Shortness of breath after stopping smoking

I too, started having shortness of breath after I quit smoking. I never knew it could be my heart. Six months after I quit, I had a heart attack at age 49. Six months after my father quit, he also had a heart attack. Get to a cardiologist for a full workup.

Hello: I quit smoking 7 weeks ago, and have shortness of breath too. I smoked for 12 pack years, plus and additional 5 months. I am scared to go to the doctor, scared it might be early emphysema. Today was a good day, though. Does anyone know if emphysema related SOB can come and go? Or is it there all the time?

I have been smoke free for 13 months.I quit when I developed pneumonia and couldn't smoke. It's shocking to look at yourself in a mirror with oxygen. I vowed never to forget that moment. I look back at that time as a gift to not be able to smoke. After 36 years of smoking, I think it was that moment that was the brick in the head or die. I suffered shortness of breath for months. Some days were better and then I would seem to go backwards. Even though I had followed up with my doctor after the pneumonia, I was afraid to go back months later thinking I now had emphysema. I had found this web site which did calm my fears. I spent a lot of time doing breathing exercises which seemed to do the trick. I believe it was a combination of several factors that helped. Time for my lungs to clear and learn how to breath. Deep breathing exercises seemed to help tremendously over time. Now, I need to deal with the weight gain. I still have some shortness of breath, but I smoked a long time and have gained almost 40 pounds over these past 13 months to stay away from cigarettes. I still have triggers, but they are much less and hold little power over my resolve to never smoke again. Weight Watchers will be my next goal. But, I already forgave myself for turning to food because, I AM A NON SMOKER! I never thought I would ever be able to say that! Don't ever give up on yourselves! The SOB will subside. It truly is one day at a time, and at the beginning, it's an hour, or even a few minutes. Stay strong!

CONGRATS. That makes many of us, not just 2. To a smoke free world and smoke free life.

I have smoked since I was 16 years old on and off until I was about 21, then in my mid twenties I started smoking a pack a day. Until last July 2011 I quit smoking for good due to getting pneumonia. I am now 32.  I have suffered GERD, SOB, hyperventilation etc. due to quitting since then. It has gotten better thanks to cleansing methods.  Since my body is now cleansing itself and getting rid of all of the toxins I was inhaling, I am starting to feel a lot better about my health. However going through this so called cleanse is pure suffering !  I have to watch my diet due to the digestive issues, and take Ativan to keep me from hyperventilating. I am also on a lot of homeopathic medications which have been assisting me in this process of getting well again.  From what the doctor tells me it can take months to feel well again after quitting smoking. Now it just makes me wonder why I even started to begin with. I thought it was nothing smoking Menthols when I was a teenager, and now look what I have to go through to get off this garbage. I totally regret smoking and I will never go back to smoking ever again!! This is a promise!! 

That is the right way of saying it. Congrats

i KNOW IT'S BEEN A WHILE BUT ARE YOU STILL OFF THE SMOKES.

I am 66 yrs. old and smoked a pack or more a day for 50 yrs. I quit 5 days ago, after weaning myself by smoking 3 to 7 per day. I found that I now have COPD.....I don't know what stage, maybe I don't want to know....but I am terrified. I am on a nebulizer 4x a day, an anti-biotic and steroids. I find it so hard to breathe even while sitting. I have however, had panic attacks all my life and am hoping they are responsible for some of my symtoms. Headaches, heart palpatations, tiredness and most of all sob. Please if anyone who still smokes is reading this........QUIT NOW!!! I feel so horrid, I truly do feel like smoking again. From a lot of what I've read, at my age....does it really make a difference?

I believe it does Diane I am 60 years old and was diagnosed with COPD about two years ago - Like you I quit 9 weeks ago and I really have felt sick right through. This was the first time I was really adament to quit as the cost of smoking was getting ridiculous and I quit for that reason although Dr's all told me I needed to stop smoking.... I too wonder if it is worth it, at nine weeks I feel sick, SOB, depressed and angry....

66 is too young to ask "whether it makes any difference". Think of all those years ahead of you, the meter touching 100, 120, driven by GOD

Coldfeet.......you are right. I should be so ashamed of myself.....it's just that I am sooo tired of these withdrawal symptoms. It's been 9 days today.And to Guest........yes, shortness of breath is definitely a symptom, one I am having a horrible time with.

Well, sleeping posture has something to do with breathing ups and downs. Check with your doctor. It is possible nostrils might be blocked and intake of good air might be a new experience for lungs. I had same issues. Instead of saying "to hell with life", I told myself "to hell with nicotine and tar". Bingo! It is now 10 months and I am feeling, seeing, smelling, sensing everything in a new, big WOW!

wondering if your symptoms have gone almost, since it's been 9 months since i quit and I'm still have the same symptoms, especially the panick attacks and anxiety, which I hate most of all

Hi all, I just wanted to suggest a couple of techniques to help with clearing your chest. Percussion and steam are useful. See your doctor or a pulmonary physiotherapist for more info on these.I was a 15-20 a day smoker for 8 years and I cut down to 2 smokes a day over a month ago, now I'm 1 day into being completely smoke free. Previous to smoking cigs I smoked about an ounce a week of the greener substance for almost 2 years after which I had a chest x-ray showing 'possible early stage copd'. My Dr said it's nothing to worry about 'yet' but I should quit smoking... Stupid as I am I only just managed that, I'm 27 now. I don't beleive it's ever too late to stop though, regardless of any suspected illnesses etc it will add years to your life.Good luck to all of you and thank you for sharing your experiences.

Hey Steve I see you posted over a year ago was just wondering if it actually cleared up I am going through the same thing. I quit smoking a month ago and I already had bronchitis but know I am using my inhaler 3 and 4 times a day sometimes even more up to 7 and 8, This is driving me insane just hoping and praying that it does clear up. Oh my quitting smoking stemmed from a illness that caused me to have shortness of breath (flairing up my bronchitis) I took antibiotics and mucinex for the illness but I'm better now but still having labored breathing.