Odd Things that May Happen When You Quit Smoking

In no particular order these things happened to me after I stopped smoking ten years ago.
They were all either temporary or treatable or a good thing. This is just information to help if anyone else goes through it and gets worried.

Very small white spots in mouth and on tongue. They felt a little sore but went away soon.

Boils in uncomfortable places. One had to be removed but most were treatable with moist heat and antibacterial ointment.

A swollen saliva gland. The ENT doctor said it was caused by a stone blocking the gland much like a kidney stone. Treatment was to suck on sour candy to help produce more saliva so the gland would unblock on its own. It worked but I was worried for a while.

More acne. Some say smoking dries the skin --I guess those pesky wrinkles are caused from smoking-- and when we stop smoking the body will go back to producing moisturizing oils.
This is temporary until the body self adjusts. This may be why the boils appear also.

Many women find that their menstrual cycles change when they stop smoking. It seems that almost every part of our body is affected by the chemicals in cigarettes and it takes time for the body to get used to being without those changes.

I've mentioned the thyroid gland previous but think it's important to mention again because it seems like a high percentage of people who quit smoking will notice a difference in the functionality of this very important gland.
Some say the smoking covered up a thyroid problem and quitting exposes the problem and some say the smoking causes the problem.
Either way, it needs to be looked at or watched. Tests to see if it's functioning well are easy to do but hopefully you can find a doctor or professional to also go by your symptoms.

Here is an excellent list of hypothyroidism symptoms to print out and keep handy to check now and then as you go through your stop smoking stages:

http://www.tpa-uk.org.uk/symptoms_hypot.pdf

Remember, not all of you will have these issues or any issues.
Seek out a reputable professional if you have any of these or other problems. It will help put your mind at ease and you will find the professionals will be very encouraging about you quitting smoking.

Best Wishes,
Someone who's been there