Symptoms of Quitting Dip and Chew
Quitting dipping is not an easy thing… if you’re like most of us, when you quit you’ll go through some withdrawal symptoms… These are completely normal. That being said… if you are concerned about a particular symptom, by all means go to a doctor and get checked!!! This will help both your peace of mind and may catch something before it gets serious.
Dip Dreams – you’ve been dipping for years sometimes decades. Your brain is used to thinking a certain way with a certain amount of nic in it… once that’s taken away many people have “dip dreams”. These dreams range from mild to incredibly intense. Many times people will wake up after a dip dream and feel terrible because they really think that they caved. Many have reported that they can taste and smell the dip. Never fear… it’s only a dream.
Sores In Your Mouth (lip, tongue, cheek, etc.) – you’re done dipping… why does your mouth hurt so damn bad? You’ve got more sores in your mouth now than when you were dipping. What’s going on?!? There are a couple of explanations for this one. First, if you’re like most of us, you’ve found something to replace your dip to get you past the oral fixation (See Smokeless Alternatives). If you’re chewing seeds then there’s a TON of salt in your mouth that wasn’t there before. Also once you get dip out of yourĀ systemĀ the PH balance in your mouth is changing. Bottom line is this – get to a dentist and get checked out. But unless something stays around for more than two weeks you should be good to go.
Can’t Sleep – you’ve quit dipping and now you can’t sleep at all. Never fear, this is completely normal experience. It’ll take a while, but your sleep patterns will return to normal.
The Fog – you’re dizzy… you can’t think straight… your head hurts… you find yourself staring at your computer screen for hours on end not reading anything. Welcome to the dip fog. Your brain can’t handle the fact that you’re no longer feeding it dip. It might last just a couple of days and it might last a couple of weeks. Do not fret… once the fog lifts you’re well on your way to being dip free. Check out thisĀ article that Chewie has written about The Fog of Quitting Dip
Headaches – you might have one that brings you to your knees, or you might just have that dull thud feeling all day long — this too shall pass.
Sore Throat – If you’re a dipper and you quit you’re scared of anything that’s “off”. Why when you quit dipping do you suddenly get a sore throat? We’re not sure why but it happens more often than you’d think. Drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated. This will help flush the nicotine and will help with your sore throat.
Anxiety – for years you’ve been dealing with life while medicating yourself withĀ nicotineĀ — it’s gone now and your body isn’t used to dealing with life without it. This condition will pass though you may want to talk to a doctor about some medication to take the edge off.
Problems “Going” – whether you know it or not,Ā nicotineĀ is a laxative. It’s helped keep you “regular” through all of your years of dipping. It takes some people a while to get their body adjusted to going without their natural dip laxative. Drink plenty of water and eventually this one will be “behind you”.
Hot Flashes – This one has been reported as a real doozy. Face, arms, legs, etc. can be very “warm” with some intense sweats. While this is a “symptom” it’s also been quite the trigger for some folks. Drink some water, get to the site and talk.
Depression – Many people have dipped for years or decades. Removing such an integral (though deadly) part of your life can lead to some pretty serious behavioral issues including depression. Talk to the folks on the boards as this is pretty common. As with any health issue please don’t hesitate to see a doctor as well. For more details about depression as a quitter click here.
There are a variety of other symptoms that have been attributed to quitting dip. If you don’t see yours listed, contact us and let us know about it!
I had my last dip on 12/10/20 after an off and on love affair of 13 years. I have been lucky symptom wise except for the dreams. I haven’t dreamed about the Grizz, but I all of the sudden have the most vivid dreams. I did go to the dentist, and, thank Jesus, there are no signs of long-term health issues. I did have about $5k worth of issues with my teeth, but, I am happy to pay it. With that said, stay strong guys. Learn from people like me that didn’t learn soon enough.
Congrats on a great start Adam – you’re not alone – let us know how we can help along the way! If you haven’t yet I’d urge you to check out the forums at https://ktcforum.org/
Hey guys. I’ve been lurking here for a couple weeks. I wanted to share my experience so far.
I dipped on and off for about 8-9 years total. Began using snus and zynn with occasional dip for the last few years.
I started having heart palpitations and light headedness/dizziness, feeling faint. It scared me so I quit nicorine cold turkey 12 days ago.
I want to share my symptoms so others reading this might see what to expect and/or comment on :
Days 1-3 – I craved zynn, and missed having it in my lip. Palpitations got worse. Bad anxiety. Hard to stay positive.
Days 4-8 – Still cravings. HORRIBLE headaches. Headaches that had me in serious pain. Tylenol didn’t help. Anxiety.
Days 9-12 – Still having palpitations. Tightness and burning feeling in chest. Tingly hand some times. Anxiety is pretty bad. Having trouble sleeping for more than 3-4 hours. I wake up way too early and can’t go back to sleep, causing me to feel like shit at work all day from being tired, which in turn causes more anxiety and just makes me feel overall unwell/unhappy. Also had diarrhea a couple times within the past few days.
Thats it so far.
Thank you all for sharing your experiences. They are helping me deal with my struggles.
Stay the course, Steven. I’m on day 23 today after 6 years, roughly two cans per week, dipped at least once a day all 6 years. My most significant symptions:
Depression, anxiety, major brain fog, slight tooth sensitivity, tight neck for a few seconds then goes away, mild insomnia, constipation.
Probably the most unsettling part of it all is these symptoms wax and wane. I could have one symptom free day and then the next day wake up feeling pretty bad and not want to get out of bed.
I felt amazing two days ago. Again yesterday, but at 5pm I felt major fatigue and feverish all the sudden and couldn’t sleep well last night. Woke up today feeling hungover. It’s weird…
I keep forcing myself to do things and checking back on here. Keep at it!
MG
Thank you for replying MG.
Forgot to add that this entire time I have felt very lightheaded and some times dizzy. This is about 40% of my day lol. It sucks bad.
Day 14-15 now. Woke up feeling well rested and feeling pretty good today.
Steven this is years later but i hope you see this…. i am all the same symptoms and maybe worse. I am dizzy 70% of the day and it creates more anxiety. When did your go away.. mine has been lasting months
Anyone get lower teeth sensitivity over time? My lower right jaw and one tooth in particular is a little sensitive and it all started after I quit 16 days ago. Just checking and thanks!
I definitely had that as well. It gets better. Just give it a little time.
@Jay, thank you. I went to my dentist two days ago and they said my teeth look good, my gums are slightly red but starting to turn pink again, which is a sign of healing. No areas appear to look cancerous, which is a huge relief. The tooth sensitivity will go away and she said to just rub some Sensodyne on it with my finger lightly.
Hey guys, Iām about 8 weeks into quitting from 8 years of dip and 2 years of zyn. Itās been going very well other then one symptom that has been scaring me straight. When I started my quit my tonsils got inflamed for a couple of days but that went away no problem. Since then it feels like the right side of my neck is swollen up. Not so much painful but uncomfortable. Iāve seen the doctors twice and they have referred me to an ent which I have an up coming appointment. The doctors keep pointing towards acid reflux but said the ent will be able to know exactly. I just didnāt know if any one has had this problem quitting before. Any insight would be great
Short answer… YES, you’re not the only one that’s dealt with this.
Before I quit I had acid reflux. After I quit it went off the charts to the point where I had my throat scoped cause I was in so much pain. Naturally I thought this was the end… thought tobacco had caught up to me at the most ironic time (after I’d quit). Nope… just GERD / reflux. Felt like my throat was swelling shut and just sort of ‘thick’.
Fast forward and now I don’t even use reflux meds. Getting the doctor / ent is a great idea, but it’ll most likely just give you peace of mind (and tell you that you’ve got reflux).
You’re not alone my man – let us know how it turns out. Looking forward to a good report!
I wonder if this is what I am starting to experience. I feel the right side of my neck/throat feels a little tighter, but no other typical reflux symptoms. I remember this feeling when I stopped exactly 7 months ago and made it almost 40 days. The neck/throat tightening really freaked me out and I almost went to an ENT, but it just kind of went away on it’s own.
It’s weird!! I wonder exactly how stopping nicotine causes the neck to spasm like this, or cause the reflux. I’m on day 6 right now and this is my only symptom. I don’t really have any cravings at this time.
Keep us posted!
Yes MG itās very scary and donāt know why this is happening now. I always scared of the big C and really hope itās not that. It bothers me time to time but I drink a lot of water and stay away from anything that would kick acid up and feels like itās getting alittle better but definitely something that gets me worrying every day. Iāll definitely keep you posted to what the ent says in a couple of weeks.
Hey chewie. Have you ever heard of people with their side back of tongue hurting?? I am 5 weeks into my quit and am still terrified of anything that feels off. I can’t see any changes or anything back there. Just curious if anyone has ever had anything similar.
Short answer… yes. There’s a SLEW of tongue / jaw / mouth / teeth issues that are reported after quitting.
Never a bad idea getting checked by your dentist if for nothing more than peace of mind, but you are 100% not alone when it comes to tongue issues.
Yes. Its been close to nine months. Initially, both sides of tongue used to hurt while eating spicy items. But not anymore. Body heals itself. DONT PUT UR ATTENTION TO HEALING. Just eat right and sleep. Everything would be taken care of naturally.
Hello
How was ur ent appointment?
My ent appointment went well. He felt my neck and scoped my throat. Said no obvious signs of cancer or anything which is a huge relief. I did opt in for a ultrasound on my neck just for piece of mind
Do you guys recommend quitting Cold Turkey or weening off nicotine from dip using the lozenges? Iāve been told to stay away from the gum.
So: cold Turkey or week off by using lozenges? Thx!
NO CONTEST – Cold Turkey is the way to go. It’ll suck, but it’s BY FAR the best way for long term success.
Give this a read… it’ll give you some insight as to why we believe cold turkey is the best way to go.
https://www.killthecan.org/its-almost-turkey-time-cold-turkey/
Thanks, Chewie. I am on day 5 and the brain fog and fatigue are setting in. I hope this goes away within a few weeks. I dipped two cans per week (at most) for about 6 years.
7 days free. Been dipping for 17 years but it’s time. I’m pretty irritable at the moment but if someone pisses me off I usually just stop talking or walk away instead of snapping xD
Been chewing a can a day for over 10 years. I just quit cold turkey and am expiencing jaw muscle pain and teeth pain is that normal?
100% normal.
Chewie
Is it normal to have a bad taste between teeth and jaw pain. Been done about 21 days.
I often tell people that just about ANYTHING that you experience in the first couple of months of your quit you can attribute to your quit. You’d be amazed how this drug (nicotine) fucks with our systems when we take it away.
If it’ll give some peace of mind go see or talk to your doctor / dentist, but I’d say you’re right on track. When I quit it felt like I had lockjaw and some nights it was ‘tingling’ so bad that I thought it was going to crawl right off my face.
Hang in there – congrats on three weeks!!!
I quit chewing tobacco 60 days ago now I am having red patches in cheeks it is causing burning sensation when I eat. Is that withdrawal symptom or something to worry ?
Most likely related to your quit… but I’d suggest you go chat with your dentist / doctor. It’ll give you GREAT peace of mind if nothing else.
It is very normal. I too faced these withdrawal symptoms. If u like to talk further, my email is harshcapricon85@gmail.com. What u r facing is 100 percent normal.
35 days in. This is so awful, life without dip sucks ass
Hang in there Chad… I promise you, it gets better.
https://www.killthecan.org/your-quit/ask-the-experts-faq/what-is-life-without-dip-like/
https://www.killthecan.org/it-gets-better/
I’ve been chewing since 1990 I usually go through 4 cans a week zi dip from the time I get up till I go to bed I only take out chew to eat then it goes back in im never without it never and I just quit nobody asked me to nobody said anything I was at the store and I knew the last chew was in my lip my mind was saying hurry up and get a can or will be fucked later and I cashed out I got into the car my mind was racing you didt get chew stop at gas station right next to the house but I drove on by it idk what made me want too but its 3 days in 1 am and im like fuck this was a bad decision then I read your site read comments and I’ve got this
Congrats Irvin – one day, one decision at a time is the way you get this done!
Hi All,
I have been dipping snuff for 25 years and starting to wonder if I will ever be able to stop. The problem is, I love doing it, even though Iām getting increased pressure from my wife to stop because she sees the financial impact it has and sheās concerned about my health. I also have health concerns since Iāve been doing it for so long, I know it is a matter of time before something starts to go wrong. I guess part of me is nervous about making that commitment, especially after reading many of the comments here regarding how you felt while quitting. Last December I made the decision to go to 90 day residential treatment for alcohol and as of today, I am 1 year sober. I feel great however there have been challenges along the way. Challenges that I deal with daily and it is a bit overwhelming for me to think about tackling something as big as dipping on top of that. Coming out of treatment, snuff has been one of my comfort zones, the one habit Iāve clung to. Now I am wishing to separate myself from the one thing Iāve clung to which is a difficult commitment. I know that with hard work I can put it behind me as I did alcohol, I just havenāt been able to pull the trigger on it. Should I just rip off the bandaid already? Thatās the way I feel like itās going to be, just waking up one day and ripping it off. Then comes the much anticipated symptoms of feeling like crap and irritable. Really not looking forward to that.
Do it B, it sucks, but it’s worth it.
I am on day 781 and I did it one day at a time.
DDD
10-22-2018
B-
I dipped for 27 years, officially quit 2 months ago, was scared out of my mind to quit the 1 thing that was always a constant in my life. I couldnāt take a break at work without a dip, couldnāt be in the car for more than 10 minutes without one, dipped almost a can/day for most of those 27 years. Tried to quit dozens of times, would count days I could make it without dip. I read a book that helped me quit for good, there is no doubt in my mind I am done with tobacco forever. When a friend at work recommended it to me I laughed bc of the title, sounds a tad cheesy/late night infomercial. The book is called āEasy Way To Stop Smokingā by Allen Carr. I know I know itās a book about stopping SMOKING, however, I started reading that book and finished a day later, no dip since, no cravings, no depression, no empty feeling, no anger, itās like a damn light switch was turned off in my brain. Unbelievable. People say 2020 was the worst year ever, to me it has been the best year of my life bc I am done with tobacco. I bought a copy at 1/2 books for under $10, best $10 Iāve ever spent.
I smoked cigarettes from 2008 till 2015. From 2015 I quit smoking cigarettes and start using smokeless tobacco until June 2020. In june I quit smokeless tobacco as well. I did cold Turkey. During the june july and august I faced with withdrawal symptoms. After three months I am completely fine and I enjoy new life. Life without nicotine is completely different. Please everyone must quit using nicotine. My Withdrawal symptoms:
Low energy
Less appetite
Foggy brain
Couldn’t drive
Heart hurt
Acid reflux
Urine increase (first few days only)
Irritability
Panic attacks (during nights)
During the withdrawal symptoms I went to Dr. I checked from head to foot. Each and every part of my body was ok. But: now all symptoms gone after three months.
Thanks God.
Cold Turkey is very difficult. My suggestion is to not do cold turkey If you have any sicknesses or weak body.
I forgot some other withdrawal symptoms I faced.
Sore throat (almost a week)
Palpitations
Did u suffer from mouth sores, burning sensation while eating spicy food etc after quitting?
No. But if you have. Dont worry. Dont eat spicy food. All symptoms will go but it takes time.
Thanks bro
I get into habits of picking up snus and quitting time and time again. I just recently did 30 days addicted to camel snus and I would put 2-3 pouches in 3 times a day sometimes more. Today is day 1 of quitting. I woke up and skipped breakfast and had a strong cup of coffee instead. What a mistake that was. The whole time after that Iāve had the feeling of a tight throat which has lead to me being concerned to eat, upset stomach, loss of appetite, heart racing all day. I barely ate today. I quit cold turkey and my anxiety is severe and Iām extremely jittery. Has anyone had similar symptoms? Is the high dose of caffeine on an empty stomach the cause for throat tightness ? I have 14mg patches that I will be trying tomorrow morning
Jay hey man, hang in there I chewed tobacco for about 30 years about 4-6 dips a day. I stopped about 60 days ago and all I can say is it has been very difficult, the depression, stress, brain fog, lack of energy is real and very scary! I pray every morning and every night for help and healing from this addiction and believe me it has made a difference. Still tuff but not giving in! You will be in my prayer list! Hang in there brother itās worth it.
Hey Greg, thanks for the reply. I will keep you in my prayers as well. Youāre doing great just keep it up ?
Oh man, throw that patch on fast! Just take it off while you sleep yo not have weird dreams the patch is awesome! Howās it going anyway you should be about a month quit now
Here’s the problem with the patches… every time you use one, you’re reintroducing nicotine into your system. You are EXTENDING your pain / withdrawal because every time you use them you’re feeding your addiction.
If you’re going to go cold turkey, you’ve got to do it… no snus, no chew, no cigarettes, no cigars and yes… no pouches.
It’s not fun. It’s not easy. But I can tell you from experience, it’s 100% worth it.
I quit a year ago and recently relapsed for about a month. I quit again about 7 days ago and I think Iām going crazy. All kinds of symptoms… palpitations, tightness in my chest, change in bowel movements irritable. You name it and I have it. Reading all of this really is helping. Hang in there.! Iām trying!
You said you went to Dr and got checked? What tests did you have done?
OMG thank you so much for this post.im 3months already still have the same symptoms as you.im quitting cold turkey and I dipped snuff for 20years…every weeks 1 of the symptoms gets very severe this week I’m experiencing a very painful heartburn which makes me to even loose my appetite. pulpatations and panic attack are so sever…please advice as to how long it took you to be free of all the symptoms.
Hi….I am at day 108 but still my mouth hurts where I held pouch….and I have sore throat for almost three months…. please guide is it normal…..how much time will mouth take to feel normal…..
You might wanna get checked for Covid19.
One has nothing to do with the other.
Chewie sir I am at day 112 now and feeling no symptoms except mouth/gum pain…..please reply how long it take to heal…..?
I wish I had an easy answer for you. Everyone is different. I had some of my worst days after 100 days. I’d say ‘most’ people are symptom free by the 6 month mark, but even that isn’t a given. Sleep issues, as an example, can persist quite a bit longer. Your dentist may give you some additional peace of mind.
I have no symptoms
Hi,I’m in Day 136 of quitting; I’m having dizziness, neck pain and palpitations. I am also feeling gassy sometimes.Is this normal to experience.
yes 100 mine lasted ALMOST an entire year then vanished, i am now 13 months in and never felt better, i dont even get cravings anymore
Ok Thanks.Quiting for good.Congratulations on your 13 months š
Day 189, I’ve been having similar symptoms. Real bad chest pain, chest tightness, and heartburn. I had dipped for 10+ years, so I’m guessing my body is going through a healing phase? At least I am nicotine free!
David – how are you feeling?
Iām experiencing the same. Was going great up until the 180 day mark and now all of a sudden I feel like itās day 1 again. Lightheaded, anxiety, foggy, and heart is beating like mad.
The 180 – 200 day mark can be a rough stretch – it’s not uncommon. Hang in there!
https://www.killthecan.org/your-quit/what-to-expect-100-days-and-beyond/
thank you chewie, this is a huge relief to hear.
Hey, guys, I am 98 Days Free of chewing tobacco. After the first 35 days, I’m experiencing heartburn and acid reflux again in my 90th days, sometimes my chest also feels tight. Is this bound to happen during withdrawal and what to do? But the strange thing is that at the same time I’m feeling hungry also. I have only one cup of coffee and 2 cups of black tea every day; that’s my caffeine intake.
Congrats as now your in the HOF with 100 days under your belt soumyadeep. I passed mine 12 days ago. I have not had reflux issues that are apparent but I am going to ear, nose and doctor in morning for a 2 month long sore throat. I pray that its only due to nicotine withdrawal and body repair and not something sinister. I still get wicked craves which fires my anxiety. My appetite has come back pretty good but still get bouts of nausea from my anxiety. Hope this helps answer some questions. Stay strong, keep fighting and IQWYT.
Quit for life 3/5/2020
How is your throat doing? I’ve had pharyngitis after quitting for over a month now. I’ve seen a doctor who said that it would go away with time and wasn’t worried about it. However, the anxiety is killing me. Did you experience redness in your throat too?
Hi Brian
Did pharyngitis go away? I have a sister who is suffering from same for the past 7 months.
Hi Harsh,
Unfortunately it hasn’t. I have a follow up appointment with my doctor next Wednesday. I’m sorry to hear about your sister! She’s probably going mad just like me.
Hi Brian
How’s ur appointment with Dr?
Grads Soumyadeep !! I am at day 87 and last few days have been bad. Heartburn and headaches, mental fog etc, like first 30 days. Definitely with you there. Few sleepless nights as well. Stay strong
Iāve been chewing a can a day for about 5 years and stopped 4 days ago and noticed the inside of my cheeks are peeling, is this normal?
yes
Its been 48 days since I chewed last. The problem is sore tongue from sides and burning sensation while eating food. I like to know whether other quiters experienced same problem and after how many days mouth healed to eat spicy food. Anticipating honest reply.
So Iām at 254 and Iāll tell you that my mouth was on fire til day 90 or so. It felt like my mouth was blistering and my throat had cuts. My acid reflux was through the roof! I was so freaked out about all of it I went to the doc and had him check it out. Although my throat looked red from the acid, my mouth looked fine. If you want it checked out I would recommend, but know that this is typical as your body gets used to not having a substance
So after how many days your mouth healed so that u could eat all types of food spicy or normal? I am on chew free 73 days but my mouth hurts while eating spicy home food.
I’m guessing you used to chew tobacco which they sell in India that has betel nut and lime in it. This make you intolerant to spicy or hot food. This might never fully heal but can get better in a year or 2 if completely stopped chewing tobacco.
I got it checked from two dentists and they told that there is no problem. the prescribed kenakort 0.1 and antioxidant capsules.
My problem is that i couldnot resist hot and spicy food. Its been 75 days since i chewed last.
I like to know from which day your mouth healed so that u could eat hot and spicy food. Ur honest reply would console me that i would again become normal to eat food.
I would never touch this chewing nic bitch again in future.
Hi Harish, same things here. I like to know how many days your mouth gets better.
Hi dipika,
It’s more psychological than physical. I have observed that many people who are chewing more than us, they don’t give a damm shit about leaving it. When they leave, they don’t give concern about their mouth healing. And within a week, their mouth gets healed to eat normal food.
If u like to know more, u can dial me to 9717549595. It’s just that u can be assured that it’s all normal withdrawal symptoms.
Thank you Harish
I visited three dentist and they found no problem. The problem is withdrawal symptoms and u urself have to manage. I managed myself by eating more fruits to curb burning sensation and ulcers. When u chew, u don’t get ulcers. It’s when u leave chewing tobacco, ur mouth heals. My advice would be to eat more fruits and don’t give concern to withdrawal symptoms. They would automatically gets okayed.
Keep in mind the old proverb, IGNORANCE IS BLISS. AGYANTA HI PARMANAND HAIN.
How many days are u chew free dipika? Is there any progress of ur mouth?
Itā been about 45 days. But just 3days before I took a little Rajni and tulsi, after that my mouth sore got a little fine. How about your mouth?
Dipika,
I chewed from 2013 to 12th April this year. I tried to quit many times. The main thing was that I was putting effort. When I quit this time, I have had no problem. Burning sensation and spicy food was problem. It became problem only this time.
If I say about mouth healing, I would say it’s between 75 to 80 percent. It’s only because I am trying to heal my mouth. If I put my thought away from this, mouth would heal faster. It’s only natural that when we try to achieve what we really wish for, nature tend to push away from us.
My email is harshcapricon85@gmail.com. I would like to hear ur complete story. Perhaps, we could share our thoughts and achieve total freedom from this.
Anyone else experience little lesions along the edges of the gums, right next to the teeth? I have some that keep popping up. Some go away after a day or two but some stick around for 3 or 4 days.
I’m on day 2 and am currently experiencing this…hopefully just a normal part of healing.
Has anyone experienced minor peeling of the guns where you used to hold the chew? I quit 3 weeks ago and noticed some peeling and itās a little unsettling
Your mouth is healing. You will need to give it time as you will find that you will experience many more things while it heals. Keep checking in and keep asking as that is what has helped me get this far. Day 83 with no nicotine after 30 years of abuse.
I just quit 9 days ago after 5 years and I’m scared I EVER did that shit. I’ve got friends that have been doing it 15-20 years. I was at 2 cans per week. At the time, I wasn’t thinking, but cancer runs in my family (colon, pancreatic, prostate) and at one point I was SWALLOWING all those carcinogens for about a year, so yearh, I’m worried I just invited cancer into my life quicker at age 43.
MY WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS: has anyone experienced these?
-Tight Chest (worst overall symptom)
-More mucus/Phlegm (2nd worst overall symptom)
-Anxiety increased
-Somewhat foggy brained
-slight depression
-lower libido if feels like
Most worrisome is the tight chest when breathing in or out and mucus and always clearing my throat. Anyone have these?
Cheers and stay strong. I have ZERO urges cause I’m scare straight right now.
Stay strong with the fight Mark. I am 83 days quit after a 30 year addiction to nicotine. It truly is a rough and scary ride but it does get better. I have been to the family doctor 4 times in last 3 months because of this which is more times then I went in the last 5 years. I did go thru all those symptoms and it was this site that helped me the most. The worst was the sore throat that I had for 3 weeks and nobody knew why at the doctors office then I posted about it here and road it out. Mainly I did not have throat issues as a user so why would they start now. Couple to that the depression and I was a mess which really wiped me out. You will have many weird things go on and the quit timeline for symptoms helps but they come back at any time and you just need to push thru it. I don’t wish this on anybody but when you think about it we could be dealing with something worse. I pray everyday for continual strength to beat this and I will add all my brothers from here to the prayer.Hope this helps give you peace and God bless all.
Thank you, brother! That is great advice. I can go see an ENT if I want to do a scope and see if anything looks bad after 5 years. I’ve heard some unlucky folks do get major problems/cancer in a short period time: bad luck. …My WORST symptom right now on Day 17 is BRAIN FOG!! It sucks bad. And it picks and chooses what day. Yesterday, I felt invincible and Wedendsay and today(Friday) I feel pretty crappy. Just blah, slightly depressed, low energy.
But, I will soldier on and POWER THROUGH!
Will the weird throat feeling go away
Yes… 100% it’ll go away. Throat ‘gunk’ is totally normal.
How long will it take
Tough to say as everyone is different. Couple of months for me if I remember correctly.
How long do some people deal with throat gunk. Am going on about 2 weeks with this weird feeling
Does you throat just feel thick? Like there is stuff that needs to come out but doesn’t, But swallowing is normal?
Yep… ‘thick throat’ is 100% normal. Hated it.
Ok thanks for your reply. 28 days free
Does anyone have a similar experience here? I’ve been off nicotine for about 2 weeks after chewing for 3 years. I’m getting a bad pit in my stomach that takes almost all day to go away. The morning is the worst and it’ll keep me from getting back to sleep whenever I wake up. It feels like I have nerves in my stomach that are going nuts. I also haven’t had an appetite for 2 weeks. Is this normal from withdrawal or maybe not?
I’m not a medical expert so don’t take my advice, but I can say with confidence that what you are going through is 100% normal. I went through a very similar phase where I couldn’t get myself to eat, I had the WORST nerves, anxiety through the roof, and eventually a slight depression. You just have to stay strong and keep fighting, eventually you will win. Talk to your doctor if you feel like there is an underlying issue, but trust me when I say that it is probably attributed to the withdrawal. You got this, brother!
Someguy yes all completely normal I had everyone of those things join the groups Iām bigdiesel90 on the site message me you will get thru this
Can anyone relate to this? I knew I didn’t want to get too deep into chewing, but I enjoyed the buzz so I started using ZYNs instead cuz it’s supposedly “healthier”. Long story short, I have chewed the 6mgs for about 3 years and have managed to get addicted. I chew anywhere from 3 to 8 pouches a day and I’ve been trying to get off them for the last week. I’ve been having bad brain fog and have started getting anxious easily. I can get to bed alright but I’ll wake up in the morning with my heart racing and can’t fall back asleep. When I read about nicotine withdrawal, a common symptom is increased appetite but mine is the opposite. I don’t have much of an appetite and seem to have stomach discomfort throughout the day. Is this a normal thing for some people? I’ve also felt faint/dizzy and my body just seems to be weak the majority of the time.
If anyone can shed some light on this situation it’d be much appreciated! At this point I keep getting in my head thinking something else is wrong with me. Thanks!
Whats up SomeGuy, what you are experiencing is completely normal for a quitter to experience. I know for me i couldn’t eat anything I basically had to force myself to eat until my appetite came back to normal. Waking up with the anxiety and racing heart were all normal symptoms that i experienced early on in my quit as well. Drop the ZYNs and dive headfirst into the BS. Yes, Its not easy but you’re just prolonging the withdrawal symptoms. Embrace the suck you’ll be glad you did i promise. Join the forums and get in there and talk to some of the other guys. What you’re experiencing is normal just need to talk to more people that have experienced it .
Holy lord this makes me feel so much better, on day 12 off of a can of 6mg Zyn a day. The heart palps in the morning have been scaring the balls off me, itās had me scared to landscape and stuff. The brain fog has alleviated some, but the anxiety is very real and I keep feeling like somethings about to go wrong with my body, although as far as I know Iām very healthy. Embracing the suck seems like the only way. So glad I found this forum.
You’re definitely not along Jo Jo – keep at it!
I had low appetite for maybe the first couple months too. It is normal. Like bigdiesl90 said, suck it up! Life is going to be strange for a while, so dig in and ride it out. You WILL be fine and back to normal in due time. Drop the Zin and go for it!
Thanks for the peace of mind bigdiesel & carey. After finally starting the quit and hitting these first few bumps, I’m figuring out quick that the buzz isn’t worth the withdrawal later. Using the pain/weirdness as a motivator is working good so far. Reading these comments has been extremely informative and reassuring. Much appreciated!
Whatās up guys! Just figured Iād check in. This last week has been one from hell. I have been sick and man it has really made the quit that much worse. The anxiety/ depression is back and I have been having a few cravings today is 260 for me and I was feeling pretty good before I started getting sick. Just moving forward odaat and canāt wait till this crap ends. Anyone else have a tough spot around here ? And if not have you been sick in your quit does it affect ya mentally ?
Bigdiesel90
260 odaat
Say dude, don’t let it get to you. The Nic will kick you while you’re down. I did not get sick around my 200 days, but i did notice a rebound of cravings during those days, they call it the funk. If you are sick and going through the funk that makes it even stronger. The good news is that once you get in your 300s the funk goes away and then go into cruise control. Wait it out, you’ll see it gets better.
Thanks DDD I have been going back in the boards and reading when you guys were around somewhere similar to me. Iām just pushing thru this crap odaat I hate nicotine with a passion just want to feel right again
Iām not where near as far as you are. Day 21 and Iāve been struggling still. Iām hoping these cravings go away soon. Iāve been using Grinds which have helped a lot. Also i have been using an app that calculates my savings (just noticed this site does as well)… thatās the only thing thatās kept me from buying a can is knowing Iāll be back to square 1 and seeing how much Iāve been saving has helped
Hey man. How are your symptoms? It’s been a couple months and I was wondering if you have made it past the funk. I am on day 282 and can relate to the way you were feeling during this post. I am ready to be done with all this so I can move forward. It’s been such a grind everyday.
After yaāll quit. Are you ever able to enjoy a one off dip at like a ballgame?
Could I… maybe. I’ll never find out.
Would I ever… hell no. Never again. For any reason.
Give these a read – they should shed some light as to why I feel the way I do. I imagine (hope) others will feel the same as I do.
The Pride of Just One Dip – https://www.killthecan.org/facts-figures/the-pride-of-just-one/
The Law of Addiction – https://www.killthecan.org/additional-resources/the-law-of-addiction/
After dipping for 45 years, I probably quit a dozen times. A couple times it was over a year. Just when I felt like I had everything under control or some life event caused me to think I could take āone dipā what a mistake. I couldnāt do it and Iām guessing you would fall into that trap too. Suck it up, get some tooth picks and carry on. Donāt do any of those non tobacco products either. Day 863 Tobacco free and counting.
45 years steady?
Similar…LEO and military veteran…stress or anger always triggered dip relapse. My solution was to face it head on and quit during time of intense stress. It has worked.
Hi guys I am just past 200 days. I have been symptom free for about 3 weeks up until. This last week. Feels like my heart is racing, an anxiety hit me out of nowhere again. Comes at night and a little in afternoon, has anyone experienced this this late in quit?
Hey Dave.. 237 here and yes seems to be pretty normal.. 200+ has been way more challenging than I thought it would be for sure.. but it is getting better
Hey David – I can tell you thatās perfectly normal and I went through it as well. See my long comment below on this same post from back in December. Anxiety is always worse at night, your body is beaten down from the stress of the day. Your bodyās Nās mind are still recovering, but theyāre getting better all the time. I think youāll be feeling much better in a few weeks and will continue hitting new milestones of āfeeling goodā after that. By the time I got into the 240ās I realized I was feeling pretty good, finally got energy back, anxiety way down and fog gone. It only continues to get better! You are really close man to another breakthrough man, just one day at a time.
-CAL
Day 330
Just recently quit 3 days ago and my mouth seems to have a numbness to it specially the tongue. Also weird throat sensation. Is this normal?
100% normal. Keep pushing through!
Thank you so much for the reply. It’s been tough but I just gotta keep pushing through it.
No problem! If you haven’t yet, I’d urge you to join our forums as well – ktcforum.org – THOUSANDS of daily quitters gettin it done.
I chewed Copenhagen for 45 years…I quit November 16, 2019…Ive been using nicotine gum.
I know that I am going to be attacked for using the gum, but I havent had any of these symptoms you’re all talking about. The gum is a much lower dosage than the can of chew I used every day, and I am daily breaking the habit of the taste of tobacco, the spit, the can, the smell…Copengagen was a big part of my life for 45 years…quitting was like losing an arm…so I use the gum…I would never attempt to quit cold turkey…eventually the gum will fall off, but for now I am enjoying the use…like I said, I KNOW some will attack me for not going cold turkey…and thats okay…but the symptoms you guys experience…no thanks.
Have your gums receeded and started pulling away from your teeth I have that issue I just didnāt know what to to about that
Dude, I wouldn’t call my comment an attack, rather, an observation with a question. I quit cold turkey and failed the first time, but then I quit a second time and now I am almost 2 years quit.
I can see why people wouldn’t want to go through the withdrawal symptoms, they are not fun. I would like to know if your tapering down gradually works. My guess is that once the nicotine intake ceases completely you will go through what most of us in here go through.
The question is How intense will your symptoms be? Stay in touch and report it because if your method works, it could save new people a lot of discomfort (to put it mildly).
I quit with you all today, take care Brothers.
Oct-22-2018
651 days.
Joe, just keep sticking to ur own methods. U urself know much better about urself than others.
Yea I am at 209 and had 2 days of this at 200. It comes and goes head up brother.
Yes. All the time, stay strong
Iām on day 862, tobacco free. Still two or three times a week I might think about having a dip. It passes quickly. Just did some rough figuring and Iāve saved approximately $2,300 since Iāve quit. With my health being better and the money Iāve saved, quitting was long over due. Hang on to that rope, never give in.
Whatās up guys today is 237, have been doing a lot better but still donāt feel like my fog is over. It has definitely lightened up. Sometimes I notice after meal times I get a craving still here and there and sometimes my mornings are just rougher.. they donāt last all morning like they were but they still suck sometimes. The depression is going away little by little. Did anyone else have a similar experience as this ? Iām just taking it odaat.. somedays I feel like Iām in the clear others I feel like Iām right back in the first 100
Hi Bigdiesel90. I’m on day 351 and I can relate to what you’re saying. My fog is pretty much gone. I do still get cravings. We all have our triggers. You mentioned after a big meal and I get that. Long drives in the car is a major one for me too. Difference between now and earlier in my quit is the cravings go away much faster than they used to.
Hang in there. It really does get easier as you go along though it’s important to know while it may get easier, it’s always a part of you so don’t let your guard down for a second! Best of luck!
Hey man, you said it yourself – fog is lightening up and depression is going away little by little. Things will continue to get better and youāll start to have those aha moments where you think āhey I actually feel pretty good todayā. For me, one thing I noticed more as I came out of fog/depression in the mid 200ās was that normal everyday things made me smile more, I got excited about the little things in life – friends, family, cup of coffee, cold beer. I felt pretty numb and that everything was ādullā before that. Focus, energy and feelings of being content really started to come back big time after that. On day 330 now I can only say itās continued to get better.
-CAL
I had quitted dip 55 days ago after many years of abuse….I feel pain in my gums where I placed the pouch and for last 10 days feeling a sore throat……I went to dentist 2 times and he said mouth is clean….Why my gums are hurting and throat is sore…..Are these symptoms normal and how much time it will take to feel normal…. Please guide me….I am really depressed…..
Can you please send your reply to me at nevermail2ballu@gmail.com
Hi Vicky what you going through is very common. As a 30 plus year addict I can relate to you very well. Even today at 130 days I still have issues with my mouth and throat. I am not sure why your gums hurt where you had your pouch. Its crazy because any little pain would fire my anxiety and cause the pain to be 10 times worse. My throat started at around 50 days and I have a whole thread about my battle. I was diagnosed with silent reflux which I have had for years without knowing. During this battle when i would have a reflux trigger in my throat, sinus and mouth area my back lower molars would just ache like crazy due to pepsin eating me up. The only cure for reflux is diet and be prepared as you will lose a lot of the normal foods you eat. After awhile you might be able to go back to something similar to your old diet but only time and testing will tell. Go see a specialist to have your throat scoped and find out the issue so it can be fixed. Don’t be bullheaded like me and wait as I have dealt with it for almost 12 weeks and finally saw specialist 2 weeks ago. You should go over to https://ktcforum.org/index.php?topic=16445.msg7869418#msg7869418 and become a member and start posting roll with the other August AJAYS. I was bullheaded again and waited to finally join 78 days in and its the best thing for my quit. Its all about accountability and posting your promise everyday. God has placed people in our lives for a reason as we are not to walk this earth alone and deal with all out troubles alone. Once your become a member and post your introduction watch and be amazed how big your support grows. There are so many people that have helped me along and if it wasn’t by the grace of God I would not have been here today. So go on over and join and I guarantee you will not regret it, I haven’t. Stay strong, Stay safe and God bless.
Iāve quit for about a week now after dipping for almost 10 years and ever since Iāve been pretty light headed and very tired and feeling drained and feeling completely out of it and my mouth has been pretty dry and Iām having this overwhelming sense that something bad is going on and Iāve been in a complete funk ever since Iāve stopped. Is this normal
This is very normal Christian. I have seen hundreds of quitters with your exact symptoms in the KTC quit forums. As long as you stay quit you will get past this and not have to go through it again.
26 days of quitting sinus toothache light head and other symptoms are there how many days more
Personally, teeth hurt for a couple months, on and off. Light head, this would come and go up until around day 280. It is just part of the process. Laugh at it, deal with it, and know that much better days are coming.
Day 75 for me, experiencing extreme fatigue and Mouth pain / tooth sensitivity. Been using ZYN pouches to help with the nicotine withdrawals started out using the 6mg pouches for several weeks and then switched to the 3mg pouches and am down to 2 of those per day day. been using the fake dips (tobacco nicotine free) to help with the mouth feel. Lots of weirdness going on I guess it just take time for your body to adjust to the absence of the tobacco ?
Hey Robert, keep going. Drop the ZYN pouches and go for it. We’ve all been where you are bro, it sucks. I had the symptoms you describe and many more. Everything is weird when you quit the nicotine. You have many ups and downs ahead, but I promise you it will be worth it when you get through this.
Hi, i am on day 172, most of the anxiety is gone and most other symptoms like chest pain. I do have 1 bad lingering symptom that just wont go away.. I am pretty much dizzy 60 percent of the day and sometimes with headaches. It can be pretty bad at times. I thought at 172 i would be completely fine. Has anyone experienced these symptoms this late into quit? Some reassurance would be great. If it doesnt go away in the next 30 days i may get an MRI. Blodd pressure is 125 over 80, i am 6’2 190. I feel like i am healhty, i could probably use more exercise though.
Hey David,
I can give you reassurance that I was still feeling some dizziness symptoms in the 150+ days range.I got occasional headaches around those times too but not as noticeable as the general dizziness feeling. By the time I hit the 200’s, dizziness was gone and has not come back. Dizziness is also a classic symptom of anxiety, so it’s possible you may have some of that lingering as well even though you’re feeling like it’s mostly gone. I think you’re at a point where you’re extremely close to being rid of the dizziness, you just need to push through one last time. It will go away, it’s definitely not something that will hang around forever.
-CAL
Day 282
Cal,
thank you for responding its a very nice feeling someone else has been here. Makes me realize i am not going crazy. I have read some of the other things you have wrote on this page and they are all very informal. Thank you you have been a big help for me and i am sure to others. I will fight through it. I will never go back to nicotine. After experiencing what the body goes through to get back to normal it really paints a picture of of all the damage dip was doing to us. I almost want to apologize to my body lol Enjoy your christmas Cal.. you just helped me more than you will ever know.
Hi Cal sir…
I had quitted dipping 40 days ago after 7 years of abuse. Now I am feeling pain in my mouth and gums.My cheeks also hurt. For last some days I am feeling throat pain. I just want to ask are these symptoms normal? How much time it will take to feel normal?
Please reply.
Thanks Cal that’s good to hear that your symptoms have faded away. Looking forward to turning that corner eventually. I’m 45 days in and definitely grinding it out. Like you said energy levels are really low, depression, anxiety etc. But it’s definitely encouraging to know theres light at the end of the tunnel.
Chad, no problem at all. It’s going to be a grind, but once you’re there you won’t be looking back at all. You’ll be feeling good! I also wanted to let you know I posted an extended version of my response to you on the other post and several other vets chimed in with experiences similar to mine. It might be helpful for you to take a look and get some reassurance that these symptoms do truly fade away. You’re just still at the point where your brain is trying to trick you that they’ll be here forever.
https://www.killthecan.org/your-quit/what-to-expect-when-you-quit-dipping/
-CAL
Why is it worse in the morning im nervouse as hell but im drinkn lots of water and exercising my body is craving go got anxiety i quit cold turkey how long does the side effects take to go away
Im on day 50. Finally starting to have good days here and there which is a positive. The depression and anxiety does slowly subside. Keep trucking.
Any long term quitters on here? Wondering if the depression ever fades away. I’ve tried quitting a bunch of times and can handle the cravings fine, but for some reason somewhere between 3-5 weeks quit I start to get a depression setting in that either doesnt go away or becomes too much and I start dipping again. Everything seems really dull without nicotine. Makes sense when you think about your brain getting an immediate hit of dopamine all throughout the day for years and years when you did chew, and then when you suddenly cut that off, your brain doesn’t know how to deal with it. Just wondering if the brain ever retrains itself or if theres always going to be that dull feeling and chemical imbalance and lingering depression.
Hey Chad,
I’m on Day 272. The good news is that the depression does fade away. I can tell you in my experience, man it was such a grind. Day after day, the depression was always there and it seemed like it would never go away. You hear guys talking about feeling better after 30 days, 100 days, 200 days…I was still grinding it out! I thought my energy would never come back. I couldn’t believe I was still tired all the time after 200 days of being quit! I did all the recommended stuff – more exercise, tons of sleep, meditation, exercise, vitamins, etc. In the end, I truly believe the thing that helped most was time. I tracked everything I did as well – my mood, my depression, anxiety, eating habits, etc. I can safely say that around Days 235-240 is when I finally started to turn a corner. Depression is now completely gone, energy is back big time. I’m like a whole new person – all it took was time. I’m sure all the “best practice” stuff I did helped, and they’re all good habits anyway, but time was the biggest healer in my opinion (that’s the whole rewiring and dopamine reset that you referred to).
I can also say that I’m better than I ever remember myself being before dip. I’m hopeful that since it’s been over a month of feeling this way that I’m over the hump, but I’m still vigilant that issues could pop up. Some things just take time and there are guys out there who will go through this stuff for a year or maybe more.
I would also recommend you check out the comments section on this post – https://www.killthecan.org/your-quit/what-to-expect-when-you-quit-dipping/ – there are several others in my quit range and beyond (1yr, 5yrs, etc.) that comment regularly. You can also look back at our comments and experiences along the way if you haven’t already…lots of good info in there.
Let me know any other specific questions you have or symptoms you’re experiencing and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can, I’m usually pretty quick to respond.
What day are you on? Or are you at the point where you’re still thinking about quitting but not there yet?
-CAL
Hey cal I have read this comment about 20 times.. I just feel like I can relate with what you are saying here Iām on day 213 and feel like this crap is never going to end.. itās not as severe or bad as in the beginning but still just sucks. I have been eating right, taking vitamins, exercising a decent amount, I feel as the only thing left I havenāt done is give it more time. I just need to learn so patience! Appreciate the post
Hey man – No problem, Iām glad it was helpful. I spent a ton of time reading and re-reading others comments on here as well so Iām happy to contribute. You are so close to being ānormalā again! And if youāre like most of us, youāll be so much of a better version of yourself that youāll continue to appreciate more and more over time. I can also say that being over 300 days now itās pretty smooth sailing. Nothing even remotely close to those final depression days in the early 200ās where every day was a grind and I thought it would never end. Check back in and let us know how youāre doing in a few weeks.
-CAL
Day 306
3-13-19
Hey cal hope all is going well… today is 225 for me.. still here still grinding just wanted to pick your brain more about the quit if you donāt mind ? My email is korrots@yahoo.com
Of course, happy to help. I sent you an email.
Cal sir I had quitted dip 35 days back after 7 years of abuse. Still I am feeling mouth pain and gum pain and also a sore n painful throat. There are no lesians in my mouth but still it hurts. Please guide me are these symptoms normal and how long these will last…..
Thanks
A can of chew is 144 mg of nicotine
A piece of nicotine gum is 4 mg
Use the gum to assist you in quitting.
I would not do the gum. It is harder to quit than the can so you just end up trading one for the other.
My coworker what’s a hardcore Copenhagen user for many years… he began using nicotine gum… he would take turns between taking a chew now and then then using gum… eventually he only used the gum… after a few months he Wyndham self off of the gum by chewing regular gum… the process took about six months… that was in 2017 and he is completely free Ochoa tobacco and nicotine.
I haven’t had a chew in the six days… I am breaking the mental addiction while using a small amount of nicotine… I am absolutely convinced that this is the way to go for me
Hey guys, really enjoyed reading thru a lot of this. Going thru the āsymptomsā now for a second time. Iām a truck driver and was parked in summer heat with a dip in and had a bad panic attack. Scared me and dumped rest of my grizz on the ground and went cold turkey for 60 days. Me and the old lady were having our first child and just felt stressed so I caved and chewed can a day or so again for about a month. Coming back to it tho I felt like that panicked feeling was just sitting there under the surface. So long story short I had went cold turkey again, on day 40 right now. Only drinking water (canāt even tolerate caffeine now with this quit). Week 1-4 felt great compared to my earlier āquitā this year but this last week I just feel restless, hard time sleeping. Heart palpitations lying in bed here and there, yet I donāt even crave the can anymore. Any of you guys have similar symptoms as this, with the skyrocketed caffeine sensitivity and heart palpitations at night, canāt get my mind off of it.
Exact symptoms, Mike. I donāt have the cravings like I did the first few days, but the panicky feelings, heart palpitations, and caffeine sensitivity are intense. Anxiety is through the roof because Iām afraid of an ensuing panic attack. I freak myself out thinking theres something wrong with my head so my thought process is all screwed. Iām honestly happy to see other people experiencing the same thing haha, youāre not alone brother! Keep on kicking this things ass!
Oh my gosh! I’m dealing with the same thing right now! I have stated taking amino acid supplements to try to keep the panic attacks away, and right now, they seem to be doing the job. I have never had panic attacks or any issues with anxiety until I quit and it is absolutely terrifying to me.
Hey Mike,
Thanks for sharing and congrats on the baby!
Your story is very similar to mine – we just welcomed our first baby as well so I understand how stressed you are.
First, what you’re describing is all normal stuff and I went through a very similar pattern to you. I got to the point where I was having anxiety and panic attacks when trying to quit and when going back – it was a terrible cycle. I originally quit in November 2018 and caved in February 2019 around day 90. At that that point, I realized going back to dip was only making me worse and I knew I would be trying to quit again so there was no point in continuing the cycle. I quit again on March 13th and now approach day 250 of being quit. I had the same heart palpitations and feelings of panic sitting there right under the surface. So I want to reassure you 100% that’s all normal stuff and as a fellow quitter I experienced it too. Coffee sensitivity oh yeah!! I don’t even drink it anymore. At least not for the time being, maybe I’ll go back one day. I do remember reading there is some science behind why you need LESS caffeine/coffee when you’re off dip/nicotine but I can’t find the article at the moment.
I believe the anxiety may continue for a while up until around the 3 month mark then it should start to get better. You may feel more tired/down/depressed at that point than anxious, but that’s a sign that you’re almost near the end. It’s a grind to start feeling “normal” again but you will 100% get there if all you do is stay strong and not dip.
I would also recommend talking to your doctor for some advice as I am not a doctor and this shouldn’t be taken as actual medical advice. I took a very small microdose of beta blockers (10mg propranolol) to help with the physical symptoms of panic. It’s amazing how much better you can feel when your heart isn’t beating out of your chest, causing dizziness and panic. An OTC sleeping pill might also be good at night. I take a half or 1 tylenol Simply Sleep at times. It helps to relax you and promote sleep, plus the smaller dose makes sure you’re not super drowsy or out of it the next morning. I’m also someone who is very conscious about what kind of medication I put into my body but that’s what worked for me.
Keep venting and coming back here for support, there is always someone willing to listen and respond to you.
Day 40 man, it’s a grind but you got this! You’re more than halfway to the 2 month mark which is a great milestone to look forward to.
-CAL
3-3-19
Day 238
Thanks for replies Derek and Cal, nice knowing youāre not alone in this crap. I have zero plans starting back up and already have a tattoo in mind for the quit, little contract with my self you could say lol. I have an appointment with a doc to just get the once over and make sure everything is checking out ok and Iāll get back to you guys with results. Only been drinking water, hardly any caffeine in last 4 months, eating less food too to avoid the weight gain, and to keep that bloated feeling at bay. I have found that less carbs and CBD especially help a lot with the anxiety of you guys have never tried it. Thereās no pot In it so itās safe for the job, just cuts the anxiety in half. Looking forward to getting out of the depression. Talk soon guys
See your Doc and discuss Zoloft. Small dose flails helped me with PTSD, anxiety, the heart palpating, and actually made me WANT to quit Copenhagen.
I chewed for 35 years. Copenhagen. Started when I was about 15 when I played baseball. One day just said ok I’m done gonna quit now kind of like Forest Gump when he was a runner. I am on day 48 of quitting. Used the nicotine patches 21 mg for 21 days, then 14 mg for 14 days, then 7 mg for 7 days. Then stopped the patches about one week ago. You are spot on with all of your symptoms listed especially the dreams and the mouth sores and irritations. It has been tough but it will be worth it I guess.
Congratulations on starting your quit, but Don’t GUESS that it will be worth it. IT IS worth it, i just completed my first year of being quit after 30 years of dipping and it most definitely IS worth it.Hang in there Scott.
Thank you…I do remain resolved to do this and will not give in!
Hi Scott,
I have the exact same story. 35 yrs and just said I’m done.
Only day 3 here and I am miserable. You guys are helping me so much..just knowing I’m not hallucinating.
I chewed Copenhagen for 45 years… started at 15…
I quit 3 days ago using nicotine gum… I’ve never gone this long in 45 years without a chew… it’s insane that I can’t believe I’m actually finally quitting
I am on day 10 of actually quitting nicotine. I quit a 32 year habit of Copenhagen in 2014. I have been using nicotine lozenges for 5 years. Itās nice to finally be truly free.
Nick,
32 years chewing and I quit cold turkey 271 days ago. You are going to have miserable days and feel strange for weeks. My advice is to exercise a lot, and keep yourself busy. When you feel bad, get up and move, go for a walk, do a project. This helped me a lot, and I was tired at the end of the day so I slept better. I feel great now, with just occasional moments of anxiety that go away within minutes. Stay strong, because it is worth it.
WV_Quitter.
Hi Alan
Its day 5 and my primary symptoms are shakes, sweating, anxious. I have ZERO desire to put a chew in..just want these to pass. Thanks for the encouragement!
How are you holding up? Should be about 20 days for you now.
Alan,
Thanks for checking in on me! Yes – day 18 now!! Most of the initial symptoms are gone..sweats, shakes. I now find myself battling the oral fixation/boredom mental part. I’ve resorted to seeds and a couple fake smokey mountain dips here and there. (felt guilty about the fake stuff but hey..its just like gum, or any other non-nicotine.tobacco product).
My name is Curt I’m 28 and have been dipping of and on since I was 8. I’m on day four of quitting cold turkey. Can anybody tell me how long the sleepless nights last? Or how long the heightened anxiety last? Thanks in advance
Curt,
I expect the sleepless nights to ease up in the next 5-10 days. You can help out by exercising and making yourself tired before bed. Anxiety can be a major pain for a long time. The worst of mine was over by about day 60, but I still have small bouts of anxiety once in a while and I am at day 315. It gets much easier. I chewed for 32 years, so I may have it a lot worse than you will. Hang in there, because quitting is worth it.
Curt,
Congrats on your quit I hope you are still with it. I’m on day 50 and only within the past week have my sleep habits returned to semi-normal. I dipped for 37 years and the anxiety and fog was almost intolerable. I resorted to seeing my doctor and got a script for Wellbutrin. I don’t like taking any medicine, but it was a huge relief taking away most of the anxiety. I started tapering off of it a few days ago. Grind through the suck, drink plenty of water, and get on KTC to post roll every day. The brotherhood and support here is amazing.
After 45 years of chewing Copenhagen it looks like I have finally quit… I’m only on day 3 using nicotine gum… I’ve never gone a full day without Copenhagen so 3 days is like a miracle to me… I know from experience that I could never stop without the use of a nicotine substitute for a time.
How are you doing now Scott?
Hello all,
We’re all here for one purpose, and that’s kicking this addictions ass! I’m currently on day 25 and let me tell you, the struggle has been real. Terrible anxiety, dizziness, mental fog, racing thoughts, you name it. I will NOT let this defeat me and that’s why I came here. To be with like-minded individuals. I want to let you all know, no matter what day you’re on, KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, YOU CAN PUSH THROUGH THIS. The shit we have to go through to beat this is much better than waking up one day with cancer, knowing you could’ve done something to prevent it.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Amen Derrick 120 ODAAT here just keep pushing it gets better. I think the biggest thing for me was patience, doing everything right and being frustrated you still feel like shit.. thatās normal be patient trust the process it will pass
Derek thinking about quitting but I hear of this fog and dizziness a lot. When did it kick in for you? The day that you quit?
Greg,
Sorry for the late response! The fog settled in almost immediately. When I knew I couldn’t use chew as a crutch, it almost instantly affected me. There were some days that literally felt like I was running in autopilot. Days I cannot remember what I did. I want to compare it to depression. I chewed roughly a can a day, and when I got home from work, I would smoke cigars. Quit both cold turkey. I will say, it is only as difficult as you want to make it. You can either choose to be positive and kick this addictions ass, or you can let it control you, your thoughts, etc.
Dizziness was instant as well. I don’t know why it happens. Occasionally I still suffer from it, and I want to attribute that to cravings. The first few weeks were extremely difficult, but once you get over that hump, it gets much easier.
I didn’t go to any alternatives. No gum, no seeds. Just quit. I said to myself I wanted to change, and I stuck with it. Takes more willpower than imaginable, in fact I still can’t believe I’ve stuck with it, but watching those hours tick by, the days, the weeks. Seeing the positive results, the change in attitude, energy. Man, it’s so worth it.
I hope you decide to take the leap, Greg. You owe it to yourself!
My Name is Robert.I have chewed for 10 years.I stopped almost 2 weeks ago and have had a burning mouth,tongue and bottom lip.Is this normal
Robert I have the same thing and dry mouth, did it go away?
Craig, yes, it goes away. Drink lots of water, your mouth is healing. Every ones healing time is different.
Day 288.
Try something called biotene helps with dry mouth. You can find it at your local Walmart.
Hi Robert
I have same condition as u. I m chew free for 76 days.
I like to know as to after how many days ur mouth healed to eat spicy and hot stuff?
Switched to Grinds Black Coffee flavor. Been 2 weeks now with no Redman. I’m 70ish and have been chewing since college. Tried quitting before but ate all the time and gained 25 pounds. The substitute seems to be working great. My only question is am I still at risk of lip/mouth cancer now that I quit ?
Quit a week ago, using ZYN nicotine pouches to avoid the foggy feeling so I can function as a daddy to my 7 month old. Ive had a toothache (upper left molar) and some swelling that came from nowhere… is that something that happens when you take tobacco out of the picture?
I started using Zyn to “taper” off “the real thing.” Now I am hooked on Zyn. Lord! I have had some HUGE brain fog days since I stopped 10 days ago. Careful with that stuff. Seems look good harm reduction but it will keep you hooked like real stuff. Hope the fog clears soon. It’s bad!
That fog will clear, but you’ll need to get off the Zyn / nic in order to really start your recovery.
Does it make your jaw jointed its hurt up by your ears
Yep… jaw pain is remarkably common.
What about ear pain and ear aches? I quit almost 80 days ago and started having ear aches about 30 days in. Still having them on and off now. My anxiety has been high but a lot of it is coming from my sinuses being out of wack and getting ear aches.
I’m a month or so in and don’t have any interest or cravings at all. I burned my mouth on some sever hot sauce and couldn’t dip for about a week so I quit. But my tongue is still numb and some sores do appear to be moving around my mouth. The anxiety says mouth cancer but I’m working hard to push those thoughts out.
Justin just stopped Copenhagen after 30 years on day 4 currently. First thing cold and sore throat
I went to the doctor and he said you should be good as I recently went to the doctor and had lab work and CBC done
He still checked my mouth throat neck and head for lumps
Relieved some worry and concern
How long did it take for the sore throat to subside?
Hello Sam, I tried quitting once before and got to day 99 with help of fake dip, but I found out that instead of helping, it was continuing with the physical reflex of having something stuffed between my lips, so the first time I came across a real dip tin, I got tempted for the real stuff and I caved. It lasted for 4 years until i decided to quit cold turkey and stayed that way ever since.
Now, everyone is different and I am not saying that the fake dip will not help other people, it just did not work for me.
Regarding your question on anxiety, that is a part of the quit that I have not completely mastered yet, but no I did not use any kind of drug for it, instead what I do is a couple of things to trick my brain into squashing those feelings before they get out of control.
One of them is breathing, I know it sounds dumb, but taking a few deep breaths when you feel it coming, it helps a lot.
Another technique is to get yourself a watch, not a digital one, but a regular watch. When you feel the anxiety hit, look at your watch immediately and look at the arms and start counting the seconds, one, two, three and so on, I know it sounds dumb too, but it works for me. I’ve noticed that the anxiety goes away faster these days than when I started doing it.
Finally, exercise and eat right, i found out that the better food you eat and work out, helps with the rewiring of your brain, keeps your mind off the quit and hell, it also works with the lady of you life, if you know what I mean.
Again Sam, these are the things that have worked for me, you may want to explore other things and then come back and tell us your experience.
We are all different, but we also have two things in common, Nicotine addiction and the desire to get away from it forever.
Stay Cool Bro.
Day 332
Yes I will pray for you sir. The Lord knows I’ve requested the same from my brothers. Getting hooked was easy, getting away from this addiction proves to be one of the toughest things in life. You are 41 days into your quit, you keep going.
This link delineates the things that you should expect as you reach your 100 days.
https://www.killthecan.org/your-quit/what-to-expect-when-you-quit-dipping/
Come back and tell us your experiences, I know I have been in here almost everyday writing about my journey.
Hang in there partner.
Day 331
Thank you , brother did u use any patch or chewing gum or any other med for anxiety? because i am not taking any of these ..
Day 42
Hi , i am having negative thoughts that i am going crazy š does any one having the same issue?
Hey Sam, do you mean “going crazy” as high levels of anxiety? if it is, then that’s perfectly fine, we all go through those days, especially in the first 100 days. If you are well beyond 200 or 300 days and it is not Anxiety, then it would probably be safer to consult a professional. Hang in there.
Thanks DDD, i quite taking dip from August 7 and it is now 41 days š some times i am having bad dreams š some times i feel fear that i am going crazy š pray for me that ill pass these its too tough š
SAM,
I quit dipping about 3 weeks ago and I’m going through the same thing. My mind races, I always have negative thoughts that are difficult to shutdown. Sometimes I feel as though I am going crazy as well, but trust me, this is part of the withdrawal. It will pass eventually. Try to keep yourself occupied, eat right, and exercise. We got this, brother!
DEREK ,
Brother, Thanks.
I am on my day 70 , and feeling much better than few days back.
Yes , anxiety is still there. no more cravings .. Some time panic attack happens and it will take time to reduce its peak .. e;g like i saw mentally ill person and the whole day i start feeling that i am also going to be the same like him ..
Quitting and withdrawal symptoms are tough.
Dipped for 18 years been trying to quit off and on for a couple years now. Made it last time about 100 days and then started getting in my head that life without dip wasnt as good lol and lost the purpose of quitting. Trying again, I’m about 40 days in. Having all kinds of symptoms, dizziness/light headed fog, depression, fatigue, muscle twitches, bad dreams, waking up in the middle of the night and not getting back to sleep, anxiety through the roof. Reading all these comments had helped me though, keep tricking everybody.
Hey Chad, youāre totally normal in what youāre experiencing. I have had each one of those symptoms and the anxiety for me was definitely the worst. I would get nervous to walk into a public place, in fear I had to talk to someone. Without dip your brain has to re wire itself. Iām glad your hear today Iām Day 87 and I can tell ya what my anxiety I would say is about 90% gone. Sometimes it still comes back a tiny bit but nothing like it was in the first 50 days. Stay strong man! Feel free to pm me Iām in the 2019 sept group.. bigdiesel90
Hi there ,its same here ,i dipped for about 18 years and tried quitting for 8 months ,but some how got used to it again ,now i have taken a fresh start its 9 days of quitting and this time its damn serious at last just want to say that keep faith in yourself and keep calm .
Hey Randy – Itās been really rough on me as well. But overall, itās getting better and nothing is as bad as the beginning and some of the extreme sadness/depression I had around days 90-110. My dizziness was gone within the first 60 days or so Iād say. Have been in and out of fog and extreme fatigue for my whole quit – I would have periods of 1-2 weeks where I actually felt like my old self, energetic and clear minded and thought I was out of the woods! Not quite yet. At day 167, Iāve had the fog and seriously overwhelming fatigue for the past 3-4 days; it came back! Iām talking like Iāll sleep 10 hours and still be basically useless all day. Though I do feel like Iām on the verge of a breakthrough…I can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel. Cravings havenāt been a big deal for me either. I had started a quit in late October or early November 2018 and on day 86 I caved. I went back to dipping for about 30 days and realized just how much it made my situation and anxiety WORSE so I quickly quit again for the final time and now Iām on day 167. Iām still emotionally flat and sometimes feel like I could lie in bed and stare at my ceiling all day. Emotions and feelings are starting to come through every once in a while, enough to give me some motivation. Caving and going back isnāt an option for me at this point as I know it will only make situation worse so while I stay highly vigilant, that has not been a difficult part of my quit as of late. I know some people complain of cravings for quit some time…years in some cases. Weāll get there man, itās different for everyone but even if it doesnāt feel like it I know youāre making progress.
How is your diet and fitness level? Iāll admit Iām lazy with exercise, but I do try and get my steps in through tracking with Fitbit and also do stretching and meditation. My diet is now very healthy (though when itās not i notice a big difference). Iāve also found that eating smaller meals and not stuffing myself helps greatly in curbing some symptoms that are similar to withdrawal such as dizziness, fatigue, heart palpitations, etc.
Anything else you want to share or ask me let me know.
-CAL
Quit Date: 3-13-19
How long does the fog last? I have had it since the moment Iāve quit and I am on day 131 today, it is awfu. Have barely seen any let up. Makes my life nearly impossible.
It can take a while, but it WILL subside. Might not be perceptible day over day but there will come a time and you look back and realize you’ve had a good couple of weeks. Hang in there!
What is it a symptom of? Lack of dopamine or the fact that your anxiety goes through the roof when you quit.
Hey Randy,
Iām not a doctor but yes thatās what I understand it to be based on my research during my quit. It seems to happen with any strong addiction whether itās a hardcore drug, alcohol or nicotine. The brainās reward system is being rewired and the dopamine receptors need to get used to the fact that theyāre not being given a sweet dose of regular nicotine. Normally gratifying experiences like watching the sunrise/sunset, spending time with your family, having a good meal, watching a big game etc. will take time before theyāre enjoyable again. I think youāll feel emotionally flat for a while. For whatever reason, everyone is different. If my math is correct, hopefully youāre on day 152 by now; Iām on day 163 so weāre definitely in the same wheelhouse. If youāre like me, you feel like you should be ābetterā now but Iām sure youāre not. But will the next 150 days be easier than the first 150 days? Hell yes! Just remember, if youāre thinking of caving, a dip definitely wonāt solve any of these problems. Youāll just end up having 2 problems instead of 1.
Good luck and let me know if you have any specific questions about other symptoms, chances are I went through them or am going through them around the same time as you.
– Cal
Quit date: 3-13-19
Yes cal we are very close together. It is good to hear a response from other people around the same amount of time as me. My quit has been terrible, not too many cravings but I have been in a terrible dizzy fog since day one of my quit and it has taken its toll on me for sure. Nothing feels real. You are spot on about not enjoying other stuff as well and feeling flat. How is your quit symptoms?
Here’s my story. I’m an attractive woman, tall, thin athletic. Have a great job. I started chewing in Alaska when I was 25. I finally quit for a whole year at 49. Then there were rumors of mass layoffs at my job and I picked it up again and chewed the hell out of it for four months during a relapse. Im now two weeks dip free but have been using the gum. need to stop that. I have four pieces left. I am having jaw pain and its freaking me out. Also my tongue tingles. No sores anywhere I can see, Is this normal
Molly, why don’t you join forum, it will be very helpful, people on forum will be similar days quit like you. They will be going through similar symptoms like yours, and you will have some one to talk to. If you decide to join, register and join October group.
oct group link
https://ktcforum.org/index.php?topic=14624.0
Hi molly ,this is normal ,the idea of quitting says it all ,its never late to stop .keep faith in yourself but stop using gum ,if u feel like doing it go for a deep breath or drink some water.
Has anyone experienced bad aches and pains? getting lower back pain and sore everywhere out of nowhere.. im slowly losing my mind
David, I have had aches and pains in hip bones , hip joint, shoulders, chest, legs, etc. I am on day 167, and most pains are going away. Still dealing with occasion tingling in my hands and feet, but the aches are mostly gone.