I'm now on day 16 and whilst my brain seems to have accepted the fact that I no longer smoke / do not want to smoke / do not need to smoke, it seems that my body and bodily functions are not in agreement as they refuse to accept that they are no longer going to get regular fixes of nic and other chemicals.
Now this is really difficult for me as it was instilled into me and taught from a very early age that you do NOT discuss your body and its functions with anyone except a doctor and you do not bother the doctor until it is absolutely necessary.
Now I have two questions really firstly, is this common? Secondly, is it a mind thingy?
I can cope with the vivid dreams (these are getting less by the way - well, at least I think they are or maybe not as vivid as I can't remember dreaming which probably doesn't make a bit of sense but possibly does) and I can even cope with the early hours waking and stopping awake but the other parts are not that easy to deal with.
My problem lies in that I have tablets that help to control my illness and I am not sure if the symptoms I am getting are part of my illness or due to giving up smoking or a combination of both.
Feeling sick, a sense of floating when walking and difficulty going to the loo and I seem not to be here in mind but am in body. These four things that are with me a lot and at times, they all seem to be with me all of the time. Does anyone else have any or all of these? If so, how long did they last? Did they eventually stop? If so, did they all stop at once and suddenly or stop one by one over a period of time?
I would really, really appreciate any answers whether they contain good news or bad news I don't really care as this problem is driving me nuts and to be perfectly honest I am now getting frightened that I am having a breakdown of some description so perhaps these 'symptons' are all in my mind.
Buttons52 isn't making jokes and laughing today - I'm scared in two ways. Scared because of the above and even more scared that nic will win because I will be reaching for hubby's ciggies to calm myself down and perhaps that ciggie (and I promise it will only be the one) will make me feel better!
Going to get ready for work now and thanks for reading.
Take care and have a good day - together we can do this!
I have had the difficulty with the loo but cigs act as a laxative also the sickness I have also had panic attack s and bleeding in my mouth quite bad. Nic doesn't make it easy and won't go without a fight but keep strong sudcx
Morning Buttons,
I've had the Loo problem too. This may help, 1 little bottle of "Zakult" on getting up in the morning really makes a difference for me, and it's very good for you. Any supermarket has it, near the Yogurt and Milk stuff. Give it 2 or 3 days to start working, and keep your fluid levels up during the day. When I had really dizzy spells, whenever I got out of bed, or moving suddenly was really worrying. My doc said it was Labrynthitis, a condition that involves the Middle Ear and your balance. He said it would go away eventually, but can last a few months. It did go after about 2 months. However, because your on Medication, I would really check with your Doc, just to be sure it's nothing else, ie other Medications etc.
And whatever else you do today - please don't light up a cigarette! Absolutely Nothing is worth that, and you'll have to go through ALL the work again... That's where I am again, and It's no fun believe me. Stay safe and well dear, GIll, xx
One thing that has just come to mind, doesn't happen very often at my age, is that smoking raises your blood pressure. I am on tablets and the lady at the no smoking clinic has said that I must have it checked as it will have gone down since I stopped smoking. This may be the light headedness suecx
In answer to your (1st) question , I don't believe for one minute that it is just you and that you'll find it is a common side effect of stopping smoking and I'm sure that given time everything will return to normal
Nicotine is a laxative. However, your body will learn to readjust to its normal function. Try drinking plenty of water. Eating more fruit and vegetables will also help.
one of our members asked a similar question earlier this month, here's the link to their question, you may find some of the comments and information useful
Depending on what your illness is and the signs and symptoms that go with it, it may be that smoking will affect the medication that you take. Given that you have now successfully stopped smoking and are a fantastic 16 days into your journey - into your 3rd week now it may be that your medication may need adjusting. So why not make an appointment to speak to your GP and let him / her know that you've now stopped smoking? It could make another positive difference to your life
You have come such a long way and if you did have 'just the one', then I promise you that it won't be as nice as the thought of how it might be right now.
Remember that "'if it's to be - it's up to me" and staying in control will give you such a great feeling.
You can do this, we're all walking beside you 110%
Thanks everyone - good God, I never expected this many answers. Have read through them all and I feel a lot better - know that I aren't going do-lally so that is a definite plus. Everyone seems agreed on everything and I will try drinking more water that is (prefer hot to cold and take it that is OK) but the downside of that is having to get up in the night two or three times but what the heck, at the moment I'm mostly awake longer than I'm asleep so give anything a go.
My illness is Menieres Disease - really wish it could be called just Menieres or Menieres Illness as disease sounds so much worse but hey ho, I didn't name it just have to live with it. Unfortunately, I also get extremely violent migraine with it and despite tests, they are not sure if the migraine causes a menieres attack or vice versa, i.e. menieres causes migraine.
I can tell you that both are absolutely horrible although one good thing is that the migraine is so bad that it definitely solves the going to the loo problem and also any weight issues I have because I am violently sick (lucky for me our toilet is next to the hand basin in the bathroom).
In some people the disease can 'disappear' as quickly as it came and never come back but unfortunately, in my case, this hasn't happened. When I was originally diagnosed with menieres, it was not unknown for there to be 3 years between attacks but unfortunately, as you get older the attacks get more frequent and having suffered 8 attacks complete with migraine in 11 days, I really couldn't take it any more and decided to have a go at giving up smoking to see if that would be of any help.
You are right madimad, I do get vertigo as a result of having Menieres. To quote one of the websites, Menieres is "a disease of the inner ear" which can cause vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss and a feeling of pressure deep inside the ear.
I have had one attack that lasted just 15/20 minutes but mainly, my attacks last between 5 and 8 hours and it can take me 7 to 10 days to be back to 'normal' or what is normal for me!
I take between 13 and 16 tablets a day including beta-blockers, anti-sickness, anti-dizziness, anti-nausea and I have special migraine tablets if I need them and if you shake me I rattle!!
Due to go to the docs in a couple of weeks so will mention everything to her and see what she says. Just finished 3 months of going to docs for checks every 2 weeks and last one was last week when she said come back in a month (yippee doody a whole month).
Problem is not helped by the fact that it has caused extreme hearing loss in both ears so as a consequence of this, have to wear hearing aids all the time and was told at my last hearing test that it has deteriorated 'quite rapidly and rather a lot from the last test' and it has to be monitored now on an 8 week cycle. Whippee!!
Very vicious circle as this makes me very anxious as if I loose my hearing I can't do my job. If I have many more attacks resulting in time off work, I could loose my job and so it goes, smoking seemed to help me cope but didn't always work and made me feel worse. Worrying about having attacks whilst out, especially if there is no warning and I just go down, people thinking I'm absolutely canned out of my head drunk doesn't help either so the circle goes around and around and well ..... think you understand where I'm coming from and if you could tell me where I'm going I would appreciate it!!
Thanks for reading and sorry to go on but I feel a lot better - thanks, where would I be without you.
Hi Buttons I really sorry you suffer with menieres . I don't know any miracle cures I wish I did. Have been in touch with any groups, like this one is for quitting smoking. Sometimes talking to others with the same disease helps. I bet Emjay may know some groups or forums. Keep your chin up girl.
Morning jillygirl Thanks for your reply - I know I sound a moaning whinging person who feels really really sorry for herself but I do know that there are people worse off than me. Sometimes though especially immediately after a full blown attack it's very difficult to think that way. Was told originally that it could vanish but after nearly 20 years of having/suffering attacks, the likelihood of it 'going away' is now slim to nil. Was told right at the very beginning that if it didn't disappear the attacks would get worse and more frequent as time went on and I do look at the Menieres Society website but I do find that sometimes that doesn't help me because too much information I think is the best way to put it.
Will get to the docs and get my blood pressure checked - could be as simple as that and if I can all the different probs 'cured' one at a time that will be brilliant - don't care how long it takes, I can be very patient when I want/need to be.
Buttons am so so sorry gal sounds like your really suffering, there is a site like this for migraines and it looks quite interesting maybe give it a try eh
I think Mad made a good suggestion, SOS bracelet or necklace !! I am a first aider and have been taut to look for this type of thing, so it could be very beneficial to you take care now
Speak soon, Pete
Hello mad Thanks for taking the time to type and post your replies to my question. Have had Menieres for going on 20 years and have been told that if it was going to disappear it would have done so by now. I'm not usually this bad but think it's a combination of worry that an attack will happen and possibly withdrawal symptoms cos I've stopped smoking. You do learn to live with whatever is thrown at you but it is frightening - I always finish up on my hands and knees because I can't walk anywhere as my balance has completely gone and I feel so sick and dizzy. An SOS bracelet is a super idea and will make some enquiries as to how I get one. Knowing that someone is listening and has taken the time and trouble to reply gives me an awful lot of comfort so thank you. Will just take one day at a time like with the no smoking and will get there - maybe not as quickly as I would like but what the heck that don't matter do it?!
Have a great day.
Take special care
Buttons
Just tried to submit an answer which I had worked on for 10 minutes to get across what I wanted to say but site went down before it was posted. This isn't what I put but as I will be rushing to work in a minute,sorry folks it will have to do.
THANK YOU = THANK YOU!
I wish I could explain in words how much your replies mean to me and how special they have made me feel and they have given me such a super boost. In fact, the boost is so great that it means I will be able to carry on blogging!! You lucky, lucky people bet you can't wait for tonight's blog can you?!
Have a super day all.
Take care,
Buttons52
Hi Mad Feel humbled - like I say there are plenty worse off than me and I should stop feeling sorry for myself and get on with life. Do try to take one day at a time but know that a lot of the problem is the way I'm made and the way I was brought up - very difficult to change when you're older and you've always been that way. Thank you for taking the time and trouble to find a link for an SOS bracelet for me - feel a complete and utter idiot that I am hopeless with computers.
Take care and look after yourself don't bother about me.
Buttons52
Thank you very, very much. Will have a good luck and will shout if I need to. Thank you madimad. Take care.
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it may be that your medication may need adjusting. So why not make an appointment to speak to your GP and let him / her know that you've now stopped smoking? It could make another positive difference to your life 
sounds like your really suffering, there is a site like this for migraines and it looks quite interesting 
DAILY CHAT WEDNESDAY 3RD APRIL 2013
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Daily Chat: Thursday 11th July