Stoptober - Diary of a Quitter: Day 22

Matthew Backhouse smokes his last cigarette before starting Stoptober. Photo / Nick Reed

Journalist Matthew Backhouse chronicles his efforts to quit smoking for Stoptober in a daily diary.

What a debacle. I should be the healthiest I've been in years. Instead, I've suffered through a series of mundane maladies that make smoker's cough seem not so bad.

My latest and most high-profile affliction is a pair of ridiculously red, gummy, weepy, inflamed eyes. They hurt like hell. Maybe it's hayfever, or an infection, or a symptom of a zombie/vampire/werewolf bite. I'm yet to see my GP, so I consider each equally as likely.

Regardless of the cause, the end result is the same - I look like a cartoonish stoner in a suit.

If you're of the "pics or it didn't happen" persuasion, then here you go. But a quick warning - it isn't pretty.

I've also suffered a virus, terrible sleep, a possible sinus infection and yes, more hayfever. October has been a fun month for me.

I'm not saying it's all linked to quitting. I have no way of knowing that. But health experts do say that nicotine withdrawal can cause symptoms that, for some people at least, are pretty similar to having a cold.

It's not just me. Start typing "does quitting" into Google, and the third auto-suggestion is "does quitting smoking make you sick". I ignored most of the results because, well, internet. But you get the picture.

If there's one silver lining, though, it's this - smoker's cough costs a lot of money, but zombie eyes are totally free. Go zombie eyes.

To take part in Stoptober, visit www.stoptober.nz

For help quitting, visit Quitline at www.quit.org.nz or phone 0800 778 778