Shortness of breath after stopping smoking

I too smoked for 30 years and quite cold turkey 19 months ago. I had all the same exact symptoms. Matter of fact, I was on clonazepam and Zoloft as well and neither of them made me feel better. I felt worse taking them so I stopped after 3 weeks. I just delt with the anxiety and depression knowing it was from quitting and it will pass how ever long that was? Turns out it took about a year to feel somewhat normal. Now I feel much better but still once in awhile will have anxiety that passes quickly. Never had any of these issues before quitting. Hang in there exercise and eat healthy. Deep breath it helps. Keith

Guess this one freaks us recoverees out - we hope we'll just be able to live like normal folk again, but the SOB is scary. Yes, I'm quit a few weeks now after 30 pack a day years,  and have googled my way into emphysema, pulmonary hypertension, small cell carcinoma, angina, and God knows what-all. I've made an appointment at the doctor to get everything cleared, or confirmed! Which I think is the best thing for everyone with this SOB. Get systems checked and if you get the all-clear, at least that's a lot less to worry about. Strangely enough, it seems true that lungs don't like being filled with smoke and we'll have to endure the protest awhile, till things clear or worsen lol

shortness of breath is very typical. After quiting you must do breathing exercises with deep breaths, holding each for several seconds. Do this as many times per day as you feel short on breath. Also, get some exercise.... it gets those lungs working and expanding like they have not done in many years. Breath shortness will go away in time, but people want instant results.... just remember, every persons body reacts differently to the lack of a stimuli that was common for such a long time. Drinking lots of water will also help to flush toxins from your body. The faster the nicotine is gone from your system, the faster your problems will go away.

Hi Keith! Hi Ralph! ***Update*** I had my checkup at the pulmonologist and I have went from only being able to breath at 60% capacity to 86% capacity which is within normal limits!!!! I am finally cured! I hope everyone else is doing well!

Congratulations Angel, that is some great news and gives me hope to someday get much better. Did you take any inhalers or anything like that during your recovery period? I know you mentioned being given oxygen early on in one of your posts. I am going into my 12th month smoke free now and am better now than in my early days of the quit but still nowhere near completely my "normal" before I quit. I still have to take advair and albuterol to help me through the day. Advair helps the most and lasts the longest but I hate having to rely on meds to breathe. I take them very very sparingly and some days none at all. I also coughed a ton of crap out of my lungs, but that has stopped finally sometime last month. So I had roughly 11 months of coughing out crud and I feel the best I have in a year right now.

Hi Mike...they gave me inhalers but I kept saying that I didn't believe they were working or that I was not doing them right because I felt no benefits and when I had my pulmonary functioning test performed, in fact, the inhaler did absolutely nothing for me so they discontinued me taking them...Give it time....I was where you were and it took me roughly 15 months to start feeling better....now I am almost 22 months smoke free and feeling fabulous!

Thanks Angel, the inhalers do help me, that's why I worry. I would hate to have to rely on them forever but I'm trying not to let that happen if I can help it. Of course this winter weather isn't helping matters!

Yeah...the cold is rough when it comes to being able to breath...I would wrap a scarf around my neck and hold it to my mouth...that helped..stay positive... :-)

I smoked for 32 years, now I have been a month totally free of nicotine. I also have been dealing with shortness of breath. i think it might be a bit of anxiety, for not smoking. i think it will take a while to go away completely. it is still healthier then smoking.

That is great to hear. I know you have been though the ringer with this quit so it's well deserved. I too feel pretty good. The anxiety is still there but not much only when stressed and that cig use to help :0).. Glad to see new people posting and I will continue to help anyone that has a question. Keith

Hi Keith! Thanks...and same here!

I am also going through the same obstacle and my shortness of breathe is killing but seeing this had made me think twice, thankyou for sharing!

I have the exact same symptoms.

Same here I'm all over the place with my breathing. I get nervous when I think its slow but then i freak if I think my heart is beating to fast. I'm on Xanax for this anxiety since quitting 4 months ago after 25years of smoking. Also been the ER route all tests normal. You would think you feel normal after quitting but this is crazy. But then again i thought i was normal when i was smoking.

I can tell you it does get better...you feel like your are dying for months...but once it all passes...you will feel fantastic! It took me over 15 months to feel better..hang in there!