Shortness of breath after stopping smoking

you know honestly i'm surprised some of you experiance this... i have been smoke free fro 2 months (quit date was sept. 29) i feel like i have something in my throat and i cough because i have a tickle. my energy shot out the door.. i feel i have to do something. i take my dog out for a walk when i feel stressed or craving... my appetite is fair; havent gained hardly weight.. i'm on chantix and i have quite a bit of support here. i been a heavy smoker since i was in my 20s (i started at 13 i'm 33 now) anyhow.. just putting my 2 cents in here... dont quit quitting... good job people!

This is the first time I've been to this site but it's interesting to read that others are concerned with the same thing that has been a concern of mine. At 53 years old after about 35 years of 2 pks/day I quit smoking last Feb (Feb '08 =9 months to date) using Chantix in a program overseen by the medical staff at a major midwest university, which also is my employer. Entering the smoking cessation program at the time was my wife's idea and the timing wasn't due to any pre existing health concerns on my part. I've quit smoking many times in the past but this is the first time that I feel worse after quitting, in regards to shortness of breath which hadn't been an issue while smoking and long term hoarseness/courseness of voice. I've talked to the nurse in charge of the program several times and her response was that I smoked for 35 years and that it was going to take a while for my body to clean itself out. Regardless, it's still comforting to hear that others are experiencing the same thing firsthand and that there is reason to believe that MAYBE I didn't coincidentally experience the first signs of some terrible medical problem just as I quit smoking XD

It has been over 6 months since I quit smoking in Apr. after one pack/day for over 30 years, and the short of breath (SOB) and chest tightness (CT) are still with me on and off. I can play a round golf by walking 18 holes with none problem of breathing but I could get SOB for no reason for a while and gone even sitting at my office chair. Also I have chest tightness (CT) on and off for sometime coupled with mucous up in the throat but not much coughed, checked one doctor with X-ray examined OK and it was clear with breathing sound cleared by doc. Doc said it will take some time to recover, just feel calm after seeing the other poster in this thread said it may take a year to recover. Hope the damage to my lungs caused by longtime smoking is not too bad.

After reading some of the post's on here im finding this very reassuring to hear im not alone in feelling short of breath. Its still very early days for me, iv stopped smoking two weeks ago after 35 years and iv never felt so rubbish in my life. knowing that everyone suffers the same has made me feel so relieved. Some of my symptoms are feeling very lethargic, headaches, general aches and pains, very chesty, generally not feeling as well as i did before i stopped smoking. Il never go back to smoking but knowing that the symptoms will get better makes it easier to bear.

I have smoked roughly a pack a day for almost 30 years. I have had bouts of severe asthma and assorted respiratory problems over the last few years. I was really bad last week and ended up in the emergency department of our local hospital. This scared me so much. I decided I couldn't smoke any more, took the week off work, faithfully took my antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds and figured I'd be feeling like a million bucks by now......but that's not happening. I If I walk 5 or 6 steps, I'm pooped. I seem to be struggling for air. I haven't left my house as I'm afraid of collapsing. This is so discouraging. What's the incentive to stay off ciggies if the breathing doesn't improve? I'm miserable and angry and so tempted to light up! Will I every breath properly again?

Elaine,Most likely taking up smoking will not make you feel any better as I found out that, at least what I am going through, is the loss and gradual repair of the cilia in the lungs that move mucus up and out of the lungs. It takes a long time for these cells to grow back. As a mild asthmatic I can tell you that the mucus in your lungs foamy and thick and will sit there obstructing breathing with nothing to move it out. Try LOTs of water and mucinex and try to cough a lot, especially in a hot shower.When I was at your stage, I felt like I was going to pass out when driving my car home from a very mild work out. While awake, every breath I took seemed like a conscious effort. At night I thought I was going to stop breathing the instant I fall asleep. I had to take drugs to sleep. I had no concentration at work. It has now been 2 months and I am so much better, but still not 100%. But I spend less and less time each day thinking about it. I can sleep without drug assistance. It does get better.Stick with it.

I'm 53, had smoked for 35 years before quitting 9 months ago.I didn't have any of these problems the last time I quit (15 years ago?) but yes, this time I'm short of breath and not hacking things up....not even feeling the urge to cough this time.

Hi Elaine18/10/08 saw me in hospital for 5 days with chest infection. I stopped smoking there and then, and from thereon SOB, asthma etc etc. Since then I had more bad days than good, but a week ago I had a whole week that was better, just to have a relapse again this week. Hang in there, I know it is not easy, but can you imagine how it will be if you carry on smoking for another 30 and then stop. They reckon it takes about 9 months to get more better days that not, and five years to get sort of back to normal.

Today is day 50 of no smoking for me... Right after I quit I got a very bad flu so I couldn't work out for a week. When I went back to the gym to do cardio (which I was used to doing for an hour on an elyptical) I had to stop after 10 minutes because I thought I was having a heart attack! The unbelievable burning sensation in my lungs and shortness of breath scared the hell out of me. I have done quite a bit of research and discovered that it is just my lungs adapting to a totally new environment and rebuilding themselves... I started using a humidifier at night which seems to help a little. In all the research I have done, the key thing seems to be keeping your lungs moist to help get the phlem out. But more importantly, give yourself a break! You just quit smoking, congratulations, don't be to hard on yourself, and give your body a chance to recover...I smoked for 17 years, it will probably take more than 50 days to recoop!!! 8-|

I am a 44 year old male who has never had health issues. I quit about 2 1/2 weeks ago. In addition to the breathing issues (which I didn't have while smoking), I experience occasional rapid heartbeat and mild weakness, even when at rest. I am contemplating a visit to my doctor, but I can't decide whether or not it is necessary. Am I disregarding something more serious or over-reacting to a normal transition? Has anyone else experienced this?

I smoked for forty years, heavily for the past 15. I've been nicotine free (thanks to Chantix) for nearly 4 months now. HOWEVER for the last month or so I've been getting short of breath even after walking half a block! Before giving up I could walk several blocks before getting short of breath. It also feels to me that I am no longer breathing properly except when I'm sitting down or lying down. Could this be correct?

I smoked for 20+ years (I'm only 34 now); I started get a bit SOB before I quit, but it wasn't so bad. When I quit, it got much worse. I also have had panic attacks for the past 2 years (they started before I quit though) & they seemed to get worse as well. The doctor told me all my tests came back just fine. I had enough because these medical porfessionals just weren't helping me. Then I started doing yoga & relaxation techniques. I soon realized the mind is a powerful thing. I had all these ideas in my head what quitting smoking was supposed to be like & when I had different symptoms, I thought something was more seriously wrong. I believed I was supposed to get more SOB after I quit because that's what I always heard & then I would get nervous about the SOB so a panic attack would start. Do the research for yourself - quitting smoking is all psychological. If it was something that really was physically addictive, why didn't we crave a smoke within 20 mins of finishing one? Quitting smoking is no different; everyone is different. Just relax & calm your mind. You went to the doctor & everything was fine. Now, just take care of yourself - body & mind. If you keep thinking something is wrong, then you're mind will just create something to be wrong. It's called the law of attraction...if you believe something to be true, then it will be. It's hard to change a mindset, but give it a try. It really did work for me. Sometimes the problem really is just in your head.

HI CAN ANYONE HELP ME, DEC 16 WAS MY LAST CIGARETTE. I FEEL WHEN I AM SITTING THERE I CANNOT GET A WHOLE BREATH, THE ONLY TIME MY BREATHING SEEMS TO REGULATE IS WHEN I AM SLEEPING, I HAVE AN INHALER, BUT THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO HELP, DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THIS IS WITHDRAWEL SYMPTOMS I JUST WANT TO BREATHE NORMAL AGAIN

From what I can read is the sticky tar in your lungs is moving out or breaking up and this is causing air pathways to be blocked thus shortness of breath.I quit 2 months ago after 35 years and still have the SOB. I go to the gym twice a week really can not tell a difference in building up my endurance etc. I am much worse than when I was smoking. I could not run a full court game at the Y if I wanted toAnyone know of anything that will thin the tar and speed up the healing process. I go to the steam room 2 to 3 times a week.Stay with it guys!!!! Keep up the communication

i quit smoking over a year ago i also stopped the pill at the same time i also put on at least 3 stone since then i still get out of breath dead easy takes a lot to walk up banks not sure if its due to extra weight or still having side affects from quitting smoking any sujestions would be great :-D