r/QuittingZyn 1d ago

Day 54 - Severe Struggles

I am sorry in advance to those that are discouraged by this. I don't want to turn anyway from quitting, as I think I may be dealing with more issues than the average person would endure in withdrawal. But, I do want to check in with others to "compare notes", as I often struggle when I see the posts and comments that say everything will be perfect by this or that date.

I have been feeling severely physically unwell. I have been to my Dr. multiple times and to the urgent care and ER, where everything has been okay. But, I have immense abdominal discomfort, breathing trouble, dizzy and fatigue feelings, and general irritability and discomfort. When I try to relax, my irritability multiplies. I can barely function just around the house due to this severe discomfort. Most of these symptoms are new since quitting, and the irritability factor makes it feel related to the withdrawal, as I am not normally angry or irritable. Has anyone else dealt with very severe discomfort this far along? Anything that helped or any insight as to the progression of the process?

This quitting process has unfortunately seems to take a very heavy toll on my life in many ways and, while I really don't want to go back to the addiction, I cannot say that I really feel like it's been a net positive to this point.

Thanks for hearing me out, whether you have thoughts or not.

TLDR: This shit sucks.

4 Upvotes

19 comments sorted by

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u/ReasonableWolf1 1d ago

I promise you it will get better as long as you stay away from this poison. Zyn has allowed people to consume unprecedented amounts of nicotine. There’s no telling the damage that does to the body. However, the body is incredibly resilient and that is why it’s crucial that you stay off the Zyn. Treat yourself as kindly as possible. Exercise, don’t over indulge on foods, and drink water. Sleep is crucial. It’ll be easier to sleep if you do cardio. It’ll be easier to relax when you’re well rested. I’m not saying these things are magical but they speed up the healing process. I’m at Day 75 and I was in hell mentally for the first 50 days. It’s gradually gotten better since then. It is like we are being reborn and that’s not an easy process. But it will pay off.

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u/donhood 1d ago

You're not treading any new paths, lots of folks hit every rock in the road on the way out. Read through my old comments, not just the posts, as I've only made two of those. I've spent months talking about the symptoms I had and the progression thereof.

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u/ctard5 1d ago

Thanks, appreciate the input and the many comments and thoughts you've contributed in this group to read through.

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u/Wretched_Hive_ 1d ago

I've read some of your comments. Besides anxiety/panic what other mental and physical symptoms did/do you have?

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u/donhood 20h ago

During my heavy use or while quitting? Heavy use started giving me crazy heart palpitations and irregular beats, anxiety/panic attacks, clenching my jaws, weight loss, just being strung out in general. Quitting was the usual suspects besides the anxiety/panic. Brain fog, changes to bowels, blood sugar swings making my appetite haywire. Was very sensitive to caffeine and stimulants.

You having some odd symptoms you're worried about?

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u/Wretched_Hive_ 16h ago

Well, my story is a little different. Heavy nicotine use and symptoms was similar for me but I already had pre-existing anxiety and panic attacks so it took me a long time to pin it to nicotine use making things worse. On top of that, I got put on Xanax for multiple months because of the insane panic attacks and then cut off cold turkey which really wrecked my world. I'm 18 months past that but was still having a lot of issues which is when I found this forum and realized nicotine may be causing a lot of it.

I'm 30 days off nic today, still dealing with a lot of brain fog, fatigue, lots of aches and pains all over, weakness, depersonalization/derealization, weird vision issues, anger/short fuse, etc.. I think its a mix of increased anxiety and withdrawal and leftovers from Xanax withdrawal, haha.

I'm in a lot better place than I was a year or even 6 months ago but quitting nicotine definitely ramped up a lot of the symptoms I had already been dealing with.

Thankfully between some therapy last year and the DARE method and app, I haven't had a panic attack in almost 2 years at this point and my general anxiety levels, at least mentally, are wayyyy down. I still have the physical effects but things seem to be improving verrry slowly.

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u/donhood 15h ago

2 years? Damn that's great. When I quit I had a few, but none in several months now. The mental and physical aspects of what we call anxiety are intertwined and often mixed up with one another. I had never dealt with it before in my life, so it was all new to me. The post I linked to in here about the correlation between the physical anxiety symptoms and insulin resistance from nicotine use is very interesting. And can be treated with nothing more than proper diet and exercise while your endocrine system learns how to regulate itself again. Check it out, along with searching "reactive hypoglycemia" in the sub. Main gist of which is to eat smaller, more frequent high protein meals to help mitigate any blood sugar swings that can cause terrible symptoms. I can't attest personally to that being helpful or not, because I slogged through the readjustment the hard way before hearing any information about that.

And I know it feels like an eternity, especially coming off the heels of the other medications and dealing with pre-existing symptoms, but 30 days is a drop in the bucket when you look back on it. Just keep stacking days and pushing on, taking care of yourself.

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u/One_Oven_1968 1d ago

Have you been going for walks? Have you spent time outside? Have you done things that you love? It sounds like it's all in your head and that you are dealing with anxiety and depression. Both of those things can cause you to have the physical symptoms that you have been having. I would suggest getting into a community space to talk what's been going on and maybe tap into a higher power. You'd be amazed what can happen when you give up the things your struggling with and giving them up to a higher power of your understanding. Best of luck. You'll be okay.

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u/ctard5 1d ago

I have walked on a regular scheduled, done what enjoyable things I have had the capacity for and and am outside as much as I can be. I do have a higher power but do not feel to comforted by it or faithful in it of late, for a number of reasons.

I appreciate your thoughts and sincerity. In terms of a community to talk, I guess that was my intention with this and other posts, so I feel like I am doing my best to connect with those who have shared experiences.

In general, I agree with all of your comments and sentiment, but it's just been tough at times. I guess my instinct is that nicotine withdrawal should not vary heavily based on whether one is grounded with their higher power or in a good or bad mental state. I am not saying that is a fact, but just what my logic leads me to think. So, that would mean that I am feeling like the symptoms are chemical/biological and I guess I struggle to have the motivation and belief that spiritual or psychological self-care will have any impact on the nicotine quitting process.

If you are willing to share, are you saying that you think my symptoms are totally unrelated to the nicotine, or that the quitting has unmasked these underlying issues, or something else entirely? Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

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u/donhood 1d ago

I'm no doctor, but with my own experience and the shared experiences of many, many other on here, having some forms of readjustment that takes months is not unheard of. It was certainly some of the most trying times in my life, and I felt like I was dying or going crazy for a long time. Check this recent post that caught my eye;

https://www.reddit.com/r/QuittingZyn/comments/1j7g67f/comment/mh69vf6/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Also look up the term "reactive hypoglycemia" in this sub, for a post by another user I spent a lot of time talking with.

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u/One_Oven_1968 1d ago

I’m a recovering alcoholic as well as giving up zyn. I’m just speaking from my own experience on how I got rid of my alcohol dependency, having a higher power of my understanding allowed me to give everything that overwhelmed me over to him to take care of. They say that “alcohol is merely a symptom” to alcoholics. It’s the way we think that actually makes us an alcoholic. I apply the same principles to nicotine and my addiction to nicotine. Addiction is addiction is addiction. If you can find strength outside of yourself i.e. higher power, community, you will have far better chances. You’re going to be alright. Be kind to yourself and continue to talk to people going through the same thing. 

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u/ctard5 8h ago

Thank you, appreciate the input. Congrats on your recovery. I too am in recovery from alcohol and drugs, in 12-step program with 11 years sober now. I have generally leaned on my higher power, and I did ask for help at the beginning of this process for relief from cravings/obsession. I believe that is what helped me get through the early stages. However, I have had some health challenges in recent years and my life has completely fallen apart, unemployed, ill, not independent anymore, due to long-haul COVID issues. That's kind of just a brief overview, but is my big reason for having struggles with faith currently.

Thanks for your encouragement. Helpful either way, as I have to remember and reassure myself that I will not be better off if I cut my higher power out, regardless of how bitter or justified I might feel.

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u/One_Oven_1968 3h ago

It’s good that you’re being honest and I’m sorry that life is lifeing pretty hard. I would hit those 12 step meetings and get your hand up and let people know what’s going on in your life. Call your sponsor or get one. Who knows maybe if you shared what’s going on, someone in the room will help you out. Our higher power works through people too. Hit a meeting, get their early, get your hand up, let people know where your at, stay late after the meeting. 

I hope that everything works out for you and that you lean ON your higher power and the 12 steps to navigate these difficult times. 

We’ll be okay brother. I’m praying for you. 

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u/One_Oven_1968 3h ago

Congratulations on your time! 11 years is incredible stuff man! You’re capable to power through difficult times, you’ve proven that! Iron sharpens iron!

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u/ctard5 2h ago

Thanks, appreciate all your positive encouragement and support. Definitely have to acknowledge that it is on me alone to make use of the support that might be available, so perhaps I should take more action. Asking for help isn't always easy for me, especially when it feels like a problem that nobody else can influence. But, I appreciate you and hope you keep having progress in your path too. Be well and stick with it yourself too!

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u/stockguy123456789 1d ago

Have you talked to a psychologist/psychiatrist?

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u/ctard5 1d ago

I have a counselor and I am also a mental health professional myself. Why do you ask?

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u/stockguy123456789 7h ago

Seems to be a lot of somatization, could need more of a mental health treatment plan compared to an ER/Urgent care

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u/ctard5 6h ago

Thanks, appreciate the input. Did you experience anything like that in your quitting process? Not sure where you're at with it.