Dear Amp33
Firstly, well done on quitting! If you live in Hampshire you will hopefully already be in touch with a Quit4Life adviser, either over the phone or face-to-face, who will be able to give you some reassurance and help you get the best from your NRT patches. There are a lot of short term "symptoms of recovery" that some people experience when they first stop smoking, eg a feeling of congestion as all that gunk starts to work its way free from your lungs! These symptoms generally pass quite quickly and most people start to breathe much more easily than when they were smoking. Lots of fresh air and drinking plenty of water generally helps. If you have concerns about feeling more breathless than before I'd advise you to consult your GP. I can reassure you, though, that the patches will not be the cause of your symptoms and stopping smoking is the best thing you can do - keep going!
