Painful cough after 13 days of quitting.
I stopped smoking 13 days ago and yesterday I contracted what feels like bronchitis = deep, painful, raspy cough and my lungs feel raw. Is this normal and is there anything I can do to ease the intensity of the cough and corresponding discomfort? FWIW, I quit cold turkey when I had a tooth extracted and was told I couldn't smoke or use a straw for 5 days because I might dislodge the blood clot. After 3 days in I decided I might as well give quitting a go since I've been thinking about it for years but never had the motivation even though I'm well aware that my health and financial situation would improve if I stopped smoking. My Dentist gave me the nudge I needed and hopefully I can stick with it but this painful cough and flu like symptoms (muscle and joint pain) are no fun.
It seems that most of us need a nudge, and you will be thankful that your dentist gave you one when this is all over. You are doing well i take it, except for the cough. I have read that some cough to clear the lungs of years of debris, which is a good sign. The muscle and joint pain don't seem to fit however, so it might be best to see your doctor or perhaps contact a quit coach on this site.
Stay strong and oriented, you are doing great!
I am sure the you Dr. could tell if its due to not smoking or something else. I am day 19 and my cough is just starting i think.
Thanks for all the well wishes and encouragement. It may sound like an oxymoron coming from a smoker but I actually pay a great deal of attention to my health. I eat right and get plenty of exericse (my BMI is 23) and I get my blood labs every 6 months. I have very high inflammation numbers so I've been checked for many diseases that could cause that (Lupus, HIV, Hepatitis, etc) and the only thing that's come back positive is a diagnosis for rheumatoid arthritis so I am used to some degree of chronic systemic joint pain but this was different. More muscle aches, sore throat, headache, etc., and were it not for the fact I haven't had a fever I would have said I said I have a bad flu. Yesterday was the worst of it I think. I feel a little better today (14 days quitting) knock on wood...🐸
Hope you feel better soon and that it is just a flu bug. We are not doctors to advise and i agree that we know our bodies and how we feel best. I don't recall coughing much if any at all, although i took a lung cleanse before i quit and hadn't joined a quit group to know a lot of facts. I have learned so much since joining and researching on my own.
The fact that i don't remember having coughed up the debris doesn't concern me because i only had a slight morning cough, and that has disappeared and my breathing and breathlessness episodes are nil. I haven't been to see the doctor lately, but i feel great since quitting smoking! It has been about 80 days for me , and i am ever so glad I made the life altering change.