Shortness of breath after stopping smoking

Hello Brett, You can almost bet your last dollar that things will get worse before they get better..... but the good news is that things do s-l-o-w-l-y get better. I am just starting to improve after being quit nearly 4 months. I encourage you to read the entire thread and pay attention to what folks like Keith, Angel, Doug etc... went thru. It was not easy but they're proof that it can be done. Don,t give up ! RJC

I realize it can be a real struggle, but after over 26 months I continue to feel better. Many times I felt like giving up, sure glad I didn't. Hoping everyone can hang in there. Doug

I was leaving work yesterday and this guy said to so how months has it been now? He was just lighting up a smoke and knows I quit I said months? It's been 2 and 1/2 years he nearly fell over. Back when I quit I told him quit with me and he said he could not do it. Yesterday he said this is his year because now he is weezing all night. And this guy had lymphoma. I know it feels like time stands still when you first quit but it goes fast. This site saved me and I may have gone back with out it. Keep posting your comments and if you have questions ask...Keith

This post and its replies reassured me so much. Thank you. I am a week smoke free and am short of breath pretty much the way you described. I've had short quits here and there and always have the shortness of breath. Cant remember if it went away before I lit up again or not. If its still there Monday I'm going to see the doc. Its been a year since this was posted. I hope everyone is feeling better

I quit smoking about 14 months ago. The first 35 days were great. I could walk my dogs again. Then everything went very bad. I could not breathe with many nights struggling for hours to get any air at all. It felt like my lungs had seized up. I finally got myself over to a quickcare and they gave me an albuterol inhaler which freed up my lungs. I am now healthier than I've been in a long time, can walk miles with my dogs no problem. I think quitting smoking exposed my cilia and they couldn't handle the fresh air. Hang in there, everyone.

I just wanted to add that I smoked for thirty years, very heavily. When, after 35 days or so, I suddenly stopped being able to breathe I was also coughing up phlegm of little brown specks and I was convinced I had COPD and I had done irreversible damage. For those of you who are experiencing terrible shortness of breath after quitting smoking, do see a doctor about a rescue inhaler. No one should have to go through that. I've experienced it, and it is a nightmare.

Did the inhaler help ? How long did you have to use it ?

Yes, the inhaler was extremely helpful. I used it for a couple of months but have no need for it now. I read this thread several times over when I was suffering that horrible shortness of breath and I am so thankful for all the commenters supporting each other. This thread helped me in a terrible time.

Thank you for the quick reply. Did you verify that you do not have COPD ? Is a rescue inhaler all that you used, of did the doc give you a steroid or maintenance inhaler to decrease inflammation in your lungs and airways ? My doc prescribed a 2 week course of Advair 500/50 that seemed to help some but s.o.b. still has not resolved after 4 months smoke free. Some of the folks ( Keith, Doug...) have indicated that it could take a year to feel anywhere near "normal". Regards. RJC

Everyone with sob should see a Doctor to see if there is a physical problem. Sometimes it is anxiety and withdrawal that causes the problems. In these cases it can take months or even a year or two to feel better, but it does get better if we hang in there and don't smoke! Good luck everyone Doug

I did not use an inhaler when I quit. I did a lot of deep breathing exercises and walked a lot. I also ate very light meals and read this forum many times over. Push yourself past those feelings and you will see it gets better. Of course I did not do any of this until I had every test done under the sun. Once I confirmed all was good health wise I knew I would be able to overcome the sob. Keith

I had 8 months under my belt and fell off the wagon!  I posted 4-5 months ago about the bronchodilators that the cig manufacturers add to cigs to mask the breathing problems that smoking causes.  My last quit 8 months was by far the longest quit I've ever had.  I got into a physical bout with my second son 18 yrs old.  My wife says I was on edge because the quit.  I decided I'd rather smoke than ever fight with my son again.  10-20-15 (yesterday) would've been a year for me, but I've been back to the sticks for about 4 months now.  I think I'm ready to quit again.  I really enjoyed being a non-smoker and I think I was even over the SOB for the most part.  It'll be interesting to see what round 2 will be like.  I did it once, I can do it again!!

Good luck. I'll say a prayer for you. Hang in there. Doug

If you feel that you become very tense or angry when quitting then ask the doc for an anxiety med. It will help you get over the hurdle. I know how you feel even though it's over 2 years for me now I can light up a cig as if I never even quit. It does feel great to be a non smoker. Keith

I found this article both interesting and helpful, and had my mother read it since she recently quit smoking, and nearly gave ME a heart attack with some SOB and other symptoms, along with taking her to the ER for peace of mind and to get checked out. Mind you I am a firefighter/paramedic, so I knew it wasn't cardiac, but a breathing issue. Plus I quit smoking over 11 yrs ago, I am 38 now, and had a lot of similar problems once I quit. The worst were the first 3-4 months after quiting; constant coughing keeping me up at night, SOB, tight chest, wheezing. Working out or even long working periods bunked out would have me gasping for air at times. But like people here all say, it is the bodies way of filtering the lungs out, repair, and regrowth. Your body isn't used to the sensation, so it takes it as an attack in a sense, throwing your body for a loop and creating unnecessary anxiety. It sucks, but your body is adapting to a new course, and just takes time. It does get a lot better I will say. Over 11 yrs, not one puff or desire to smoke again. I run better and faster now at my age than I did when I was smoking in my late teens/early 20s in the Marines. Focus more on the quitting addiction to the smoking and mentally prepare yourself to let your healing take its course. I absolutely promise you it is so worth it, health wise and money wise.