Give and get support around quitting
OK...I'll admit it. I am afraid. I have not talked to anyone about it, so I am going to puke it here. Just facts on what I am experiencing and how they make me feel.
Prequit info
- Smoked cigarettes with some unsuccessful NRT quits for 33 years
- Diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorder in 2011
- Coping techniques from a psychologist have served me well
- Diagnosed with Laryngeal Pharyngeal Reflex (LPR) in 2019
- Taking Omeprazole once daily to control the acid
- Was not liking the way I was breathing a month or two prior to my quit
- It was not awful, but it was not exactly pleasant
I QUIT!!!
- I quit June 8, 2020
- Since then, I have experienced the benefits of breathing easier
- I am also experiencing things that are scaring me:
- Abdominal gas that feels like a trapped burp until it is able to slip out
- Makes for very uncomfortable pressure
- Feeling short of breath, but I believe I am breathing fine. No panting, wheezing, or breathlessness
- Scares me at times, but then I walk around a bit and use anxiety coping techniques or sometimes a burp comes and the feeling fades away
- Sleep has changed and it scares me
- Instead of 6-7 hours per night the I would get pre-quit, I am waking pretty much promptly at 4 hours
- I get a feeling that I am short of breath despite decent inhale and exhale that is taking place
- My heart rate increases as a response to this feeling
- Sometimes I can use relaxing techniques and get back to sleep and sometimes I cannot
- Today I got up, had some water, did a big blowout of my lungs just in case, but could not relax
- Sinister thoughts of COPD creep into my head
- IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME????
- Tightness in the throat
- Sometimes I think it's anxiety causing a globus sensation and other times I think I am being overrun with phlegm.
- More sinister thoughts come to mind at times like am I having a heart attack, or heading that direction
- I also realize it could be increased reflux and that my system is possibly in overdrive due the this sudden cold turkey change.
So there. I said it. I am scared.
I agree! All quit journeys in my opinion should be supervised by a Dr. Keep going! You're doing Great!
Thank you for all the wise and considerate responses! I am going to make a doc appointment tomorrow to discuss these symptoms and make sure everything is OK. I feel deep down that everything is OK, but I do think working with a doctor would be a very good thing. Thank you all again!!
Thanks for YOUR courage and SELF honesty - I agree with EVERYONE call YOUR DOCTOR - welcome and good job STAYING a non smoker - yahooooooo - WAY TO GO
You have gotten great advice so far. I see this blog is a week old, any updates? Are you feeling better? Did you see the doctor? You really might need a medication adjustment and you are just about at a month quit...have you read about NML? If you are not familiar with it, now would be a good time to read this. https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex/blog/2011/05/24/no-mans-land-days-30-to130-appr...
It IS going to get better, there is no way to avoid all of the discomfort...I remember reading that when I first started and yelling DISCOMFORT? at my computer, it does seem like a bit of an understatement.
Let us know how you are doing.
Ellen