Still Coughing

[freedomquitter]

I quit smoking 3 months ago, after 38 years of smoking.  I still have a clear productive cough. I think it may be chronic bronchitis.  My question is - does chronic bronchitis ever improve or go away or do have this cough to look forward to forever?

[Softns]

I quit smoking 10 months ago and still coughing but don't cough up anything I smoked 2 to 2 1/2 packs a day and quit cold turkey

[mr.lucky66]

I think the reason people cough after a month or so of not smoking is the cilia in our throat are come back .My doctor told me this and I had about 3 colds and a sinus infection the first 3 or 4 months after I quit. Now I'm better but I still get cravings. Some people get over it faster but I'm not one of them.

[kathyjo]

You may be allergic to certain ingredients or a single ingredient in cigarettes. If you research what is in them, you will see that, in addition to the carcinogens there are 599 additives! If you can, quit and never, ever look back. You may feel sick in the beginning, but with time your body will readjust.
Contrary to a smokers belief, cigarettes do NOT calm you and they are NOT the answer to stress. I sure wish I would have realized that 40 years ago, but at least I did : )

[christoula]

Am 18 year old and i smoke for about 3 years i stop smoking then when my family issue started again i start smoking again. am trying to quit but i cant stop coughing and my chest hurts . what should i do. i have no prob. quit cold turkey my my chest hurts when i try

[kathyjo]

What I wouldn't give to be able to ride my bike uphill! Even if my lungs complied, I'm afraid my body wouldn't allow it!
Seriously though, you will feel better every day, you have to! No more carcinogens, and goodbye to the other 599 additives that we inhaled every time we chose to light up!
Good luck to you and feel better real soon : )

[freedomquitter]

Thanks for taking the time to comment.  That made me feel much better.  I have less coughing each day and was hoping it would eventually be gone.  Isn't quitting wonderful, though?  Can't believe I waited so long!  Thanks all for the suggestions.  Biking uphill does get the lungs working.

[MaraFowler]

I found that exercise that gets you breathing heavy and your lungs getting a workout helps because it seems to clear out the bad stuff.. take it slow at first... and work your way up.. I'm going on 9 months and I still occasionally bring stuff up when I workout really hard. It's soooo nice to be able to breathe better but it was a rough road!

[ColonialDirt]

Guys, even I had the same problems earlier when i stopped smoking 7 months ago, I found that diverting our concentration towards something that we love to do will help us quitting the smoking without any side effects. Like I diverted my concentration towards my fitness and till now I never had any problems.So divert yourself to music, yoga, Gymnasium or even gardening which you like the most and which provides you peace of mind which helps to relax yourself from other stress

[kathyjo]

you really should go to the Dr. and get something for your bronchitis before it turns to pneumonia and or pleurisy. I had the latter and it is no picnic : (
I smoked nearly 40 years and I was sick for about 4 months. I expected it, given the length of time smoking, so just hang in there and it will get better but only if you get yourself some antibiotics for the bronchitis.
I have what my doctor called asthma but I know it's smoking related and I'm quite certain that it was the beginning of COPD. I did join a gym and I do cardio but I'm sure had I not smoked I would have better stamina. I'm not going to dwell on it though, because it could be worse : )  From taking my Advair inhaler 2X daily, I now take it about once a week. I think that's so much better ; )

Good luck and keep us posted!