Chest Pains?

[TheUltimateG]

Stop vaping NOW!

I am recovering from one week of the most intense chest pains of my life. I have called all of the friends I recommended e-cigs to and warned them to stop vaping immediately. This vaping is extremely dangerous and people here should discontinue all use of these products.............

I don't see any information in your post regarding a visit to your doctor. Why is that? For more than a week you suffered these symptoms yet never sought out the advice of a physician? 3 Days of this and i would have been on my way to to the hospital for an evaluation.

[Luv2CUSmile]

Katin,
I admit, this method of nicotine is not for everyone- But there are many here that have vaped much longer than 10 days at your age, older and, yes, also younger- and they are still vaping w/ success-
As G mentioned, have you gone to a doctor or did you just talk to your chemist friend? I have posted many concerns on these boards and spoke over them with my husband and Mom, BUT, I will let a doctor give me the diagnosis- My husband, mom, & I can suppose for days and it will do no good... I can read millions of posts mentioning same symptoms w/ just as many people having different reactions... A doctor can only tell you what is really going on! Get a visit to your physician and hope there is a way you can still vape.. I am assuming you went back to analogs...? Hopefully not, but don't you think that if you are getting chest pains now, after 10 days of vaping (BTW, when you first picked up an analog cig, did it not make your throat and/or chest hurt?) I remember it di me- I can't believe I kept at it to get past that "gag" so I could finally smoke w/o feeling so bad! We have all made bad decisions in our lives- I don't think this is one of them for me. Wish you the best of luck!

[Jules22871]

Wow, thank you. I have always had low blood pressure and since starting the vaping I get periods almost every day that feel as if my blood pressure is really dropping. Do you think vaping could possibly lower the blood pressure too? Is that what you're saying? If so, I can't now because DH and I are going away soon, but if you think this is a possibility and it continues with me, maybe I should check on it. I get REALLY shaky and have to make a run to the chips (salt) seems to help.

Anyone taking high blood pressure meds should see their doctor esp if they are feeling odd, I know a close friend of mines blood pressure dropped significatly when she stopped smoking, and went to vaping.

I am the friend that had the blood pressure drop. Before I started vaping my BP was 230/110 and my heart rate was 130 while resting, and I was on some pretty strong medication for it. I have since had the dosage reduced and my BP and heart rate are all in the normal range now. If you have low BP, keep an eye on it as you may see it drop some more since you are not getting all the toxins that analogs have in them.

I know a lot of users have complained about acid reflux. There is a side effect of acid reflux called GERD. I have experienced GERD attacks both before and after taking up e-cigs. It is a very disturbing condition as it has the same symptoms as a heart blockage. Believe me I know as I have had both. You shouldn't attempt to diagnose this condition yourself. Only a doctor can make this diagnoses. Nicotine juice has been known to make acid reflux worse. Sometimes GERD attacks begin with the person not having acid reflux symptoms. I have had this happen to me. Sometimes I have had acid reflux with a gastric ulcer and didn't know I had it. Some people have no symptoms until the full blown GERD hits them.

In my case, e-cigs are not the primary cause of acid reflux. The e-cig is acting as a catalyst that enhances the effects of the disease. Again you should see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Kevin

GERDS is a definite possibility. Something else I have not seen mentioned is a hiatal hernia. That is a tear where your esophagus meets your stomach. It can cause gas to be released into your chest cavity and cause terrible and very scary chest pain. I have had one for years and have learned the difference in pain from the hernia and pain from my heart. I did notice when I first started vaping that I had an increase in the hernia type chest pain. I figured out that I was taking in more air when I vaped then I did when I smoked. I changed the way I vape and the problem is gone now. Anyone that has thrown up violently or had a horrific cough can have a hiatal hernia and not even know it. The pain can be just about anywhere, right side, left side, front of the chest, in your back. It can really make you think you are having a heart attack. If you think this might be it, open a fresh can of Coke, take a big drink and make yourself burp. If you feel relief, then you'll know it wasn't the ecig.

[YoMike]

Katin your Join Date is 08-29-2009
Your first post ever was today 10-9-2009
42 days elapsed before your first post that states,

"I am 51 years old and have been smoking for a long time."
Usually a real smoker states amount and total years, 1-2 packs for 20 years.

"I was vaping for only about 10 days before the first symptoms began to occur."
10 days vaping add a week for recovery = 17 days Been a member for 42 days?

You really spent a lot of time putting that post together with certain words emphasis, was that to be more convincing, I mean if it was true why worry about convincing anyone.

If I was admin of this board I'd run your ip address find out your provider and see your real location and maybe even view your house from google maps.
Maybe nothing but one never knows this is the internet I've seen some crazy stuff.

[JamieJ]

I would be interested to know if there really is a class action lawsuit that has DOCTORS showing that this detrimental to the lungs. So far from what I see DOCTORS are supporting this as an alternative to smoking cigarettes.

[kristin]

It's a shame that Katin's posts were deleted. It would have been nice to seen their content and properly debunk them.

Keep in mind folks, if you were a long-time smoker, a lot of side effects will occur as your lungs heal from the years of exposure to toxic tobacco smoke. It's easy to confuse classic symptoms of smoking cessation with the PVs. Remember that you are quitting smoking as well as starting vaping.

Here is a link to common symptoms of smoking cessation: Common Withdrawal Symptoms After You Quit Smoking - QuitSmokingSupport.com

They include:

Constipation, gas, stomach pain
Constipation is caused by intestinal movement decreases for a brief period. It will normally last for several weeks.
Drink plenty of liquids (6-8 glasses of water daily); add roughage to diet (fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereals, bran); go for walks.

Cough, dry throat/mouth, nasal drip
This is caused from your body getting rid of mucous which has blocked airways and restricted breathing. Drink plenty of fluids; drink cold water, fruit juice, tea; use cough drops, gum or hard candy.

Dizziness
Your body is getting extra oxygen like it hasn't seen for a long time. Get fresh air, go for a walk, change positions slowly. It will last several days and will go away.

Headaches
Take a warm bath or shower. Try relaxation or meditation techniques. Do more physical activities. Cut down on coffee and cola drinks.

Tightness in the chest
It is probably due to tension created by the body’s need for nicotine; may be caused by sore muscles from coughing. Part of the recovery process may be the lung’s attempt to remove mucus and tar. The normal mucus transport system will start to reactivate itself, which can initially cause coughing. It will last a few days. Deep breathing and relaxation techniques. Be patient; wait it out! Your body wants to return to normal.

[helki12]

I hope that nothing serious is there. Get well soon and try to avoid as much as you can.

[June]

Just my 2 cents...

I went to the emergency room about a month prior to vaping with chest and stomach pains. Because of the chest pain I thought it was a heart problem. After checking my heart and it was fine, they gave ma a GI cocktail, lidocaine and some other medication in a drink. Felt better pretty quickly. The pain was caused by acid reflux. I had been told previously that I had some mild acid reflux, but never gave it too too much thought. Now that it has gotten worse, I give it some thought.

All chest pain should be checked out, but if you are seen by a Dr. and everything checks out ok, heart and lungs, try the stomach medications. If the chest pain subsides after taking the medication acid reflux could be the cause.

Acid reflux is another good reason to give up smoking. Smoking worsens acid reflux.

I also have had some tightness in my chest and stomach issues since I started vaping, and it does seem to be related to the higher nicotine liquids, 24 mg, but I do feel better after taking some acid reducing stomach medication.

[Nicotina]

I vape the same way I smoke hookah--I take a big mouthful of vapor then slowly exhale it through my nose instead of drawing it into my lungs. The nicotine is absorbed through my mucous membranes pretty quickly, and the flavor is amazing. I've only been vaping for about 2 weeks, but I haven't experienced any chest pains so far, so maybe some of you might want to try this method and see if it makes a difference.

[Kurt]

I experienced some lung discomfort when vaping PG juices, similar to smoking too many analogs. Now I am using VG as much as possible, and the problem is gone, as are the other little symptoms I had, such as sniffles and headache. Of course those could have been analog withdrawal too.

Seems we had a troll in our midst. Seemed to be the typical pattern:

Wait a long time before posting.
Claim some unlikely but severe reaction to vaping.
Become adversarial.
Watch the fireworks.
Vanish.

Ta ta.