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Feel like I'm struggling for air. Is this "normal"?

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Feel like I'm struggling for air. Is this "normal"?

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 186

Its like a negative reaction as your body is saying Im not use to this new behaviour it will settle!! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 13 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 275 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �71.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 40 [B]Seconds:[/B] 55

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 243

It's quite strange, but today, it feels like it's harder to get a good breathful of air, than it was when I was smoking. Is this part of the recovery process? Thanks [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/20/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 3 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 123 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �18 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 24 [B]Seconds:[/B] 18

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 243

Hi guys, and thanks for your help and tips. Felt much better this morning and breathing seems fine now. maybe it was the rush of clean air into them that did it?! I went along to a local quit/fit smoking cessation clinic and they measured the carbon monoxide in my breath. They did it before I stated on my Quit and it measurd up into the red on the scale. The level that only smokers get. last night, it was pure green, down under 0.7% and registering as "a non-smoker living in a clean atmosphere". I LOVE seeing something tangible for my quit. Shame it doesn't get better and better all the time and all ex smokers could have a tube to show the benefits of their quit on their bodies. S [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/20/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 4 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 169 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �24 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 36 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3131

Hi Serenity2 Are you breathing normally sometimes stress makes you breathe too fast. Concentrate on your breathing in through the nose exhale through the mouth do this 3 times see if it helps. Hope you feel better cause when you smoked you breathed in chemicals and junk now you breathe clean air. Marie [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 6/13/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 71 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,073 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $284 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 9 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 29 [B]Seconds:[/B] 41

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3131

Hi Serenity2 Ihad that test done also. I was so happy when it showed a big fat 0. It's true something tangible helps a lot :)Marie [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 6/13/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 72 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,093 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $288 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 9 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 33 [B]Seconds:[/B] 19

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 8760

Serenity2, It's possible, monitor for worsening of symptoms. Consulting your doctor will put your mind at ease. Danielle _________________________ The SSC Support Team

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2614

Tobeyfan Excellent post! [quote] Begin by breathing in slowly, through your nose while mentally counting to five. When you are inhaling, picture the air going down into your stomach, not your lungs. Put your hand on your stomach and you should feel it expanding. Now, slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of five. Picture the air emptying out of your stomach until it's totally expelled. Repeat this ten times during practice and as long as needed when you are experiencing the above symptoms. If you are doing it properly, your shoulders and chest will have very little, if no movement whatsoever. [/quote] Thanks [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 187 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,755 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1402.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 30 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 25 [B]Seconds:[/B] 33

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2462

Au contraire, Serenity. I think it does get better and better all the time! Oh there are some rough patches here and there, but overall it just gets better! You'll see! Rusty :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/13/2004 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 619 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 17,355 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2166.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 85 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 19 [B]Seconds:[/B] 11

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$62,212.80

Amount Saved
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Days: 828 Hours: 5

Minutes: 51 Seconds: 59

Life Gained
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5982

Smoke Free Days
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239,280

Cigarettes Not Smoked

19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 296

Serenity, Your body is going through enormous changes and will take a little while to settle. It certainly sounds as though you are suffering from a little anxiety? As Marie suggests... when you feel out of breath, take some time to concentrate on your breathing. Deep breaths through the nose and out through the mouth. Congratulations on 3 brilliant days......... :)

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$19,753.32

Amount Saved
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Days: 820 Hours: 4

Minutes: 48 Seconds: 3

Life Gained
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6315

Smoke Free Days
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107,355

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19 years ago 0 +0 / -0 33

I know that I was never more scared in my life then when that happened to me...Its terrible..Its like you just cant inhale a full breath. Just sort of enough to keep you alive sort of thing..Then I panicked and it just made it worse..It does pass believe it or not. And I found that if I tried to ignore it, just didnt sit there and concentrate on it, and got busy doing something else, it would pass. Who knows all the real reasons why this happens..Here is one the best articles Ive found on it.. Diaphragmatic Breathing It is common for people to stop breathing properly when they quit smoking. They begin to breathe shallowly from the top of their lungs. Shallow breathing causes stale air to remain in the bottom of the lungs. Also it causes an imbalance between the carbon dioxide and oxygen in our system. This condition is hyperventilation and can result in symptoms similar to an anxiety or panic attack. Diaphragmatic breathing is also very beneficial if you suffer from Panic Attacks or General Anxiety. Learning how to breathe from your diaphragm is very beneficial in overcoming the symptoms that develop from the shallow chest breathing which occurs during a panic attack and when you are experiencing anxiety. If you breathe shallowly or actually are hyperventilating you may experience several, if not all of these symptoms: lightheadedness dizziness feelings of unreality shortness of breath trembling tingling in your hands, feet and lips What's happening to you is that by "overbreathing" you are exhaling too much carbon dioxide in relation to the amount of oxygen in your body. Note that these symptoms are some of the very same ones that you experience during a panic attack. So, if you do suffer from panic attacks then these symptoms which mimic a panic attack can actually lead to one. People who are generally anxious but don't suffer from panic attacks will feel these same symptoms but to a lesser extent. The traditional cure for hyperventilating is to breath into a paper bag. This actually does work by breathing back in the carbon dioxide that you exhale into the bag and restoring the carbon dioxide/oxygen balance in your system. BUT, because it's not always appropriate to put a bag on your face in public, learning the diaphragmatic breat

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$2,004.60

Amount Saved
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Days: 919 Hours: 20

Minutes: 43 Seconds: 56

Life Gained
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6682

Smoke Free Days
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20,046

Cigarettes Not Smoked

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Feel like I'm struggling for air. Is this "normal"?