First off, congratulations on achieving 8 months smoke-free! What an accomplishment!
As you quit smoking you can experience an uncomfortable cough. You can start to cough up black/brown mucous. What is happening is that your body's Cilia (which are tiny hair-like particles that line your lungs) are in a healing process. They are first paralyzed and your body does not want to produce any mucus, therefore a dry cough sets in. As the cilia begin to heal themselves they start to clean all areas of your lungs. This is where you start to cough up all that awful mucus.
These symptoms can last day or weeks after you quit smoking. The healing is a long process of change, even though some of the benefits come more quickly than others. Try drinking more water, herbal tea and even cough drops or candy. Sitting in the bathroom with the shower running or using a humidifier at night may also help to dislodge mucus.
Smoking does mask symptoms, so it is important to really know what your body is going through. Regular appointments with your doctor can be beneficial to rule out anything medical.
Members, please share your experience with coughing after you quit!
Allen, congratulations on reaching 8 months smoke free! I hope you have a wonderful reward planned to celebrate! I sure hope your meds take care of the bronchitis and your cough goes away so you can enjoy the holidays! Merry Christmas!
My Milage:
My Quit Date: 8/20/2008 Smoke-Free Days: 126 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 5,040 Amount Saved: $1,008.00 Life Gained: Days: 18 Hrs: 16 Mins: 55 Seconds: 41
Well it has been 8 months since I have quit smoking. And the urge is no longer with me. But you know I quit to be healthier but like now I have been diagnosed with bronchitis I just can't stop caughing. My doctor gave me some meds and it seems to be working. Is this the part of the quitting were they say your cough will get worse before it gets better? So if anybody has had the same problems pls. let me know.
Merry Christmas And God Bless you all
Allan
My Milage:
My Quit Date: 4/25/2008 Smoke-Free Days: 243 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 7,290 Amount Saved: $2,004.75 Life Gained: Days: 39 Hrs: 18 Mins: 2 Seconds: 9