Smoked daily (1/2 pack) for ~3 years and I have quit entirely and been on a NRT patch system now for about 6 weeks, worked down to the lowest dosage (7 mg) and am still having physical withdrawal symptoms.

 

I wanted to see if anyone had advice for how they managed the symptoms? Specifically and feeling muscle tension, tooth sensitivity, headaches, and feel my pulse in weird places (e.g., feet, legs, back). Nothing hurts much other than the minor headaches, but the rest is really unnerving and has me checking that my symptoms are normal or at least not abnormal.

Welcome aboard @Kingelocin and congratulations on your deciding to take your freedom back  Googling my symptoms was also how I found my first support board. There's no better place to be than with a group of people who have been through or are going through what you are going through.

As far as your symptoms go, you can expect them to last at least few months so you still have a ways to go. And you will still need to go through the nicotine withdrawal once you get off the patches. I used distractions, playing games, reading funny threads in our Social section or educating myself on the main section. I also found supporting others took my mind off my misery. I also was addicted to soft peppermint puffs and sucked on them for the whole first year of my quit. And when things got really bad I took out my JAC (jillars air cigarette) an imaginary cigarette I pretended I was holding in my fingers and then going through the motions of "smoking" it. It worked great at tricking my mind into thinking it was getting the real thing  

Hang in there, because the icky feelings are only temporary!

Hi @Kingelocin!

I would agree with what @jillar said and would also add that quit symptoms can be numerous and vary from person to person so try not to focus on those too much as you'll only worry yourself for no reason because if they're truly quit symptoms, they will eventually disappear.

 

As Jillar mentioned, keep as busy (distracted) as possible. Exercise is a great way to distract yourself, even just going for regular walks!

Your 6 weeks is a fabulous start toward a life long quit but it's relatively short in terms of your overall quit. I'm sure you're seeing some imporovement in the frequency and intensity of cravings by now and that will continue. I know when I quit, I struggled for months with a short temper. That eventually disipated and I'm now a sweet little angel 😆. My point is that some quit symptoms can hang on for some time.

 

My 2 cents; go with the flow and you'll get through just fine in the end. Oh and, stick around here on Quit Train. You'll never get better support👍

Hi Kingelocin and Welcome to the Train.

Sometimes in early quit, anxiety and stress can cause head aches and palpitations. I had quite bad palpitations for about 4 months when I first quit. I found relaxation helped me, lying on my bed with headphones on, listening to hypnotherapy, and  ASMR, was so soothing, their voices really relax you. Also audio books, and relaxing sleep music and sounds do wonders. 
 Remember  to treat yourself too, it’s amazing how the money adds up when your not buying smokes.

stay determined 😊

 

Welcome @Kingelocin! I, too, used NRT to quit. And as the dose tapered, it kept me in more or less a constant state of withdrawal. Misery! I got fed up and quit the patches and lozenges altogether, and went through the final phase of withdrawal without nicotine. Tough, but I felt loads better after a week or two. 

 

Whatever your approach, I promise it gets better! 

Congratulations on your great Quit .

Your body is healing from all the chemicals 

it’s used to being put in X amount a day . 
All you’re going through is temporary …

Keep going , it does get better 🐸

You are doing great @Kingelocin for 6 weeks!! Really great!  I have never done the patches/lozenges, but what I did do is the weaning method which is the worst method you can do!! I worked my way down from about 3/4 to 1 pk a day, to 2 cigs a day!  Absolute worst method there is.  As most everyone on this site told me, "You will be in perpetual withdrawal, if you keep smoking 2 cigs a day.  At first I didn't believe them, but after a few days of 2 cigs a day, (including going to a wedding with liquor and wine), I finally caved in and gave up my cigs for good! Not even 1 a day! I am NOT gonna tell you  that it was easy, because it was horrible!!! BUT,  the longer you stay quit, the easier it becomes!! @Kingelocin , I AM TOTALLY SERIOUS ABOUT THAT!!  Good luck you to you, and I wish you the best of luck!!! 🤞

 

Congrats on quitting, but you need to rid yourself of nicotine completely. Get off those patches and get that nicotine, that insidious drug, out of your system for good! Cold turkey purge! The physical withdrawal symptoms are only bad for a few days. It helped me to see the withdrawal discomforts as my body riding itself of that nasty addiction and healing.

The physical addiction is the little monster. The big monster is of course the mental addiction. I strongly recommend doing the daily "NOPE" pledge in this group, and keep in mind, you're freeing yourself from the enslavement of nicotine addiction!

1 hour ago, Pilgrim said:

Congrats on quitting, but you need to rid yourself of nicotine completely. Get off those patches and get that nicotine, that insidious drug, out of your system for good! Cold turkey purge! The physical withdrawal symptoms are only bad for a few days. It helped me to see the withdrawal discomforts as my body riding itself of that nasty addiction and healing.

The physical addiction is the little monster. The big monster is of course the mental addiction. I strongly recommend doing the daily "NOPE" pledge in this group, and keep in mind, you're freeing yourself from the enslavement of nicotine addiction!

This! ^^^ You know, I never even understood I was a slave to this addiction until I'd been quit for awhile and then I could see clearly that my freedom to live my life as I wanted rather than having to follow the demands of my addiction was the greatest benefit of all from quitting the smokes. Getting to that point as soon as you can is key to freeing yourself @Kingelocin

Hello @Kingelocin. Welcome to the Quittrain... and congrats on an your awesome quit. I really can't add any more sage advice to what has already been shared here by the Quittrain team. The withdrawl symptoms you are experiencing are very normal. They will subside with time when you stop feeding your body nicotine.

 

Please check in with us often and let us know how you are doing.

 

Keep the quit.

Edited May 3, 20251 yr by Genecanuck

HI @Kingelocin ... please check in and let us know how you are doing.