Shortness of breath after stopping smoking

The human body is a self healing and self regulating miracle once we stop abusing it. It will take time but every day without smoking is one day closer to regaining good health. I'm into week seven and my SOB is marginally better on most days. I still need to exercise more and drink more water. I've heard that drinking LOTS of water in vital. Good luck and never give up.

I am only 20 years old i smoked for about 6 years, and smoked heavily the past year since my grandfather had passed away, it has been about 2 1/2 months since i had my last cigarette but i had really bad SOB at first it seems to have gotten a little better but some days it gets really bad, I also started having really bad anxiety about a month ago because of my SOB i had went to the doctor to get it checked out and they told me it was my anxiety that was causeing me to have SOB, i have got a grip on my anxiety but when i start to get anxious it makes it worse cause then i focus on my SOB. so i dont think its the CHANTIX that causes the SOB. Probably just our bodys reacting to all of the crap that cigarettes put in our lungs.

Amazing I felt great as a smoker. Played tennis never short of breath weight was awesome. I quit a year ago Ive put on 15lbs My tennis game is in the toilet I feel lousy now short of breath anxiety is crazy wtf

I quit and did not use Chantix. it has been 5 month's for me not smoking. I quit cold turkey. I wonder why after 5 months I have this sob too.

I just passed 3 weeks since I stopped smoking. I run 2-3 miles and I hit a 100lb heavy bag in 21 minute sessions, my whole life while smoking. I didn't use Chantix and quit cold turkey. I noticed im not coughing up any phlegm and the SOB isnt continual, it comes and goes when it feels like. I hit the bag yesterday and I had a mild case of SOB. I'm getting ready to run right now and ill see what happens. I believe it will gradually go away but for now it's barely holding on, the SOB. I think our bodies are still adjusting to not smoking tar and nicotine. The SOB doesn't impede me as much as it startles me. I think its going to take time, and I tell myself, I didn't have any SOB issues while smoking and working out, so I try not to focus on it and feed it with any more energy than it's taking. Stay strong and don't smoke. All things must pass and this too will pass, my friend.

yes, and my pulmonary doctor acts like its nothing. maybe I need a new doctor.

well my pulmonary doctor says that I have COPD. iam taking the meds she prescribed. now my main problem is sadness and lack of energy. I am going to my PCD today and see what he has to say. I may need a vitamin B12 shot to boost my energy.

From South Pacific: Hi, all your experiences you have shared has cooled me down from panicking. I've been a smoker for about 10 years. When I stopped smoking, for one year my breathing was fine. But now after 1 year and 4 months I started to develop shortness of breath slightly in the begining which I did not pay any attention. But then after 2 more months and SOB gets bigger and happens several times a day..ontop of that I get scared and anxiety also makes SOB worse. I've seen doctor's and my chest x-ray reports from lab technicians states normal in airways, chest etc. I also took blood results as well and everything's fine except haemoglobin level is below normal....probably due to SOB so I'm taking iron/vitamin supplements to help my red blood cells. Now its nearly the end of this 1 month I staryed experiencing SOB and hope for that day when it shall finally be over. I'm having confidence and being positive in my mind after reading all your shared experiences and I believe its just my lungs and airways healing and repairing itself after these 10 years of polluting it so doing my best to stay healthy and let my body naturally heal itself. Glad to be now 1 year 6 months free of smoking habit and I ain't touching it again...ever!

Omg I'm having the same problems I have stop 1 yrs and 9 months now and still having shortness of breath when doing exercising and walking up stairs as well

You are not alone. I too feeling the same thing and it really sucks. I am happy and relieved that I am not the only one suffering SOB. First I thought it might be totally serious, now I understand. I just need to visit a doc and ask for some meds. Congratulations to all of us who quit smoking!! Were almost there.

After 21 yrs of addiction i gave it up in my 40th birth day. I feel like you while playing badminton or running. But i can just motivate you by quoting numerous bad habits which are gone with smoking i.e. bad breathing...throat/lung/mouth cancer, constipation...piles....unusual hair fall...whitening hair...decreasing sex power....low sperm count....memory loss....social stigma...i feel irritated smtime without stick of cigarette buy thinking of my future i dont. Have heart to say bye bye ash

I actually tried that. I tried to start smoking again, in the desperate hope it would make me feel better. But no. I coughed even worse. Of course! So I had to endure shortness of breath and coughing... all through the summer and into autumn. Then, one day, I just realised I wasn't coughing anymore. I picked up jogging again last winter with my girlfriend. I easily outran her...or maybe she let me, lol. After ten months of not smoking my throat felt really good and I could begin smoking again without problem. No coughing or anything. It felt really good. Except of course I realised I was making a huge mistake. How weak we men are! Can you believe it? So I quit again. It's three weeks now. And I'm back coughing and shirt of breath. And thinking 'never again'. Never. Never.

I don't think about going back. I went to a pulmonary doctor and she says I have moderate COPD. the medicine she gave me is not helping my sob. if this would go away I would really be happy. 6 m0nths have passed. I smoked for 50 years.

Yes, same here, quit a couple weeks ago and I feel like I can't breath when walking upstairs up a small hill , I feel very unhealthy.

A great answer!! Thanks for the response