I am over the worst of my lung infection thankfully. I now just have a dry cough which is worse at some parts of the day. I cant help but feel that part of it is due to quitting smoking. I find myself to be very wheezy.
Ive noiced a great improvement in my energy levels. my smoking anxiety I hope has peaked and is now on the mend. good days and bad. yesterday was great and today (so far) is good too - I just want rid of this cough!!!!!!!!!
I do feel so positive and happy with my decision to give the quitting a second attempt. I feel I am adding years onto my life I just pray I havnt done any permanent damage. I am 29 and smoked 10 a day for 10 years...think ive stopped in the nick of time??? anyone any knowledge on lung repair? my doctor told me that if I quit smoking by the age of 30 when I am older there would be no trace or damage of smoking except for the colour of my lungs...but you hear so many different things.
Im sure the cough is probably still getting over my lung infection - just all coincidental ive had it when I quit smoking!
Thanks all for reading as always!
Matt
Written by
Matt28
6 Months Smoke Free
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Hey Matt28 - good to read things are improving, did you get an antibiotic to help it along? One of biggest withdrawals I had was the cough - the dry cough still comes and goes 2 years on especially if the air is dry and being in an environment with air conditioning. I always take it as a good sign coughing as your body clearing out and healing - I know it can be annoying and frustrating especially when the tickly cough arrives in the most inappropriate time!
As previously mentioned to you, raw honey or jar honey is great for healing the lungs, also vaporizing with vicks or Eucalyptus oil, I promise, it really works wonders.
Our bodies are remarkable in recovering but it does take time but what better way to motivate you to never put another cigarette in your mouth
Below is my detailed recovery journey so far:
Your Recovery
2 Years smoke free
Cravings Phase Progress
100% Complete Heart Rate Recovery
100% Complete Blood Pressue Recovery
100% Complete Carbon Monoxide Removal
100% Complete Nicotine Removal
100% Complete Increase Levels Of Energy
100% Complete Circulation Recovery
You Will Now Live 141 Days, 17 Hours, 0 Minutes Longer - Love this one!!
Your Health Risks
Risk Of Heart Attack 86% At Risk
Risk Of Heart Disease 86% At Risk Risk Of Stroke 59% At Risk
Risk Of Lung Cancer 90% At
Risk Risk Of Throat Cancer 79% At Risk
Your Addiction
You Have Resisted Over 18,537 Cigarettes Since You Became A Non Smoker
11,744,828 People Have Died From A Smoking Related Illness Since You Quit Smoking
You Have Saved Over €14,829.33 By Quitting Smoking
You Spent Over €151,001.67 On Cigarettes While You Were A Smoker
wow that is amazing - what does the Risk of lung cancer 90% mean? does that mean you still have a 90% risk of developing it??
Thanks so much for this!!!!!!!!!
RoisinO1Administrator3 Years Smoke Free• in reply toMatt28
Well not necessarily - at 2 years smoke free, I am at these risk, percentages so the longer I am smoke free, the risk reduces - probably takes another 5-6 years to get down to 0%.
PS Matt28 - below is recovery timescale taken from the pinned posts....
whyquit.com (2016), accessed at whyquit.com/whyquit/A_Benef...
This recovery benefits timetable reflects averages and norms. While most of the listed health risk reversal conditions presented are common to all stop smoking methods, the below chart is intended for cold turkey quitters only, not those using quitting products such as NRT, Chantix, Champix or Zyban, which may produce their own symptoms, delay withdrawal or otherwise inhibit restoration of the natural sensitivity or number of dopamine pathway nicotinic-type (a4b2) receptors (a process known as down-regulation).
Do not rely upon this recovery timetable as it relates to any behavioral change or symptom if using any quit smoking product. Regardless of quitting method, if you or a family member become concerned about any symptom, or any change in thinking, mood or behavior, contact your physician or pharmacist IMMEDIATELY!
Our body's ability to mend is beauty to behold!
Within ...
20 minutes Your blood pressure, pulse rate and the temperature of your hands and feet have returned to normal.
8 hours Remaining nicotine in your bloodstream has fallen to 6.25% of normal peak
daily levels, a 93.75% reduction.
12 hours Your blood oxygen level has increased to normal. Carbon monoxide levels
have dropped to normal.
24 hours Anxieties have peaked in intensity and within two weeks should return to near pre-cessation levels.
48 hours
Damaged nerve endings have started to regrow and your sense of smell and
taste are beginning to return to normal. Cessation anger and irritability will
have peaked.
72 hours Your entire body will test 100% nicotine-free and over 90% of all nicotine
metabolites (the chemicals it breaks down into) will now have passed from
your body via your urine. Symptoms of chemical withdrawal have peaked in
intensity, including restlessness. The number of cue induced crave episodes
experienced during any quitting day have peaked for the "average" ex-user.
Lung bronchial tubes leading to air sacs (alveoli) are beginning to relax in
recovering smokers. Breathing is becoming easier and your lung's functional
abilities are starting to increase.
5 - 8 days
The "average" ex-smoker will encounter an "average" of three cue induced
crave episodes per day. Although we may not be "average" and although
serious cessation time distortion can make minutes feel like hours, it is
unlikely that any single episode will last longer than 3 minutes. Keep a clock
handy and time them.
10 days - The "average" ex-user is down to encountering less than two crave
episodes per day, each less than 3 minutes.
10 days to 2 weeks
Recovery has likely progressed to the point where your addiction is no longer
doing the talking. Blood circulation in your gums and teeth are now similar to
that of a non-user.
2 to 4 weeks
Cessation related anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, impatience,
insomnia, restlessness and depression have ended. If still experiencing any of
these symptoms get seen and evaluated by your physician.
2 weeks to 3 months Your heart attack risk has started to drop. Your lung function is beginning to improve.
21 days
The number of acetylcholine receptors, which were up-regulated in response to
nicotine's presence in the frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, basal ganglia,
thalamus, brain stem, and cerebellum regions of the brain, have now
substantially down-regulated, and receptor binding has returned to levels seen
in the brains of non-smokers (2007 study).
3 weeks to 3 months
Your circulation has substantially improved. Walking has become easier. Your
chronic cough, if any, has likely disappeared. If not, get seen by a doctor, and
sooner if at all concerned, as a chronic cough can be a sign of lung cancer.
4 weeks
Plasma suPAR is a stable inflammatory biomarker predictive of development
of diseases ranging from diabetes to cancer in smokers. A 2016 study found
that within 4 weeks of quitting smoking, with or without NRT, that suPAR
levels in 48 former smokers had fallen from a baseline smoking median of 3.2
ng/ml to levels "no longer significantly different from the never smokers'
values" (1.9 ng/ml)
8 weeks Insulin resistance in smokers has normalized despite average weight gain of 1.7 kg
1 to 9 months
Any smoking related sinus congestion, fatigue or shortness of breath has
decreased. Cilia have regrown in your lungs, thereby increasing their ability to
handle mucus, keep your lungs clean and reduce infections. Your body's
overall energy has increased.
1 year Your excess risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke has dropped
to less than half that of a smoker.
5 years
Your risk of a subarachnoid hemorrhage has declined to 59% of your risk
while still smoking (2012 study). If a female ex-smoker, your risk of
developing diabetes is now that of a non-smoker (2001 study).
5 to 15 years Your risk of stroke has declined to that of a non-smoker.
10 years
Your risk of being diagnosed with lung cancer is between 30% and 50% of that
for a continuing smoker (2005 study). Risk of death from lung cancer has
declined by almost half if you were an average smoker (one pack per day).
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus and pancreas have declined.
Risk of developing diabetes for both men and women is now similar to that of
a never-smoker (2001 study).
13 years
The average smoker who is able to live to age 75 has 5.8 fewer teeth than a
non-smoker (1998 study). But by year 13 after quitting, your risk of smoking
induced tooth loss has declined to that of a never-smoker (2006 study).
15 years
Your risk of coronary heart disease is now that of a person who has never
smoked. Your risk of pancreatic cancer has declined to that of a never-smoker
(2011 study - but note 2nd pancreatic study making identical finding at 20
years).
20 years
Female excess risk of death from all smoking related causes, including lung
disease and cancer, has now reduced to that of a never-smoker (2008 study).
Risk of pancreatic cancer has declined to that of a never-smoker (2011 study).
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
3 months smoke free
Third week - Muscle Pains and Joints Cracking
Non smoker / Ex smoker
Day 8 smoke free. Feeling proud but also very sorry for myself