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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 53. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sukarno on November 22, 2012, at 18:53:27
I noticed the substance abuse section was shut down so I'm posting here.
I didn't really want to quit smoking but because it seems to jack up the amount of hydrochloric acid in my stomach and thus cause a 24/7 burning sensation there, I decided to read Allen Carr's e-book (and listen to his mp3 files).
I quit on 20 November and it was the worst last night. I thought I was going to go nuts so I listened to Allen Carr's mp3 version of the "Easy way to Stop Smoking" again. I then felt relaxed and was able to lie down and rest for a while.
It sucks that I can't seem to remember what his recordings were telling me. I have to listen to it again and again to relieve the withdrawal symptoms.
I had stomach issues before I started smoking in June 2011 though but smoking made it worse after a few months despite high dose H2 blockers (Pepcid).I couldn't drink coffee anymore and hot sauce would give me gnawing pain in my stomach that was only relieved by eating which suggests a duodenal ulcer.
I guess I could have H. pylori.
Here's the damn withdrawal symptoms:
Very intense cravings for nicotine (it comes in waves)
Tension
General feeling of stress
Difficulty concentrating
Mild to moderate irritability (but I usually purposefully make myself laugh when this happens to lessen the impact of the mood swings) :D
Pain in lungs, eyes, ears, nose and sinuses
Transient nausea alternating with intense food cravings
Transient anxiety / borderline panic
Dreams of smoking
Increased drowsiness
Lowered stress levels (when I'm not experiencing cravings)
I tell you what though. Those cravings are so bad that I'd do anything to get tobacco if it was illegal. lol. This is a real drug addiction and it's unsettling how much of a hold it can have on someone.
Allen Carr's method reduces a lot of the withdrawal though. At least this time I didn't break out in sweats and there were no hand tremors or panic attacks.
Posted by bleauberry on November 22, 2012, at 19:42:01
In reply to Smoking cessation ('cold turkey'), posted by sukarno on November 22, 2012, at 18:53:27
Some people can make it cold turkey, some can't. If you find it too hard, which I did, then the gum or the e-cigs can work good. I have several friends who have done very well with the e-cigs. They don't completely replace a cig, but close. It gives the fix and the throat sensation of smoke, but no smoke and no other crap, just nicotine.The key with either gum or e-cigs is to view the addiction in 3 parts and deal with each one at a time. The social part....someone else lights up, at a party, etc. The habit part....after a meal, with coffee, etc. The addiction part....the actual craving for a physical fix. With gum or e-cigs you are able to get rid of the social and habit parts of the addiction over a few weeks or a couple months, and then through weaning down in doses slowly withdraw the nicotine. The physical part is last after the social/habit has been dealt with.
Anyway I think it is great what you are trying to do and hope the outcome is good.
The stomach issues....I doubt that is cig related. Cigs may be irritating some other existing thing, but not causing it directly. Opinion. I think focus on gut health is in order here.
Gluten. Do not eat any wheat products for 2 weeks and see what happens. There are good wheat-free gluten-free products on the market to replace everything you are accustomed to....bread, donuts, pizza, pasta, whatever.
Dairy. The second most common gut offender after gluten. Skip all dairy products for 2 weeks and see what happens.
Probiotics. Take pills every day, and turbocharge the gut health with prebiotics such as Kefir, yogurt, and any fermented foods.
Diet. Should be mostly veggies and fruits with modest portions of lean proteins.
Lots of pure water.
Posted by prettygoodpatient on November 22, 2012, at 21:16:52
In reply to Smoking cessation ('cold turkey'), posted by sukarno on November 22, 2012, at 18:53:27
Congratulations on quitting! I quit 11 years ago. I used a nicotine nasal spray for about a week and then dropped it because it made everything smell and taste so awful it wasn't worth it. All the work is worth it. Every time I felt like I was going to smoke I would remind myself that I never wanted to be "4 weeks, 2 days and 1 hour" away from a cigarette again - that if I started I would only quit again.
You can do it! Keep up the great work!
Posted by Phillipa on November 22, 2012, at 21:36:10
In reply to Re: Smoking cessation ('cold turkey'), posted by prettygoodpatient on November 22, 2012, at 21:16:52
I was a night time smoker with beer something to do with hands. Stopped about 20 years ago and beer any alcholic also. Fantastic that you are chosing to stop an addicting , smelly habit. Have you considered a nicotine patch? Phillipa
Posted by sukarno on November 22, 2012, at 22:01:35
In reply to Re: Smoking cessation ('cold turkey') » prettygoodpatient, posted by Phillipa on November 22, 2012, at 21:36:10
Thanks for the encouragement. :-)
I have been gluten-free and dairy-free for almost 6 years, with a few slip ups along the way. For the past 3 months I've eaten nothing but a large variety of vegetables, bean sprouts, rice, extra virgin olive oil, multivitamins and probiotics. Green tea 3 times a day.
I originally had GERD in '92 and began famotidine (Pepcid) in 2005 but it turned into a stomach problem by 2008. I'm dependent on famotidine I think because if I quit or taper down I get rebound acid.
I have figured out that going low carb has eliminated most of the GERD.The probiotic strain I take (brand name is "Rillus", made in Europe) is Lactobacillus reuteri. It seems to boost my immunity.
Posted by Phil on November 22, 2012, at 22:16:05
In reply to Smoking cessation ('cold turkey'), posted by sukarno on November 22, 2012, at 18:53:27
I didn't want to quit 151 days ago but picked up an ecig and quit on the spot after 40 years at two packs a day. My story isn't uncommon. I'm addicted to nicotine but I can lower my nicotine levels one mg at a time to stop. But I love vaping and will always have a little nicotine in there.
I've never had a craving for a cigarette. Not one.
[IMG]http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/pearljo/006-1.jpg[/IMG]
Posted by rjlockhart37 on November 22, 2012, at 22:26:02
In reply to Re: Smoking cessation ('cold turkey'), posted by sukarno on November 22, 2012, at 22:01:35
i know exactly, im a moderate smoker...half pack its like a vent to stress.
You know...i don't want to give the pet awnser to this, but Wellbutrin, or the antismoking med Zyban would be a good option for this....its just wellbutrin can cause anxiety vary bad since it increases NE levels. I'm not going to recommend Chantix, i've read horrid stories of adverse reactions from it, they need study nicotine addiction, not replacing it with a horror substance.
For me...when I smoke, its goes in and goes out, its pleasant for me both doing something with my hands and the nicotine....its the dopamine it targets...and after you stop drugs that increase dopamine it will have effects of withdrawl...i stopped alot of stimulant drugs and it was horrible, still today...i am still not recovered...and trying to learn how to naturally stimulate myself to read, and function like normal.
I am so sorry your having the psychcal effects, nuerontin would DEFINTLY help the shakes and anxiety in the stomach...since benzos are always controvertial with doctors, some like em, others hate him, and some are in between.
hang in there...me stop smoking...omg, that would be like being pulled off stimulants couple years ago and I would just have to natraully learn how to function without it.
r
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on November 22, 2012, at 23:05:48
In reply to Smoking cessation ('cold turkey'), posted by sukarno on November 22, 2012, at 18:53:27
Buy some Prilosec-OTC to cut down on the stomachs acid production, and use nicotine replacement to take the edge off of the cravings?
Posted by sukarno on November 22, 2012, at 23:34:51
In reply to Re: Smoking cessation ('cold turkey'), posted by jono_in_adelaide on November 22, 2012, at 23:05:48
Unfortunately I have hypersensitivity reactions to proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec and Prevacid), which consist of sharp pains all over the bones in my body and feel feverish, so I can't take them anymore. I did buy some sucralfate (Carafate) but haven't taken it yet. I've heard that is good. Have you tried Carafate?
My pdoc told me that cold turkey has the highest success rate long term. He supported the Allen Carr method of quitting.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on November 23, 2012, at 1:40:59
In reply to Re: Smoking cessation ('cold turkey'), posted by sukarno on November 22, 2012, at 23:34:51
I think most studies have shown that nicotine replacement, Zyban and the other quit smoking drugs have a better sucsess rate than cold turkey, thats why they are allowed to be sold by the FDA and similar agencies.
If you cant take PPI's, can you take an H2 blocker (say Zantac 150mg twice a day)
Posted by sukarno on November 23, 2012, at 10:06:06
In reply to Re: Smoking cessation ('cold turkey'), posted by jono_in_adelaide on November 23, 2012, at 1:40:59
I take famotidine (Pepcid) 40mg four times daily for over 7 years. Prior to that it was ranitidine (Zantac).
My stomach is feeling a lot better since quitting.
Now I'm starting to feel a lowering of appetite if I see or smell cigarettes or ashtrays along with a feeling of disgust and wondering why I ever did that to myself.
I suppose I should keep vigilant against any future cravings but the cravings that come now are fewer and far between... much more mild.
I feel so free. I guess that's the best way to describe it now. Free from the chains of addiction but I hope I didn't speak too soon. I wouldn't want to jinx myself. :-)
Posted by Phil on November 23, 2012, at 12:14:37
In reply to Re: Smoking cessation ('cold turkey'), posted by sukarno on November 23, 2012, at 10:06:06
Good going. Cigs wreak and they are, as you know, very effective killing machines. My mother, father, brother, aunt, uncle died of lung cancer.
I'm 59, my fathers age when he died.
Before I made my choice for ecigs I was breathing heavily going up one flight of stairs. Every night when I went to bed I would cough so hard for ten minutes I thought I would have a stroke. Both resolved in a week but it will take my body a long time to gradually recover. Yours too.
I wanted to mention that if you google quit smoking forum they are very supportive there. Many there, except the owner of that forum, hate ecigs. That's their problem but otherwise they are good peeps doing the right thing.
People keep smoking because of nicotine but the carcinogens in smoke are what kills you. Nicotine induced cancer is as far as I know, non-existent.
Try to work in some walking and meditation. The cravings only last about a minute so distract yourself. Breathe deep.
my 2c
I quit for a year once cold turkey, it's the most effective way.
But I back you 1000% and I know you can do it. My uncle used cinnamon sticks to help him quit.
Posted by sukarno on November 23, 2012, at 22:35:04
In reply to Re: Smoking cessation ('cold turkey') » sukarno, posted by Phil on November 23, 2012, at 12:14:37
You know how it is when you quit smoking and your breathing gets worse as the cilia try to remove the "tar" from your lungs?
It just started up today and was wondering what would be best? I already take Zyrtec (an antihistamine) and drink lots of water, healthy food, etc.
Would an inhaler do me any good? This is scary sometimes. It's like the tar or whatever is blocking up my air passages 50% or more and I keep trying to cough something out but it is a non-productive cough. Nothing comes out.. :(
Posted by Phil on November 23, 2012, at 22:46:57
In reply to Trouble breathing, posted by sukarno on November 23, 2012, at 22:35:04
Quit smoking flu. It may go a month, probably less. Drinking a lot of water is great. Your body may start getting rid of nasty stuff in your lungs.
A good sign but not attractive.Your breathing should get better than you can remember it ever being in several days.
Rock on!
Posted by herpills on November 26, 2012, at 9:14:45
In reply to Smoking cessation ('cold turkey'), posted by sukarno on November 22, 2012, at 18:53:27
Good luck with quitting! It's been over a year for me and I'm thrilled about that. I never have cravings.
I quit cold turkey, and I didn't really have any special technique. I had reached a point where I was simply tired of being a smoker, and so I quit one day at the end of last summer.
The biggest withdrawal symptom I had was depression. And that was hard because I have dealt with severe depression in the past and was worried I was having some sort of relapse in that arena. So I just had to keep reminding myself that the depression was coming from the nicotine withdrawal. And once I was able to keep that depression/nicotine connection in my mind, I rode out the short depressive episode much better, until it went away.
I hope you feel better sooner that later! herpills
Oh and of course if you relapse you can always try again, I know I tried quitting many times.
Posted by sukarno on November 26, 2012, at 16:17:18
In reply to Re: Smoking cessation ('cold turkey') » sukarno, posted by herpills on November 26, 2012, at 9:14:45
I'm experiencing the same thing. I feel empty inside and just want to sleep all the time. Things were getting better when the cravings went away but depression showed up yesterday and is getting worse today.
I'll take your suggestion and keep thinking it is nicotine withdrawal and hope my brain will "rewire" itself very soon.
Thanks very much for your post.
Posted by ChicagoKat on November 27, 2012, at 16:15:51
In reply to Smoking cessation ('cold turkey'), posted by sukarno on November 22, 2012, at 18:53:27
omg Sukarno, I really feel for you, but I also admire you for trying so hard to quit. I smoke, and I also have a few risks for heart disease already, and it occurred to me that each time I light up it's like I'm lighting up a little bomb. So I'm trying to cut back; I wish I could quit but I just don't think I could do it right now b/c my depression is kinda bad at this point. So like I said, I really admire you, and I wish you so much luck with it. And here's a fact I found really interesting, apparently almost half of the people who have severe depression smoke. And it's actually recommended that they not try to stop until their depression stabilizes b/c it makes the depression worse and harder to deal with. I kinda wish I had a physical reason that I had to quit like you do. Not that I don't feel for you for suffering your gastric pain like you do, but because I think that's the only way I could get myself to stop.
Hang in there...I've just met you but already I am proud of you.
Kat
Posted by sukarno on November 27, 2012, at 16:40:23
In reply to Re: Smoking cessation ('cold turkey') » sukarno, posted by ChicagoKat on November 27, 2012, at 16:15:51
The irony of it is my stomach was feeling better for a few days but started acting up again after having green tea.
I have suffered depression since I was a teenager but my first experience with severe, full blown melancholic depression and intractable panic attacks was in 1992 when I quit cold turkey. I voluntarily checked myself into the drug rehabilitation section of the hospital because they didn't have a psychiatric wing at the time. I only stayed there for two days because it cost too much.
I was given Klonopin (clonazepam) and Vistaril (hydroxyzine) and it was okay but made me feel fuzzy headed.
The depression resolved itself without need for antidepressants a few months later.
I did have a few cigarettes but didn't enjoy them and didn't get the "buzz" from them. I guess that means I'm not hooked on them anymore and they won't be useful for depression. I would like to take antidepressants but I can't take SSRIs because of a previous GI bleed when on Prozac.
My pdoc said there is a new antidepressant named Valdoxan (agomelatine) but I'm not sure how good it is. Have you heard of it? I'm very reluctant to try something that hasn't been on the market for very long. We don't know what the long term effects will be and sometimes drug companies suppress bad results from their clinical trials.
The same thing happened in September 2011 when I tried cold turkey. A day or two after the cravings vanished I just felt like an empty shell of a man and no desire to live but not suicidal.
I can't see that it is worth it to be a non-smoker and remain this depressed and empty. It's too heavy of a feeling. But cigarettes look nasty to me now. I don't know...maybe if I only have a few a day until I see my pdoc to find out what he can do medication-wise.
Thanks for your message. I appreciate it a lot.
Posted by ChicagoKat on November 27, 2012, at 18:50:49
In reply to Re: Smoking cessation ('cold turkey') » ChicagoKat, posted by sukarno on November 27, 2012, at 16:40:23
Green tea brought the pain back? That I've never heard of before...wow you really do have a sensitive stomach, and I know it's the worst feeling. For a while Ritalin was making my stomach hurt so bad that I would force myself to throw up to feel better. Then I discovered the *weirdest* solution, Ambien actually took all the pain and nausea away. Now is that not strange?
I feel bad for you, you are so depressed, and now you don't have the 'benefit' of cigarettes so you feel even more depressed. I am sorry, I am so exhausted from not sleeping last night I am too lazy to read all the previous posts to find out, but have you tried a dopaminergic drug like Wellbutrin or Ritalin? I'm sure you have, but if by chance you have not they would def be worth a try. And you're on a PPI aren't you? Again, I'm sure you are. And I saw you mentioned H pylori, that is def worth checking out. Again, sorry, can't think of anything else right now, my brain is running on empty. But I'll think about it and let you know if I think of anything. Hang in there.
Kat
Posted by papillon2 on November 27, 2012, at 19:43:27
In reply to Smoking cessation ('cold turkey'), posted by sukarno on November 22, 2012, at 18:53:27
Hi!
Well done for taking steps to stop smoking.
Have you thought about asking a doctor about the suitability of taking Wellbutrin/Zyban? It is approved for short-term use as a smoking cessation aid and might help get you over this initial stage.
Good luck!
Posted by rjlockhart37 on November 27, 2012, at 20:53:24
In reply to Feel empty inside and depressed, posted by sukarno on November 26, 2012, at 16:17:18
albuterol....the stuff they give people for asthma...i don't have it but my doctor gave it to me during bronicitus and smoking during it too....it will clear up the breathing passages, still until the future the pores in the lungs that have smoke in them is a toughy...i wish could pull my lungs out and wash them, like a cloth that's been used in a tar body shop for cars.
i may look this up and see what they have treatments to clear the pores in the lungs...
hang in there...
r
Posted by sukarno on December 16, 2013, at 19:08:27
In reply to Re: Feel empty inside and depressed » sukarno, posted by rjlockhart37 on November 27, 2012, at 20:53:24
I didn't want to dig up an old thread but thought I'd say I quit smoking on the 19th of April this year. I was forced to as my stomach became so bad I lost my appetite and was too nauseated to eat.
I went to the hospital to see the gastroenterologist and he said to avoid the risk factors/triggers for gastritis such as smoking, coffee, spicy food, etc and I followed all of his advice.
It took 4 or 5 months for my stomach to feel like new again but my lungs definitely feel like new. :-)
I still get nicotine cravings every other day but I tell myself that smoking is not an option as it would hurt my stomach again and all the other diseases that go with tobacco.
I feel more relaxed without cigarettes. My mood was cranky for a few months after quitting but now it is pretty much back to normal.
Now I can smell cigarettes a mile away.
Anyway, about my stomach.. the doctor at the other hospital didn't like Xanax and gave me diazepam instead. He gave me enough to cover for any withdrawal.Diazepam was very sedating and I noticed my stomach felt like "new" again. No gastritis symptoms.. it felt very calm.
Maybe it's more of a "functional gastritis"..related to the mind.
I couldn't stay on diazepam for long as it made me depressed and exhausted so I went back to my pdoc and he put me back on Xanax. He didn't like diazepam and said it was making me worse.
Anyway, I hope anyone out there considering quitting smoking will give it a shot.
I don't think there's a product legally on the market that causes as many diseases as tobacco.
Posted by SLS on December 16, 2013, at 20:32:51
In reply to update, posted by sukarno on December 16, 2013, at 19:08:27
Thanks for posting.
How are you feeling overall?
- Scott
Posted by ed_uk2010 on December 18, 2013, at 13:48:54
In reply to Re: Smoking cessation ('cold turkey') » ChicagoKat, posted by sukarno on November 27, 2012, at 16:40:23
Good to hear you're doing better. Is your stomach still settled now you're back on Xanax?
I'm sure you said before, but why are you on a very high dose of famotidine rather than a proton pump inhibitor?
Posted by sukarno on December 18, 2013, at 14:13:43
In reply to Re: Smoking cessation ('cold turkey') » sukarno, posted by ed_uk2010 on December 18, 2013, at 13:48:54
Hi Scott, Ed.. :-)
I'm feeling a lot better. I never did have gastritis until about 2006. Prior to that it was only GERD but my stomach felt perfectly fine and could handle black coffee, hot peppers, black pepper..anything.
Most people in this country are H. pylori positive and I've read that H. pylori can be contagious. I tested negative for H. pylori in 1996.
The reason why I can't take proton pump inhibitors is because they give me a delayed hypersensitivity reaction which is quite serious. I'll get a high fever along with tachycardia (140-160bpm for 12 hours) and bad bone pain. I tried a few rechallenges and the reaction was more swift and worse.
I am concerned about famotidine at high doses. I recently had an ECG (EKG) and my QTc was 449ms (max is 450ms for a male). I had read that famotidine can prolong QT although some abstracts contradict this. AZCert's website has famotidine on the list of drugs which can prolong the QT interval.
I'm not sure what else I can take. I'm pretty much hooked on famotidine. If I even lower the dose a little I get acid rebound and feel nauseated.
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