55 Hours In…..
Hi there,
I am about 55 hours without a cigarette or any nicotine replacement
right now. Are the first 72 hours the worst ones? I slept most of
yesterday. And the night before I felt like my bones were going to
come apart.
Thanks,
Patrick
May 27th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
WTG Patrick,
Yes, the first 72 are usually the roughest from a physiological
perspective. The up side is that sometimes we’re so spaced out, that we’re
not entirely aware of just how lousy we feel. Try to rest/sleep as much as
possible, eat light balanced meals (frequent small meals rather than a
couple of large ones), avoid irritants if you can (environmental and
human), and do some simple stretches and a couple of deep breaths at least
2-3 times an hour. The stretching and breathing may be the most important
actions you can take to deal with your body cues at this time.
But that’s just the first 72 hrs. The reality of a cold turkey quit is
that you need to expect about 2 weeks of adjustment. Brain fog, upset sleep
patterns, digestive issues (constipation/gas), and roller coaster emotions
are all characteristic of the first 2 weeks. It surely won’t be as intense
as what you’re feeling now, but it won’t be ‘all better’ after only 72 hrs
either.
Realistic expectations and some common sense action will keep you rolling
along.
Have you tried working with a timer to remind you to pay attention to your
body cues?
Would you like to hook up in chat to talk about your quit? I’m available
most evenings (EST).
Steve