COPD & Emphysema Support Group

COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...

936 Members
10,879 Posts
0 Online
Lungs & Respiration
/ COPD & Emphysema Support Group

Updates and Questions

daniellanke
daniellanke
Hi Guys, I've been with you all now for about month. I was told i had emphysema by a doc doing an arthritis procedure. I made an appointment with our central appointments office to see about what he said. Saw that Doctor, she said she heard a little something also. Now, almost a month later i took our LFT at Travis AFB. I won't know the results for a couple weeks. The tech said it looked normal.
I quit smoking as soon as i heard 'emphysema' Now i feel tightness in my chest and sometimes it seems like i am working harder at breathing.Is this normal? I never felt like this before. I didn't really feel sick at all. I watch every breath i take. I watch other people breath. It is hard not getting any answers from the doctors other than another appointment.
boldprint
boldprint
Actually, a feeling of tightness in the chest is fairly common symptom reported by people who have recently quit smoking. Also, some report a sense that it is harder to breathe.

Regarding the later, among the ingredients added to cigarettes by tobacco manufacturers are bronchodialators. (Doesn't that just gall you? It does me.) When people quit smoking, it takes a while for them to get used to not having their bronchodialator.

I suggest you check out quitnet.com. Quitnet is a very active (24/7) online support forum for people who are quitting or have quit smoking. It's a good place for info and support.

Best wishes,
Susan
boldprint
boldprint
p.s. Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking! It is the best health related decision you will ever make.
bjrapp2020
bjrapp2020
Hi,
I agree with Boldprint. And also want to say the best thing you can do for your health, emphysema or not, is to quit smoking. Your lungs need to adjust to not receiving that tars and nicotine.
It is so had for some to do, and you will need support of others. But it is not impossible, after all, we were
not born with a cig in our mouth lol
Hugs to you
BJ
daniellanke
daniellanke
Wow!, broncodialators added to tobacco. Those Bast@rds! Thanks for the reply. I've been with quit net since i started my quit. It's great to see the days, hours, and amount of money adding up. I relapsed for a day and i noticed my breathing was better. You must be right about the additives. Why would they do that?
bjrapp2020
bjrapp2020
They do that to keep us smoking!! More of the nicotine gets into our lungs that way. It has been proven already that the companies have added more nicotine than was in the tobacco years ago, like during my mom's time. Then, folks could just quit "cold turkey" with few with withdrawals. Now, people who have done that can not understand why the rest of us can not do the same. It is because we are sucking up much more of the poison than our moms and dads. They do it for MONEY
BJ
Yade
Yade
Welcome!
Doctors have 15 min or 1/2 h to spend with us.
Exclusive club COPD & Emphysema Support Group has knowledge
and time plus kind and noble hearts to answer most of our question or
direct us what to ask our Doctors or specialist.Take care.