Shortness of breath after stopping smoking

Still going strong,on my 2nd month now. Went back to the hoapital after a real bad episode,had an angiogram done and all is good. It seems like my lungs are good but i might have developed esophageal spasams or GERD. Im still coughing up gunk but it is clear. Had a fairly bad episode 2 nights ago and was about ready to go again. My wife (who has been great through all of this) was smart enough to purchese a blood pressure cuff while she was out. Suck it on me and it read 115/78 68BPM. 20 minutes later i feel 100% better, so some of this is in my head for sure....  

tHIS BOARD SUCKS

Today is my 160 days smoke free pain, pain, pain, doctors, doctors, doctors hospitals 19 days of shear pain no one could tell me what was wrong with me . Everything checked out great I m 69 years old smoked for 47 of those years. these last 10 days my breathing has really improved. I weight 134  lbs I m 5 ft 6 inches tall. been trying to quit smoking for 4 years sufferig from s o b the whole time. Waiting each night for the grim reaper, could not breath Finally found this web site. changed my life totally, I wish the best to you all. and may you have a great thanksgiving and Happy hollidays to all Faiths. Its 28th of november 2013  Ralph.

Getting a little better but don't want to jinx myself   Cmon people keep this thread alive!!

Yep,they told me the same thing . I have experienced the very same feelings after quitting . I developed asthma and decided to quit . Took all the pulmonary function tests and blood work for antispirin which was negative. Even if I have developed emphysema smoking can arrest the progression. If you smoked for years your lungs are full of tar and Maybe ash and god knows what else. I would say for every decade smoked, expect at least a couple years of recovery. I started coughing up black gunk within a week or so of quitting and 4 months later still am occasionally especially since I run/ jog. I've done so much research cause I am now so concerned for my health, and the most reliable info I have found from the experienced is that it could take years for your lungs to clear the tar and gunk . You will have moments where you are short of breath . Blood sugar, hormonal, thyroidal and many other chemical changes are taking place as your body readjusts to the way it should be. Jogging, Breathing exercises, and eating healthy will all speed up the process. :) Steam baths also help. I've read from a few sources that the shortness of breath is from anxiety, Lungs repairing, Tar moving over air sacs on it's way up, cilia growing back and thermal damage. My guess is that it is a combination of all of these. The body heals regenerates and repairs itself. I side and out . I almost cut off the tip off thumb two months ago now there is hardly even a scar. Cut out all processed foods and sugar. Get a chest X-ray just to be sure. Then push your self harder and harder with exercise than you ever have . You must make up for the time and health wasted while smoking in order for proper healing to take place . Continue to love yourself and put aside the cravings knowing that is all they are are cravings nothing more and your real bodily craving is for clean air water and fresh foods and exercise. Lots of proteins and vitamins and supplements and a good cleanse will all help. It will take a long time, but hey it's what we get for having this nasty habit for so long. JD Scarecrow

That is,"Stopping smoking" can arrest the progression of emphysema!!

I will never go back,especially with how much i've gone through, with this being the result of quitting smoking.....besides my wife would MURDER me. I dont think i have cravings anymore, at least conciously but i do have triggers. It would be nice though to have a true doctor confrim that these symptoms are or can be a result of quitting. I mean the evidence is clearly here within these posts and I/we are surely not going to hold any doctor liable, but to confirm would great.

Today makes 170 days for me, lots of them very very bad, this is one of the most complex reactions I have ever seen in my 69 years on this little blue world .Its a very good thing we have medicare, or I would maybe be dead.. my hospital bills alone have been over 150,000 dollars, thank you medicare. my breathing continues to inprove.A set back now and them , but surely better day by day I want to warn and caution you that want to return ti smoking please don t it will get better if you don t smoke again.  I thought at first that my age would prevent that, but it did not, dont worry about extream exercise  its not good for you and it makes it harder to breath . Just live your life normal without the smokes. Best of luck to every one and happy hollidays to all.. Ralph

does anyone know if emphazyma comes on quckly? if I have it, mine dod. I started feeling short of breath 2 weeks ago. I went for an xray the report gave a vague title of "hyperinfation compatable witch COPD. ' but also "no evidence of an acute disease process. I quit the day I got those results. i havent smoked in 5 days. I am on a 2x a day COPD inhaler, a fast acting inhaler - albuterol, valium, benedryl and Valium for anxiety (that not breathing is causing). none of these medications is lessening my shortness of breath. Anyone have any ideas.

Emphysema is like rust on metal its very slow, but its progressive, it never stops. even when you stop smoking it continues.You may slow it down but you cannot cure it, stop smoking and don t start back the rest of your lungs will recover and you will live alot longer. Thanks Ralph

Hang in there. The best thing you did was to stop smoking. A lot of the breathing issues are due to anxiety as well. Valium will help with that but it's an addicting drug. Try taking some good Omega fish oil pills 2000mg daily. Get a really good B-Stress complex vitamin. Go on You tube search for Deep Breathing exercise. I'm on my 6th month the first 4 were hell. Stress and anxiety were bad. Made a few trips to the ER from it. All tests are normal so it's all in the head. I am much better now but still get shortness of breath here and there. the anxiety is 80% better now. Do some light walking on get an exercise bike that works great. Good luck

How are you feeling now?....Have you gotten any better since your last post...?

You have no idea how this forum has helped me.  I stopped smoking the end of April and shortly after developed shortness of breath.   Just weeks before I developed shortness of breath I was walking into my job with a cigarette in my mouth...now I can't even walk the parking lot.  My family thinks most of this is in my head because my chest x-ray came back fine...my lungs are fine and heart.   I get winded even while I am sitting.  I feel desperate and reach out to everyone and anyone for help.  My doctors said they will retest me in a few months but they don't seem so concerned.  I think I am dying.  I feel like sometimes I forget how to breath...it's the strangest thing.  I know smoking is horrible for you...but I have never felt so unhealthy in my life like I do now....I just want someone to tell me it get's better.

If you had all the tests x-rays, blood work etc and they say everything is fine then I would say it's anxiety related. I quit in the end of June and was bad for 4 months or so after. Just this last month I'm feeling better and know this will all pass soon. A friend of mine took a year to feel better. I now go for weeks feeling great and will then get shortness of breath but only for a few days and then back to feeling good. I notice that the shortness of breath will come on when my anxiety kicks in. Go for walks, do some light exercise it helps. Take some omega 3 pills and a good B-Complex vitamin.

y last post 10days ago,  Then the sewer line in front of my house stopped up causing humaWell toteand all other kinds of stinking smells , that was breath taking ,the air was terrible, coulday is my 180 days of no smoking. It was getting pretty good on the breathing, untill mn wasdn t breath for 6 days till it was fixed. , Best of luck to every one ,And merry christmas to all.now go I my breath is slowly improving. seems like the devil has been on my back since i quit smoking. But on