Wondering how my fellow ex-smokers feel about their lungs now

[PinPinPatrick]

So it's almost been 2 months since quitting, and although I do feel much much better.  I am still getting some nights where I'm laying there and if feels like my lungs are burning... it's an inflammation feeling in my lungs and it varies in location.  When I quit smoking it was like more intense and steady for like 4 days straight and although it has gotten better it's still there.    I also get that inflammation feeling in my throat and I've had sore throats too, almost felt like someone was trying to choke me.  I took antibiotics after seeing the medicenter doctor and it did help so I think it was an infection.  But then after the antibiotics it kinda came back a bit again.

I don't really have any chronic cough, or cough for that matter.  I had a minor one before and I occasionally clear my throat and sputum comes up... mostly macrophages that did their cleaning job.

I am seeing my family Doctor today so I'm pretty excited about that.  Going to be talking to him about all the health issues that I have been having.

But yea just wondering if any of the ex-smokers have that inflammation burning feeling in their lungs that I'm talking about... or sore throats.  Or if they had it and it has gone away.  

[r1dpargeon]

River & Missmel... I am smoke free after 30 years.  I used the equate patches from walmart which are much cheeper than the name brand but I also lit a candle.  I know it sounds strange but I kept a small yankee candle by my side especially at the computer in the evening which was when I did more smoking than normal.  
Each time I had an urge to reach for the smokes that werent there, I would light the candle.... you go through the motion of lighting something but the smelll is much more pleasing than a cigarette.  I would blow it out if I got a new urge and light it again with the next urge.  Something about reaching for the smokes but lighting the candle helpped me.  Maybe it will help you?  I am happy to say I am smoke free and patch free now.  Although I do keep a patch on me in case something stresses me to the point in which I normally would have said the heck with it ... I need a smoke!  Put the patch on and the urge goes away.  Good luck!  

[missmel10]

i must stop smoking please help

[River46]

I have quite a lot of issues, but my biggest one is that I MUST stop smoking. I smoke under 2 packs of menthols a day. I guess with my other issue of never sleeping it keeps me smoking through the night too.  Any help for me..

[moonpiebaby]

After 30 yrs of smoking. I can't really remember what healthy lungs feel like! Sad but, true. I've been smoke free for 18 months now!! I also have the burning feeling in my chest and a little huff and puff when I walk. DAMAGED!! May have to have this checked further! I was told when I was in the early stages of my quit, the pain in my chest was my lungs trying to heal themselves. And the cough was also part of the healing. I can't say this is forever, but, as it stands, I really have had no cravings or wanting to smoke again. Best of Luck to everyone! :o) T

[Jade59]

I'm pretty amazed myself!  I was just telling someone else, I just canNOT go back to the whole "suiting up" OCD crap.  That alone, every 20mins or so was...ugh, I don't even want to think about it.  I am So done with it!  

Thank you, my Hero : )

[kathyjo]

WOW! Amazing Jade, you go girl!

[Jade59]

My post corrected the order this thread was in just so you know I'm not crazy, LOL...although, maybe a little...

[Jade59]

Huh.  What happened to the order of this thread?  Odd.  

I too, had that burning sensation before I quit.  It was due to having bronchitis for 5mos for only the second time in my life.  I consider myself Very lucky since I'd been smoking for 36yrs. That burning sensation has been gone for some time, however, I wonder if I now have asthma or some form of beginning COPD since I still need my inhaler on occasion.  I will be coming up on 1year quit on April28th.  My last tiny little cheat of literally one puff happened last Oct 6th and nothing, not a single puff since then and absolutely zero desire to actually inhale cigarette smoke although I'll be honest and say I would LOVE to smoke to cut the boredom, but that's the only reason.  

Good going, everyone!!  Keep it up!
---
9m 3w 13:54 smoke-free, 2,964 cigs not smoked, $815.10 saved, 1w 3d 7:00 life saved

[kathyjo]

As a result of my 40 years of smoking, I find it difficult to walk in the very cold temperatures, it really hurts my lungs. I still use my Advair but maybe once every two weeks...I am so grateful though as I have never felt healthier.

When I quit I was sick for about 4 months. I had 2 sinus infections, bronchitis, pleurisy and my eye, nose and scalped itched so badly! My lungs felt like they were crispy and it took a while for the burning to go away, but it did, eventually.
In retrospect, I wonder why I waited so long!
Good job Brice, PinPin & Teko, congratulations!

[teko]

I had that burning sensation before I quit, but not since putting them down. I also no longer have that smokers cough. I have a bit of insomnia off and on thru the night still, but other than that not much difference except I smell better and am saving copius amounts of money! That be a good thing! I am 6 weeks into my quit.

[brice1967]

Hey Pin.... Although I only smoked 1 pack of cigarettes in my life (I chewed Copenhagen for 30 years and decided to quit using Marlboro Lights.... what an idiot) I can tell you that after that pack, my lungs were ruined.  Worse than that, my lungs were already compromised with asthma, and me being the rocket scientist I am thought that Marlboro's were the best way to go..... I quit chewing later for 4 years and recently quit again, like 36-37 days ago.

The common denominator with both quits is, I went cold turkey.  I tried to quit by cutting down, and really that made matters worse.   This quit, I just dropped it.

How do I feel?  Great!!!  My teeth, lips, and gums no longer hurt.  My throat feels as if it has been relined, and I haven't had a bit of heart burn since dropping it.  No regrets, and I know I wont be going back.

As for the 1 day smoking career.... after coughing for 2 days in a row and wheezing for a week, I was smart enough to realize that smoking is not the way to quit chewing as a nicotine delivery... the way to quit nicotine is to drop it!