Shortness of breath after stopping smoking

Thanks Keith. I've read completely thru this thread several times. It has also helped keep me focused on what is really going on in regard to real -vs- perceived s.o.b. I'm encouraged by your story and success. It would have been easy to just walk away and stop posting after you got well, but you hung in there and gave the rest of us hope.... thanks again. I plan to follow your lead in helping others as my symptoms continue to improve.. As stated above, I am just completing month 3 but things are slowly getting better. Hang in there everyone.... RJC

So now I'm going through coughing spasms I'm the one that wrote that I smoke for 50 years and I'm on a year and a half not smoking again I am so glad I don't even know how I got on this website but I'm so glad that I read he coughing spasms I'm the one that wrote that I smoke for 50 years and I'm on a year and a half not smoking again I am so glad I don't even know how I got on this website but I'm so glad that I read this post Keith's post thanks so much Rena

Having read through this entire thread, one thing I see is that smoking frequency and history doesn't seem to have too much of an impact. There seem to be people going through SOB whether is 3-5 sticks or 3 packs a day. I fall in the former category, smoked 3-5 cigs (American Spirit naturals, no additives) for the last 8 years. Starting to experience SOB the last couple of days. I can't tell if its severe but it is definitely nagging, and its continuous. I constantly find myself needing a heavy deep breath every 5 mins or so and when I take it - it feels very unsatisfactory. As though the lungs wouldn't open up more than 50%. I am able to go to the gym and do my usual 3-4 mile run. SOB is there even when I run, but it doesn't limit my running too much. Occasionally (once or twice an hour) I feel palpitations on my chest for about 5-10 secs (when I'm just sitting and doing nothing). The weird part is, I hadn't even tried to quit. Did anyone else have this problem while smoking? I haven't seriously tried quitting till now (except occasional 1-2 week stints). But if what I am feeling now is just a preview of whats to come, then I can't stand it. I'm going to give quitting a real try now and today is just day 1.

No problem. I remember there were a few people that stuck around a long time that gave me hope so why not do the same? I know how hard but it can be done. I think angel and Ralph dropped off.

I have pretty much the same symptoms you described a long time ago. Did they ever go away?

I have followed this board for 2 years as I struggled with anxiety and sob. After smoking for 47 years its taken over 25 months, but am finally starting to feel a lot better. Had almost given up, you need to hang in there and not smoke! It does get better. Doug

That is great to hear. Better late than never. Keith

You did a lot for me Keith. Thanks Doug

Hi there hang in there

Glad to hear. Hope you get back to feeling better soon.

Finally i get over it after 2 months... i do experienced all of that withdrawal symptoms cause by quitting smoke..i experienced anxiety, shortness of breath, sweating and hard to sleep at night... i am an ex smoker after 7 years of smoking... Don't give in guise.. God bless us all ex smokers... ex narcotics ... Live healthy... just do deep breathing exercise.. drink water often. and most of all do exercise so that you can sweat out all the toxins in your bodies... :D

this is good advice. I do think the longer you smoked the longer it takes. If you smoked 40 years may take a couple years. Just hang in there. Doug

I have quit for 2 weeks now after 13 yrs of smoking and also have the same right rib pain! Any conclusions?

Hello I'm Brett & I have just stopped smoking after 40 + years. One month after quiting I'm losing my breath and figure it's a normal experience reguarding our health that we are not a custom too. I hope you will consider my theory.

Yes and I've actually considered smoking again it's terrible and I hate it