NRT Gives me chronic kidney pain

[DeadlyChicken]

So I called quit line and got some help to quit smokes.  I wasn't a huge smoker, had cut down to between 6 - 10 a day most days but for a long time.

 

anyway I got the patches and lozenges they send out and started using them.  Had a pretty good week at first. using the patches and a few lozenges a day was making it through.  One thing that I felt really helped was forgetting the patch one day about 3 days in and being so strung out that it helped me realise that the patches were helping and gave me a huge boost in confidence for the following days.

 

The problem I have is that on the first day after applying the patch I felt like I had a pain in the bone of my arm, all day like someone gave me a really good dead arm, the next day I move the patch to mu other arm, and the pain followed.  I looked it up online and found this wasn't the most uncommon thing and that my pain seemed mild compared to some of the posts.

The n ext day I put the patch on the back o0f my shoulder, and from this point I had pain in my kidneys .. it started mild but after a few more days was getting quite pronounced and playing on my thoughts all the time.

I decided to stop using the patches and see how I went with just the lozenges, still only using maybe 5 or 6 lozenges a day I managed to push thorough but the kidney pain persisted. I hoped it would subside, the next day it was just as bad if not worse and had not been using a patch for 2 days.  

 

So then I stopped taking the lozenges, and after a couple of days the pain had all but gone, but I was really struggling with my mood and generally ability to focus on literally anything at all, 

 

So now I am at the point where I feel like the patches and lozenges are causing side effects that I just cannot deal with, even though I could tell they were helping me with the smoking.  I know some people that used those Champix tablets and basically went mental, my sister in law for one so much so that we no longer have any contact with them at all and we used to see them most weekends.

 

I guess my only way forward is cold turkey but that's really tough on everyone and difficult with work.  I feel like I need a 'something to look forward to'  like how when you get home from work and can turn on your 'relax' mode I don't really drink much except occasional 'events' like a big BBQ or whatever but day to day I don't really drink at all.

 

I've gotten some green tea with lemon which is quite nice and almost fills that hole but I guess maybe I was wondering if anyone else had experienced similar problems wioth the NRT patches and lozenges.

 

thanks 

DC

[jillar]

Welcome deadlychicken and congratulations on taking back your life. I quit cold turkey so I can't help with your NRT problem but we have many members who did and will be around to offer their input I'm sure.

No matter which method you use though, you'll need to be prepared for some discomfort. I assure you it's temporary and well worth getting through to conquer this nasty habit.

If you decide to stay with cold turkey I would recommend stocking up on sweets to suck on and drink lots of water/juice to help flush the nicotine out quicker.

You've made a great decision to quit this deadly habit and we're glad to have you aboard

[notsmokinjo]

G'day @DeadlyChicken....nice to have another Aussie onboard. 

 

So I used the NRT chewies to get through the first months. Luckily no side effects.

 

I have mates who have had successfully quit using champix without side effects. I wouldn't recommend it though because the side effects can be deadly, a month in hospital with a DVT taught me that.

 

I would mix up the NRT gums with pks or extra or Chuppa Chups.

 

Minties and Fantales are ripper options...they take long enough to eat that the crave will pass.

[Doreensfree]

Welcome aboard ...

Congratulations on your decision to take your life back ...

Cold turkey here too....chewed regular gum ....came here   24/7....

Read all you can ..knowledge makes you stronger ..

You can do it !!!

[Boo]

6 hours ago, DeadlyChicken said:

I guess my only way forward is cold turkey but that's really tough on everyone and difficult with work.  I feel like I need a 'something to look forward to'  like how when you get home from work and can turn on your 'relax' mode

 

A successful cold turkey quit is very doable.  I did it.  Several others here did it.  You don't need superhuman strength or willpower of steel to quit cold turkey.  Mostly, you just need to learn to ride out those moments when you are craving a cigarette.  Deep breathing exercises are great.  Physical exercise, a leisurely walk or something more vigorous depending on the mood, is a great option.  Reading.  Listening to music...there are many options to choose from.  Every crave is temporary.  Quitting cold turkey is just a matter of not making a permanent decision based on a temporary feeling.

 

What really drew me to cold turkey was the simplicity of it all.  There's nothing to administer at regular intervals.  Nothing to buy.  No side effects(what some may call side effects of quitting are actually side effects of smoking).  A cold turkey quit could not be more simple; you don't even have to do anything, you just stop putting things in your mouth and lighting them on fire.

 

Congratulations on quitting smoking DeadlyChicken.  And thanks for sharing the information about your experience to this point.

[DeadlyChicken]

Hi, thanks for the support, I will say if I didn't make myself clear in the opening post.  that quitlline is awesome, they give you 3 months of patches and gum or lozenges for free, in three deliveries.  So I have the first delivery and am thinking about just telling them to not bother with the others when it comes time ( they ring you once a week to chat about your week etc ) I think its a really good way to kick things off.  And it does make you answerable to someone if you don't have anyone else at the moment to be answerable to so I found that it was one of those sort of steps you cant take back once youo taken it and helps get your head in the right space.  Recommend to anyone who may have tried alone and struggled before, or who thinks that they want to try the NRT stuff but are scared of the price.  3 months should be enough to quit and not have to spend a cent.

 

Tonight we went to a friends for a BBQ and beers … normally would have been a time that I might have smoked a lot more than normal, but didn't really crave at all.  I took some lozenges with me but didn't need to pop any ( would have messed up the beers flavour ) fingers crossed.  Now to see if a hangover without smoking is any better than one with smoking nn

[Sazerac]

I agree with everything @Boo posted.

I quit cold turkey and highly recommend quitting this way.

Free and clean.  Just stop smoking or ingesting nicotine.

It is a poison, you know.  

Educate yourself about nicotine addiction.

 

I offer two links from our friend, Joel Spitzer

Pharmacological Crutches

and

Keeping NRT in case of emergency

 

 

 

Edited November 16, 2019 by Sazerac

[Mee]

Welcome DeadlyChicken, I also went cold turkey.  I do think it is better to just bite the bullet and get the nicotine out of your system.  This forum is a great place for information and support.  We are here to help guide you to freedom.  Stay close and shout out when you need us.  Keep that wonderful quit going!

 

[notsmokinjo]

Well done of doing the Barbie smoke free, from memory the anxiety of faving it was harder than not smoking while I was there.

 

Hope you don't have the SOLs too bad.

[DeadlyChicken]

Hey guys thanks for the support, I survived Christmas just using the lozenges, they are helpful but there are some side effects ( at least I hope its them having side effects ) 

 

Firstly I have never ever had issues with bleeding gums when brushing teeth, but I often wake up with the taste of blood in my mouth and a fair bit of bleeding when brushing my teeth.  Also I noticed I feel quite bloated and have gas ( farts )when I last spoke to the quitline I said not to bother with the final package of lozenges and I will just see how I go when they run out.   I still feel like I need some sort of replacement for smoking at times, not like I am craving a smoke but more craving some sort of habit ? 

 

I agree that I thought quitting would be harder than it has been, not that it has been easy, but I figured it would be a fair bit more difficult and I would feel more strung out than I have.  

 

One thing that has been disappointing is that I really haven't felt "better" I have actually felt mostly worse since not smoking.  I felt more lethargic, and actually have felt like I am on the cusp of coming down with a cold of some sort for pretty much the entire time.  My diet hasn't changed other than around 5 or 6 lozenges a day and yet I have gained about 10 kilos ? still getting the same amount of exercise .. so that's all been fairly disappointing considering all the info you read about how much better you will feel and be when you quit.  

 

Don't feel like I will slip but its been an odd journey so far.

[Mee]

DeadlyChicken,  I did not feel great in the beginning.  It does take your body some time to adjust.  I was very tired in the beginning so I took naps.  That helped getting through the difficult time.  Remember your addiction is trying to rear it's head in anyway possible.  Be proud you have made it this far.  Keep looking forward.  I promise you will start to feel better soon.

 

[jillar]

Hi deadlychicken, I also had bleeding gums, it's normal for a lot of us because the circulation is returning to your gums and whole body. I'm sure you've probably already noticed your gums getting their color back? It does get better, I think mine bled for a month or two. My tongue also hurt lol. Seems it shed that white gross film that smoking caused and now is nice and pink like it should be Also feeling lethargic for me lasted quite a while. 

Of course if you're concerned it's never a bad idea to get a check up and maybe see a dentist. I used a waterpik with a mixture of mouthwash and warm water to help my gums heal and it worked great.

Quitting is a journey but so well worth it, it does get so much better. You're doing great

[Sazerac]

Congratulations on quitting smoking ! 

Put up your quit date so we can celebrate with you and also understand where you are in your quit.

 

There are a few things going on.

One is that smoking hides many issues that come to light when we quit.

Please consult a professional for any health issues.

 

The other thing is you are still feeding your nicotine addiction with the lozenges.

Until you stop delivering nicotine, you will not experience all the benefits of quitting smoking.

In fact, you are perpetuating the addiction and keeping yourself in a constant state of withdrawal.

 

Quitting smoking and dealing with nicotine addiction is truly a journey.

It is a lifelong journey.  Smoking changed our DNA.  We will always be addicts.

It is not over in a day or a week or a month or a year.

 

A quit becomes a part of your life while you face craves and triggers that may pop up at anytime, no matter how long you are quit.

This is why NOPE ( Not One Puff Ever) needs to be etched into our consciousness as we put our addiction to sleep.

 

Please read all you can about nicotine addiction and watch all the videos here,  especially those from Joel Spitzer.

Education will allay many fears and answer many questions you may have.

 

 

This thread may help you navigate around the forum 

10 Ways To Effectively Use This Forum To Stop Using Nicotine

 

 

 

 

Edited January 10, 2020 by Sazerac

[sgt.barney]

Hey Doc - <This> hurts ...
Doc: "Stop doing <this> ..." 

You don't need NRT. 
You don't need Patches. 
You don't need Lozenges. 
You don't need Chantix/Champix. 

You just need to lay off the Nicotine. 

You know what you have to "look forward to" ? 
A long life free of those pesky things (heart-disease, stroke, lung cancer, emphyzema, COPD, gum disease <the list goes on and on and on - take your pick (NOT LIMITED TO ONE-AND-ONY-ONE CHOICE ! (Enter as often as you like!) )) - you can look forward to HUGELY reduced risk(s) of all-of-the-above. 

There's your reward. 

This ain't Rocket Surgery, y'know? 
You know what you need to do. 
Stop making excuses and hedging and just do it. 
Do it. 

EZPZ

[DeadlyChicken]

yeah I stopped taking the lozenges and everything.  Im 3 months in and cant say I feel any better, still feeling much worse than before I quit.  I don't desire to go back to smoking but its really depressing feeling so much worse 3 months into quitting.  it doesn't seem to be easing at all, just slowly getting worse.   More lethargic, less energy,  Still feeling like I am just about to get a cold / flu every day, gums bleed so much I wake up with the taste of blood in my mouth.  pretty shitty experience all said and done.  Makes me feel like a lot of these posts and lists of things that are "Facts about when you quit smoking"  are just made up BS written by people that never smoked in the first place ...

[Sazerac]

I just put this into Jillars post and will re post it here.

 

I am so sorry you are not feeling any better and really proud of you for keeping your quit !

I didn't feel great at three months.  I was proud of myself for quitting and amassed my power from that but, I was still struggling.

I don't think many people feel Great until the year is over and life settles into the new 'normal', smoke free.

 

Then, for me, I realized how great I actually felt and how the struggle was worth it.

 

How many years did you smoke ?

How long are you nicotine free ?

It is unrealistic to think that you are going to feel GREAT in three months.

You should be feeling better and better as time goes on and you have less craves and triggers to conquer.

 

 

Many of us felt the lethargy and the brain fog.  This passes, you just have to live through it.

The Great Smoke Free Mental Fog

 

Quitting smoking changes you.  A little weight gain is normal.  Get moving.  This will energize you out of the lethargy too.

 

There are many reasons that could explain your gums and your other issues but, you really should consult medical professionals.

Not knowing what is wrong is much more stressful than knowing and taking steps to heal yourself.

 

Smoking often hid physical issues that needed attention and now,  without the veil of smoke,  it is time to address this.

Using Cigarettes To Self Medicate Pre Existing Conditions

[Mee]

@DeadlyChicken,  I felt very tired the first couple of months but welcomed being able to sleep through some of the quitting.  If you don't start feeling better, you might get checked by

the doctor.   It might help to make sure something else is not going on.  

In the meantime, hang in there because things will improve.  Try to  envision your body healing during the quitting process.   

 

[Doreensfree]

Be patient ....youv,e stopped putting poision in yourself ....that a great thing ....

But your body has to heal ...it's all over the place just now .... some folks are worse than others ...

I lost sleep for a long time ...awake 24/7.....amongst other things ....but eventually it did settle ...

I agree if your worried about your health ...seek your doctor advice ....

[notsmokinjo]

Hey Chook, 3 words for ya mate...it gets better.... Unfortunately there is no magic date or time because we are all bloody different. Side effects and changes of quitting are different for all of us too.

 

I felt crap when I quit...had all these wired side effects, insomnia, hand tremors, hot flushes, cold sweats, diet issues, concentration problems....in my case nicotine had been 'medicating' (MASKING) some major thyroid issues. Quitting literally saved my life.

 

Your body takes ages to purge the crap smokes have left behind. For me, when I stopped expecting to feel better I suddenly did.

[Boo]

10 hours ago, notsmokinjo said:

For me, when I stopped expecting to feel better I suddenly did.

 

Bingo!

 

The moment I decided to quit fighting my addiction was the same moment I no longer had any need to fight.

 

Funny how life works out.