I quit smoking weed in January. I only smoked weed in a pipe not with tobacco. I gave up cigarettes over 10 years ago. I had a chest infection over Xmas last year and so packed in the weed. In March I started running 5 miles a week. Then one morning I woke feeling as though wasn't getting enough oxygen. I dont get breathless walking about, I can ride a bike without gasping. I went to my GP he tested blood oxygen and blood pressure said it was anxiety put me on sertroline. Felt betteff during the day most of the time. Main issue was sleeping where I could only sleep for 2 or 3 hours and then wake up breathlesss. Had blood tests were fine had x ray no problem either. No cough or sputum. Purchased Oximeter reading 88 to 98 fluctuates (could be faulty). Sometimes my legs and arms feel week and shaky but I now sleep much better. Seems its imporoving! Cant work it out due to see consultant soon. Worried.
Awaiting a Diagnosis : I quit smoking... - Lung Conditions C...
Awaiting a Diagnosis
Hello Matty. 👋
How long did you smoke cigarettes? And how long did you smoke marijuana? Was it for medical reasons? Smoke is harmful to our lungs. It can be from tobacco, weed, burning wood, anything. Obviously, because of the toxins released. No different with marijuana, it contains toxins and irritants as well. I have a friend who smokes weed. She inhales it much more deeply that she does tobacco so she has much greater exposure to tar.8. She also has a chronic cough.
Having said that, it is much, much better than smoking tobacco for sure , yet no matter how we slice it there are long term effects of smoking marijuana too. Inhaling any smoke into your lungs will cause issues.
When you take your oxygen levels are you sedentary ? How long do you keep the device on your finger? If your finger is cold it can change the reading. If you are otherwise feeling good I would not be too hung up on your oxymeter. Take your reading when you feel you are struggling with breathing. If you are able to run at any speed at all, I think you are doing pretty well , since most of us here can just about manage a slow amble about. Go to your doctor with a concise list of questions. Get the necessary tests if they think you need them. But importantly, live your life and keep up with the running.
I hope it works out well for you.
Cas 🍀
Hi Cas, yes I have ADHD and the weed helpedd me relax. I used to smoke cigarettes and joints with Baccy but Ive not had any tobacco for over 10 years. I just smoked pure weed in a pipe. Less weed daily than a quarter of a cigarette. Im 54 and smoked since my teens. You take breathing for granted until it becomes an issue. My experience totally freaked me out as its not as though I had a gradual deterioration., like I said Id already quit the weed for 3 months and then woke up with this feeling of not qute getting enough. It seems to me there needs to be clearer definitions or terms for difficulty breathing. I mean you can be breathless gasping and panting to get air as in; after excercise or movement, then there is this sense of just not quite getting enough air but not being out of breath. There is a difference but they both seem to be described as short of breath. Ive been disappointed with my Doc he seems to think its anxiety related and after 5 months has finally reffered me. I mean waking up short breath surely isn't normal. I feel as though hes just been fobbing me off although he has areanged for x ray, blood tests. Its having weak and shaky legs and arms occasionally which is new. Strangely Im sleeping better and Im not getting the breathing thing during the day. Its an enigma. Covid hasn't helped as the clinics have closed, spirometry test which I couldn't do. Although I did do the Peak Flow test and recorded 650 pretty consistently for a month. Reading what others are experiencing on here maybe I should shut up, but like I said breathing issues are a cause of concern for anyone. Thankd for your reply btw. 🙂
All I would say is don't feel that you should shut up. There is always someone here to respond to any lung related query as you have found. Many of us have severe lung disease but that does not mean that your concerns are any less important.
We are a friendly lot and there are many posts not purely lung related so stay here if you wish and join in.
Best wishes x
Hi Matty, I have Athsma and COPD. I had a bad attack of something in December and could not breathe and was admitted to hospital. You are certainly right when you say "You take breathing for granted until it becomes an issue." I had another attack in January which had all the symptoms of Coronavirus but the consultant said it was flu even though the military consultant at the QE said that I caught flu whist I was in there. I had three letters from the hospital each with a different diagnosis. Within days of discharge I had to visit my GP as I had absolutely no energy and could hardly walk. The GP referred me to a Neurologist because she thought it was Parkinsons. My hands were trembling and I thought I was getting Dementia as I couldn't remember what I had been doing the day before. That really cheered me up as you can imagine, but I sat at home waiting for my appointment in October until I couldn't cope and I phoned my usual GP who did more blood tests and I got a phone call within a week to say it was my heart. Apparently if you're heart is not pumping properly the blood doesn't get to your brain and other parts of your body. He gave me medication and within a day I was much better and I now am due to go to the Heart Failure clinic. That's by the by though and regarding cannabis. My breathing has not been good for years so I invested in a vapouriser. It only heats the weed to 220c so you don't get carcogenic smoke just vapor and if you take a deep breath of it you feel a soothing effect in you're lungs. I thoroughly recommend to anyone who smokes weed to get one. Even if you get damp weed it works just as well. Eight months I have been isolating in the lounge with the wrong diagnosis so my opinion of doctors is somewhat diminished.
Hi Matty, 👋
Did they ever suggest a sleep study? Waking up breathless could mean you have sleep apnea and being shaky is of course not normal. I don't understand why hospitals are not doing testing , like the spirometry. 😒 Anyway, there's not much more constructive that I can add. But I hope they can find out what's ailing you. In the mean time keep up your fitness levels. Running is such a great form of exercise and I wish I could do it. Take care.
Cas xx 🙋🐕
Hi Mattyra did you know that smoking one joint is the equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes . Im not condemning you as i too smoked ciggies and weed . I have severe emphysema and also had half my left lung removed . When you stop smoking it takes a while before your breathing returns to normal and you can feel quite rough . Im sure your symptoms are smoke related . Good luck .
Much love Babs xxx
Thanks Babs. When you Google weed there are many conflicting views. Many pages say there is no link between weed and lung disease. As you know people tend to mix baccy and weed. For over 10 years I just smoked weed no baccy. The other thing is weed is a bronchodilator which is ironic Ive read people using it to improve running. Even suggestions it could be used to help COPD. Ive quit now. Somw people have suggested its just my lungs re programming themselves. Id like to thinks so irs been 8 months now since I stopped. What is good is that my condition does seem to be improving regards sleeping better and not getting the air starvation feeling, or am I just adapting to having less oxygen. Can or worms. My referral will hopefully throw some light on things but it has been an awful 5 months if anxiety and worry.
Hiya.if yr feeling beta,it sounds like sertolines helping and cld be some anxiety related probs. Sounds like u have smoked tobacco/weed for long time so yr bound to have withdrawal effects.if yr outa breath, id concentrate o deep,slow breaths at those times and it will help settle it.its good that tests are normal and yr so active.as caspiana says, most of us are lucky to walk a short distance at snails pace!! Id not worry.sounds like yr doing great. 02 being up to 98 is completely normal,my friend stopped smoking & had bad anxiety for over a year, and didnt comprehend link with changing habits of a lifetime. X
Patk1 thanks for your response. The Sertroline has helped but it can also cause insomnia and weakness and other side effects which are similar to COPD. The Oxymeter is odd one moment its 84 to 92 and Im not feeling breathless then it can be 95 to 98 when I do. Ive stopped using it as it doesn't help me.
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