Shortness of breath after stopping smoking

Hello again everyone I'm now at 103 days quit I thoight I was starting to feel ok again but have had a couple of days sob and problem coughing up mucus, disturbed my sleep last couple of nights but I also have gallstones and gallbladder disease (waiting for the op) which when this triggers my sob seems to worsen ! I'm also in the middle of menopause I really picked the time to quit right ? Ha ha I have to try and keep my spirits high because I found I made my own anxiety when I first quit, I'm learning to deal with that now and keeping strong I would never smoke again as much as I enjoyed smoking I would not go through this all again ! Keep positive I quit 18 months ago with a vaping cig but to be honest found it easy to go back to cigarettes so hard as it was to quit cold turkey this time, I feel for me it was the right choice !

I'm at almost 30 months and although the anxiety and sob are not 100% gone they get better all the time, I to quit cold turkey after 47 years of smoking. Don't ever want to go thru quitting again. Good luck Doug

Had to re register,forgot mu user and email was an outdated one....   Going on 2.5 years now. 25lbs heavier but definitely feel healthier. I still get an occasional anxiety attack but it is manageable now. I figured i would check back in and see how some are doing here. Kieth, Angel...you still around??

I quit cigarettes on October 23 so I've got 70 some days into my quit. Doing awesome with not smoking. I'm 61 years old and smoked for 40 some years...the last few years I was smoking way over a pack a day. So what the heck is up with this tightness I'm feeling in my chest....wheezing on the exhale and short of breath. I've gained 20 lbs since I quit...not too concerned with that. Just worried about the wheeze and tightness. I'm not coughing much...occasionally some gunky crud which I would think is normal after abusing my lungs for so long. Any advice? Do I need to see a doctor? If not for that I would feel amazing.

Well done Kathy! Sorry to hear you have a tight chest, shortage of breath (SOB) and wheezing! I'm 58, quit cold turkey about 3 weeks ago and have severe SOB ever since. I wasn't a heavy smoke, hardly ever coughed, was quite energetic, never wheezed, etc. Since giving up, I cannot bloody breathe, I cannot sleep properly because lying down makes it worse, some times I think I'm having my last breath and I go into a horrid panic attack (never had those before!). I cannot cough despite trying - but it feels like I swallowed a tennis ball so would like to cough it up! I have a tight chest and walking just a few paces takes the wind out of me, I nearly pass out. I am hoping these symptoms will ease with time but the SOB is SO scary.... Well done to those who have given up and have passed through this stage... and good luck to those who are struggling still.... (P.S. I have never had any nicotine craving since giving up - just a constant nicotine taste in my mouth since... arghghgh!). Annie xx

hey good to see you are doing well. On 2.5 years as well. Funny how I still get anxiety too once in awhile. Nothing like when we first quit. How bad was that? Overall I feel good. So nice not being a smoker. I do have times though where I really want one. Even after 2 years to get that feeling shows you have powerful of a drug it is and why I wish I never started. Keep posting and never light up again. Keith

These are all symptoms of quitting. It takes time, for me a year to start feeling normal again. Everyone is different. Read through all the posts it helps. I did so many times really helped mentally for me. Today I'm at 2.5 years and feel really good. I now see smokers and feel bad for them. The smell almost makes me choke now. I will not miss smelling that on my clothes and fingers. Not to mention the health benefits. The SOB is very scary and makes you panic. I have been to the ER 2x because of it and each time they found nothing. Once I had a full physical done by my primary and all blood work came back normal I started feeling better. I think a lot has to do with your mind. Hang in there know we all went through it and still here years later so it can be done. Keith

Very kind of you to reply Keith! Yes, I have now started reading through all the posts here - so much of a relief to know many symptoms are felt by so many. Sorry you personally had to go to ER a couple of times.. I have been close myself but live in the middle of nowhere in southern Europe so not so doable for me. Don't even have a doctor here - plus I'm too scared to find out if there's anything else wrong with me (however dumb that sounds). I shall continue to feel positive about these symptoms in the hope they clear quicker rather than later. I don't feel I could last many more weeks (let alone months/years) with this severe SOB problem and the lack of sleep. Again, well done Keith and thanks for your kind reply. Annie x

Annie, you have to last even if it's a year. You will notice as time goes by the symptoms get better. For me to go to the ER I was really beat down but stuck with it. Today, looking back it was all worth it and you will say the same. Learn to do deep breathing exercises. Look on Youtube. Go for many walks push yourself even if you feel like dropping. At night listen to some meditation music with headphones on. Change your eating habits. Eat light small meals and drink a ton of water to flush out toxins. All these changes will help. Keith

Hang in there Annie. I'm a couple of weeks behind Keith, I was afraid to post till recently, but read everything being posted. It helped me tremendously to know I wasn't alone, It does get better, time indeed heals, I can't thank Keith and all the posters enough, Doug

Thanks again Keith - invaluable advice. I will let you know how I get on. Annie xx

Oh Doug - thanks SO much for your response too! It's very lonely not having anyone else to talk to about this (except you and Keith). I DO hope it gets better because today I have been the worst so far. I can barely breathe, no matter what I do (have practiced the deep breathing exercises, etc.) and I cannot walk 2 steps without nearly falling over. I only had an hour's sleep last night (sitting upright again, propped up with pillows) but went into a sort of shock state when I awoke because I just couldn't catch my breathe. I truly don't feel I can last like this indefinitely... a local friend has to do all my shopping, cleaning, etc... and thank gawd I don't have to go to work or something - it would be impossible. However, I MUST travel abroad in a couple of weeks to visit my poor old mum and am dreading how I will manage this as the only relief I get is hanging my head almost between my ankles (whilst seated) and panting like a dog. I will probably get kicked off the flight! Arghghgh Annie xxx

Your post sounds exactly like Angel who also quit. If you read through her posts you will see yourself. Today she is 100%. You will get through it. Sorry about today feeling the worst but say to yourself tomorrow will he better. When waking up in the morning say hey I got through it. A lot of this is mental. Keith

Hi Annie and Kathy I'm Kerry on day 110 of quit after some 30 years smoking quit ct same as you guys after many failed attempts this time I'm sticking it out I have to say it does get better but not a quick process I guess we all assume we will feel much better straight away but just keep taking each day as it comes I have had and still do have the same symptoms I drink hot lemon and honey each morning and night which has helped me tremendously I also listen to meditation music last thing at night after a lavender bath very relaxing keep posting and hang on in there

Hello Kerry - and thanks for your response. I too drink lots of hot lemon and honey morning night (and also through the day) which is definitely helping. I find it strange (but reading from others' comments, not uncommon) that suddenly a day can be better and then just as quickly you can go back to feeling pants again. I had 2 fabulously MUCH BETTER days this week - still panting like a dog after a few steps hanging on to the furniture all the way, BUT... managed to sleep full nights and had less SOB during the day. Today, however, back to everything horrid like it was originally.... can hardly catch my breathe, just sitting still in a chair watching TV all day, and moving around is hell. Had hardly no sleep last night whatsoever. I will just treat each day as it comes but it's impossible to plan for anything and I haven't been outside of the house in weeks now. One thing I do find curious (and I would be interested in anyone else's experience of this) is that my dreams (when I CAN sleep) are very odd. They used to be random nonsense, like anyone else's but now they are very strange, repetitive and carry "warning" symbols. Last night I couldn't sleep at all except for perhaps about 20 minutes. My repetitive dream was about a disintegrating railway track in front of me - sure to capsize the whole train and kill everyone... No matter what I did, it kept playing the same reel on a loop until I woke up with a start, unable to breathe and desperately trying to bash myself on my back to kick-start some air into my lungs... Had a similar dream a couple of weeks ago about a faulty lift shaft with the same awakening problems. Anyone else getting these? Again, thanks for your comments people and good luck to everyone on this crappy journey xx