I have smoked since 18, i have asthma.. am now fifty two.. so thats 34 years of smoking.. however i have mad cravings.. which i have been able to cope with as i have collies and off we go for a walk..
About 6 weeks ago i came down with a kidney infection and flu..and chest infection and i was so ill.. i couldnt even lift a ciggie up.. and by two weeks i could feel the cravings etc which have been able to sort out.. i have left messages for smoking cessatation to contact me to have a chat two weeks ago but despite several calls nothing and i am going cold turkey.. week 3 now and i am feeling nauseas and have this horrible fried onion taste in my mouth which is aking me gagg.. i am seriously wondering if this is really worth it..
i do not feel any better. m aybe because i have had a chest infection.. i am tired.. and this sicky and taste of fried onions is knocking me sick.. i actually smoke to an pharmasist today who said it can be the taste buds coming back but friend onions pls.. its awful.. i still get the odd craving but its not really bothered me that much.. i also have a friend who is going through smoking cessatation and is using aids but i actually like the gum.. so i was pulled off that and champix made me feel ill.. so i thought while i was ill am going to give it a good go.. but am starting to think if i feel like this after 3 weeks.. whats the point not seen any change in anything..
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Puffingheck
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Hi well done for packing in the ciggies and I know how hard that is. I have mild copd and was diagnosed around 10 years ago. I only managed to pack it in last August. Smoking also brought asthma in my 30's.
Now I am going to say to you something which was said to me which made me grateful not to be any worse than I am coz I too was complaining of side effects afterwards. I had smoked heavily for 44 years and they asked if I really expected to get off scot free after all that time. That completely made me change my opinion and I thought ok they have a very good point.
Smoking can mask or even cause damage to your other organs. Since I stopped my thyroid went crazy first of all swinging to over active then becoming under active and I have put on around 2 stone. I am now borderline under active. My breathlessness has got worse too and sometimes the cravings are still driving me mad.
BUT what you have given yourself is a chance at life. If you carry on smoking with asthma or any lung disease you run the risk of it getting a lot worse very quickly. You haven't got copd yet but there is a good chance you will get it and it is progressive.
This is surely much worse than suffering temporary cravings and side effects? If you wait for smoking to pack you up (which it will one day) then things would look very bleak indeed. Well done for choosing life and whatever you do please stay stopped! x
Well said Bev! I've said it before and I will say it once more "Quitting smoking should come with a health warning".
There's a lot to get through on quitting and people are not warned enough of the side effects but then why would they, because then no one would try to quit! I don't believe this is right. From my own viewpoint if you want to quit you will and you need to know what you're possibly facing in the way of side effects so you can prepare yourself and not have to go through the terrible worry of thinking what is wrong and if you're the only one feeling this awful.
i have tried for the last two weeks to get smoking cessatation at drs to call me, no one has rang me so am going through cold turkey on my own.. my family are now taking me seriously as its three weeks and i am determined that i will never buy another packet of cigs.. maybe i still have the lurgy lingering which is why i have not seen any benefits yet.. but disappointed with lack of support from nhs smoking cessatation.. as they might have had some answers.. etc.. im in my 3rd week coming to the end and do not want to go back to smoking but wonders how long this yakiness lasts as i cannot keep on gagging when im out with the taste in my mouths its embarrassing but i got a compliment yesterday of a friend saying omg your hairs changed and your skin looks really healthy.. what make up have you got on.. i said have none on..
I quit cold turkey and it is harsh! I think a lot depends on how many years you have smoked for a start. Your body has got used to living one lifestyle for a very long time and it's not about to take back the change you have made by quitting without a hard fight! If anything it does make you realize how many different parts of the body smoking can affect and they are grumbling because you are depriving them of sustenance.
On the upside though you are beginning to see some of the benefits which should tell you that quitting is working. It all takes time and one must be patient. I found that the recovery wasn't something you could rush and you have to remember that you are never going to feel the same as you did 34 years ago, because apart from smoking you are of course older! I wish you all the best with your quit with or without the help from the NHS!
Ty you for your honest reply, it does , put things into order, i guess.. never thought of it that way, i can cope with the cravings its just this sickness and horrible taste in my mouth.. i just hope the taste goes soon
I don't believe it takes 3 weeks to clear the lungs from 34 years of poisons, smoke and tar Puffingheck. Probably a few months but I believe it's not the same for everyone.
I hope you get lots of encouraging replies from ex smokers telling you that quitting was the best thing they ever did for their future.
Bravo to you too, three weeks is quite a feat to be proud of. P
PS. I should have mentioned the 30 year addiction. It's not going to happen in 3 weeks I'm afraid. How hard is it to overcome a strong addiction? Very hard indeed, gambling, drugs, alcohol, junk food leading to obesity. I've never been addicted to tobacco but I desperately need to lose a stone so a lot of willpower needed. (I know it's nothing like what you're going through but it's vital for my health).
I'm sure part of why you feel so awful is your body's withdrawal not just the poor lungs. How much have you saved so far?
Wishing you the very best. Keep coming here for support.
i have saved nearly £200 so far nd have bought some expensive walking boots for hubby and me so we can get out there walking more with the dogs .. something that i have been saying for ages will save up and buy them..
ty it is hard, the cravings i can cope with, its the horrible taste and gagging at it and the sickness feeling.. i did have a friend who offered me some nicotine gum.. but sadly i love the gum and guess i would do more harm then good so i said no thanks
It's not the nicotine that kills or we'd all die if we ate tomatoes, aubergines and whatever - they all contain nicotine. There's an old saying "We smoke for the nicotine, we die from the tar". that is why close on 3 million Brits have switched to e-cigs which contain no tar whatsoever and is 95% safer than smoking as confirmed by Public Health England and many other sources.
I feel stopping smoking gets worse before it gets better your lungs will be working hard to clear out some of the gunk caused by long term smoke inhalation . I felt awful for 3 months . I used patches and occasional the low strength gum when my cravings got bad. Vaping made me feel worse but there are plenty of things to try nowadays. It’s got to help your lungs from deteriorating in the long run?
P.s I had the worse chest infection / chest pain after I stopped but felt a lot better after it cleared up. Your lungs and body have to get used to functioning without the constant assault of poisons. It’s hard but Very good luck and don’t give up now 👍👍
Stick with it, you're doing well. Things do get worse before they get better but they do get better! The horrible taste in your mouth probably isn't the worst thing you've ever suffered, if it is you've been remarkably lucky - but if you've put up with worse I'm sure you can put up with a yucky taste for a little while. It won't last forever and it may have more to do with the chest infection than giving up smoking. It might help if you try to increase your fluid intake, I suggest some nice tasty cordials and squashes, or even fruit teas and maybe bovril if you prefer something savoury. Just stick with it - you can't throw in the towel over a yucky taste, not when you're already winning the battle - eat mints, chew gum anything except giving in. Good luck!
Thanks bought some strong teas and juices yesterdays and sweets.. i am determined to fight it just sometimes this horrible taste of burnt fried onions appears.. weird as i used to buy friend onions from morrisons lol.. but am determined not to go back to smoking
Far too early to feel benefits of being smoke free. Regarding the nasty taste, as you have probably been on antibiotics for the infection, make sure you don’t have oral thrush. You can buy gel to clear this up - ask the pharmacist. Brushing your tongue as well as your teeth might help, as would a good mouthwash. You could also ask your dentist for advice. Keep well hydrated and maybe stick with water at the moment.
I have been nicotine free for just over 2 years now, the best thing i've ever done for myself. I just don't know how I used to smoke, because the longer I have been free from it the worse the smell of it has got, it is disgusting and stomach churning. I can tell a smoker from a non-smoker just by their smell.
I was a heavy smoker for 55 years and I gave up cold turkey so it is doable. For me the cravings were pretty bad but after 6 months it did subside and was easier to dismiss from my mind, I still get the odd subconscious craving now. I know that I would not be able to smoke now anyway my poor lungs would object in a rather violent manner and I would end up at A & E.
I wish you could spend a day with me and see for yourself just what smoking has done to me. How everything is a battle to do. Yes I try to live normally but it takes a huge effort on my part to achieve it. There is also the very real risk of lung (and other) cancers developing to consider, if that happens then you will have all sorts of terrible things going on in your mind, beating the craving for a smoke is child's play compared to that.
Please quit for good, soldier on. Be the first person that I have been able to convince to quit, don't leave it until it's too late. Don't give yourself a life sentence with hard labour and no chance of parole. Smoking is a fool's game, take it from this fool as being very true.
hi thanks for your reply am determined not to go back to smoking, my family is now supporting me and no longer do they come back from shopping saying i bought you some cigs.. and we have saved over 200 so far which have bought us some lovely good quality shoes for walking.. in the summer.. maybe the taste is from the antibiotics i had for chest infections as that left with me thrush as well.. so its not the nicest of taste, i can cope with the cravings as they come and go quickly and when i have them i go and do something like gardenings for a little while.. it has saved more than 200 as everytime i went to shop i would buy other stuff as well.. next months money will pay for a short break for us.. so that is what i am aiming for now
I am very pleased for you and not just for the money you are saving Keep it up and I think you will soon know what I am talking about with the smell of the horrible stuff.
You must continue to give up the ciggies for your health sake .I was a avid smoker 40 to 60 a day at the end and if I hadn't given up I wouldn't be here today .I used Champix and although I didn't like it I've never had or wanted another ciggies since ( 11 years now ). You are feeling so bad as you were very ill and it takes quite a long time to recover .Just be patient my friend it will sort itself out in the end and also you will be richer haha .Take care
Ps I forgot to say I was a smoker of 40 years and everyone that knew me never thought I could give up , I now hate the smell and to think I used to smell like that haha .😉
I agree with Bev giving up can initially make you feel worse but it is worth in the end. When I wanted to stop at first I tried pastilles, patches, support groups you name it. I told people that I was trying to quit but this only reminded me that I was a smoker and increased the temptation to have just one. As soon as I gave in to just one I was hooked again. How did I quit. I woke up one morning and decided that I do not smoke. When someone offered a cigarette I said “I do not smoke” which for me was far less stressful than I am trying to quit. Like many other smokers I found that it was only myself who could turn me into a non smoker. I have been a non smoker for 15 years or more.
Please stick to it, the pros far outweigh the cons.
I took at leaf out of a friends book who stopped 3 months before me. She didn't tell people she was quitting smoking but if they asked said she was choosing not to smoke for the time being.
I did that to avoid either having an odd ciggie or someone thinking I had have a go with a scornful 'I thought you had given up'. A 'friend' did say that and I reminded them I never said that and it shut them up! x
Hi, yes it is worth quitting the smoking habit and the craving will eventually go away, however from time to time you will have the urge to have just one, DON'T.
I was diagnosed with emphysema and had to give up on the spot some 2.5 years ago, I still get the urges but have to ignore them. Lungs are very precious to us & once damaged cannot be repaired easily without taking an age or costing a fortune.
Believe me I have tried every which way, transplants,lung reduction, lung valves, lung coils, even stem cell treatments, all avenues have been blocked to me, even those I have to pay for privately. I have, thro' the internet, been all over the world to find an institution that will accept me.
I am now a useless wreck because I didn't listen, walking upstairs/hills /gradients is a no no, even washing up wears me out. I cannot do anything without getting out of breath and taking anything up 45mins to fully recover.
The frustration of not being able to do things you think nothing of at the moment is an every day fight to stay sane.
Keep up with the "Giving up" it's not worth what may lie ahead.
I bid smoking farewell 54 years ago. No lung or heart problems, no emphasema diagnosis, but about 10 years ago I developed serious lack of stamina and breathing/wheezing problems. Many tests bring the same report, no problems with above, or oxygen levels. My GP recently suggested doing light weight bearing exercises. Bless her heart but I think that ship sailed long ago. If I go to the supermarket or a doctor appointment I have to rest for a day or two after that. I can't dance, bowl, take a pleasure walk, attend yoga, or exercise classes, bicycle, get involved in an organization, etc. Medicine has helped with the breathless/wheezing problem which was much worse at one time. Good luck for a return to a better day.
I accidentally sent a reply for you to 2greys. I hope you find it. In addition, I too can not climb stairs, hills, gradients or walk on a sandy beach. I was much worse several years ago. Medicine has helped with those completely useless days. At least I can be productive in house. At one time if I walked to my front door to collect the mail I was wiped. I feel your pain of wearing out just washing up. May you find an answer to alleviate your problems. God Bless.
Gave up 25 yrs ago, had been a heavy smoker for more years than I care to admit. But once I decided to stop I had no real problems with nicotine craving, my problem was menthol....Because I had felt tight chested for a few years I took to menthol ciggys. However I was in luck as a friend was delivering free samples of a particular chewing gum, so once her area had been covered , the surplus came to me...... I chewed and chewed till my gums ached...., Do I chew now. ? ....... No way. 😁
Although I am still partial to a menthol sweet now and again....
Hi, I’m same age as you, same smoking career. I’m not lyin it’s easier to get off hard drugs than smokes. I’ve done both. I tried every pill, patch, witch doctor, hypnosis, Accupuncture and more. The thing that did it for me was plain OL willpower then I came to realize what I had SMELLED like being a smoker plus I live in an overly health conscious neighborhood and the cool kids just don’t smoke anymore and yes I am the coolest kid in town ! LOL but really you are sick so there’s the bad onion taste try some hot cinnamon hard candy, or real peppermint. I HIGHLY suggest you take it( smoking) OFF your mind or the hard truth is this: that asthma will soon be referred to as CoPD, then they start throwing around much more serious words like CHRONIC ( not in a good way), emphysema, spots, black shadows and other stuff you really just don’t wanna hear. Please just trust me on it. Yes I’m an American and so where that may cause you to perceive me as so different from you I am really the same as your other self. Building back your strength will come as soon as you can walk around the block again. Best of luck to you but more than luck is involved you must take an active role in recovering. Can you get someone to come help you? I hope you are feeling better today than yesterday✌️🏄♀️
Oh an I really agree with 2greys in that smoking is a fools game!! CUZ IT IS! We all( everybody in civilization) knows smoking is bad for us. Butwe are just mere humans and think we are so much different from one another or so tough we can beat whatever is thrown at us.
The above posts show that giving up those cigs is a different experience for everyone. My "give up" came during my first pregnancy (he is 54 now). I took a sudden disgusted look at the cigarettes and ashes in the ashtray. As I remember it, that stopped me cold. Never went back. But those were the days before filtered cigarettes and different processing methods. My sister was a heavy smoker and her method was putting herself to bed for two weeks straight; 24 hrs/day. She figured that would keep her in-house and less likely to buy the cigarettes. It worked for her. Don't give up. But if that disgusting taste in your mouth continues, check with your doctor. Could be caused from something else. I had an experience once where I had the most foul breath that neither brushing nor mouthwash ten times a day could eliminate. Had a gynecological operation where they discovered I had endometriosis. I never had any of the "usual" symptoms of endo. After that was taken care of the problem was obliterated.
I quit smoking cold turkey 25 years ago after a few failed attempts. It is not easy and I did feel ill and thought I was being throttled. I would sit at night and massage my throat to relieve the horrible feeling. In my experience it took 1 year to say I was totally free. Take each day at a time. Brush your teeth constantly and try to keep yourself occupied. Another thing I kept saying constantly was "I don't smoke' keeping a positive attitude helps
I am really glad to say that i have stuck at it and starting my 5th week of no smoking on Saturday... i have still have the horrible taste but not as severe.. tic tacs do the trick.. but now i start coughing up like a speckled grey mucus this week and sometimes is dark sometimes clear.. guess this is my lungs kicking it out of there. starting to feel the benefits this week and not been on asthma sprays as much.. in fact the dr told my asthma nurse who has been supportive and said come on in and we will do some checks.. ty everyone for your replys.. its been really helpful.. a couple of times when i got that horrible taste i nearly thought no way.. but a lady said you cant expect your body to be happy after 34 years of smoking and to be fit and clear just a couple of weeks after and thats what i keep telling myself.. well coming up to nearly saving £300... and i am more determined never to go back now..
Your soul and your struggle have been on my mind and I truly hope you are well. I hope you’ve caught your breath and don’t let it get away again. How’s the whole” non smoker” lifestyle goin for ya? Has your onion breath subsided? I hope you are feeling better than when you posted
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not seen any change in anything.. 
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