Shortness of breath after stopping smoking

Hey Kathy your not alone :) stay strong and positive and you will beat this I came to the conclusion ( after foolishly thinking I would instantly feel better for stopping ) that for 30 years I've poisoned my body with cigarettes and yes it's not a great feeling the sob and withdrawal but it has to adjust to not having all those nasties in your system it will take it some time to heal and repair. I'm having more good than bad days now I've found drinking hot lemon water 6 glasses a day the least is helping thin mucus making it easier to expel, it's also a great detox, hope this helps, here when you need some support, Kerry X

Kerry....yesterday had to be the worst! I went shopping with a much taller friend and had to really scoot to keep up...I'm only 5 ft tall....I seriously thought I was going to collapse. So short of breath! And then panic sets in and it gets worse. I'm having better days now. It's not a steady thing and I think my mind takes over sometimes and I go into freak out mode. I'm over the cigarette cravings thank God for that. I'm over 100 days smoke free....yayyyy e!

Hey I know what you mean it's worse when I'm in the cold wind now mine, I've taken up yoga which I hope will work, and try and stY focused so the anxiety doesn't set in again it's not a nice feeling is it ! Well done for over 100 days we must have stopped about the same time I'm at 133 days today !! Keep strong, keep posting it helps I find. Kerry X

Great for the both of you. The SOB is all in your mind trust me. I'm almost at 3 years and it feels great. Hang in there and keep posting your progress. Keith

Friends will this sob clear out. I can walk with no problem but stairs are a killer. 4 steps and I feel puffing

Hi.. Cold turkey every single time I quit over the last 40 yrs, this time, sob is kicking my butt, thinking about and er visit this morning actually, but maybe i just need a humidifer..lungs feel very dry the first hour of wakeing...just dont know smh, what did we all do to our lungs.... Lord Jesus, lay Your healing hands on us..Amen

Same here, quit smoking for almost 3 months and sometimes i still feel shortness of breath like not enough oxygen. Damn

I am suffering with same issue , doc asked me to get a chest x-Ray done & he told its normal , but I am still feeling short of breath , I am worried !

Hi all worrying about the sob if you read all the posts you will see the sheer amount of people who have had the same problem, sure if you are worried get docs to do a chest X-ray to be sure and out your mind at rest because trust me the anxiety worry and stress make the sob 10 times worse I'm at 138 days smoke free now and am starting to see light at the end of the tunnel after 30 years smoking!! I found the 4-8 week time was my hardest with sob but I do keep getting it but it's not everyday now like it was, please keep strong you will get through this xx keep positive xx Kerry

I have extreme SOB after quitting - none before. Smoked for 42 years - 2 packs per day. Quit Aug 17th - cold turkey - no drugs - no patches - nothing. Feel worse than I ever did in my entire life. Cannot even walk to the mailbox & back without almost collapsing.

I quit smoking five days ago, second time around I'm 20, have been smoking since I was 13. It was hard the first time but it was a long time ago , so this time around because of the withdrawals I thought I was dying ! I got sent to the er and they asked if I recently quit cigeretts , I said I did .. They said well that would be the shortness of breath and swolen lungs, dizziness, shaking, anxiety, confusion, depression, and waking up in the middle of the night freezing or sweating . I thought it was just general anxiety and an asthma attack , because I would be that person to smoke when you have really bad asthma. But even with both my inhalers I'm still having shortness of breath , because of the withdrawals . Hope this helps if anyone was curious as to other symptoms it comes with to!

Hi sorry to hear your suffering, I know it's not nice, have you been to see your doc? You may need an inhaler till your feeling stronger, I have a lot of mucus which I think is a lot of the sob for me, try drinking honey lemon and hot water, it is better if you can exercise I found sitting made me worse even if it is just light exercise, steam works a treat too and also trying to control your breathing through your stomach give your lungs a rest ! Keep posting hope you feel better soon xx Kerry

i stop smoking cigars for a month but my breathing is worse than what i was smoking

rely thanks can you tell me what to do?

Going to a doctor might put you more at ease. Its almost 3 years for me after smoking 47 years. If you don't want to see a doc all you can do is stay strong and fight thru it. The sob and anxiety will get better with time if there is no physical problem. For me it was all mental. God bless. Doug