Emphysema at 32?

[mpongo]

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.

[mpongo]

Dizziness gone today, as well as the shortness of breath for the most part. I think I made it!

[allmymarbles]

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.

[mpongo]

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.

[pete3867]

I think the dizziness is because your getting moe oxygen on your brain than its used to , so really its a good thing

[mpongo]

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.

[pete3867]

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