Gin,
This is not a pretty symptom, but it does happen. In fact it happens quite frequently when quitting. Smoking speeds up your bodies metabolism so when you quit it slows down leading to constipation. This is also a contributing factor to a lot of quitters weight gain.
Feeling light-headed is also a symptom of quitting. You body is starting to have access to a lot more oxygen and this can lead to the feeling.
How long will this last? The constipation could last anywhere from a few weeks to just a couple of days. Feeling light-headed should last for only a few days to a week.
Tips to help with the constipation: Eat lots of roughage, like raw fruits, vegetables, bran and cereal. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day and try to exercise regularly. Taking a herbal laxative could also help but make sure you talk with a pharmacist to ensure that it will not conflict with any other medicine you may be taking. You could also try drinking green tea which can help to move things through your bowels a bit.
If these symptoms persists or seems to worsen, you should immediately consult a doctor. Its possible that your smoking has been masking symptoms of some illness, and when you stop smoking the symptoms abruptly become noticeable.
Members, please feel free to share what strategies helped you overcome this withdrawal symptom?
Brenna, Bilingual Support Specialist
