Hi guys, how are you all doing?
I just want to ask, does chronic bronchitis develop even after you quit smoking (cigarettes and weed)? Or does it occur when you are still smoking? I am worried again because I just read the symptoms of chronic bronchitis and it kinda fits in with what I am feeling now/going through right now.
I will just give a timeline/bullet form of my experiences from the start so that you guys can have an idea.
1. Started smoking cigarettes at around June/July 2012
2. Never a chain smoker, my frequency varies but I am sure that I do not do 1 pack/day.
3. Developed asthma when I had my first weed back in June 2013.
4. Started smoking weed in June 2013, frequency varies too, but I do not do 7 days/week. The most that I did is 3 days/week but I probably skipped a week or two of smoking after that.
5. Finally quit smoking cigarettes and weed back in May of this year, 2014.
6. Experienced withdrawals at around 3rd week of May 2014 and lasted until I think last week of
September.
7. Had an appointment with the doctor on July 2014, made me do some breathing tests like blowing a flute like instrument to measure the air that I am able to blow or something like that and passed it, had an x-ray and ECG both were clear.
8. After 5 months of abstinence from cigarettes and weed, on October 4 I smoked weed again (2 hits only) due to peer pressure and was really faded.
9. a couple of days after, I am back to feeling the withdrawal symptoms again.
The withdrawal symptoms that I experienced from May - September/Oct 2014 were:
1. Coughing
2. Spitting of Sputum
3. Shortness of Breath/Chest Discomfort
4. Insomnia (for a duration only)
5. Drowsiness (for a duration only)
6. Headaches (for a duration only)
7. Colds (for a duration only)
8. Depression (first 2 weeks)
9. Lack of Concentration/Cloudy Mind
The withdrawal symptoms that I am experiencing after taking 2 hits of weed from October 7 (or something) - Present are:
1. Coughing
2. Spitting of Sputum
3. Shortness of Breath/Chest Discomfort
4. Lack of Concentration/Cloudy Mind
5. Colds (For a duration only)
There are actually instances where I do not feel shortness of breath, mostly when I am not thinking about it or when I am not stressed in general
I have no blood found in my sputum by the way
I also use a steroid inhaler for my asthma twice a day and a nasal spray
Now, here are the symptoms of Chronic Bronchitis:
1. Cough.
2. Production of mucus (sputum), which can be clear, white, yellowish-gray or green in color — rarely, it may be streaked with blood.
3. Fatigue.
4. Shortness of breath.
5. Slight fever and chills.
6. Chest discomfort.
As you can see, I have some symptoms like cough, sputum, shortness of breath, and a little chest discomfort. I dont have fever and chills, and I go to the gym so I do not really feel fatigued.
I am really worried. Because having chronic bronchitis is awful (basing from the things I have read from Google). Am I just paranoid or what? Does bronchitis develop only after you quit? Because I did not feel any of these when I was still smoking, or the things that I am feeling right now are just part of the withdrawal process and this is perfectly normal? please help guys (I'm only 21 years old by the way)