Quit smoking in July...is this normal???

[irish_molly]

I'm curious if anyone else who has quit ever had problems with coughing, a "tickle in your throat" sensation, or shortness of breath. I quit smoking cold turkey in mid-July, and have been doing well with getting past most of the cravings, etc. I smoked for 13 years altogether, between 1-1.5 packs a day, started at 15, and stopped when I was pg/bf. I tried to quit in February of last year, and I ended up with bronchitis; I didn't think anything of it, because I chalked it up to it being the middle of winter. I eventually allowed myself to fall off the wagon and start up again by summer. My bad!!!

Now, fast forward...I decided I wanted to quit before the big move to AZ, and the difference is, this time I consider it a lifestyle change, so I feel more motivated - I'm finding other ways to "destress," like exercise. For about the last month or so (off and on), I have been coughing up the remains of my old habit, and it hasn't been fun. The last few days got really rough, and I bought some OTC stuff to try to break up the congestion, and things got worse. I ended up in Minor Emergency last night, because I started to get so short of breath it was scary. They took x-rays of my lungs, and guess what....bronchitis, AGAIN. They said it was my body reacting to losing whatever it was "getting" from the smoking. They screened me for asthma, and they didn't get any red flags, just lots and lots of congestion, and a raging bronchial infection. They put me on a couple of scripts, including an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, and prednisone and albuterol, to keep everything open while the infection heals. I'm supposed to follow up with GP in a week or two.

I'm just a little confused...I never thought I'd get sick after I quit smoking! I'd rather have this than something much more serious years from now, but it's really frustrating, because I just want to feel better. For those of you who have quit, or those of you who work in health care, have you ever heard of anything like this happening?

(Sorry if I rambled!!!)

[CW&M Mom]

My suggestion is make an appointment with a pulmonologist. Other doctors and nurses make really bad pulmonologists.

IMO you might need a HRCT scan of your lungs...and pulmonologist is the best at listening to lungs and really discerning if there is some kind of concern.

[lmcconne]

Please don't lose your motivation. There is no way on this green earth that any rational person in these modern times would consider smoking a ticket to longevity. As suggested, do investigate further.

[cybilx10]

Out of the last 10 people I know who smoked for over a decade 4 of them came down with bronchitis or some sort of infection when they quit. And a few of them even quit in the middle of summer.

Good luck to you!! I have plans on quitting here soon, just trying to prepare myself and get myself ready for the cravings.

[Doglover8180]

I used to date a smoker a while back - and he had quit - and he had the same cough - it eventually went away - it was simply all that "stuff" in his lungs coming up and out..... don't know if that's the same in your case, but it was for him.

[3timesoccermom]

Not a smoker - I came to congratulate you irish_molly but wow, I never heard of all you are describing. Who would have thought that would happen?

I just wanted to say be sure to finish ALL your meds, very important and

BIG CONTRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE CHANGES AND SUCCESSFULLY QUITTING!

[buddysmom]

Congrats irish molly!! and hope you are feeling beter real soon. I quit a year and a half ago - this website was very helpful to anyone about to quit or in the midst of it all... there are message boards and the members really help each other out:
Become an EX Smoker--Learn to Quit Smoking, Stop Smoking Cigarettes