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Can't fully exhale

 
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Lamplighter



Quit Date:
March 6, 2007

Posts: 11

PostPosted: April 21, 2007 12:18 AM    Post subject: Can't fully exhale Reply with quote

I'm 50 years old, and I've not had a cig in 45 days. My breathing seems fine. I'm not short of breath... but I can't fully exhale. I may be talking to someone and in the middle of a sentence... I just run out of breath. But I'm not gasping for breath or short of breath.

I can do all the routine physical activities...climbing stairs, walking 4 or 5 blocks at a brisk pace...without feeling terribly winded... or very winded at all... but I can't fully exhale.

Has anyone experienced anything like this after they quit smoking? And if so, did the problem resolve itself?
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Zuzu



Quit Date:
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Posts: 962
Location: Marin

PostPosted: April 21, 2007 12:46 AM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Totally I felt like that.. it seemed to go away over time. If you're really concerned about it and/or it's bothering you, definitely talk to your doctor!
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kevin
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Posts: 9538
Location: cincinnati, oh

PostPosted: April 21, 2007 8:14 AM    Post subject: Reply with quote

my bonus prize for smoking for over 35 years was an advanced case of emphysema, and one of the primary effects of that was a serious loss of what's called "lung elasticity" (the ability to fully exhale). we noprmally lose some elasticity as we age, but you might want to go to your doc and ask him to give you a spirometer test (measures lung capacity and tests lung function) just to be sure.
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Lamplighter



Quit Date:
March 6, 2007

Posts: 11

PostPosted: April 21, 2007 1:28 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for those responses.

Kevin, my understanding is that people with advanced emphysema don't usually last longer than 5 years. How are you dealing with your emphysema?

What were the symptoms of your emphasyma when you first quit smoking? And did quitting drastically effect the progression of the emphysema?
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kevin
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Posts: 9538
Location: cincinnati, oh

PostPosted: April 21, 2007 3:42 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Kevin, my understanding is that people with advanced emphysema don't usually last longer than 5 years. How are you dealing with your emphysema?

well, i'm happy to say that either your sources are wrong, or i'm the exception to the rule; i was diagnosed in the fall of 2001, and i'm still here. Wink

as far as how i'm dealing with it, most of the time, i'm completely unaware of it (although my vacation in colorado a couple of years ago was less than perfect; i found it very difficult to breathe at 10,000 feet above sea level). mind you, i don't do a lot of strenuous exercise (even though i could use it), so i'm not pushing myself into places where it becomes an issue.

the worst part is not being able to play the trombone (or sing) at a professional level any more; although my lung capacity has come back to a large extent, the elasticity is gone, and with it the support needed to play or sing (i played and sang professionally for many years, and i miss that the most).
Quote:
What were the symptoms of your emphasyma when you first quit smoking? And did quitting drastically effect the progression of the emphysema?

before i quit, i was chronically short of breath, coughed constantly, and the thing that finally sent me to the doctor was that i couldn't sleep on my back any more; not only did it feel like someone was sitting on my chest, but the "death rattle" i heard on every breath (from the crap that was built up in my lungs) plain scared the hell out of me.

my doctor sent me for chest x-rays, and the black areas at the bottom of my lungs showed that i'd already destroyed about a third of them, and the spirometer showed that i'd lost better than half my lung capacity and about three quarters of my lung elasticity. he said that lung tissue never grows back (once it's dead, it stays dead), and that if i continued to smoke, the black/dead areas the x-rays showed on my lungs would continue to expand until i couldn't breathe any more, even with intervention, and that at that point i'd suffocate.

he also said that, if i quit for 5 years, i might be able to get my lung capacity back to normal (or close to it), but he said the elasticity would probably never come back all the way. and he was right on both counts: the last spirometer test i did (a couple of years ago now) showed me back to about 80% capacity, and there'd been some improvement in the elasticity (back to about 50%).

bottom line is, quitting when i did stopped the progression of the disease and allowed my lungs a chance to repair themselves as well as they could. if i hadn't quit, i'd probably be dead by now.
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Lamplighter



Quit Date:
March 6, 2007

Posts: 11

PostPosted: April 21, 2007 4:24 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kevin, it means a lot to me that you took the time to give me such a thorough answer! Thanks so much!

Believe it or not... your story does give me some perspective on what's happening to me. I have been seeing a doctor, and I'll continue to. I'm also going to request tests just to find out exactly where where my lungs are at. I think I have a reasonably good idea, but I want the assurance that comes with having the tests done.

I hate guessing! Smile

Again...really good of you to take the time!
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Melody



Quit Date:
August 19, 2004

Posts: 1103
Location: Ontario

PostPosted: April 21, 2007 7:17 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ask your doctor but 1000-2000iu of vitamin D3 would likely help huge.

Can sunlight help smokers?

DOMINIC CHESSUM
28 March 2007 09:06

A vitamin found in sunlight could help ease the pain of those suffering from chronic smoking-related conditions.

This is what medics at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital believe and now they have set up a new study to put their theory to the test with the help of volunteers.

Vitamin D occurs naturally in sunlight and has already been found to have an effect on the body's immune system, helping to reduce inflammation.

Doctors at the N & N's respiratory department, who are carrying our research in to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), believe it could also play a role in improving the quality of life for smokers suffering from the condition.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) encompasses both chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

It is one of the most common respiratory conditions among adults in this country and poses an enormous burden for the NHS and is responsible for 10pc of hospital admissions.

The condition is the fourth most common cause of death in middle aged and elderly men, behind heart disease, lung cancer and cerebrovascular disease.

But it is not just the NHS that bears the cost of respiratory conditions. It is the third most common cause of chronic sickness in working aged people aged between 45-64 years. COPD accounts for 56 percent of days of certified incapacity due to respiratory conditions in males.

In the UK, it is estimated 18pc of men and 14pc of women aged between 40 and 68 may have developed the condition.

Dr Sundari Ampi, specialist registrar in respiratory medicine at the N & N, said: “We know that vitamin D is fundamental to calcium balance in the body and studies have found that Vitamin D has an effect on the immune system.

“There is research to show increased Vitamin D levels help those suffering from inflammatory bowel disease and have an effect in reducing the risk of diabetes.

“Our hypothesis is based on the fact it has an effect on inflammatory conditions and COPD is an inflammatory disease.”

Dr Ampi explained that with more people protecting themselves from the sun Vitamin D deficiencies were becoming intrinsic and because COPD suffers were generally more inclined to be house bound this problem was exacerbated.

The research will involve 30 ex-smokers who have smoked for more than 20 years.

She said: “We will measure the levels of vitamin D in their bodies now, when it should be at its lowest because of winter. We will also measure their inflammatory markers. If their vitamin D levels are lower their inflammatory markers (indicators of how prone a person is to infection) should be higher.

“At the end of the summer their Vitamin D levels should have increased and their inflammatory markers should be lower.”

It is hoped that if this pilot study is a success a much larger study can take place where participants will be given Vitamin D supplements.

In the long run it could be proved that vitamin D helps improve the quality of life and health status of those suffering from COPD.

Dr Ampi said: “If it does protect them from inflammation it would mean it could their lung function stable for longer or even prevent it from getting worse.”

If you would like to take part in the study please contact Dr Ampi on 01603 289876 or email sundari.ampi@nnuh.nhs.uk

Have you got a health story to share with out readers? Contact reporter Sarah Hall on 01603 772426 or email sarah.hall2@archant.co.uk
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Lamplighter



Quit Date:
March 6, 2007

Posts: 11

PostPosted: April 21, 2007 8:11 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey, Melody! Thanks for that!

That certainly looks like it's worth checking into, and you can bet that I'll be doing just that!
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texas2step



Quit Date:
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Posts: 793
Location: Texas

PostPosted: April 22, 2007 8:41 AM    Post subject: takes time Reply with quote

I keep hoping I got to skip the emphysema or at least having it bad but I quit smoking because I could hardly breathe without wheezing and got short of breath doing even minor things like walking upstairs. It has taken time but after 8 months my lungs are a heck of a lot better and clearing more all the time. I can feel it. I don't have any trouble breathing in or out though every now and then I get short of breath but it only lasts a few minutes - way not like before.

So be patient, go to your doctor if you need to get some info for sure, but realize that it takes time. I'm 55 years old and smoked almost 40 years. I smoked 50 plus cigarettes a day and I could tell I was not going to live long if I didn't quit so 8 months and some days ago I did just that and it's been the best thing I ever did. But three or four months in I didn't have nearly the breathing ability I do now.

Good luck, I hope you don't have emphysema bad either -Wink or anything else that went with our horrible addiction..... sigh ......

Happy Sunday everybody
Texas
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Anonymous

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Lamplighter



Quit Date:
March 6, 2007

Posts: 11

PostPosted: April 23, 2007 8:44 AM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds like good advise, Tex, and I hope that your health continues to improve!

Thanks for sharing your experience. It helps me to get a handle on what I'm experiencing these days.
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texas2step



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Posts: 793
Location: Texas

PostPosted: April 23, 2007 5:14 PM    Post subject: any time Reply with quote

Glad if anything I say helps anyone -Wink back when I started quitting I needed some advice and needed to know what happened to other people - not smoking was uncharted water in this house. My husband of 30 years quit with me but he has smoked longer than me and neither of us had a clue what it would be like. I was a bit impatient at first and thought I ought to just be healed - but the more I read the more I realized that I have to be patient cause it takes time to get over what I did to my lungs and my body for all those years. But I see a huge light at the end of the tunnel these days - my goodness it's nice to roll over in the morning and not wheeze which was horrible Embarassed

You'll feel better the longer you make it. You might try some breathing exercises too. They helped me a lot. There are a number of ways to do them but I inhaled and held the breath for like count of 10 then exhaled semi slowly for count of 10 and did that several times a day for about 3 or 4 in the beginning repetitions and built up to 8 or so at a time in and out once 10 seconds each being 1 rep. Main thing was pushing the lungs a bit other than just body exercise. It helped me.... and it doesn't hurt you.

Have a great day all,

Texas
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Cowgirl UP!



Quit Date:
July 26, 2004

Posts: 5029
Location: Ala

PostPosted: April 25, 2007 9:48 AM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hello, I do not think we have met. I was having the same problem talking but it would be at the top of a flight of stairs or when I was moving at a faster pace than normal. The pulmonary doctor calls it asthmatic bronchitis and the inhalers have helped me. I am now moving more like my old self without all the huffing and puffing.....I also no longer feel like I am going to cash in when I come up the basement steps. I am sure your doctor can help but make sure he understands this is a problem for you and not something you are just mentioning....
Kay
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Diane



Quit Date:
April 23, 2007

Posts: 52
Location: Homer Glen, Illinois

PostPosted: April 25, 2007 6:02 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for all of the great info in these replies....My doctor gave me paperwork to get a pulmonary test and chest x-ray in February and I still have not scheduled the tests - partially because I'm a CPA and it was tax season and partially out of this paralyzing fear that I will find out that I have 3 months to live! (Only half kidding!)

Foolish me, I figured that if I quit now and schedule the tests in a couple of weeks that my lungs will be fine....I guess that I may as well schedule the tests now (gulp) and deal with the results. If it means breathing easier, even in a few months, then it's worth it.
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Cowgirl UP!



Quit Date:
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Posts: 5029
Location: Ala

PostPosted: April 25, 2007 11:48 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Diane, schedule your tests as soon as possible....I quit in July 2004 and my trouble has just now gotten to this point....I am very optimistic that it could still be part of the healing process....maybe that is my way of dealing with the unknown....
Kay
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Lamplighter



Quit Date:
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Posts: 11

PostPosted: April 27, 2007 9:24 PM    Post subject: Reply with quote

Diane, Cowgirl, good to hear from you! And good to hear that the human body can sometimes recover (to a degree) from so much abuse. I'm hopeful that mine will.
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