Shortness of breath after stopping smoking

I am thinking out loud but it seems that a lot of folks on this board that have quit are experiencing being short of breath SOB. It seems that that all have quit using Chantix. I also stop smoking 3 months ago. I have always played basketball and workout when I smoked for 35 years. Never felt this SOB even after playing full court basketball when I smoked. . I have quit before but not this long. From reading this board it rules out the age and length I smoked since there are posters that are much younger than I am that are going through the same SOB. Is it the Chantix that causes the SOB??? Just wondering! If anyone has quit and has SOB after they quit but did not use Chantix please let me know. Good luck to everyone!

Sorry but I didn't use Chantix and I've still got shortness of breath! I quit exactly 7 weeks ago (after 10 years, 20 a day) cold turkey and after about a month I felt fine and thought I was past all the nasty withdrawal symptoms. But for the last few weeks I've found it really difficult to get a deep breath, I find myself yawning constantly to try to get as much oxygen as possible. I'm also having difficulty concentrating and seem absent-minded all the time - not sure if that has anything to do with the SOB but it seemed to come on at about the same time. I'm not tempted to start smoking again as the symptoms of lung cancer/emphysema etc would be infinitely worse...but it's still frustrating that you're doing something good for yourself and yet you feel worse than you did before.

I quit smoking cold turkey, and I'm fine with that part, just the feeling of being so tired, and the shortness of breath, and the flash points of taking nicotine at times is really weird. After 2 packs a day for almost 40 years, even though I felt better while I was smoking, no breathing issues, I'm hanging in there, this will pass and it is the right thing to do. Thanks for all the posts I thought this was all in my head I understand things much better now, so on I go... day 4 and going strong, gonna get the job done this time. Actually I am done, I'm in recovery now. :-D Have a great day, don't give up.

I can't believe this! I thought it was just me and maybe anxiety. Not that shortness of breathe is wonderful or anything, but just knowing others are experiencing the same makes me less anxious about it. Some asked if Chantiz was the problem. I quit for 6 weeks last year using chantix but started back. I experienced SOB then. I am quitting now..hopefully..and after 3 days already have SOB. I have no health problems, never had, and now..just can't seen to get that deep breath. I thought it was the Chantix the first time..but now I'm on my own and still having the problem. I'm not coughing or anything yet so I'm hanging in there. If anyone finds a cure for the SOB, let me know. Good luck to all!!

I am a 31 year old who smoked since i was 16!! (ie: about 15 years). In the first few years i smoked between 5 and 10 a day, then up to a pack for a few, then for about 3 years 2 packs a day and finally back down to a pack. I started experiencing a little shortness of breath a while back while i'd be at my desk at work....not even doing any exercise!!! When i'd exercise, it wouldn't make it worse. It would just come when i was relaxing and/or not even thinking about it. I immediately quit smoking and felt even worse for a few weeks!!! (i'd walk 5 metres and think oh oh i'm going to get SOB and i would). I was convinced i had emphysema. As a result i went to the doctors, had all the tests, spirometry, x-ray etc and nothing came up. My doctor thought it might be panic from not smoking. It turns out, it was! I now have absolutely NO sob even when i do heavy exercise I haven't touched a ciggy since and never will again!!! Most people dont think about this but when you get a ciggy craving, think back to how you feel - the biggest feeling is that slight panicked, SOB feeling - the feeling that you can breath better if you have a ciggy!!! It's ANXIETY caused by the smokes. But i'll tell you this - i was walking around with SOB all stressed out thinking that my life was over at 31 and i'd be like this for ever or worse!! That feeling is absolutely 100% stronger than any ciggy craving. DO NOT SMOKE AGAIN!!!! I have finally seen ciggy's for what they actually are!! They WILL eventually make you SOB ALL THE TIME and you'll decide to quit once that happens but it might be too late by then and you'll have life-long symptoms which would be an absolute nightmare. Good luck all!!

Hi I gave up 3 weeks ago after smoking for 15 yrs and I'm experiencing SOB badly and finding it quite worrying after reading these posts, I'm feeling a little less anxious! Today, I went to my Doctor about this and she said it's more or less to be expected as the the lungs are clearing, she didn't seem worried and in a month I'm to go back for some lung functioning tests to get a better idea of how my lungs are getting on. I was also told chest infections my occur and the cold weather won't be helping the lungs either while they clear out all the tar, mucus and god knows what else! I don't want to say "don't worry" but it seems as if feeling worse is going to happen before the benefits are felt! It'll probably be best to see your Doctor as well, just for peace of mind if nothing else. I also agree that there is very little info regarding the side effects of giving up smoking available and it took me some time to find any answers to the SOB issue, so thanks to everyone who posted their experiences here!

Hi I smoked about 15 years 1/2 pack- a pack a day. I quit smoking 5 months ago. I quit cold turkey. The first few days I felt great and thought this is going to be easy. At about a week I started having chest tightness, dizziness, feeling like I wanted to pass out. I had lab tests, ekgs all were fine. At about a month I developed coughing and cold like symptoms. after a couple weeks I had colored sputum. I had 2 rounds of antibiotics and was taking cough medicine and mucinex to thin the secretions. The funny thing is I seemed to feel better when I went out walking. AT month two. I was still having some chest tightness and coughing up stuff. Had a chest xray everything looked fine. Doctor said from all the coughing etc I most like had some bronchitis. I used inhalers for a few weeks. At month 3-5 had palpitations, cough,lung pain, short of breath, chest tightness. During this time I had Ekg, labs, echocardiogram, chest CT, tests to check fro heart attack. everything came back normal. Now finally at 5 months and 2 weeks I am feeling better..I never thought I would go through all of this to quit smoking. Because I felt so bad....I have not even thought about or wanted a cigarette. I just wish there was some information about the things that can happen to your body after quitting smoking.... good luck to everyone. I am just happy I quit...

This is from the pulmonologist that I have been seeing. The SOB most people experience is from a lung infection that destroys the cilia in the lungs. Most people equate it to quitting smoking, but the original infection is usually the reason for the quitting in the first place. You don't feel well, you quit, you get SOB. Starting smoking again will not relieve the SOB, but most likely slow your recovery.BTW: I have stopped taking the steroid inhaler and only take mucinex every once in a while. I feel good 90% of the time with a bad day every once in a while. Hang in there all, it gets better :)

The only cure is time, but there are remedies. Drink lots of water, take Mucinex. Mild exercise may help clear out the thick mucus, but too much may aggravate your condition. Control your anxiety, ask for an anti-anxiety drug from your doctor if necessary. Even in low doses you will find it improves your breathing a huge amount. Hot steamy showers and forced hacking while bent over will clear you up some. Breathing exercises. QUIT SMOKING or don't pick it up again.It takes time, but you will eventually forget you even had a problem after a few months.

I quit smoking 3 months back and feel the same SOB. I would like to share something that seems to be helping - or maybe it is just psychological Everyday after I wake up I go out in my backyard and take deep breaths of the crisp cold morning air.. Then after I am back inside I close one nostril and breathe in and out through one nostril in short bursts of about 20 per nostril (very deep). I have been doing this for a week or so and I feel better.. I think it is a form of Yoga... Good luck to all

It is somewhat comforting to hear these posts. I have quit for almost four months and have experienced SOB for at least the last 2 months..have to take those deep yawns to catch my breath, have had a sleep study that has identified sleep apnea. I never had any problem sleeping while I smoked, anyone experiencing this? I also have had restless leg syndrome since quitting. I smoked for 22 years, 49 year old female. I have had times wondering if I should smoke again, but I've gone way too far now! I quit (this time) with the patch for 2 weeks then cold turkey, no more cravings, don't want to smoke, but I am really ready to feel better!

I quit on Thanksgiving, went through some of the worst withdrawel symptoms ever. Yea, kinda like the dude going through rehab on tv. Cold sweats, fever, depression, went insane etc.. two weeks of hell. Then I start getting out and walking. I smoked for 20 years always less then a pack. I word out before quitting and could jog 2 - 3 mles with no problem. Now I can't walk uphill. Its like I hit a brick wall. After the first month, I started gaining weight so I began working out again. I am a lot stronger than before I quite, but my cardio and stamina are really weak. It is almost three months and I still have SOB. I also have not goen through the clearing of the chest yet... no coughing since I quit... I've read some good information, I'll try the musinex and I'll post again if it gets better Thanks

I had the shortness of breath (SOB) and insomnia after quit smoking, SOB lasted for few months after the quit. I am not sure the reason of it, but it will get easier.

I quit smoking 3 years ago and still get short of breath. I even feel sob when talking on the phone for any length of time. I have had two chest xrays and both are clear. I think there is a little more to this and intend to have a full workup when I return from my meeting in late March. I will keep everyone posted on the situation.

I quit smoking cigs almost 2 weeks ago...SOB panicky...its weird its like I forget to breathe I still smoke weed, can my lungs still heal or at least improve? Im switching to a vaporizer to take it a little more easy on my lungs. The one thing Ive notived is that my body and mind know the difference. During some of my worst withdrawals I smoked some hash but it did nothing to relieve the craving...but it did improve my mood.