Well, I’m still sick, though not nearly as sick as last night.
I couldn’t even believe what was happening last night. I could barely breathe.
I’m still having breathing problems, and it seems to have gotten worse as the night progressed.
It still puzzles me why, when I get sick, it always starts in my lungs. It never used to be that way.
As far as withdrawal goes, there was none.
Again, as I’ve said before, I don’t find it possible to feel two separate things at one time.
If I’m sick, I don’t feel withdrawal, and my allergies don’t affect me. If I’m not sick, I could feel either of the other two things, but not both at the same time.
If I’m going through crazy withdrawals, I’m likely not feeling an allergy attack. If my allergies are horrible all day long, it’s a guarantee I don’t feel any withdrawal.
That’s just the way it is.
I’m not sure what I’d rather feel right now between the 3 of them.
Alleriges make me hate my life, because of sneezing and blowing my nose every 5 minutes.
Being sick is probably the worst, because when you can’t breathe, what else is there?
Really, breathing problems are no fun at all and they are very serious.
I can imagine that what I’m feeling right now somewhat resembles emphysema.
Do you want to know what that feels like?
I can’t imagine living life like that.
Last night when my sickness was at its peak, I DID feel somewhat like that.
I was gasping for every breath.
The compression of my lungs made my back tighten up. I couldn’t get comfortable, and I definitely couldn’t sleep or rest easy.
I was up until morning.
I do know someone with emphysema. It’s quite painful to watch.
She consistently has to haul around an oxygen tank, and have those tubes wrapped around her nose and head.
Every 15 minutes or so, she has to turn the machine on and suck in some oxygen, breathing in and out from the tube. This is all just to stay alive and survive, and she does it all day long.
But do you know the saddest part?
She still goes outside for a cigarette. She still is an absolute slave to nicotine.
She always says:
That is something I do not wish to live through, no matter what. It has to be one of the worst ways to die.
Breathing through a tube and basically suffocating to death does not sound like a peaceful way to go. All of that because you want a cigarette.
Does it seem worth it?
I can imagine as soon as my sickness ends, the intense physical cravings will return. My ordeal is not over yet.
Tomorrow will be my 2 week milestone. I’m really excited about that! Haven’t gone this far in a very long time.
Though this time, it’s for good.
Because I got sick yesterday, I never did end up going to my friend’s birthday party.
Do you remember a few days back when nicotine cravings were trying to convince me to smoke from that moment until after her party? Well, if I would’ve done that, it would’ve been all in vain because I ended up getting sick before I even got there.
I wonder what the next “event” nicotine will try and persuade me to smoke for? I’m sure it will come up with something.
It always does.
Luckily, it’s losing the battle right now, and I am finally winning.
Yes, it’s been a rough 2 weeks so far, and I haven’t felt good the majority of the time, but I know in the end, it will be well worth the price I’m paying right now.
It’s worth getting sick for.
The countdown for this nightmare being over with FOR GOOD is underway.
The cocky thing – I totally knocked on wood a thousand times after saying something like “I can’t believe it was easier than I thought”… ha ha… only to get a killer craving! Just the beginning I realize. Silly me! (2nd try) 54 yrs of it!
I am on day 13 of tapering off nicotine gum(haven’t smoked in almost 30 years) but have been chewing the gum non-stop, piece after piece all day long for almost 22 years.
Not sure if my 21st day will happen a week from tomorrow or two weeks. The tapering did not help me. I was in full withdraw.
the hardest part for me is my brain — it just will not work. I feel awkward, almost shy, can’t for a sentence, hard to concentrate. I hate it. I have okay days and bad days. NO good days. I am starting to have short moments where I feel okay.
Hands down the hardest thing I have ever ever ever done.
When I quit smoking I was pregnant. So, it was pretty easy to do.
So grateful for this website.
I’m with some of you with the say what you want to say. I’ve notice I’m saying things straight up too because now I’m not running out to smoke and calm down. But I’m okay with that! I’m the type that has anxiety and keeps to myself and not stand up for myself so…quitting smoking somehow made me stand up for myself.
My blood pressure used to be in the 160s and now 13 days not smoking down to 130s/140s so improving! I have been taking daily walks and wow let me tell you take daily walks even if it is just 1 mile! Each day you can notice a great improvement on your breathing and how you take hills and just breathe!! Who would have thought just the act of breathing would feel soooo great and different ! I love these daily posts! I get up everyday and refer to them whiling drinking my morning coffee. Good luck everyone on Day 13!
Day 13 is here! Ah, I barely made it thru Day 11 but I did. I had to call 1-(800)icanquit to stay on the phone with me while I walked my dog. I was afraid I would pick up a stranger’s discarded cigarette butt off the ground and smoke it. Yesterday, I walked and walked (ate a bunch). Last night I was awakened by a “smoking” dream…dreaming I had pulled a long cigarette butt out of my purse instead of money. In my dream, I could smell the cigarette. All of this is manageable due to my motivation to quit smoking!!!!Yeh, Day 13!
Day 13 is turning out difficult. i had half sleeping tablet last night an today i just want to smoke so bad.im not sure if having that pill was a good idea or if its just intense cravings but i feel weakened. I havent felt like giving in all week.I will not go to the shop i will not cave in.give me strength
Well that’s day 13 done. I’m not thinking about smoking all of the time now and I’ve usually been up a couple of hours before I think about it and that’s great for me.
But I must remember not to get to cocky. The minute I think I’m nailing this, a craving comes along and puts me back in my box.
Sleep is getting a bit better. It’s not taking me so long to get to sleep and I’m sleeping all night.
I can do this.
The cocky thing – I totally knocked on wood a thousand times after saying something like “I can’t believe it was easier than I thought”… ha ha… only to get a killer craving! Just the beginning I realize. Silly me! (2nd try) 54 yrs of it!
Day 13. I want to say thank you, this site has been very helpful. I read it every day to stay focused on my goal. I am lucky, I haven’t felt very sick. Increased hot flashes have been very maddening but my research says not smoking will help with this eventually. Stay strong.
Last night was so bad I couldn’t get comfortable up every couple mins just tossing and turning then I woke up with a stiff neck I had a very short temper and my anxiety was out of control! Not to mention I’ve just been a lump falling behind on cooking and cleaning! I don’t know if it’s depression? I thought I would be happier by now I’ve never gone this long! Today was a little better I did some laundry and finally washed the dishes took the dog for a walk! I guess it’s the win of making it another day and making it thru the small tasks without bribing myself with a cigarette! Still loving this blog I check every day it’s so comforting
13 days..no cig…I keep making reservations to smoke..but haven’t. SEEM LIKE THE CRAVING IS GETTING WORSE..IM EATING AWAY..BUT.IM PROUD OF WHAT IM ACCOMPLISHING..MY BREATHING WAS HORRIBLE..I FEEL A BIG DIFFERENCE..WHEN I WALK.IM NOT OUT OF BREATH OR WHEEZING.TYJ
We all feel the same it seems, am so glad I have not given in and take each day like this, as the cravings are still strong. Feel a tightness in my chest and forgot how to breathe properly?? I love the cleaner teeth and the smell of my hair shampoo as the positives so far.
13 days in. Wow, The cravings have been intense but they are calming down now. Eating way more than normal. But, I’M NOT SMOKING. It seems my mind comes up with reasons to smoke every day. But I’ve faced them all head on.
I’m thankful for this site. Your posts are helping me more than you know. It’s nice knowing we aren’t alone in quitting.
13 days in. Wow, The cravings have been intense but they are calming down now. Eating way more than normal. But, I’M NOT SMOKING. It seems my mind comes up with reasons to smoke every day. But I’ve faced them all head on.
I’m thankful for this site. Your posts are helping me more than you know. It’s nice to not be in this alone.
Thank you so much for your very informative thread. I am on day 13 and the cravings now only come every couple of hours. Physically I’m doing okay but I’m feeling so down. I just want to sleep all the time. I hope there will be a let up on this because sleeping is easier than being awake at the moment I have no intentions of giving in though. I am glad to be a non-smoker.
Day 13 I’m doing great, I have been jogging around 10 km a day so I might be doing it easier than some of you though the cravings are there every now and then
I learnt that smoking is an anxiety based addiction having said that the first 21 days are a little hard to break the addiction and after the first 21 days you can always stay quit as long as you manage your stress and anxiety
My blood circulation is already improving and my normal heart rate that was around 85 is now down to around 65 that means less pressure on the heart
Great job people you are tough and you can do this,
I AM PROUD OD EVERY CIGARETTE I DONT SMOKE!!!
Day 13 things are going ok except I seem to be eating way more then usual and I have had really bad back pain the last two days, I have also noticed I say what I mean these days. I guess I use too just go have a smoke of something upset me or pissed me off, where I can’t do that now so I just say what I want. I don’t think everyone is enjoying that part though lol.
so glad to hear I am not the only one doing this, I was thinking the same, if somethings making me upset or boring me, off i go for a smoke, now I cant do that, mixed in with low tolerance to anything,out it comes, starting to wonder who I really am now I am not hiding behind smoking!
Day 13. Wake up every day with awful taste in my mouth. Still fighting back the feeling that I was happier when smoking. Keep strong everyone. Your posts help me.
I am on day 13 and my stomach is killing me. The digestive issues are what have helped to thwart my previous efforts to quit. It has been suggested to me by my doctor that I might have an underlying intestinal issue that smoking actually helped. Not something I would expect to hear from a doctor. I am still holding strong, though. I took two weeks off from work to try and get through the bulk of the physical symptoms, but every day I feel worse – not better. Doc says to use a patch or gum or e-cig, but I quit smoking to stop being a slave to nicotine. I am just going to keep going and hope my body will figure out how to work again.
Don’t listen to your doctor! They obviously want to keep you hooked on nicotine so your problems persist and you keep going back to a doctor, furthering their pocket books. The proof is in your post.
Hi Tami,
I am on day 13, and I suffere/d from IBS – I am using: dried chamomile flowers – 2 teaspoons/with 200ml – drink these before u sleep (1hr).
I have quit also my coffee intake and changed with a tea which is popular in South America – Yarbe Mate.
I am eating bfast – proteins and anti-inflammatory food – please look up the best food to take.. and every 3/4hrs I take a healthy snack. It’s important to maintain a healthy diet I find in order to keep my body and mind strong.
Just going into day 13, so will have to pop back in this evening. So far great no cravings. Just wanted to say that the sick to the stomach thing seems common place. Now I started early mixing 1 green apple into my little shot of juice I make everyday. It really corrects stomach problems fast so try it people, Needs to be the green apple.
Matt, why are your allergies so bad, sounds very scary and frustrating.
the Pacific Northwest has the worst allergies in the country. I was miserable all year long. When I moved to Florida, they became 10% of what they were.
Find a new doctor.
I find the hardest thing for me even 13 days in is the restlessness.
I’m at day 13 and I feel really good except when I wake in the morning feeling like I can’t breathe. It last about 15 minutes and is gone. I am not having a lot of cravings but sometimes for no reason at all and with out any warning I just throw up. Then after that I crave candy. Sounds like I been hooked on heroin. My advice to all of you is to put up a sign of why you quit smoking. Remember that if you smoke one cigarette you go back through all of this Tangled mess of an addiction. We are moving on to a healthy way of living so I say live it up excersie ride a bike. Take a run or walk. And breathe. Don’t think the nicotine is done with you yet be on the alert for that sweet voice in your head telling you that if you really want to feel better have a smoke. We know it’s a lie. It’s day 13 and we are at the top of the game now. We are now at the rank of private first class. We soon will be a corporal. As we go through this war of healing. What rank do you want.
I want to get better
I want to get better at playing the guitar.I want to get better so I walk way to far. I want to get better and have money to spend I want to get better and not smell around my friends. I want to get better at jumping rope. But I realized that I can’t get better if I continued to smoke.
Copy this and put where you can see it
Have a healthy day 13
Hi everyone Amanda here, Just want to give a huge shout out to everyone who has participated in leaving a comment thank you so much. I have been reading everyday for the past thirteen days, and I find it very helpful to have people that have or are going through this same sickness. I am so mad at cigarettes I just want to scream. I just can’t believe how nicotine can make us feel so good but at the same time kill us. Tricking our body’s into thinking it makes everything better. I have been experience lower back pains and trouble sleeping. My patience level is very low and seemed to be more irritated then usual. I find myself excited everyday on how proud I am not smoking. My cravings are still pretty strong but i am able to talk my self down. My life is pretty stressful right now so quitting smoking is probably not the best time but I think about it all the time it’s now or never. My chest feels still pretty tight but I can feel my lungs are much better. I am not coughing much up unlike my husband who was vaping.
Day 13 with no nicotine and day 18 with no cigarette. I smoked for 40 years. This is my first real try to quit smoking. I stopped chewing the gum 13 days ago. Stopping smoking was easier than stopping the gum. I’m still going strong. I still have a craving every once in a while but it seems manageable. I’ve gained 3 pounds but I’m watching my weight.
I’m also excited to hit my two week mark tomorrow, however my problem isn’t sickness, mine is weight gain. I’ve gained 5 pounds since I quit. Ugh!!!!
My sinus are so messed up right now. Has been for days. You would think they would clear up, but no. What in the world is going on?
I think of smoking a few times a day. Nothing compared to the first several days. I will admit though, when I do have a craving, it’s way more intense then what was going on the first few days. At the same time…I feel like a rockstar!! I’ve gone 13 straight days w/o smoking! Sinus pain, smoking nightmares, mood swings and all…but I still feel like a rockstar!!! I can do this!