Shortness of breath after stopping smoking

It's been 2yrs. 9 months and things continue to improve but not perfect, I guess putting crap in your body for 47 years takes a long time to reverse. Do get checked out by a MD so you don't have to worry about that. For me it's been anxiety and sob, takes time and not smoking. Good luck Doug

Steam will help

My problem is the same ... shortness of breath... quit smoking about 3 months ago and wham... now I'm worse than when I smoked with the breathing.. my neighbor, a nurse, said to take lots of vitamins, lots of fluid and rest... it is the healing of the lungs.. and should last ABOUT A YEAR.... I almost considered going back to smoking.... lol ... anyhow, I am surprised I am not having urges to smoke. So far, so good.!

Wow!!! I do exactly the same thing. Can't find out why

Steve, I have exactly the same thing going on. My smoking was so bad and for 30+ years of smoking didn't help. I actually went so far as to get on anti-depressants because of the tightness.

Hi the both of you ! I smoked for 30 years stopped cold turkey 7 months ago and suffered sob the same even at rest ! It could be anxiety but go to your docs get checked out to be on the safe side, I am still getting it now but it's less and less, you have to think your body takes time to repair itself it isn't going to happen overnight, please read the posts on here hopefully put your minds at rest also try steam, Vicks and deep breathing from your stomach all helps , take care here if you need advice Kerry

Hey, im 16 yo and started smoking since like 12yo? And i have difficulty breathing for a few months or yrs now haha im still finding a solution to it but i just dont dare to go see a doctor or get a x-ray because im afraid of the results i may get and it would cost a bomb to get a x-ray and what if it is just my thinking haha yea you knoww~~

I've been following this board for some time (actually on two occasions) I quit smoking for good on Feb 1 of this year 2016. I was a heavy smoker for the better part of the last 25 years. It was not long until I had SOB, I did have a chest xray which led too a CT Scan because of a pulmonary nodule. That is a separate issue, the reason I'm posting is that after my initial SOB bout that lasted a couple of weeks I was fine for like three months, then last week I was out driving around and I noticed the same SOB. I've slept a handful of hours in the past week. I went to the doctor today (gp) who basically blew me off after I asked for a spirometer test, I was basically told I had a cold and told to come back next month. I'm self employed and uninsured I make to much money to get an Obama care subsidy so Insurance is out of my reach. Anyway, My plan of action is two fold 1) I ordered a handheld spirometer today so I can test myself for COPD. 2) I'm going to the health food store tomorrow to get food grade h202 (35%) to mix and take to try to get oxygen into my system. If anyone has any thoughts or would like to correspond I'll be here. BTW thanks to all posters and all comments and personal accounts are appreciated by me. FCG

Hey buddy, I too started out at twelve. Unfortunately for me, I didn't quit until I was 26. I have not smoked since August 17, 2015. I started having shortness of breath about a month after I quit. It was only occasionally, maybe once per day it would kick in. Then it started going on for longer periods and happening more frequently. Like you, I was scared and didn't go see the doctor until the shortness of breath was affecting me all day, every day. LISTEN TO ME, THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO, NOT GO TO A DOCTOR BECAUSE YOU ARE SCARED...and also continuing to smoke. I was scared too. Just be prepared for your doctor saying, "ct scans are normal, x-rays are good, you are perfectly fine ." It's absolutely annoying, you want them to fix this. Good luck kid, I'm sharing in this aweful pain they call shortness of breath. Stick it out

Thank You... I know only people who have experienced this understand. I've gained a whole new level of empathy not just for ex smokers, but for those with confirmed COPD, cystic fibrosis, and all those other terrible diseases. So my current status as of this posting is that the SOB has I think at least for now disappeared. I did go to the emergency room; the doctor said that based on vitals and listening to my lungs that If I had COPD it would be mild. I got my spirometer the next day and my FEV1 is between 90% and 96% of the predicted FEV1 So based on that I'm thinking its not COPD. BTW, the spirometer I got was from Micro Direct they're out of Maine. The unit only cost $185 with postage, and it is easy to use. So that makes it way cheaper then a trip to the ER. Good luck to you and everyone on this board.

yes!! I am 60 and smoked for 42 years. I was always very active with my horses and livestock. I quit cigs 8 weeks ago and two weeks later the coughing and lung clearing began which is awful but expected; however, three weeks ago I was fatiguing very quickly and realized it was I was unable to take a deeper breath. just talking makes me struggle for air. going to see a doc tomorrow. pretty scared.

I quit smoking Mar 25, 2016 and I have frequent bouts of SOB, too. I was a heavy smoker for 40yrs and never was struggling to breathe like now. It seems to come and go. Sometimes light walking and I'm feeling very SOB and struggling with tiny rapid breaths. Sometimes, I can walk & walk and be fine. My dr explained that it was not withdrawal per say b/c that would have passed. But, that during stress my body was used to the nicotine calming me down, so the SOB is kinda like mini panic attacks. Thus, I started vaping a little nicotine. I honestly do not know if it helps or hurts. I still have some good hours and some bad hours. I only bought e juice that had no diacetyl or aldahydes or other bad chemicals. Due to FDA new rules vaping may become a thing of the past for harm reduction and ease of quitting. Thank you everyone who has posted. It gives me hope and calms me down that this is common and we each have to work our own personal way through it. Good luck everyone.

I tried taking deep breaths and symptoms of shortness of breath left thx

I find that coffee helps my breathing. My son had asthma attacks and his doctor recommended giving him coffee black to open his airways. Hope this helps

Hello there Iv been smoking for 13 years and Iv quit 4 months now and I'm still struggling on breathing but it's getting easyer it's like my mate said clear your head don't over think about it and it's working