Shortness of breath after stopping smoking

No cigs for 5 months and I agree I feel worse now then when I smoked. Breathing is the pits. Simple tasks are even difficult. I have put on weight since quitting so maybe the extra 40 pounds is contributing to the shortness of breath. When the weight gets back to normal, if this is still a problem then I might reconsider giving up cigs. I was really expecting to feel spectacular when I quit.

same here.. I quit after 50 years of smoking and it has now been 10 months since my quit date,, I am still having shortness of breath, and on occasion cough up gook,however, i think the gook is coming from my sinus . Scares me i didn't have shortness of breath this bad when i smoked, and I am also gaining weight like crazy, and am tired all the time.. I wish i never quit.. at least i felt well when I smoked.

I smoked heavily during a 2 decade haze of hard drugs & alcohol. After 5 months, I feel like I have less lung capacity than before I quit. I keep reminding myself that it's my all too powerful, subconscious. Trying desperately to drag me back down. Then again, could be flashbacks.?.? Good luck, brother.

That sounds like sleep apnea

I've just read through some of these comments I've been hospitalised in the last 8 weeks had an X-ray and a ct scan both of which were clear but I'm still unable to walk up the stairs without being completely out of breath. This has been the worst 8 weeks of my life I feel horrendous I gave up smoking January 1 2017 and I've never felt so poorly. I've panicked that there's something underlying they haven't found yet and have another xray on Monday but this is just so awful. I'm coughing mostly in the morning and the pain in my chest (below my throat to my boobs) it's tight uncomfortable and I just cannot take a full breath in without being in agony. Anyone feel the same ?? I'm scared and have had tests bloods etc which have all come back pretty normal

Steve I gave up in January but had a nasty chest infection in late January then in late march started suffering with pain in my chest breathing difficulties. I attended A&E at one point because it was so bad I've had bloods X-rays a CT scan all of which are clear .... The pain and shortness of breath and cough are most certainly worse in the morning. I've now been off work for 4 weeks due to utter exhaustion shortness of breath ( I tend to shallow breath) I was diagnosed with costronchondritis also. I'm at a loss of what to do I can't even make it up the stairs without being totally out of breath exhausted and reaching for air but every time I attempt a deep breath it hurts and I end up coughing. Any advice from anyone I'd be really grateful because this is horrendous after smoking for 25 years about ten a day I thought I'd feel great - I can't even walk my new puppy I feel utterly distraught

Yes same as you and same age . Smoked for 25 years . Please anyone can give up if I did . Pain to glory please God .

Ive experienced the same thing especially in the mornings. Im not a doctor, but I would say its a combination of increased anxiety due to lack of nicotine and adrenaline and also the fact that the lungs are starting to heal.

Looks like smoking has caused me another injury.   Just spent 5 days in the hospital. I had been having chest pains lately after climbing stairs and or ladders. I work in the oil and gas industry and do a lot of climbing. Went into have a stress test since the pain would get pretty bad after climbing. It would go away after 5 minutes or so. So i go in to have a chemical stress test and about 2 minutes into it my chest was killing me. Test came back abnormal. This was Friday. They kept me over the weekend to do a Angiogram Monday.   Lets just say i dodged a bullet. One of my arteries was 90 to 99% blocked. I was pretty much on the verge.So i had a stint put in and my doctor tells  me if i take care of myself i will be ok and live a happy life. Now the anxiety is back and had a pretty bad episode on the way home.

after 7 months of not smoking I only now am feeling a bit better..I suffered severe shortness of breath...and felt terrible for the most of the time..they do not tell you about this part of what happens when you stop smoking..it..sinus problems..headaches...SOB...are only some of the aches and pains you will experience

I did a lot of shallow breathing..thought I could not breathe properly..I am now at 7 months...it has improved significantly...did also all tests to check lungs...throat etc...my throat hurt for 5 months..my shallow breathing was scary....I never had these symptoms while smoking...but will not start again..because I am now seeing some results...no doubt I will see more with time..I smoked for 40 years...in the last 3...2 pkts a day...they just do not tell you what to expect..they make it sound as if you will feel better immediately...not true my friend..but if you persevere you will...remember why you quit.

try to sleep in a remote controlled recliner

same here 50 years. Short on breathing. Please don't take up smoking again. Lungs do repair themselves.

Glad u gave up smoking. I'm 65 and smoked 50 years. It was time 2 quit. Smoked 2packs a day. I used the patch. It was easy 4 me because I knew I've been lucky. I found out that u have 2 want 2 quit. I quit nov first week of 2016 now may 5th 2017. In march I got up 2use the restroom and fell on top of my footboard of the bed and broke a rib. I spent 2 nights in hospital and had 12 x-rays done 2 find out if the lung had been pierced. I was cleared and gave breathing scripts. Advair and albuterol. I started having breathing problems in Dec 2016. I was told by my family doc that after my rib is healed she would have a mri done 2 make sure my lungs r ok. This week I'll have that done. The best thing u can do is enjoy your new life from smoking. The lungs will heal themselves. I feel better every day even with the sob. I suggest give yourself at least 1 year. Good luck.

Smoking is a mind thing. You have 2 want to quit. Smoked 4 50 years used patches 2 weeks and stopped smoking. It's been 7 months. Yes I have breathing problems. sob. lungs do heal themselves in time. Give yourself at least a year. good luck.