Thanks everyone for the feedback! Appreciate it. Reading around it seems like a lot of people have lung pain, chest pain and other symptoms - stomach, head, etc... soon after quitting. The MD and Wellness sites offer a bit of BS by saying that it's 3-5 days, the nicotine is out, and your cravings are gone and you're all good! Ha ha. Good one!
One friend told me the neurostimulant properties of the delivery of nicotine (and harman - an MAOI - and other compounds) via smoking have a powerful effect that could take the body a while to get used to. I also think that is contributing to some pretty significant depression - without the MAOI, there are higher levels, up to 25-30% of monoamine oxidase in new quitters which deplete other neurotransmitters such as dopamine.
So really, after decades of dependence and dosing, it's way more complicated than getting the nicotine out of the body, taking some deep breaths, going for a walk, eating carrot sticks and drinking a glass of water - seriously; WTF?
I think a doctor would be the last person I would want to talk to about any of this. They manage symptoms and statistics, and unless there is something acute like an arrhythmia or serious chest congestion, I've learned it's an expensive way to find out not much. But I appreciate the cautionary care, so thank you!
Thank you all for the feedback and support. It's a wild, sad, stark, existential, meaningful, meaningless ride and despite the powerful symptoms and experiences, every minute is another step towards better health and freedom from the bondage of that kind of relationship with tobacco.
Really appreciate the feedback and the inspiration from those of you who have already walked this way and successfully passed by these gargoyles, monsters, fears and challenges.
Many thanks!
Chris
