Hoarseness when I quite smoking

[jane58]

HI Everyone! I have been trying to quit smoking since the begging of February but I have finally stopped two weeks ago! I still get mad cravings and hoarseness in my voice - is this "normal"?

[LindaUK 32 Month Winner]

Hi Jane.....I quit in Feb and am still longing for a cigarette, I dont know how long the craving will last...altho my voice isnt hoarse I have like a frog in my throat and have to keep coughing to clear it......I think its all normal.....well done for quitting and wish you luck!!!

[jane58 31 Months Winner]

HI Linda - Thanks for replying to me and well done to you too! It is so difficult isnt it? I am pretty determined tho! Good luck and keep going - Jane

[EmJay Partner]

Hi Jane and Linda,

Well done on becoming a 2 week quitter Jane, Linda, you are doing fantastic!

Cravings can be funny things and may take some time to disappear completely and forever. There are 2 types of cravings; physiological (what goes on in your body) and psychological (what goes on in your mind). During the early stages of quitting, it may be useful to use some form of nicotine replacement therapy to help with the physiological cravings. Planning, preparation and positive self talk will help with the psychological cravings.

Coughing is a real positive sign that your body is repairing the damage done to the hairs in your nose and throat (cilia), this is more of a dry tickly cough. If you are coughing anything up, then it is only 'stuff' that's not supposed to be there.

If you have a cough that lasts more than a couple of weeks, you can always speak to your GP and let her/him know that you have stopped smoking.

You are both doing really well and must be really pleased for yourselves. Stay positive!

[TerryOR 3 YEAR WINNER in reply to EmJay]

Hi EmJay, thanks for explaining about the cilia, that helps a bit, if I can imagine them growing back ( or whatever it does that they do) while I'm TRYING NOT TO SMOKE ! At least it is a positive thing to think of.....I smoke just to get myself going in the morning....this is going to be quite a battle....I've already given in this morning...

[sandy91717 15 Month Winner]

Hi Jane, I quit smoking 309 days ago, I was scared into it I think, when my CT scan came back and showed ground glass nodules (so they say) I was like, "why am I playing with my life like this? " I made a choice to quit, set my date and have not smoked or used any NRT's ! I smoked for 43 years, and I can't tell you how happy I am not to be a slave to smoking anymore.

I am experiencing a raspy/hoarseness to my voice as of late. Not sure what this means, but I constantly feel like I have to clear my throat! I am having my 1 year follow up CT scan and am going to address this with my pulmonologist! Maybe he will shed some light on it!

Anyways, if you or anyone else needs any further help in quitting and staying quit, there are some really good support sites out there that offer up some good reading tools to help, as well as good friendly support on a day to day/minute to minute if that is what's needed! I survived quitting by the support of this group! Let me know if I can help in any way!