Documenting my withdrawl from nicotine - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 12-10-2004, 12:37 AM

I have used smokeless tobacco in one form or another, off and on, since I was 14, or the last 17 years. I quit four days ago. I would love to know if anyone can share in some of the bizarre facets of nicotine withdrawal which I will list.

1. I can not sense my own hunger in terms of presence at all or degree.

2. My stomach is in absolute knots at times, and I experience what feels like cramping in my "gut", accompanied by extravagant gas and prolonged, often painful burping.

3. Dizziness, at least today, which was a first and may be unrelated, who knows.

Thats really it for the weird stuff. Otherwise, just normal irritability. Can anyone concur with any of these symptoms?

KirkVining · #2 12-10-2004, 12:59 AM

Dude, it you are having rage attacks you might want to check into the Effexor method of quitting.

#3 12-10-2004, 01:13 AM

"normal irritability", not rage attacks. Irritability, like when someone calls my name more than once I snap "what!?", not snap necks.

KirkVining · #4 12-10-2004, 01:27 AM

I ws talking to Breckman - beating refrigerators with a steel rod might be a tip off that something to mellow him out will help.

In your case, its like you have been soaking your stomach in heroin for years. Every cell in your stomach is screaming out for dope. Its going to be AFU for a few days, but it will pass. Your body is also having a chance to get rid of all that tar you have coated your intestines with. You just have to grin and bear it and accept the fact that you are going to have to suffer to beat this $hit. and keep telling yourself that when this passes, you will never, ever, do anything to cause yourself to feel like that again. The One Day At a Time method works the best. Tell yourself that you are going to do whatever you can to get thru this for one day. When things really get tough, tell yourself you are going to do whatever you can to get thru this for one more minute. Don't think about tomorrow, it will only help your addiction convince you that this is going to go on forever. In a week you'll start feeling a lot better. Get off that $hit man, stomach cancer is about the worst thing in the world to die of.

BrierS · #5 12-10-2004, 06:49 AM

I am just past day thirty. It has gotten easier though there have been days where the craving has been very intense. As if something is dying and gives another big effort to survive. Seems odd but certainly explainable. Sense of smell has been steadily improving yet I don't realize that as being the case so much now. Taste? Better I suppose but I love cooking with herbs and spices so much I have always been able to achieve satisfaction from foods. I have stayed away from my scotch, beer and wines so far since they typically made smoking a certainty. Recently been through the loss of my long-time companion and didn't even think about lighting one up. Guess I am now over the hump, so to speak. I must add, I used Zyban so it was not all me.

Keep up the great effort and reap the rewards year after year.

savas · #6 12-10-2004, 11:54 AM

Ah yes, smokeless tobbaco is evil, been there. I stopped about 10 years ago when I was 22. I had many of the same feelings you had. Two things worked for me. First, I started drinking coffee whenever I had the urge. Somehow the bitterness of the coffee was soothing. Second, once I stopped, I didn't want to break the streak of days of not using. This was a mental thing and it worked for me. I think you have to try to concentrate on something positive about quiting to offset the urges. Hang in there, it's worth it in the long run.

BTW, if you decide that you need help, most clinic/hospitals have some sort of tobacco cessation program at very low cost or free.

rickg · #7 12-10-2004, 02:35 PM

We've had quite a few smokers at work quit over the past couple years. Interesting to see the differences. Some just go cold turkey and are done for good. Others run the range of "cures" and still struggle.
I admire anyone for trying, even if they don't make it at first. Keep at it.

Eventually all of my co-workers have made it thru so far.

Lebenz · #8 12-10-2004, 03:33 PM

Hang in there! The first few days are the hardest. The physical addiction is completely gone in a week or less. Find distraction, go for walks, eat fruit and veggies, don’t let it make you crazy

boneheaddoctor · #9 12-10-2004, 03:47 PM

Stick with it.............when you are past the worst, food will taste better, flowers will smell sweeter, and, most importantly you will feel better.