I quit cold turkey about 4 days ago now. On Thursday I had an episode where I got really light headed, arm tingly, and tightness of the chest. I was able to walk it off within 20 minutes. I didn't think anything of it. I had this happen in May when I quit cold turkey. I walked it off and after a week I felt amazing. No tightness, no chest pains, nothing. I went back to work and I started up again. However, I started hard (for me). I kept buying packs and smoking 10 to 13 a day. I decided to stop because I felt like this was not me, plus I was hiding it from my family.
I started socially in 2006 when I was deployed to Iraq. I really picked it up more the past 6 years with the last 7 months being the most I have ever smoked.
Well, as I said I had an episode again on Thursday (5 days ago). Didn't think anything of it as I felt like it was a panic attack. Well, it happened again on Sunday. This time I decided to go to the emergency room. At the emergency room my heart rate was 130bpm and my blood pressure was elevated. I was admitted overnight and everything came back down over time. I had three EKG's, all the blood work, and my heart was monitored overnight. I also had a CAT scan, X-ray, and heart mammogram. Everything came back fine.
I feel better, but my chest is still tight with a small amount of pain (0.5 on a scale). I had no real breathing issues.
I am just wondering. Has anyone else gone though this? I am not worried about dying but it feels like it. I feel dumb for going back to smokes after quieting cold turkey and going though a milder form of this. I feel like this time is more sever and I am wondering if it's because I went from two to three smokes a day to a half a pack habit after quieting the first time.