A question for the cold turkeyers...

[nsd_user663_33894]

I was just wondering, during those first 72 hours, what physical symptoms did you get? And did anyone get really badly depressed? Do the symptoms stop after the 72hrs, or do they fizzle out over time?

There's a reason for me asking, but I don't really want to go into it right now, it's kinda personal

Thanks

Jen x

[nsd_user663_36231]

Jen

Firstly congratulations on eight weeks you should feel so proud !!!

thats a hugh landmark

with regards to your question there are people on this forum with a lot more experience then me but i went cold turkey a week today.

i did not plan to quit smoking as i have tried to do in the past by setting dates and preparing i just ran out of cigarettes and stopped:eek:

but this has worked for me as the planning itself can iritate and depress before even starting..

i would not class myself as a strong minded person and have tried stopping on nrt before and failled on several occasions

Have not been really depressed and looking back only a few ancious hours

it was the fourth day i found the toughest but dont feel bad at all now so suppose it does fizzle out still get two or three bad cravings a day but realise these are just mental and only last two to three minutes i found it helps by changing habits took kids out to cinema (were you cant smoke) instead of going pub friday. and drinking orange juice in morning not coffee as i used too.

i do believe ultimately you have to go cold turkey eventually to come of any nicotene so the sooner you do it the better.

I hope this helps

and well done keep going your doing great

[nsd_user663_20558]

Hey Jen,

Without knowing what your 'symptoms' are it's hard to be sure whether it's smoking related or not, but I can say one thing with certainty: the subconscious mind, accustomed to using smoking as a response to every situation, is very capable when deprived of making you feel some physical symptoms - even when the nicotene has left your system.

Panic attacks, for example, can cause physiological effects like sweaty palms, shortness of breath etc, although they stem from a psychological state.

I continued to suffer from problems with sleeping etc for a longish while, and that can have a knock-on effect physically as well.

These things do pass. However, if you have symptoms that are concerning you and you're unsure of the cause, it really can't hurt to ask your GP. To set your mind at rest if nothing else.

You are doing really well. Stay tough. All the psychological crapola goes away too, bit by bit!

Helen x

[Levs 1000 Days Smoke Free]

Hi,

I went cold turkey over a year ago, it was planned quit (for 2 days) but unplanned cold turkey on the day I quit, I was going to use NRT but then on the day I quit I decided to see how far I could go without using, turns out that has been pretty far.

During the first 72 hours I suppose grumpiness was the main symptom, and it effected my sleep a bit. After that I suppose the biggest effect I felt and noticed was lethargy. Its very common as well as there was quite a few people from my group who had the same feeling.

I think alot of it is psychosomatic though, the more you think about it the more you feel it. I followed the thought process of using energy breeds more energy and its true the more I did stuff the more I felt like doing it. As for 'do the symptoms just disappear or fizzle out', I again, think its up to the individual. I have quit before this time and got to 2 mths and the whole 2 months was hell so I went back to it. This quit I was ready to quit and found it easy, I won't lie and say I never think of it anymore but the thought is a nice memory not something I want to partake in now.

I think what I am trying to say is that your quit is as easy or hard as you want to make it. There will be hard moments but you don't have to wallow in them, own your quit don't let it own you.

Well thats just my thoughts on it anyway, you will succeed in your quit when you want to not smoke more than you want to smoke. Simples.

Sian

[nsd_user663_33894]

I hadn't cut it (nicotine) out, but I'd cut it down, and I started to get dizzy spells and feeling sick. Turns out it was a sinus/ear problem in the end. But I've tried to come off my meds a few times, and had the nausea/dizziness/headache and brain 'zaps' :eek: - wasn't sure if nicotine would be the same

The psych side of it is that I have on/off depression and it doesn't help that I used smoking to stop myself going out of control in the past :rolleyes:. think it was more for the 'time-out' then anything else

thanks for your responses everyone. I think I'm still going to taper down slowly to be on the safe side, but it's reassuring to feel there's less chance of me becoming a complete wreck when I finally hit zero nicotine.

[nsd_user663_36732]

Hi Jen,

I have had to withdraw off meds before very slowly because of the brain zaps I experienced so I know exactly what you mean!!! They are horrible and it was one thing I was worried about myself when cold turkeying off nicotine!

I didn't experience any brain zaps coming off the rollies but I did feel very spaced out and slight dizziness now and then, it was much, much easier to deal with than the meds though

It's probably better the way you are doing it if you are sensitive to withdrawal, the spacey feelings are not great and I have avoided going out in case I get the weird feelings when out and start freaking out and turn to nicotine again...I think the worst of the spaciness is gone now and in fact if anything my mind seems so much clearer and not so foggy....