Horrible Taste and Depression

[Unah]

I have found it hard to find anything on the net so I'm posting this for the benefit of anyone who might have the same problem. I am only posting this because most people say that everything tastes better when they have stopped smoking for a few weeks. I enjoyed food before I stopped smoking but I don't enjoy anything now. I cook it and throw it away. Doesn't matter what it is. Chocolate, cream cakes and even good champagne. Went to the doctor today and she said it was because smoking kills bacteria and not smoking allows bacteria to breed. Some people get mouth ulcers because of that. Got stuff to take for that which tastes good.

Went to the dentist last week and no problems there. I don't have any teeth anyway, well I do have clip ons

So three months down the line I go on low dose anti-depressants which she expects me to need for only 3 months. I have a fantastic doctor who is very thorough and an appointment can last more than 30 minutes. She is very interested in older people stopping smoking and the problems with, not the nicotine but the chemicals that are continually added to cigarettes. She says that nicotine is easily cleared from the system but the chemicals are a very unknown quality and not enough research has been done.

She also asked me if I thought I would feel better if I started smoking. I don't think I would.

I used to smoke Dunhill International which were as pure as you could get until they were taken over by Reynolds America about 4 or 5 years ago. Having tried them for a few weeks I researched other pure cigarettes and started smoking American Spirit. Then I returned to UK and found the brands I used to smoke here Embassy/ Benson & Hedges etc had gone downhill too. Strangely enough, because I go to NZ twice a year I found Benson & Hedges there taste like they used to taste. So, not getting any satisfaction from smoking I stopped. I will never smoke again and hopefully the problems I have been having will eventually go away.

This post wasn't meant to deter new quitters. I smoked for 50 years, more than most of you have been alive, so it's bound to have more of a psychological affect on me.

I'm too scared to ever have one puff

[nsd_user663_51711]

I've definitely had that don't fancy/enjoy anything feeling.

Tea + coffee taste disgusting. I don't fancy my usual diet. I am eating lots more fruit and drinking fruit drinks as these things do have a taste to me. Other stuff tastes bland, or I just don't fancy it.

I had a long quit, 15 years, Cold Turkey, years ago, and I don't remember any of this. Rather I remember eventually regaining my sense of taste and smell, and eating for England.

I'm taking Champix this time and have been blaming that.

Smoking won't make you feel better though, so stick to your not even one puff. xx

[nsd_user663_51033]

hi una i do hope things turn around for you i do think the doctors only know so much and more Research should be done but you are not alone stay strong and good luck :)

[Unah]

I've definitely had that don't fancy/enjoy anything feeling.

Tea + coffee taste disgusting. I don't fancy my usual diet. I am eating lots more fruit and drinking fruit drinks as these things do have a taste to me. Other stuff tastes bland, or I just don't fancy it.

I had a long quit, 15 years, Cold Turkey, years ago, and I don't remember any of this. Rather I remember eventually regaining my sense of taste and smell, and eating for England.

I'm taking Champix this time and have been blaming that.

Smoking won't make you feel better though, so stick to your not even one puff. xx

The doctor put me on Nystan. It's for fungal infections. I haven't been a great eater for years. I don't know if it's because I'm getting older or if it's because I eat alone but I've always snacked a lot. Between the taste buds and being depressed I'm wishing I hadn't stopped smoking. I won't go back to it because I couldn't go through all that again and I'm loving the money. I've got the decorators coming on Monday to do my hall and lounge and I've ordered new carpets. You'd think that would cheer me up

[Unah]

hi una i do hope things turn around for you i do think the doctors only know so much and more Research should be done but you are not alone stay strong and good luck :)

Hi Clare, You'd think they'd do more research into it. No matter where you look on the net you don't come up with answers to all the problems.

[nsd_user663_51617]

Hi Una, your story touched me. I sorry you are feeling low and i hate to think of you eating alone. Do you get out and about much?

i am sue your fresh new walls and carpets wil cheers you up no end.

good luck

[Unah]

Hi Magic, Of course I get out. I go to Tesco or Asda once a week Seriously, I moved back to UK to look after my mum but she died 2 1/2 years ago. Hasn't been a picnic since then. I don't know anyone here and life has got in the way of my getting out and meeting people. One thing after another to keep me in the house.

I shouldn't complain because I haven't had all that many bad times in my life. Must have been due some

Lets hope the decorators turn up and that should make a big difference

[nsd_user663_51617]

Wll you have a whole community of people to fall back on and talk to here Una.

keep talking.

[nsd_user663_51711]

Hi Una I've heard of Nystan. One of my children had it once for thrush in the mouth. Is it doing the trick for you?

I bet when you are all decorated and newly carpeted you will be cheered up. You'll be dead posh anyway xx

[Unah]

I only started taking it yesterday so too soon to say. At least it tastes ok.

Once the hall and lounge are finished I'll be looking for a new bathroom. I'll have that before Christmas. This is all being paid for with money I would have thrown away on cigarettes

[nsd_user663_50109]

Una

With still going throu crsp my self since quitting Iv also said on here about the chemicals in our systems and I read that it can takes anything from a few weeks to a year to get rid.

That's why I do g agree when people say it's out ur system now only after 3 day. Maybe nicotine but I very much doubt that years of chemical abuse will be magically gone after a few day.

Hope u get well soon

[Unah]

Shelley,

They don't tell us about any of this before we stop. I was sorry that I couldn't manage CT because I really thought the worst was over after 3 days. Then I read about people still having withdrawals weeks after. It's obviously all the chemical damage but you don't get any help for that. I've started on anti-depressants (prozac type) and it says it can take 2 weeks to start working. Wonderful. Another 2 weeks of doing nothing. I hope the stuff works for the taste because I'm existing on ritz crackers with loads of salt and horrible tea.

You get a couple of days when you think you're at the end of it and back it comes. If I'd known about all this I wouldn't have stopped. I wasn't enjoying smoking and I was smoking more and more trying to feel the way they used to make me feel so there wouldn't be any point in trying one. I know I would be back where I started on 30 a day. This last couple of weeks must have been some of the worst I've ever had. I haven't known what to do with myself. Can't believe I burst into tears at the doctors. People must have thought I'd been told something dreadful.

Just keeping my fingers crossed that the pills work. I've never had any before and I'll be 69 in 3 weeks.

I hope you get good results from your tests. Because I'm just behind you I always think that if it's getting better for you it will be the same for me. Stupid really because I smoked for 50 years so I've had a lot more chemicals :eek:

[nsd_user663_42390]

Hi Una, Sorry you are not feeling too good and depression is a dreadful illness. I suppose it makes it worse that before you quit you felt fine? It is supposed to be the other way round. I hope it is not too long before the tabs kick in and you start to feel better. I think you have done marvellous to stay off them after 50 years.

I do!

I also think you have been very lucky in life as regards your health and if your mother was still alive 2 years ago you must have good genes. That I am sure will help you in the long run.

The decorating will definitely give you a lift and a new bathroom for Christmas will be lovely so things to look forward to. Also you have a trip planned for Christmas in NZ dont you. Try to focus on these positive things and you know you can contact me anytime you like. PM me and I will give you my number if you like. I am always up for a chat.xxxx

Dont suffer in silence I am always here to lend an ear.xxx

[nsd_user663_50109]

They gave me Prozac when I started going the docs with the symptoms they made me really bad..

But iv suffers with depression and took the same tablets about 3 years ago for 2 years and they did me brill. Just don't think my brain needed um this time

[Unah]

Hi Hazel,

I'll pm you. I'm not going to NZ until January. They are all going to Singapore for Christmas so we will do the same as last year and have another Christmas complete with tree and santa. It's a lot cheaper. My son sent me the papers to fill in for a permanent visa and it's too much trouble to fill them in. How depressed is that

[nsd_user663_42390]

Hi Una, I am going to Brisbane in January so I think we get the best of both worlds we get Christmas at home and then when it all falls flat after we can escape to the sun and see our loved ones. xxx

I am out tonight but I am free all weekend.xxx Speak to you soon.

George Michael tribute night tonight.

[nsd_user663_50109]

And if all my test come back normal. I not sure what they are testing for. Then I have no clue what it is making feel the way I do.

But it all started 2 weeks into my quit. I was fine before

[Unah]

They gave me Prozac when I started going the docs with the symptoms they made me really bad..

But iv suffers with depression and took the same tablets about 3 years ago for 2 years and they did me brill. Just don't think my brain needed um this time

I was reading up about Prozac and it does say that it sometimes doesn't work if you have been on it before. Perhaps they should have tried a different type.

Much more of this and we can be doctors

[Unah]

And if all my test come back normal. I not sure what they are testing for. Then I have no clue what it is making feel the way I do.

But it all started 2 weeks into my quit. I was fine before

I was fine before my quit too. Certainly didn't expect all this. I've tried the NHS helpline. What a load of rubbish.