Hello fed_up. Those 48 days are looking great! Congratulations! I don't remember the itchy feeling after I quit, but, my gums were a bit painful, and I did have more mouth sores than usual. I agree with Casey that this is most likely due to the chemical changes going on within your body as it adjusts to life after tobacco addiction. I talked to my doctor about it at the time, and he suggested that when I brush my teeth, I [color=Red]LIGHTLY[/color] also brush my gums. He told me that the idea is just to stimulate gum tissue. So, ever since that day, I've made a habit of doing this every so often when I brush my teeth. I don't do it every time, though. They also make special gum brushes that you can buy in the toothbrush isle at most grocery stores which are made of soft rubber, which is probably better than using your toothbrush, especially if you have any tendency at all to press too hard in the first place. I think I've even seen toothbrushes where one side is a regular toothbrush, and the other side is a gum brush. You could try this, and see if it helps at all, and if problems persist, as Casey has already mentioned, you should probably check with your doctor or dentist.
Regarding the feelings of guilt, I agree with what ParrotLady and Casey said as well. The only one you owe is yourself, and nobody else! You've done something great for you and your health, there's absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. Just remember, you DESERVE to be happy, healthy, and free of tobacco addiction, and as Casey mentions, don't forget to reward yourself along the way! You're making great progress - keep up the great work! :)
Infinite_D
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/21/2005
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 575
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 12,076
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $632.5
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 74 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 21
