I'd quit smoking within the last month or so, and in the same time period had a lung infection/inflamation of some type. Well, after a week of being quit my lungs had just straight seized up on me like a rusty old motor. Chest constriction, chest pain, fear and misery, unable to get through a full shift at work...Just bloody awful if you don't mind my saying so. Fortunately I had 5 vacation days available to me and convinced the lady at work who does the schedualing that I needed them pronto. She actually arranged for me to get them the very next day. Thank god. A week ago I was miserable and sore, today, less than a week later I feel like 75% better and hopefull. chest pain almost completely gone now, said pain which I will add was non cardiac per doctor investigation on 3 seperate occaisions in the past 6 or so weeks when this lung infection thingee first began to manifest. So before it's mentioned I've seen a doc on that account. Aside from that the chest constriction part is pretty much gone, I just get an occaisional feeling of heaviness of chest, mainly when I'm sitting down or driving. Hardly noticable actually unless I'm looking for it which I always am. Lol... that's the part that sucks really, is that I'm hyper aware of every tweak, twinge, gurgle or ping that happens anywhere in my chest area. Kind of to be expected I guess with all the trouble it's caused me over the last 6 weeks. Damned scary I tell you when your body which has never caused you a single day of grief in 48 years suddenly rebels on you. I'm really looking forward to being back to 100% and maybe joining my friends old timers floor hockey league next season if I'm ready for that....I can't see why not, it's not for another 6 months or so.....mind you just a week or two ago I was worried I was never going to get better and feel like my belt is up around my chest, or that god had me in a bear hug and it would be like that the rest of my days. I realise that's not the case now and it's darned freeing I tell you.

What's left to get better..... I'm having some anxiety, no smoke to reach for when I'm on edge and this health scare can put you on edge I tell you!! I still feel rough in the throat. Not all the time but particularly at the end of the day whn I'm getting tired or like yesterday when my neighbour mowed his lawn. I'm allergic to grass and pollens. It just used to make me sneeze but now seems to affect my throat. I'm also seeming to need some extra sleep and my energy doesn't go as far as it did before the lung infection. My guess is I've just not healed from it 100% yet. Reading online says it takes 4 or 5 weeks usually to recover and occaisionally can take a few months. I can tell you for certain though. I'll never EVER smoke again.

Hope you had the time to read all this. Happy for anyones input.

ziggy