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Emphysema at 32?

Hi, I'm a 32 years old male. I felt shortness of breath 4 weeks ago, and quit smoking since then. I went to ER first and doctor said anxiety migth be the cause.

Few days later I've seen another doctor (a very good pulmonary specialist) to make sure. He checked my chest x-ray (taken at ER previously), said there's nothing serious to worry about, advised me to quit smoking and mentioned 'a start or beginning emphysema' (don't remember the exact words).

I still feel a little shortness of breath, especially at nights. I've read on forums, that this also happens to many people as a result of quitting smoking (along with some other withdrawal symptoms).

The thing is I don't feel shortness of breath at all when I exercise or walk/run outside. Contrary I feel a lot better if I exercise when I feel SOB. It's getting better and better each day from the time I quit 4 weeks ago.
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Avatar universal
Another set of 40min exercise, after a light SOB attack. I don't know why it happens, and how it disappears with exercise :O
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Avatar universal
Simple Test

I had a breathing problem today as I explained in the previous post. This is what I did:

I exercised (indoors) lightly with a heart rate of 120 beats a min. for 30 minutes.

I had no breathing problems while exercising and breathlessness gone now.
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Avatar universal
Today, I got my fixed bike back and cycled about 15mins to test it. No breathing problems occured, although I did not push it hard.

I did't feel breathless today, instead I have a strange 'breathlessness', constant 'feeling' of lack of lung capacity, like there is something wrong there. Again I don't know if it's because I'm worried.

I cannot decide what to do. For instance when I exercise I can do 80 jumping jacks without much trouble. Anyway I'll try some heavy cycling in the following days, if no improvements I'll go see my specialist again.
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Avatar universal
right, as I see it, re shortness of breath .. you can first try this...when you get it , try to take shallow breaths , I know this sounds silly but it works ..or get checked out for asthma , it seems like this could be the case ....but remember your lungs are basically sound so dont panic
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Avatar universal
Pete, this time shortness of breath came back again at night (it's past midnight here now). I wonder if this is somehow psychological.

I checked the article you linked thanks. Quitting even results in lung function improvements, it says basically isn't it?

I agree we should keep in touch.
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Avatar universal
hi steps , glad you liked it .. not everyone does .. it was funny when my mum came to my show .. I knew she wouldnt 'get it' or like it , but I also knewshe would pretend she did ...her face said it all .....I think she was expecting stuff like I used to do ...nice countryside etc ...oh anyhow ..you would have had to be there ....us guys should keep in touch , and every so often get a progress report on each other ...mpongo ..steps ...whadda ya say ?
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Avatar universal
yes , I feel very up and down , mentally , like one minute Im thinking about how I will top myself before I start panting , the next im like oh I'll be O.K ...other symptoms include ..lung pains ....but they feel much clearer ....anxiety... breathlessness ..that sorta isnt really breathlessness at all (if that makes any sense) ..I havnt had diziness but I spoke to someone the other day who mentioned it ..and I think the tiredness you have is your body and mind 'coming down' to normality again ...I feel the same , i.e I feel much better generally speaking every day ....just to put your mind at ease , and it put mine at ease ..if your feeling up to reading some scientific stuff , this article ...http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/full/161/2/381
is really assuring  ;; i.e if you quit , and stay smoke free at a young ish age , under 45 ....your gonna be FINE...I feel much better after reading it ...maybe I wont top myself just yet (joke)
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the support Pete. Dizziness gone again today. Today I only feel tired and numbness. Your diary idea is a good one but I hope I recover soon and won't need to log these at all.

Steps, what withdrawal symptoms did you have or still having, could you name a few?
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Avatar universal
Hi Pete,  And everyone.   I looked at your website Pete your art and my jaw dropped.  Wow. For everyone who has quit smoking stay that way.  I went to a pulumary specialist. She told me she has seen worse lungs than mine in non smokers.Go figure. I am lucky in that i should be ok. Frankly they really don't know. For all you young people here who have quit stay that way. If you have a little emphyazema you never-the less- have it. Quitting is the best. Walking is good. Good diet etc. be postive.  I have had rough time sleeping its from quitting smoking.  For me its been 6 weeks no cigs. Right now i am having a with drawel of nicotine so intense still but you know what, it will go away and i won't have had a cigarette. Just ride out the withdrawels. You guys are positve encouraging, its awesome.
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Avatar universal
yeah , as you know I too quit about two weeks ago and I have been up and down like a hoe's draws ,,,I kinda get breathless but if I take short shallow breaths it goes away ....no logic there either... if I were you I would set a date and keep a diary , say once a week , even if its only a txt doc on yer computer ...I know exactly what your going through as I am going through very similar things .. stopping smoking is a frickin rollercoaster ride especially when you have the word e-m-p-h-y-s-e-m-a to reckon with on top ...my guess is that yours will reverse itself ...mine may be more entrenched, Im kinda like you would be if you haddnt quit smoking , and I aint at all bad , I was shocked when they told me cos even my asthma is well under control now;;;anyhow lets hope BOTH of us and everyone else on this site are gonna be OK  
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Avatar universal
I really hope it is Pete. I tend to think that these symptoms are more related to quitting as you said.

There is one other possibility I can think of (as I had not eaten well lately and slightly underweight) which is anemia that could cause SOB and dizziness.

I'll see my specialist and ask for deeper investigation (pulmonary funcion tests and blood tests) if symptoms remain the same for longer.
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Avatar universal
I think the dizziness is because your getting moe oxygen on your brain than its used to , so really its a good thing
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Yes that's interesting really. Maybe my current SOB is not related to my Emphysema at all.

Of course I do feel hard to breathe when I do 'heavy exercise' but everybody would and it passes quickly. With moderate to light exercises my breathing is OK.

Anyway it's been around 35 days since quitting smoking.

For about 5 days, I didn't feel the SOB as I did before. I sometimes feel a very light SOB or more like I'm feeling my 'lungs' inside (but no pain).

I sleep much better, go out for long, fast paced walks everyday.

For 2 days though I have dizziness. It could be due to smoking withdrawal, I hope it passes soon because I want to start cycling as quickly as possible.
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757137 tn?1347196453
If you don't have shortness of breath when you exercise, but do, when you don't exercise, I don't see how this can be emphysema. It makes no sense.
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Avatar universal
Dizziness gone today, as well as the shortness of breath for the most part. I think I made it!
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I really appreciate the support Pete.

I had a strange feeling in my lungs now, not pain but as if I got cold (which could really happen as I walked a lot outside) I feel like 'my lungs are there'.

Still dizziness coming and going, with a little SOB (lighter and different than before).

I'm worried about these which makes me nervous and anxious. I'm listening to myself/my body a lot lately, which I normally don't.

There is no way I'll smoke again for sure. Not that I hate it, but I cannot stand to get these all over again.

It's late here and will try to sleep now.
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dude, yer gonna be fine , but ffs never smoke again
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Avatar universal
I smoked a pack a day since high school. My heart rate right at this moment is 68.

I hope this dizziness is gone soon because I want to start cycling in a few days.
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Avatar universal
yeah i know what you mean about the mint candy, in my opinion , I think you should write down how you feel at say 10 tonight and then 10 tommorow morning and then contrast that to say a month from now , did you smoke heavily ?
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Thanks Pete, my breathing is getting better I guess.

When I breathe, I'm feeling that an obstacle on the way to my lungs that has been there before, is removed now! Every breathe feels so fresh like I'm eating a mint candy, if you know what I mean. Also as if I'm feeling the parts of my lungs when air travels along.

At the same time, I'm having a constant dizziness for two days. My resting heart beat goes up to 80 (rarely 100) sometimes, which is normally between 60-75. Kind of worried about these two symptoms.
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Avatar universal
good man steps (or woman) the sort of art i do is here www.contemporarypaint.co.uk its my website , but that is really only a very small proportion of it I do mostly painting but also my digital art is very popular anfd I do lots of photography ..i am doing a masters degree at the moment having finished a B.A last year ...I wish you every success in making your jewlery  it will be an excellent way to keep positive ..I love my art it is the single biggest driving force in my life (apart from my good lady)

to mpongo I too quit smoking last week and even tho I was only having like one or 2 spliffs a week I can feel the difference , and by that I dont mean all good , at first (I know cos Ive quit a few times) it has the effect of opening new bits of lung and because they are a bit knackered they take time to get working properly . I think it takes about 4-6 weeks before you start to really feel an improvement,
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Avatar universal
I am having trouble sleeping too.  I read quitting smoking can do that. You have to go through feeling crappy from quitting. the nurse told me my lungs will get better from not smoking. We have to give it time. I am going to drink some water and keep super hydrated.
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Avatar universal
What kind of art do you do?  I am learning to make jewelry. Beaded stuff and hope to have a little on line business soon. Let me know.
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Avatar universal
Today, I felt almost no problems with my breathing.

I was a little groggy throughout the day, which might be because of many days passed with not enough sleep due to the SOB. Else it could be another withdrawal effect of quitting smoking.

I'm drinking enourmous amounts of grape juice, orange juice and water. Eating dry fruits and such to keep myself busy.
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