% success rate of the people that complete the 8 week course (you get to smoke for the first 6 weeks whooo hoo) ..90% quit smoking and after a year there is still a 70% long term success rate.
If you have checked out any other programs most of them are right around 18 to 25 %. I get so upset when the so called experts (that have never smoked) say that smokers have to try quit at least 8 to 11 times before they can quit for good....whaaaat ?????
Why not get it right the first time! It is like paint by numbers... if you just follow the assignments I give you while you are smoking you WILL be successful. I have been teaching people to stop smoking ever since 1978 when I quit smoking 2 packs a day.
About being around other smokers you will learn a technique that will allow you to be around other smokers (even if they are your spouse) and not be triggered by the other smokers. Its like magic!
Also believe it or not you will not be triggered by other smokers but you will have compassion for other smokers as well. I don't like it when people quit smoking and then they are on their soapbox to get every body else to quit. You will have compassion for other smokers and chewers.
I would like to invite you to attend a free intro to check out nicotine Solutions and see if it is for you
http://www.nicotinesolutions.com
Thanks for your questions
Lela
Thanks Lela, it looks really promising, and I am relieved to know that other smokers around me won't make it harder to give up, especially as I don't want to lose my very good 'smoker' friends. Thank you :)
Misty,
There are ways to keep your friends AND quit smoking calmly and comfortably....
Lela
ok smokers and chewers .... just attend a freee intro on Oct 26 Sunday at 10:00 am pacific time and no obligation.... but just check it out http://www.nicotinesolutions.com
So Lela, how do you stop yourself smoking if for instance your Husband has not quite managed to give up, even though you have. Isn't the temptation impossible to fight simply using willpower?
Misty,
You just stay with your own program and you each need to deal with it in your own way
Hi, loved this site, thank you for all the info. I quit smoking on Sunday night (4 days ago) and so far, so good! (Not using anything, no replacements, hypotherapy, nothing.) Been trying for YEARS. Whenever I get the fluttery, nervous feeling (the urge for a cigarette), I tell myself that it is just my body's EXCITEMENT for finally being cigarette-free. I smoked a pack a day for over 20 years. Handling this one craving at a time...
Freda,
I am delighted that you found the hub helpful. I would like to offer a suggestion that is really going to help you in your quest to stay smoke free....
Words are very powerful. Instead of saying urge or craving say that you had a thought.
Using the word urge or craving in connection with stopping smoking will act as a trigger, but if you use I had a thought....the so what it was just a thought!!
It will really help!
Lela
hi i am on day 4 i quit using nothing have trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep been waking up sweating will take any advice tya
Hi Doreen,
I actually don't recommend cold turkey or quitting without any preparation because of what you are going through right now. Quitting smoking abruptly is very jarring to the body and sometimes people never get over it.
The one thing that I can tell you is to take is Calms Forte which is mentioned above and it is a non-addictive sleep aid that is made from herbs.
Believe it or not when I quit smoking in 1978 at age 30, I got cold sweats, about 8 years later I lost quite a bit of weight and I got the same type of sweats and low and behold when I was 50 and went through menopause I had the exact same sweats.
What I know is there is a hormone change when someone stops smoking and when someone stops smoking cold turkey it is 10x worst because it is so abrupt on the body.
Your body is like a construction zone right now and your hormones are really being affected.
Another thing that won't hurt in this transition period that is mentioned above is Pro-gest Emerita by Transitions.It has no side effects and it can't hurt you and from what I have seen there is a hormone change when people stop smoking and a lowering of natural progesterone. (I am NOT talking about HRT or hormone replacement therapy or synthetics...horrible stuff ..If you want to get off of that read Dr Christiane Northrup's book ...Don't do that cold turkey either).
Put a little Pro-Gest cream~pea sized on at night on the fatty area of your body and also in the morning (you can get it at Amazon above). It will help with the night sweats and the sleeplessness.
It is geared for women in menopause but it will help with the symptoms of quitting smoking as well.
If you get those 2 products it should help you through the rough spots. Quitting smoking does involve a hormone change and I know you are a lady but I jokingly tell my male students that this is as close as they will come to PMS!!!
Lela
PS Hope this helps check in with me and let me know how you are doing.
Hi,
Thanks for this content, it has answered quite a few questions I could not get answered elsewhere. I quit smoking cold turkey, with no helpers except will power 5 weeks ago after having smoked for nearly 15 years, and I have been going through more side effects than I ever imagined - bleeding gums, retaining water, weight gain, agitation, dizziness, sleeping disturbances, itchiness.
It has all made me more motivated to never smoke again as only now am I seeing how much this addiction affects the body.
I know it's going to be all worth it long-term, so I am giving myself time - but this article has certainly helped.
:)
Rob,
I am so happy that I had the answers for you that you couldn't find anywhere else about what happens when you stop smoking!
If you have any other questions just ask!! I probably have the answers!! (he he)
Lela
This site is so informative , many stop smoking information sites dont tell you the things that your body does to recover and so makes the whole quitting process worse , when you know what your body is trying to do it makes it even easier to quit
Jeff!
Thanks for your comment about my hubs being informative about stopping smoking!
I tried to put as much information in it as possible!
Lela
can i actually die from going cold turkey a friend said i could
John,
I don't think you would actually die from stopping smoking going cold turkey although a lot of people feel like they are.
Again, I don't recommend stopping smoking by going cold turkey because it is so hard on the body and so abrupt of a change with your metabolism.
The main reason I don't recommend cold turkey is because people go through so much pain and discomfort they usually go back to smoking.
Many times when I talk to someone that quit smoking 20 years ago, they say they still want a cigarette and most of the time it turns out that they quit cold turkey and didn't do any preparation physically or emotionally to stop smoking and so they are still suffering 20 years later because they just quit smoking cold turkey and didn't give their body time to adjust when they originally stopped smoking.
In Nicotine Solutions we have you smoke as you learn to quit so your body adjusts to changes in your routines and metabolism.
Thanks for asking the question! if you want to go to my nicotine solutions site you an sign up for a free preview and I can get you started on some assignments that are a easy, fun and not cold turkey.
Lela
I quit smoking 4 days ago. This has been the hardest thing i have ever done. I have had all the side effects. Started out with the dizziness, fatigue, and anxiety attacks. I was a heavy smoker for 11 - 12 years. Right at a Pack a day. some times more.
I am so glad I found this site. A lot of great information that I really needed at this moment. I quit 21 days ago and started feeling really bad. Even though my food and liquid intake was better what I did while I was smoking I was feeling bad. On this site I found out about what goes on in your body and why you feel the way you do! Thanks....it made me continue in my journey of quit smoking. I been a smoker for 30 something years.
Jennifer,
Wow yes cold turkey will do that to you . There is a better way. I you want a more comfortable way to stop join me for a free sample lesson. Check out nicotinesolutions.com and attend a free meeting. It might give you some more pointers on being able to feel more comfortable in the quitting process.
See how you do and if you want more help pop by for a free class
Lela
Angela,
You are the reason that I created this site. I have learned this information having taught people to stop smoking over the last 30 years. Most doctors don't even know this information. If you have any questions just stop by and ask!
This stop smoking business takes a while.
Lela
Very thorough hub on how to prepare for the body changes in its healing. Thank you for making all this information available.
Jennifer,
I am so glad you liked it!
Lela
So many information. I've tryed all of them.The content is in my brain, thanks!
Great site, full of helpful information. I have clients I would send here...
You certainly put yourself into your work, Lela! Your generousity and genuineness shine through in your willingness to provide truly stand-up help to eradicate smoking. It's such an awful time/body/life waster. See you in class the 21st
Peace and Love,
DeeJay (DJH.edbd)
Hi Lela...great information about quitting smoking...I'm just curious. In Ireland smokers now go outside to smoke...so what thoughts/suggestions have you got for people who may feel as though they are "leaving the tribe" when they quit smoking? It's like smokers have their own little tribe....Best wishes
Anne agw.edbd
Carlos!
That is good that you loved the content
Lela
Julianne, I would love for you to recommend your clients to my site! Lela
DeeJay!
Wow you are the best! I am so excited to have you in my class! It will be so much fun to teach you how to stop smoking!
I enjoyed talking to you the other day!
Lela
Anne,
You were wondering about what it is like for people that stop smoking and feel like they are leaving the tribe when they quit smoking.
We teach them to look at smokers in a different way and not to lust after smokers. They can love the person but learn to pity the act of smoking.
Lela
Great Hub Lela ... lots of good supporting info ... you must feel great transforming so many people’s lives away from such a vociferous addiction... I managed to kick the habit about nine years ago now and still believe it is the one the best choices I have made in my life I wish I had this kind of support network back then. Health, energy and best wishes...
Peter Holmes ...pfh.edbd
Saving the Earth one click at a time !
Peter,
Thank you so much for your kind comments! It is very transforming work for me and my students
Lela
lqqb.edbd
The most beautiful thing that you can do for your soul is to honor the physical body within which it resides! Quitting smoking will not only make you feel healthier and more alive but it will send a RESOUNDING message to the Universe that you are Worthy - you might be surprised by the positive side effects to other areas of your life! Try it NOW in celebration of Earthday Birthday and you'll receive an added bonus from yours truly! Go Lela!
Peace and many blessings,
Amethyst Wyldfyre
Great Hub page Leyla.....Wonderful information.....and guiltfree.....most appreciated
Sian
Lela has been a friend of mine for many years and I have seen her successfully help thousands of people quit smoking with her program and stay non-smokers.
Patricia Wressell
Lela, this is a wonderful thing you are doing - so many people wish to quit smoking but have been unable to do so because they haven't had access to information and support.
I am not a smoker, but this is an interesting and informative page!
Hello Lela,
This is such a good page I really love the things you are doing to help those who want to break the smoking habit. You are doing such good work and I am so happy you have created this place. Please keep up the good work. ddw.edbd
To quit smoking has to be the most difficult habit to break...it's awesome that you are providing this page so we all can be well informed.
Great job, Lela! I learned a lot and I've never been a smoker.
Thanks for stopping by Dora!
Lela
Amethyst! Thank you so much for your wonderful gift that you are going to contribute to any smoker that attends a free lesson!
Lela
Sian,
How fabulous to see you ...yes everything is positive and guilt free in my program
Lela
Hey Patricia,
You have seen me help so many people quit smoking over the years..That is for sure!
Lela
Karen,
So many non-smoker are amazed at what smokers go through to stop smoking. Lela
Dknow225, thank you so much for all your support
Lela
John,
Thanks for stopping by!
Lela
Liz, Thanks and I think you are doing a fabulous job with collaborationzone.com! Keep up the good work- Lela
Hi Lela, rating and commenting!All the best. Joao
I love that you have provided this information for everyone. It is shocking to think what effect cigarettes have on your body, and that these side-effects actually happen because you stop taking in the rubbish that are in cigarettes. Even though this hub makes it sound horrific in the short term to actually quit, it highlights the shocking effects that smoking has on their bodies.
Smoking should be banned- its a frightening habit.
What you are doing to both help the earth and people is awesome. YOU have amazing info here and have surely done your homework. Both my parents are smokers who have attempted to quit way too many times. I will print this out to share with them. Thank YOU!
~Expect Miracles
Boy, there is a ton of excellent information here. Very comprehensive and interesting. Even though I am not a smoker and have never been, there is definitely things here I am going to share with some friends that are in the hope that I can help influence them to quit!
To The pioneer21,
I mainly created this hub so smokers could understand what was going on with their body when they stopped smoking with cold turkey. I am all about helping smokers stop smoking calmly and comfortably.
Cold turkey is not the way to go because of all of these side effects. Banning smoking would just make smokers and cigarettes go underground!
Thanks so much for your comments and support!
Lela
Shane!!
Yes yes yes Send your parents to my sample lesson. I can help them quit. Ha! I am probably their age!
Lela
Harry,
Thank you for looking over my info. Yes it is totally unique and one of a kind information!
Lela
I'm convinced that continuing to smoke THESE days is an affront to one's own self-esteem (whether acknowledged or not). Thank you for serving this information feast. Knowledge IS power.
Peace and Love,
DeeJay (djh:edbd)
Lela,
Excellent advice! There are places that list some of what happens to the body when you quit smoking, but your hub shows a thorough list of the body's changes and how to ease detox. The information isn't to scare off smokers -- or those supportive of smokers wanting to quit -- it's great to arm them with knowledge!!
Thanks for your hard work in helping people quit and in helping to save our planet! You're awesome!
Jennifer
Deejaynyc,
You are so right knowledge is power! power to quit and be comfortable in your own body! Love your pretty smile!
Lela
Jennifer! You get it! I love it when people get it!!
Lela
Great article! As a nonsmoker, it gave me great insight as to why it is difficlut to quite smoking. On the other hand, if one really wants to quit. All they have to do is apply themselves and make it happen. It is a decision to be made a follow through with it. Even if it takes a great deal of support from a freind, spouse, etc.
Greatest thing - it is possible!
Exercise is a great way and the only way to get more years added to your life before it is to late. The human body is amazing in how it can repair itself when taken care of.
Tom Varga
Great article Lela. This is one of the most difficult habits to overcome. My wife has tried to stop several times and still continues today. She is gearing up once again to attempt to stop but is waiting until after her nephew's wedding. I use to myself but made a decision to stop 10 years ago "cold turkey" and have not had the desire or smoked since that time.
I recently quit smoking, cold turkey It has been 6 days so far. one thing that made me decide to quit was being in a happy mood. The other was people asking me "why do you smoke?" my answear was not valid, it was just some excuse. And a habit can be another answear, but Bad habits are for bad people. If you really care about yourself, you wont smoke, that also goes for other bad habits. Also the most true thing is You can't help people, they have to help themselves. ultiamately it's your choice. People might influence your choice. but you have to find peace, and happiness in yourself. Recently I met this girl, and she is putting butterflies in my stomach, so i decided to quit for her, but also myself. Since she didn't smoke, I thought it needed to be done. Plus I could tell she didn't like it. It is also a turn off for alot of non-smokers. but mainly smoking is bad, no arguments there. So if you like bad things, than smoke, if not stop fucking smoking. It's very easy, it's overcoming it mentally. Just like solving an overweight problem. Excercise daily, what's the big deal? you can't take 10-20 mins a day to excercise? but you can spend at least 60 mins a day watching tv. (probably more like 200+mins for most of you). Also Smoking influences young kids, it influenced me, my uncle smoked I thought he was the coolest guy ever, that's what made smoking cool/exceptable too me. It made it alright, well My uncle smokes so i can too. Btw Im 18 years old, I've been smoking since 15 very heavily. and before that a few once in a while. 15yrs - half a pack a day 16-17 ---1 pack a day, 17-18,1-3 packs a day really varried, parties 3packs, regualry days 2 usually, unless it was cold/rainy. So I'm not of a legal smoking age, I'm 100% as long as I have this girl with me I'll be smoke free. Also once I have kids quitting is a must.Sincerly Carpet91 (can't give my name I'm a minor) :(
Thanks for stopping by Tom, Arthur and carpet
I am proud to say that I quit smoking 21 days ago! A group of friends from work decided to quit together and I am one of the ones who made it this time. I have decided to never ever smoke again and would like to thank you for the site, it really helps when dealing with the effects of quitting.
You are welcome Felicia. Good for you
Lela
I know several people that have tried to quit smoking and now I can understand what they are going through. It's amazing how powerful nicotine addition can be. Thanks for the great info.
Thank you so much for stopping by, John. I don't think you any other information like this on the internet!
Lela
Lela,
This is great information. Thank you for compiling all of it and your insightful email.
Bruce Newman
Bruce I am happy to help you any time with a hubpage. When I did my first hubpage people told me it would take about an hour...well 3 or 4 weeks later I finally finished it and it has been evolving ever since. I am actually very proud of it. Thanks for the complement
Lela
Absolutely Terrific, Love the content.
Houseplus ! Thanks for stoppping by!
Great stuff , a little more less words,would have been easy ,for the eyes
I've smoked since i was 14 (I'm now 31). I quit smoking 2 weeks ago. I've tried to quit several times before and have failed miserably within days, even hours sometimes. For me it has always been the case that i was waiting for something to happen... waiting to become a non-smoker, waiting for the cravings to go away, even sometimes waiting for a time that it would be ok (or safe) to have a cigarette!! I know, sounds weired but that's how it was. I put it down to this. On previous attempts to quit i felt like i was a smoker not smoking - denying myself. This time around i felt like a non-smoker instantly. I want to be a non-smoker and i don't want to smoke any more. It's such an amazing shift in consciousness and i don't know why i never got it before or felt that way before. I'm already a non-smoker and there's nothing to wait for, just the rest of my life to be getting on with. And i tell you, there is so much more i am doing with my time now that i'm not smoking, or thinking about the next time i can smoke!! I've had a few wobbly days so far but it's about getting through what's happening to my body and not about the fact that i want to smoke - i don't!! The shift happened for me when i got ill about a month ago. I got a disgusting cold, which turned into a chest infection like i had never experinced before. I got a double strength dose of antibiotics from my doctor, which is unusal for me as i hardly ever have to take medication for anything. I could hardly breathe and yet i was still smoking! One day on the way home from work i was smoking and wheezing and coughing. I stopped at the traffic lights, looked at myself in the mirror and said, enough is enough - this is going to kill you and if you don't give up now this is how you will be at 50 or 60 and no course of antibiotics will shift it, you'll be stuck like this. it was my wake up call and exactly the impetus i needed to stop. I threw the half smoked cigarette out of the window and knew it would be my last and it was and it feels great. (This is the longest i have ever not smoked for) I' ve gone down the route of patches to wean myself off the nicotine as i've been a heavily addicted smoker for 17 years and felt i needed that support while i broke the habit, however, breaking the habit is not bothering me too much - i've found plenty of things to do with my time and enjoyed not having to smoke when i would usually. I'm even ok around friends who are still smoking - it's not making me want to smoke. However, i am experiencing a lot of the symptoms you describe above, especially sore gums, which has come on in the last couple of days. it's like an ache in my teeth and tingly stinging gums. I was pleased and relieved to read the info on your site and to find out it is normal, but also upset that it could take weeks to settle down. What's your best advice to cope with these symptoms? I am now a determined non smoker and i know i will never smoke again - my urge to not smoke is greater than my fear of being able to overcome the adjustments my body needs to make as it repairs itself although any help / tips / suggestions in dealing with these things would be great. I know your preferred method of quitting isn't the cold turkey route, but for me i had to do it this way because 2 weeks ago i couldn't breathe and i think if i had smoked another cigarette i would have given myself pneumonia or something!!... But I guess my question for you is, even though i have chosen this route, would you be able to help to deal with these symptoms i am experiencing and to work with me to deal with the mental and emotional aspect of becoming a non-smoker, even though i have already stopped smoking?
Sorry this is so epic
Sincerely
Jo
Hi Jo,
Send me your email and phone number and I will call you and we can talk. I am happy to help
Lela
What an awesome resource! Once someone has worked to overcome the physical and psychological addiction to smoking, they can also use help to address the side effects of the body detoxifying. Thank you for creating such a thorough encyclopedia of symptoms and treatments.
This hub has a lot of good information in it but I'm probably biased but you really can't consider hypnosis or acupuncture as cold turkey as you mentioned when you started out. But I'd love to hear your reason's for including them in this category.
Nice hub.
Great hub. This has been very helpful for me since my doctor told me I had no choice, I had to quit. I am using some of your tips and so far so good. Thanks!
I've smoked since I was 19 and I'm 31 now... It's been 4 days since I quited cold turkey and I hope I succeed going forward. The side effects isn't bad as I constantly fall asleep when I get dizzy. So no insomnia here! I've gained about 5 lbs of water weight over the past week and I exercise often so I really can't see the mass but the scale don't lie! I have convince myself that smoking is dirty and I can't see myself going back to it! Nicotine is the demon of the addiction and it will be wrong to smoke again. With all the repercussions of quitting, I cannot put my body through this hell again by continuing to smoke! This is an excellent hub as it helps me cope with quitting.
Thanks for stopping by JaCee and Van Oung
Misha says:
17 months ago
Quite a comprehensive info :) To be honest, I don't remember. I quit a couple of years ago after 35 plus years of mostly heavy smoking - at least a pack a day. Without any helpers.
I was having hard time for the first week or so physically, and for another probably month mentally - and that's it. My wife still smokes...