Will smoking cessation cause strained bowel movements?

Question

Hello doctor,

My age is 39 years. I have quit smoking, cold turkey, after smoking for almost 18 years. It is my 29th day of being smoke-free. Everything was going fine until the last 7 to 10 days, when my bowel movements have been strained. A few days ago, I saw tiny hard stools and sometimes small stools with very little water.

I started taking Metamucil. However, the stomach felt severely bloated after eating anything. I sometimes feel a sudden hunger spike that becomes uncontrollable, and once I eat, my stomach swells like a balloon. I also started taking one capsule of Triphala to ease my symptoms.

Over the past four to five days, I have started feeling fatigue and a very strong one, like light-headedness, and no energy in my legs. I had a sore inside my mouth, and that has healed significantly now. The acid reflux is there, especially while making out with my partner, and I feel food coming up.

The consistency of stool after eating Metamucil has been more like a long, rubbery, zig-zag sausage with uneven and weird cracks, and sometimes mucus as well. I feel gas below my stomach and sometimes have to strain hard to pass.

I got my CBC done two days back (regular report), kidney, liver, thyroid (normal), Hb (normaa), sugar (normal). I also got my FOBT stool test done (negative report). Are the above symptoms cigarette withdrawal symptoms? Or stomach bug? Or IBS? I take the following tablets daily. One Magnesium tablet, one Menevit tablet (for sperm health and male fertility), one Omega 3 1000 mg capsule, one 64 Billion Probiotic capsule. Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

I went through your post. It is normal to have hard stools after quitting smoking, so you have to add a salad, exercise, and drink enough water. It is a temporary phenomenon that usually settles in three months till the intestines adapt to nicotine-free blood. You have started taking the laxative Metamucil, which has caused gastritis.

You need to stop that and continue Nexium at least 10 days daily before breakfast. That will take care of the issue. There is no need to take omega, probiotics, Menevit, or Magnesium tablets. Do not take unnecessary medicines. It is not IBS.

Taking appropriate medications helps relieve such gastric concerns while not unnecessary medications. So, you can also get an online prescription on the same day for those problems that occur after smoking cessation.

I hope this helps.

Kindly revert so I can assist you further.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

The only significant side effect of stopping smoking is weight gain. Fatigue is also a manifestation of stopping smoking, which can last 6 to 8 weeks. You should take enough fruits and vegetables, and do regular exercise, which will help you reduce such symptoms.

I hope this helps.

kindly revert in case of further queries.

Thank you.