Shortness of breath after stopping smoking

My story is very similar to yours....I'm on month 4 of not smoking and the breathing is getting better finally. Had all the tests done, ER visit, CT scans, Pulmonary Function Testing...ALL CLEAR! But still not 100%. Thanks for your post...I look at it often and it is very comforting. How are you now after more than a year not smoking?

I smoked for many years, about a half-pack a day. When I quit, I began to have shortness of breath and fluid would frequently build up in my lungs. This lead to a very congested cough. Much of what I read said that this was normal and would pass in a few weeks to a month. It didn't. I was referred to a pulmonologist who got me a chest X-ray and a breathing function test. He prescribed a once a day inhaler. Within 24 hours of starting the inhaler medication I was able to breath again like I hadn't for many years. I have been on the inhaler for about two months now and I am now better than ever before. If you have a similar breathing problem after quitting don't wait to get relief. See a pulmonologist if your symptoms persist for longer than a month.

Nicotine is a serious narcotic!! I'm 49 yrs old, and quit this past February 2017, it's been 3 months and 9 days now since I quit...my lungs are clear according to x-rays and CT SCANS, but I'm having a lot of health issues since I've quit!! I have bouts of shortness of breath all day long, and at night, just after I've dozed off I'll wake up, it's crazy!! I get up 2 x per night now which I never did before! I'm miserable, when I get shirt of breath it causes anxiety which makes everything worse! I landed in the hospital with pneumonia, acute bronchitis and the flu altogether back in February and by the time I got to hospital my oxygen level was 87, which is bad!! I was admitted of course and stayed for 4 days, they told me in the hospital that if I didn't quite smoking then the next time I go to hospital I'll be leaving pulling an oxygen tank!!! I said that's it, there's nothing sexy about walking on the beach trying to pull an oxygen tank behind you!!! I don't wanna live like that, always gasping for air but since I've quit I feel l8ke that all I do....I'm gonna go back know to a pulmonologist and have a Spiromerry test done again because I'm so concerned about my lungs, but my point is I'm having all the same issues as all of you and I asked my family physician to be honest with me, as I told her I think I'm doomed, etc....and she said it's gonna take awhile a good year or two but you will be fine!!!! You will get better, as long as u dont smoke, your lungs will heal back to normal.....so I'm hanging on that hope!!! And praying a lot!!!! I have quit for good!! Living and breathing happily is way more important to me than smoking...hope this helps anyone...also I'm using Spiriva once a day, a nebulizer when I'm home and feel the need and I use a rescue inhaler whn I'm at work and away from home, and I use it frequently.... good luck and God bless all of you through your lung healing process....

I was a pack aday smoker for 10 years. I have quit smoking as of January 1st at 9 am. I haven't had a smoke since. I don't use the patch and I haven't taken the medication for since January to help me stop. I am over weight by about 50 lbs. I also have suffered from Acid Reflux most of my life and take 40 mg of nexium once a day. I feel a tightness in my abdomen and have lost my appetite or atleast that feeling of hunger. I also feel a tightness in my chest and have shortness of breathing when I am just sitting down or move positions suddenly. I plan to go see my doctor soon, just wondering if this sounds like something I should be concern about or should I just start walking on the treadmill and see if I can increase my breathing.

I have sob but I did not use Chantix. I quit cold turkey 5 months ago after smoking for 50 years. I was not having sob for the tst 3 or 4 months. but all of a sudden about 3 weeks ago I started having sob. I don't understand this. the doctor says that I have copd so I just say that that is the reason for the sob. I will be going to the doctor soon and I will ask him to chcki me out for something else. hopefully it will not be as bad as I am thinking it will be.

I am smoking 3-4 cigeate a day since 3 month and suddenly i stop it after that my mouth is dry,tongue is white , gums is red and tingling in whole teeth but no sore in mouth will it causes cancer

Do you expect to be on the inhaler forever or did the doctor just give it to you to help you heal ?

I've smoked for 34 years and June 11st will be 1 year quit. I feel worse everyday and the breathing is horrible at times. It's so embarassing trying to breathe and my job requires constant moving. It was so bad yesterday I went to bed and cried myself to sleep. What is suppose to save my life by quitting has made me feel I have no life at times. I pray it gets better.

I'm pissed after 1nhalf yr non smoking I lit up again when i was out drinking. I actually got tired of feeling like crap and the extra 20 friggin pounds i put on. But I think that i should be able to quit again. Anybody else fall off band wagon?

I fell off the wagon multiple times myself. Jump right back on.

How soon did you start to see improvement. My smoking history is very similar to yours and just quit 2 weeks ago. Wondering what to expect.

Yes, I have been smoking for 45years. I quit 6months ago. Had I known how ill I would have been I wouldn't have quit. I too get shortness of breath but it is getting better.

I'm a 35 yr smoker that quit six weeks ago. I too am having SOB episodes since I quit. I have found the Pocket Neti inhaler to be helpful in taking the edge off. It's the dark green one called Breathe Easy. Important distinction. ) I purchased it on amazon and is a combination of sea salt, eucalyptus,peppermint, rosemary and lavander. You might want to try it. Good luck.

I just quit. It has only been 4 days. I have been on 4Liters continuous of oxygen for the past 13 years and still smoked like a major idiot. I finally put on the patch and am using the gum through the Florida Quit Line which I get all free patches/gum I am now more short of breath than I have ever been in my life. I have been smoking for 51 years since I was 12 years old. My doctors office told me the shortness of breath could last about 3 to 4 weeks. I have to walk very slow and sit down a lot going through my house. I am going to do this. Good luck to every one doing this

Hi there thanks I will. I quit once i will again take care