Stopped smoking.

Can't remember having panic attacks but all I can say is stick with it. Giving up smoking is incredibly difficult because nicotine is so addictive but you will feel so much better. I haven't smoked now for over 7 years [I've still go a pretend ciggie next to the pooter though ]. You can do it. When we feel stressed our first thought is to need a cigarette. You're probably very stressed because of the move. But having a cigarette won't make you less stressed; it will just make you need another cigarette. Trouble is, a lot of the people that are there to help you stop smoking, such as doctors and nurses have never smoked themselves so they don't realise how difficult it is to stop. It's not easy, but you can do it.

Thanks Tegan, your kind words help. Did you get breathless or have a cough or wheeze though?

Well done for having 7 years of freedom. X

Didn't get breathless but I did get bad coughs most winters for several years. Touch wood, I haven't had one this year but then I'm retired now so I'm probably not bombarded with bugs. If I was you I'd keep talking to your doctor or nurse about that. Have they given you those tablets to help you stop [can't remember what they're called now]? I've got a feeling that someone said they gave them nightmares, but I might be thinking of something else. The coughing might just be your lungs clearing themselves. If you're trying to drink more water have it in one of those bottles with the narrow tops; I found that sipping water in that way kind of mimicked smoking and stopped the craving [a lot of smoking is down to the habit of doing it]. I also started chewing gum cause I found that when I drove to a garage instead of buying some cigarettes I'd buy the gum and unwrapping the packet was like opening a packet of cigarettes. Smoking is so much about the habit and ritual of smoking so if you substitute other things it can help break the habit.

Have you tried nicotine patches? I think that they really do help – and I have a friend who swears by nicotine gum (yuk). Take the patches off at night or you will have some really weird dreams – dinosaurs made of broccoli for example. My builder, however, reckoned he had the best sex of his life in dreams when he was wearing nicotine patches – so you pays your money and you takes your choice! I'm still iffy about the dinosaurs.

ruby stick with it, you won't regret giving up. I've never smoked but my husband gave up 9 years ago having smoked all of his adult life. We were both amazed at the range of withdrawal symptoms he displayed, including all the ones you mention. They pass! Hang in there.

You'll have joined the 200,000 people who gave up during October (in the Stoptober campaign).

ruby you have done the single biggest thing you can ever do for your health so jolly well done I have never smoked but several family members have gone through what you describe and it does go. As to the house move however joyful and pleasing it is its still one of the most stressful things you can do so in this time with both things going on you will need some extra care and pampering - be kind to yourself and give yourself and enormous round of applause.

ruby well done so far, but please be kind to yourself!
You've done a lot of stressful stuff in a short time!
It's not all going to go away overnight, it will take time for your body to adapt and recover.

Get as much help as you can, try to relax and like Tegan says, smoking is a lot about the habit.

You can do it! Good luck

Well done so far - stick with it. Nicotine is an extraordinarily addictive drug and your body is in a right pickle wondering where this familiar chemical has gone and what the heck is going on. You WILL adapt - grit your teeth and tough it out and you will never regret it. I so admire you for this; it is not easy at all.

I'm a smoker and have given up several times. I think everybody has different reactions to stopping. With me, I become tearful and hyper-sensitive. My digestive system also becomes badly affected and I get terrible wind.

I've heard that some people get nasty coughs and colds or feel incredibly stressed - I think it's quite common.

I think various stop-smoking aids - like nicotine patches - can be helpful.

Good luck with giving up - I'm sure, despite the initial side effects, you'll feel much better in the long run. And you'll be better off financially too. Once you've stopped for any length of time, don't be tempted - as I very foolishly have - to start again.

Keep going! I felt just like this when I quit. I used an "ecig" for the first week then went cold turkey I felt dreadful! like I had a severe flu almost I kept telling myself that if I went back Id have to start all over again and feel like this then too so I knitted like a demon to distract my self and My Daughter put an "app" onto my mobile phone digipill and it has hypnosis and meditation for everything this helped keep me calm using the "stop smoking" or "tea break" in the day and "sleep deeply" this really helped keep my frame of mind good. I felt like you do for about 3-4 weeks then another 3 weeks till I was feeling wholey normal but now 18 months on its the best thing I ever did. Feel so much healthier and Clearer headed and with the money I saved I recently took my Daughter to Tenerife for a Holiday! Stay Strong you're doing great x

Well done Ruby, I hope you start to feel the benefits soon.
When I was working, people would come in who had given up and the difference in their health, once the initial stages had been passed, was significant. I could often tell that they had given up before they told me - their skin would be a different colour!
Just keep going, it really will be worth it

Coughing more after quitting is apparently normal and a useful way to clear out muck from your lungs. It shows they are beginning to work properly again.
For more info..
www.quitsmokingsupport.com/coughing.htm

Good luck with this difficult task.

I went from 40-60 Gauloises a day to 0 in 1976... best thing I ever did! And didn't the world suddenly seem like a much cleaner place...

If you have already stopped smoking I suggest you don't use nicotine substitutes, you have already done the hard work of breaking the addiction. All the symptoms will go eventually if they are smoking related, if they persist after a reasonable length of time then get checked out in case you have an underlying condition.

jane; I was going to mention the difference in peoples skin when they stop smoking as well. Smoking gives the skin a greyness, doesn't it.

I gave up 21 years ago and it was very very hard. I used to come in from work, get into the shower and into my pyjamas knowing that I wouldnt want to get dressed and sorted to go to the shop to buy some cigs. I also started a needlepoint kit to keep my hands busy. Be thankful that you will not be surrounded by smokers when you go out anywhere in public, and do you really want to go back to huddling outside the back door of a restaurant after a lovely meal? New house, new start, new life! Treat the horrid cough as you would any other illness, rest, drink plenty of fluids, it will pass.

Thank you all for your wonderful posts. I have applauded myself, patted myself on the back and been good to myself this last week.

It has been hard, not in the wanting a cig, I haven't missed them at all, but in the cough, not sleeping, breathlessness and wheezing. But, even though it is late now, I am feeling slightly better tonight/today. I can't start again, I know that I would have real problems if I did and it's not worth that. Like you have all said, new home, new start. I won't be around people who smoke the same now as I probably won't see old neighbours now so onward and upward. I intend to join a choir too near here so that I can get some breathing control again (I used to be in school choir and church choir) and make some new friends and enjoy a pastime which I love.

Next after that is to go to Rite Weight classes and lose some weight. That will help with the breathlessness too, dropping a stone or two. Has anyone been to these classes?

There is decorating to do here and not much help to be had, even though my son has just been off for two weeks half term. He has done some things but not a great deal. I'll do it if I feel up to it and if not, rest up until I am up to it. I have heart failure to deal with but I'm not giving up just yet, although starting to smoke with a heart condition was really stupid. It was after my divorce 13 years ago and I reacted by partying with new friends and with that came smoking. Still, I don't see these friends now due to us all moving on in our lives and so on to no more ciggies for me.

I have not given anything up, I have gained freedom.

Anyone else thinking about gaining your freedom, please do it, do it now and save up for that special Christmas outfit. I'm going to treat myself to some new bedroom accessories for when I've finished the wallpapering.

All be good to yourselves, you all deserve it.

Thank you all again, your comments have made a huge difference.

That's whe I started smoking heavily ruby; when my marriage broke up and I had to start socialising. I hid behind clouds of smoke when I went out and smoked at night out of loneliness. Also knew a lot of people who smoked back then and whenever anyone lit up a cigarette I wanted one. Hardly know anyone who smokes now. Did you know as well that, if you smoke in a house the nictine sticks to the walls and you get a sort of fungus growing, so, if you decorate you mustn't smoke there. New life, new house, new you. You're doing really well [gold star for effort ]!

Gaunyersel` rubylady. Well done on your attitude as well as the activity (ie giving up the demon weed). Stick to your plans and those nasty side effects can be countered by saying my favourite mantra to yourself "this too shall pass"! and it will.......................

Ruby Are the Rite Weight classes arranged by your Doctor's Surgery if they are they may be similar to one I attended about 18mths ago but it was called Measure Up and concentrated on the Smart Plate System re educated you about all the nasty fats etc and very good indeed all the people are there for the same reason and there is none of time wasting stuff as in WW and SW with regard to fancy recipes etc.I lost 2 st. and managed to keep it off easily,so go for it and keep us informed.

Thank you once again for your encouragement, it means a lot because I don't know anyone near here yet so no one to chat to and my son is proud of me I am sure but once he's said it once doesn't think to say it again to make you keep going and to make you feel a success, lol. Man in training. I do tell him but he will do as he thinks right and I am probably not the first thing on his mind at 17 years old. He does love me though, he tells me last thing at night every night.

glammanana The Rite Weight is through the NHS but done at an Age Uk centre near me where they also do the courses and the choir. They have 8 week courses and they are currently half way through a course and so I have to wait for the next one to begin in a few weeks. I will post under a separate new discussion when I start and then I can get some encouragement of you wonderful ladies/gents and friends. it is great to support each other in this way but at this moment of not knowing anyone then I need you guys to keep me going. The classes sound good and I am in the right mind to do it. Congratulations on losing your weight, that is marvelous and you have done so well to keep it off. How much better do you feel now? How many dress sizes did you drop? I can't wait to go clothes shopping and feel better in the clothes that I chose and to feel attractive and healthier again. I did shed some when my ex boyfriend was around and felt fantastic but put it on again when we broke up. That was a while ago now, 8 years, so definitely time to sort myself back out and get back on that horse! X

Not feeling any better, going to the doctors at 7pm to be checked over. Still breathless and coughing all the time. Not slept properly and feel wrecked.

I'm sorry you are feeling grim - it is a brave road that you have chosen and I admire you enormously. You WILL reap the benefits in the end. I hope the doc can help you get through this. Well done, even though you feel rough. You should pat yourself on the back.

Rubylady I think your 17 yr old son is lovely to tell you every night that he loves you, I doubt if many 17yr old lads would do that.

Calculate the amount you will save by not smoking every day and put that aside for a special treat for yourself.