How long will I be coughing up this garbage?

[Kristina]

I have decided to quit smoking and have been smoke free for 10 days now except on Saturday when I did smoke a few cigarettes, but nothing since then.



My question is - now that I am not smoking I am coughing like crazy. And what I am coughing up is even crazier! Nasty, sticky and sometimes brown. My friend told me it is tar from when I smoked, is that true and for how long do I cough it up after I quit?



FYI - I am not using any medicine to quit, just lots of water to flush the toxins out of my body and chew Juicy Fruit when I get cravings. Any other ideas?



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I am trying to stay away from the medicines or patches or pills at all cost, I tried to use Chantix last year and O'Boy will never trust them again. It was a nightmare. I am ok getting through the urges, it is this coughing that is driving me bonkers.

[Megan367]

I suggest that you go to your doctor. Keep drinking lots of water. Try the patches they might work for you. Good Luck!

[dogszncatsz239]

Don't use patches or gum unless you are about to smoke. The coughing should stop in another week or so. As nasty as it is, you need to keep coughing and get all that stuff outta there. Don't use a cough suppressant. You should start to notice that you are feeling more energetic and just generally healthier in about a week. Stick with it! I hope you do well!!

[Judith243]

The only time i really started hacking up the nasty stuff was the first heavy cold/chesty cough I got after I packed up smoking ( 4 years ago now ) other than that nothing really.
Good for you your over the worst keep it up!!!!!!

[lilliand]

The coughing will last until the nicotine is out of your system which should take a couple of months. Try to keep you esophagus moist as to not irritate your throat.

[RichardL152]

The nicotine in cigarettes has masked the urge to cough that you have now. But what is in your lungs came through your throat originally or is a result of that. It needs to come out.
Some herbs are used in asia to help the lungs. Cordyceps is a single herb that supports lung health. There are complex Chinese formulas that also can help. Western herbs like Fenugreek and Thyme are also helpful. Ephedra would help, but it is banned. Albuterol is a medicine that can be helpful. See your doctor for help or seek out a Chinese Medicine practitioner.

[Ty564]

Congratulations on quitting smoking. The coughing you are experiencing is completely "Normal" as it is the tar and junk that has built up in your lungs from when you were a smoker. It is just like when you have a cold and cough up nasty phlegm for a week or so. Give it time because you may be coughing up stuff for a while but remember its better out than in.