10 months and fighting every day :-)

[Diddydelz]

Hey all!!!

I’ll be the first to tell you how much of a battle I have. I’m 10 months free and couldn’t be happier. That being said I had anxiety last up all the way up to the 8th month, also chest tightness has slowly withered away from the 1st month to where I am now. Deep breathing still is sore and I just started hacking up phlegm in my 10th month where I thought after month 6 I would be free. I just want to let you know the fight is long and everyday one step at a time. As I cough up more and more phlegm I feel my chest loosening up. 10 months I felt that I’d be over the hump after 6 months. I am more alive than ever now, I can run forever, I workout almost everyday, and I’m thinking way clearer than I ever did. I’m happy I quit in time to welcome my son into this world and be a father that doesn’t have to show smoking to my child directly. I’m definitely open to hear what worked for all of you in terms of your chest tightness.

[Hercu Valued Contributor]

Diddydelz..Welcome..and yes what a wonderful life without smoking....!

Exercise is the best medicine and and even now after three years some days while jogging I get very tired after a km or two and the the next day 5 km is a walk in the park....

I blame it on the COPD ... but learned to live with it...!

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free]

Great to hear from you Diddydelz - congratulations on 10 months smoke free, that is great!

I hear ya about the phlegm and chest tightness (well more lung tightness for me in my upper back), I still get both from time to time and heading towards 3 years, think the humidity and air pressure is a big factor for me, but what I found helps greatly which I have been doing from I stopped is a spoonful of honey (raw if possible) every morning and evening to keep the lungs clearing out and keep up the exercise, sea air is also great to clear the head and lungs when possible.

Congratulations on your son too, he is a lucky boy to have a healthy smoke free Daddy

[Scarlet123 3 Years Smoke Free]

Congrats Diddydelz. What an achievement!

I also try to exercise daily including my runs which helps get the endorphins firing.

I get a a cough occasionally, feels like residual stuff. Smoke free now for seven weeks.

I’ll remember - every day one step at a time -

Thanks. 👌🙏

[brook940 1 Year Smoke Free]

Hi Diddydelz,

Congratulations!

I have been about 5 months smoke and nicotine free after smoking for 52 years. It has been worrying me that I still have daily bouts of anxiety and depression as well as increasing chest tightness and shortness of breath. I have not hacked up any phlegm yet either so I guess that could still come.

I was doing very well on the treadmill since early April with no shortness of breath at all. Suddenly, early this week, I have had to greatly decrease the frequency and intensity of my workout. Has this kind of thing happened to anybody else?

While I'm certainly not happy for you that your symptoms lasted 8 months, I AM happy that you posted about it. I was beginning to fear that my current state is as good as it will ever get. So it is very helpful to know that some of these symptoms can take quite awhile to improve. Thank you and kudos!

Best regards.