Question:
When do the physical side effects of quitting smoking end?

This is for smokers/ex-smokers only. I'm so irritable right now, I don't need to hear from non-smokers telling me how important quitting smoking is. I KNOW its important. But I still love it. Anyway, I have been smoke-free for 8 days. And considering I smoked a pack and a half a day, that is quite an accomplishment. I am MISERABLE. I hate it. I want a cigarette all the time. I am using the patch, so I'm sure this could be worse...my question is for those that have quit smoking: when does this nightmare end? Will there ever come a time when I don't crave a cigarette? Thanks all.... (thanks, even, to you non-smokers).    — Tamara K. (posted on October 1, 2002)

October 1, 2002
I have quit a couple of times, each time for a few years. The side effects stopped for me around 2 weeks after quitting. I am a fool for starting again, but plan to quit for good soon. Good luck, you will feel so much better in a few months.
   — Dawn H.

October 1, 2002
Hi...I quit smoking cold turkey back in 1986 and have not had one since (it was my 2nd attempt at quitting smoking - the first time was in early 1985 but it was right before I got married and I started again soon thereafter). <p> At the hospital-run stop smoking class I went to before the first time I quit, they said that the <b>physical</b> addiction to nicotine is gone after 72 hours. It's the <b>psychological</b> addiction to nicotine that is the tough one to beat. All of those situations that you automatically reach(ed) for a cigarette - first thing in the morning, when you are on the phone, after you eat dinner, with your coffee, etc. <p> I can truly say that I have not had any cravings for cigarettes for the bulk of the last 16 years (any cravings were at the beginning). With the other health problems I have had over all or part the last 16 years - non-Hodgkins lymphoma, sleep apnea, pulmonary emboli, Type II Diabetes among them - I am thankful that I quit smoking when I did. <p> Hang in there...you're so close to beating this...Don't give up now!!!!!!!!! JR
   — John Rushton

October 1, 2002
Tamara....I quit smoking on April 3rd of this year and I totally know where you are coming from. Also my hubby quit with me and now we are a smoke free home. We quit cold turkey and promised each other that we would take a deep breath before we ripped each others throats out for something. I will tell you that it is all the individual as to when things get better. It was about a week or 2 for me before I didn't think about having one so often. For my hubby it took him about a month. He smoked a pack and a half and I used to smoke about a pack a day. I think I woud have even had an easier time if it weren't for the place I was working.....A BAR!! I know it is hard but hang in there girl I know you can do it. Now I rarely think about smoking. Last week was soooooo very stressful for me and I think I only craved a cigarette a couple of times and the craving only lasted for a few minutes. I just read a study today believe it or not. It said that by quiting smoking I have decreased my risk for heart desease by 50% within 1 year. That makes it worth the hardships of quiting right there. I also know it is easier said than done to quit.......but remember....nobody is perfect and DON'T QUIT QUITING!! God Bless! Open RNY(7/5/2002 -60)
   — DRutherford

October 1, 2002
I also "quit" smoking several times. This last time for about 3 years. I had done some research and this is what helped me. First of all, you need to realize that nicotine is more addictive than heroin. (hard to believe its legal huh?) You are trying to break many habits at one time. Deep breathing thru your mouth about 200 times a day, sucking air thru a small cylinder object, holding this object, fiddling with the lighter. The thing that helped me most was knowing that the cravings when they come, really only last a couple of minutes. So, you want to have a plan for that. Start taking deep breaths, inhale thru straws, or cinnamon sticks, have gum ready, a mantra....anything that may help you get thru that couple of minutes. They will come at the most inopertune times, but be prepared. Try to find something to replace the lighter, that you can fiddle with. Cut straws the length of cigarettes, buy the small schelling cinnamon sticks, and use these to hold between your fingers, and suck air thru. Take it one minute at a time and you will succeede. I hope this will help you with your journey. God bless you, Laury
   — laury

October 1, 2002
I quit smoking in 1994. My children did their own intervention, encircled me and asked me to quit. They said they were asking me to make the decision to live so they could have their mother around to be a part of their lives. Who could have said no to that request? So I got rid of them (the cigarettes, not the kids). I craved a cigarette at all the moments in my life where I had deceptively enjoyed one, after a good meal, on the ride to and from work, on my breaks with co-workers, sitting in the backyard with my husband and so on. But I have to tell you, the first time I realized that the woman behind me in the supermarket smelled like a disgusting dirty ashe tray, I swore that I would never crave one again. It was a psychological lightbulb that went off in my head that told me I too smelled like that once. I stopped at the florist and bought myself a big bouquet of flowers and thanked God that my home did not stink when I entered. Those same kids were there for me when I had my surgery in July. Whatever you do, do not buy that first pack, do not have just one for old times sake. It does get better and it is so worth it.
   — Sue A.

October 1, 2002
I am now 31/2 months smoke free, and still every once in a while, in the back of my head, I feel that I need to smoke. I fight it. And so should you. It is the best thing I could have ever done for myself. I had a little help from wellbutrin, but sense surgery I have also stopped taking that. One day at a time. The best of luck to you.
   — Melody D.

October 1, 2002
I quit smoking 1 year and eleven months ago. You stop thinking about cigarettes at about six months. That was when I was totally over the cravings. However, every once in a while it hits you that they should make a healthy cigarette. Ha! Remember this is tough. They put almost 3000 ingredients in cigarettes to make you crave them. You wouldn't believe what is in them. Cinamin, vanilla, rum, and every type of poison you can think of. I read a letter that circulated around a certain known tobacco company that basically asked all of their top people to go out and find out what people are addicted to so they could shove it in the cigarettes. Think about it.... if cigarettes actually tasted like tar hardly anyone would smoke them. Use something to take the edge off so you can physically get over them like the patch or the inhaler.... afterwards you can work on the emotional part of it. Here is a link to a website that is very helpful http://www.quitnet.com/qn_main.jtml You can route your progress with this site easily. Look at my stats: Your Quit Date is: 11/3/2000 Time Smoke-Free: 698 days, 5 minutes and 24 seconds Cigarettes NOT smoked: 13960 It gives you something to look forward to. Take care! Lifetime Saved: 3 months, 16 days, 15 hours Money Saved: $2,094.00
   — Red T.

October 1, 2002
Hi Tamara, You have some great responses here, but I wanted to add my own experiences in hopes it helps, even a little. I quit smoking twice. First time was 1989. I stopped for 6 months and one day I decided I was doing so good, I just wanted one cigarette as a "reward". 1 went into 2 and that went into a pack and BLAM! I was back to 2 packs a day before I knew it. Don't ever pick that one up and you'll never be a smoker again. <p> The last time I quit was October, 2000. I have asthma and developed double pneumonia. I was rushed by rescue to the ER because I couldn't breathe and it was in that week I was in the hospital that I told my whole family I was quitting for the last time. I asked that all cigs and ashtrays would be gone when I came home from the hospital too. I quit cold turkey that time, I was just so sick. <p> One thing that helped me stay a new non-smoker was to have something in my hand at all times, like my cigs used to be. I held my inhaler while I drove, while I watched tv, after I ate. whenever I would normally smoke. <p> One last thing. You can't imagine the pride you'll feel when you've struggled to get past the worst of all this, to have a doctor or form you have to fill out ask you if you smoke and you can finally say "No!". Its a wonderful feeling!! Good luck!!
   — thumpiez

October 1, 2002
You're really close to pulling through this tough time - congratulations! I quit cold turkey and my worst day was day four - my lungs hurt like crazy, I couldn't sleep from night sweats, my heart raced, etc. After that first week, my cravings and moodiness waned very slowly. When I really felt like I couldn't take it anymore, I went to the American Cancer Society's Web site for inspiration. They list how your body restores itself by the minute, hour, day, month, and years from your last cigarette. My friends kept reminding me that it wasn't weakness on my part that made it so hard to quit - it was the addictive chemicals that the companies add to cigarettes to keep us loyal customers. You'll miss cigarettes for awhile, but eventually you'll start to forget about them. You'll look back with amazement about how they dictated your life and time! Sure, sometimes I think one would taste really good, but since quitting was so hard, I know that I never want to go through quitting ever ever again! You deserve credit for getting this far and remember that it gets easier every day you move farther away from your last cigarette. Next month will be my 2 year anniversary of being a quitter - I consider quitting the hardest thing I've ever done and my greatest accomplishment. Sorry to have rambled on, but I really feel for you and your struggle. Just think: in a couple of weeks you will give those cigarette companies the middle finger because you've beat them once and for all ;) Stay strong, girl! Rhonda
   — Rhonda J.

October 1, 2002
When my mom quit, the doctor told her that there were milestones where you got the urge to start again...two days, two weeks, two months, two years. I quit for the last time in 1982. I physically stopped feeling the effects about a month later. I have to tell you, though, that more than 20 years later I still dream that I can smoke and then not smoke at will. My father, a recovered alcholic, said that it was far harder to quit smoking than to quit drinking...but he did. I think that you get used to not having a cigarette...but the times I didn't succeed were when I had "one more." Good luck. You really do start feeling better at (like deeper breathing) a few months out.
   — Katherine M.

October 1, 2002
Hi Tamara.............I feel your pain girlfriend! :) I've been a non-smoker for 8 years now. And I'm going to be 100% honest with you. Not a day goes by that I don't think about smoking a cigarette. But that's just it....I only think about it. And I CHOOSE to not smoke and then continue on with my day. I was a 2 pack a day smoker when I quit. I smoked through 2 pregnancies (and gave birth to 2 beautiful 8+ pound babies), I smoked in the hospital courtyard within an hour of giving birth to my daughter. At work we have a restricted smoking area that is outlined on the floor with schoolbus yellow paint. I have a work desk I use that has wheels so I can move it to wherever I need to work. I took the schoolbus yellow paint and painted the edge of the desktop -- my smoking area was wherever I was at. I was worse than a smoker -- I was a smoker with an attitude! And I quit cold turkey. Do I think about it? Yes,absolutely. Would I ever smoke again? Only if my pants catch on fire! You're doing a GREAT thing for yourself. The moodiness will pass, the intense cravings will pass. The pride you'll feel in yourself for quitting will last a lifetime. Good Luck!
   — Pam S.

October 1, 2002
Hey Tamara! NON-SMOKER HERE!!! HA! Anyway just wanted say AWESOME JOB!!! Don't give up! Your such a strong person I KNOW you can do it. Give me a call if you need to VENT!
   — Lucky Gal U.

October 1, 2002
Tamara, You just GO!!! I am 87 days out today. I quit because of the surgery (surgeon won't even schedule initial consult without being smoke free!)! So each day I wake up (and want one), but think...In a couple of more months I'll be a goddess and smoking won't mean crap to me. Like the moddo says..."fake it 'till you make it." It does get better each day. I think your journal is great - keep us updated on your journey. If you need to vent, please e-mail me. By the way - each anything you want at this point. The point is, don't choose to smoke right now. Snickers are GRRReat!
   — Tracy H.

October 2, 2002
I just had to post again because I thought I was the only one who ever dreamed that I could start smkoing ad stop at will. I have recurrent dreams that I am smoking and everyone is telling me how sad it is that I started smoking again. Then I try to convince them that not to worry I am not really smoking again I can just stop anytime. I think it is the ultimate dream of an ex-smoker. To be able to have a cigarette every once in a while and not get addicted! Ha! Doesn't happen. But it does get easier. When people say that they think about smoking all the time, please, don't think that it is a craving. Cravings go away for the most part with time. It is just a thought, a memory, a fantasy that passes. You learn to focus on something else when it happens. I told myself that if I live to 70 then I will let myslef smoke again. I probably won't, but it allows me to think hmmm I can smoke again if I want to BUT - I DON"T WANT TO RIGHT NOW. Anyway, once again great job on your quit and hang in there!
   — Red T.

March 5, 2003
<<< New ex-smoker! I just quit myself 35 days ago. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. I have found that sour suckers seem to help the most at curbing the cravings. Also keep toothpicks or gum in your car ashtray so that you don't smoke then. I keep all kinds of oral fixations laying around the house to help me get by until I have the power to get by all on my own. I used the patches for about 3 weeks, since then I don't need em. Just hang in there and remind yourself when you get a craving that you are better than that small cigg. and breathe through it, most only last 7 minutes!!
   — Sylvia E.

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