breathlessness

[Usmanghous1]

hello everyone. i am 25, recently quit smoking, was diagnosed with anxiety long before quitting.

however now that ive quit i am 45 plus days in. the problem is that at times i start feeling i am short of breath or as if ive forgot how to breath. this triggers a panic in me and breathing gets worst. ive visited my gp and they suggest that nothing is wrong with heart or lungs. the feeling of breathlessness stays for a while and then there is a general discomfort in breathing for a while before it goes away. thinking about something else or diverting my mind helps. i have gas problems too and they are messing with my mind now. because of this gas i feel breathless as well.

please help.

[jillygirl Administrator LONG TERM WINNER]

Hi Usmanghous 1.

Being shorth of breath is very common, which in turn makes you feel anxious and panic.

When you are finding it hard, try standing or sitting still for just a couple of minutes, deep breathe and relax. Then try again.

This works for me as due to my lung problem I have diffculty breathing at times.

Exercise is more than likely the answer. xx

[Usmanghous1 Next attempt in reply to jillygirl]

while i smoked and it got continuous i wasnt breathless. but now that ive quit it happens. especially when i have nothing to do . this happens usually on weekends and after the phase is gone i feel week in the legs, have milder discomfort in breathing and have yo catch my breath even when i am talking.

[Usmanghous1 Next attempt in reply to jillygirl]

also i start feeling light headed.

[jillygirl Administrator LONG TERM WINNER]

I think your lungs are still clearing themselves from the poisons of smoking.

When you smoke it can hide lots of ailments.

Now your lungs are working extra hard to clean themselves.

Be patient and exercise. ☺

[Hidden]

Hi - if your GP has run some blood tests and you're not anaemic or have any other symptoms (like a rash/joint pain/enlarged lymph nodes or slow heart rate) then it sounds like a panic attack, especially as you write that it happens when you have nothing to do (when you're more likely to focus on your breathing) and goes away when your mind is distracted by something else. Do you find your hands tingle when it happens? That's a panic attack sign. Smoking was probably a great distraction and a calming aid for you that you no longer have, so some trusty alternatives when those attacks happen could be 1) phone a friend or just chit chat to a neighbour 2) sing - belt out your favourite song 3) have a caffeinated drink (caffeine opens your airways) 4) try to rationally recall a/all previous time(s) you felt this way and know that this attack too will pass and nothing bad is going to happen to you. Hope that helps.

[Usmanghous1 Next attempt]

thanku so much for your post

since i have quit i have tingling and numbness in my arms and hands. smoking was a huge aid. yes . but it wasnt helping me anymore because it created other problems so i quit.

i will try and work on your suggestions. i hope they help.

[chrisb63]

Hi Usmanghous1, yes breathing issues post quit are quite common, with yours truly being a victim. I had quit an almost 40 year heavy smoking habit in mid Feb' this year, but prior to that I could walk fast and not even get out of breath: even walking uphill wasn't really a problem, but once I quit and for many weeks thereafter, I just couldn't get my breath. Even climbing the stairs at a normalish pace I would be totally out of breath and gasping for air.

I was convinced I had COPD or Emphysema or even Chronic Bronchitis, but with the passage of time that breathing became much easier. I now do 15 to 20 minutes of mini-trampolining or what is known as rebounding every other day and deliberately get out of breath by using handweights and alternating running with jogging on the bouncy mat.

I'm a brand new person from head to toe and its taken 6 months to get here, but I am free, free at last and have my life back from poison nic.

You can do the same. Patience is all you need.