Quit smoking a few weeks ago

[Walk_by_Faith]

I'm 25 and I recently quit smoking and have had a bad coughing problem since. It started dry, but now there is always gurgling when I cough and my throat tickles when I breathe in too deep. My chest rarely feels tight, maybe twice since I quit in the last few weeks. I have read a lot about this and it seems like it is just my lungs clearing, but I can't help being scared. This was hard for me to type up as I rarely seek help for anything, I just deal with it. Did anyone else have this problem or is anyone else going through the same thing? I don't want to spend the little money we have going to the doctor for nothing. At this time I'm thinking about trying to tough it out for several weeks and go to the ER if it gets really bad. The hardest part is thinking about smoking to stop the coughing.

[Briarwood Administrator LONG TERM WINNER]

Hiya walk by faith and welcome to quit support

Went I quit I started coughing and like you thought well I never coughed when I smoked and now I've quit I seem worse but the good news is that the cough went and it really was my body healing itself. So I suspect it is just your lungs clearing themselves out as well. Having said that if you're still worried it would be better to get checked out and put your mind at rest. I understand it's difficult for you to seek help but the members here are all lovely and will be happy to help you as there's a wealth of information from all their experiences. Good luck with your quit and you are doing the very best thing for your health by quitting x

[Walk_by_Faith 20 Months Winner]

Thank you for that.

[monky Administrator Cake eater]

Aup Walk by faith, a big warm welcome to our quit support group and a big well done to you for making that best decision to quit the smokes

This is why your probably coughing

Smoking paralyses the tiny hairs, or cilia, which line your windpipe and helps to clear dirt and mucus out of your lungs. When you stop smoking, the cilia start to work properly again and so you may experience more coughing and phlegm. If you can imagine all those hairs laying flat for so long and now that you've stopped they kind of say "right lads, let's get back to work again" and as they start to move it causes a dry tickle... This is a positive sign of recovery, showing that your body is getting rid of the tar and toxins which smoking has left in your lungs.

These symptoms may last a while but can be soothed by drinking plenty of water or using sugar-free boiled sweets to help keep your throat moist.

I was perhaps lucky, cos I did all my coughing in the first couple of weeks but I tell you what helped me, a rowing machine from the first day I quit, I got in it and gave it some It made me cough and slutter, but it worked for me I got rid of all that flippin ermmm, stuff out of my lungs, but I must say, you have to spit it out into a hanky or something, you must get rid of the phlegm, I' sorry it dosnt sound very nice, but you just got to get rid of it

Pete

[monky Administrator Cake eater]

PS, WBF, could you please let Jillygirl or myself know your quit date, then we can add it to the wall of Winners and give you a Winners badge Thankyouuuuuuu

Pete

[Walk_by_Faith 20 Months Winner]

I quit on January 14, 2015 and thank you for all the information.

[gautama5 4 MONTH WINNER]

Smoking will not help the cough.

Take deep breaths.

Three long breaths in a row.

Thia all will pass and the effects are from smoking so get mad about what you did to get here and acknowledge the awesome work you are doing to be a non smoker.

My doctor wants me to walk 30 minutes a day and easier said than done.

Think of your progress in day by day.

Google "joel NTAP quit smart" and read everything Joel has to say. He has about 80 videos and free books. All free. It will really help you four months from now when you want to smoke and there is no logic as to why you want to after hanging in there.

Never take another puff NTAP.