quit smoking and feel worse

[nannyof9]

Has anyone else when they quit smoking feel worse with their copd? I quit January 31th of this year and have felt worse every since.

[peege]

Hi. I've read here that some people have felt worse before they felt a whole lot better.

People will be along soon to offer advice. If you're in the UK you could contact the BLF for guidance. Good luck. P

[Tee1008]

It is quite common to feel worse before you feel better, nannyof9. Your body is ridding itself of chemicals, your lungs of gunk and your mind of a comforting habit.

Very well done for getting so far...it is not easy, I know, but the benefits to your health, purse and confidence will kick in.

You will get there...

Tee x

[Nottobad]

Hi nanny congratulations in your quit. It is normal to feel worse after quitting I is all the gunk coming out of your system. And stopping will slow down the progression of the disease. You have done the right thing and you feel the benefit of it. Everyone is different on how it affects them. HU have a quit site jou can join for extra support they are very friendly. I am a member. Just search Quit in the search bar at the top of this page take care x

[Magpuss]

Yes, most people who quit feel worse before they feel better. I think it was about four months before I stopped coughing when I stopped smoking, and probably another couple of months before I really began to feel the benefits of stopping - except of course in my pocket. The amount of money I was saving became an extra incentive to stick with it. It's not easy I know, but it's definitely worth the effort - so, stick with it and get used to the idea of having some extra cash to spend on a few treats for yourself, or - save it, and treat yourself to a holiday. Wishing you every success, it will get better!

[Watfordgirl]

Hi nannyof9, well done you!! It's so hard to do - more so for some than others. I think the feeling worse bit has got something to do with the lungs getting back to normal. Having a bit of a shout at you.

There is lots of help and support for you and many people find it makes a difference. Your GP surgery and your pharmacist can both probably help.

It will pass. You will feel better. You will be better, and what could be better than that??

Love, Sue x

[twilliamson]

What kind of smoking cessation things did you do. I need all the helpful hints too getting ready to quit on my target date as of april 1st. Way to go quitting and sticking with it😄

[lynnekay in reply to twilliamson]

I had huge problems trying to give up and didn't find the patches much help, but was finally successful on a med called Champix. You take it while you smoke normally for 2 weeks, then stop smoking, and carry on with the tablets. They really took away the craving. You should be able to get a referral to a smoking cessation person at your GPs or in the community, and she or he will advise, support and guide you through the process. Good Luck!

[piping in reply to lynnekay]

lynne..,.couldn't agree more.Champix a last resort go for me and they worked helping me quit after 40 years of smoking.

[jimmyw123]

i felt terrible for about 6 months after stopping smoking, but oh what a benefit now,,, i think if i took a ciggy now it would kill me---honestly,

yes, it most definitely gets better, well worth it.

jimmy xxx

[diesel12]

The pharmacist explained to me that the chemicals in ciggies paralyse the nodules and stuff in your throat and lungs so when you stop smoking they start recovering but become super sensitive to everything so you cough more etc. Once they have got used to working again it all settles down again and you stop coughing and choking. Made sense to me

[Gordon57]

Several years ago now I was taking part in a NHS Smokefree session in the community centre were I ran a radio station. As part of the campaign I was letting listeners know how I got on week by week. Yes, I stopped, quite quickly. I fought the urges and stayed off the ciggies.

But, within a year or so, I was getting bad chest infections on a regular basis. I went downhill a heck of a lot, less than 3 years after stopping I was off work, very ill, and never got to go back.

Nobody in the NHS can convince me otherwise, giving up the cigs meant the tar and gunk cleared out, and the bugs moved in to attack my already weakened lungs.

OK, so this isn't everyone's story, it's just mine, but adding to the discussion...

[freefaller in reply to Gordon57]

Proves it is best not to start. My husbands says if there was just one thing he could change in his life if would be that he would never have started smoking. He smoked for over 40 years. His lungs are damaged but thankfully he does not have COPD (yet). This may be because he was a fitness instructor in the Royal Air Force for 37 years and the physical exercise helped him keep his lungs in better condition. I do hope so.

[Nottobad in reply to freefaller]

I think most people with COPD wish they never started smoking. I know I do. But not everyone who smokes gets COPD. 

[docmel in reply to Gordon57]

That there is a true statement although no Doctor alive will admit to it. I was told by the Doctor who diagnosed me whom also was a close friend to never quit smoking. I have since quit smoking and began vaping. I'm not sure what affect this will have on my lungs it has made my husband happier, but true enough I have never felt this poorly I'm extremely exhausted. I did cough up a lot of gunk for about 6 weeks. My wheeze that drove me nuts is now gone, but my over all how I feel is not as good as when I was smoking. 

[rubyred777 in reply to docmel]

Hi docmel , I do hope you're keeping well. I was reading some older posts, and see you haven't been on for a while. Just was reading this reply about smoking. Why do you think people get worse after quitting? I see so many people post about it. Stay well and hope to see you back on site. You always give such great advice. Ruby🌹

[docmel in reply to rubyred777]

Ruby,

My lungs have been in decline and in spring/early summer went through testing since the pulmonologist I'm seeing wanted proof my heart was fine. Then I had my 9 year old nephew who is autistic here my sister his mom passed in May of 2016. I spent August/September recuperating from that. October my pulmonologist said yep your lungs are getting worse I want you to try Esbiet. I couldn't out right afford it and a patient advocate helped me get a grant to pay the copay for it 1797.98 per month. I started taking that but the side effects were horrible so I only took it 7 weeks. During the time I was taking that medication I had increased used of my oxygen. I think I may fall into the category of people that medication doesn't help and makes worse. There have been other misc things that have made my life busy and trouble some. I am still alive and kicking though. Its just been frustrating...2016. Hoping 2017 will be marvelous! Thank you for thinking of me! You have a good💛!

Melissa🐶

[rubyred777 in reply to docmel]

Take care Melissa, and keep in touch. You can always pm me. Love, Ruby🌹

[Albertdog in reply to docmel]

Our family doctor of 60 odd years ago told my father not to stop completely- as it would affect his mental health in future years- he carried on smoking and died at 87 years from phnumoconiosis after 80 years working in the coal mines. My brother stopped some 20 years ago and now has full blown Parkinson's at 81 years- I have smoked from 13 years of age - I stopped last year age 82 as my doctor said I had asthma????? where am I heading I wonder.

PS .. our old family doctor smoked one after the other - couldn't see him in his surgery for smoke - he retired at a healthy old age I believe.... is it just the luck of the game..??.. but I agree it is better not to have started in the first place...😇

[Swerv]

Hinannyof9, 48 hours after i stopped smoking last year i was really sick. Could not walk to my car without being sob. Struggled to walk around my supermarket etc. This went on for 5 weeks, then suddenly i was better. Now i can't even stand the smell of cigarettes.

Stick with it, you will be better off for it in the end.

Merv

[Tetrazzini]

Well done - you're over the addiction part - so no going back !! I felt hellish for about six months - flu-like symptoms, drowsiness, lack of stamina etc. but the cough went quite quickly and I soon began to feel the benefits. Please determine to live through it and you will enjoy the benefit for a long time to come.

[hallentine47]

Chemicals in the cigarettes are designed to give you the illusion that smoking makes you feel better. You have to get over that I am sorry to tell you--but when you do it is so much better NOT smoking. I gave up after 40 years heavy smoking and that was 10 years ago and now wonder why the hell I ever wasted so much money and time and health by smoking at all. Stay with it--I promise you it is worth the effort.

[Shocked1]

Well done for quitting.

I had NO breathlessness whilst I smoked only once I quit the breathlessness started. 💕💕💕

[carpenter60]

Im about a year further down the road ,gave up jan 15 . I still think that smoking disguises what really going on ie your lungs are getting bad but you don't notice because of the cigs . I get loads of chest infections am often short of breath but I think it would be a whole lot worse if I had not stopped . Keep going, don't think anyone died of giving up the fags plus im about six grand better off .

[Nottobad in reply to carpenter60]

What a great reply and spot on. 

[Albertdog]

Exactly - not from quitting- but from whatever damage one may have caused themselves during their smoking years.

Some for whatever reason may not show lung problems - but as sure as God made little apples we all must die of something which will be put down to smoking/drinking/eating/debortuary etc:etc

However as I said it is surely better that we don't start smoking in the first place - and take other temptations in moderation......