Freaking out a little - mucus cough, tough to get mucus up sometimes, acid reflux....

[rival11]

I guess I didn't mean "as a whole" but in general.....it MAY be caused by vaping (or the other 2 factors I mentioned) - Kelley....that's great (seriously) - everybody is different.

I really want people who may be having this problem to be able to see this thread and know that my comments come from approx. 5 different doctors. I really went through some hard times with this - even after I stopped vaping for approx. 5 days.

Yes, I may very well be allergic to something as well but since I have not stopped vaping in full I won't know until I do and I also won't know if it's still just an issue from quitting analogs as well. Also, since it is acid reflux we're talking about here....it is why I doubt it's an allergic reaction.

 

[Uncle Willie]

Yes, but I think the point is from your previous posts that you've been pretty though in tests / checkups .. thus, it seems to me, allergy is about all that's left .. the acid reflux from the use of a PV just seems like a real long shot, IMO ..

 

[Clovery]

Nicotine can cause acid reflux - this is a good explanation, so I'm just copy/pasting from WebMD

When you eat, a muscular ring between the end of the esophagus and the entrance to the stomach -- called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) -- relaxes to let food in. Once it has closed again, the stomach releases acids and enzymes to break down the food.

Usually, these acids stay put in the stomach. But in people with GERD, the sphincter may stay relaxed or relax at the wrong time. This allows stomach contents containing acids and enzymes to wash back up, irritating the tissue of the esophagus.

Experts believe tobacco might worsen heartburn in a number of ways, including:

Impairing the function of the LES. "The nicotine in tobacco seems to lower the pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter," says Cheskin. The reduced pressure could allow stomach acids and enzymes to back into the esophagus.
Increasing acidity. Nicotine increases the production of stomach acid, says Carr-Locke.
Reducing saliva production. This causes two problems. When you swallow, saliva helps push acid down, out of the esophagus and into the stomach. Saliva also contains bicarbonate, which is a mild acid neutralizer, says Cheskin. So a reduction in saliva can make your acid reflux worse.

Note that it's the nicotine in tobacco that causes these issues, not the tobacco itself or anything else in cigarettes. So vaping could certainly be the cause of this problem.

As far as excessive mucus production & coughing, I agree that it must be an allergy that is causing the mucus. Until you can figure out what that allergy is, you should drink lots of water - 3 liters a day. Water will thin your secretions and make them easier to cough up. It will also help to increase saliva production (see above). Drink water between, not with, your meals to lessen the symptoms of the reflux.

 

[rival11]

Again - The exessive mucus is being caused by the acid shooting directly up to throat - your body creates the mucus to try and protect the tissues of the throat because unlike the espohagus which is already coated with a thin layer of mucus.....your larynx and pharnyx aren't protected at all......It's not an allergy.

On what causes the acid refulx from the e-cig....yes, I never knew for sure what exactly was causing it as I had the SAME problems even when I was vaping with 0 nicotine. but again, it could be one of the three things I mentioned previously.

Clovery - good post - laryno/pharyno reflux and "regular" acid reflux are one in the same - there are also two different terms for it because a lot of people sometimes experience just one or the other - I get both but since my anxeity went down 2 fold....I no longer need meds for it.

Again....it' s not an allergy, the mucus (which is usally a thick solid white or somewhat milky white) in the throat is from your body producing it as a protectant...your body doesn't know when the hell to stop sometimes and this causes issues with the mucus aspirating into your lungs, chocking sensation, etc....

Also, like I mentioned previously as well, you may notice your throat is very red and you have a sandpaper like feeling when swallowing - if it gets really bad (like it did for me) you will have trouble swallowing as well.

 

[Rated-R-Ron]

I find this thread very interesting as you can add me to the list of people dealing with these annoying symptoms.
However I also experienced in addition to the phlegm and angry sinuses, a really annoying case of hoarseness that comes and goes with no logical pattern.

Now's the time to say I've been using the e-cig for roughly a year and half and haven't smoked analogs since switching. I should also state I vape a lot. I'm a serial vaper if there ever was one, I'd probably vape while sleeping if that was possible.

As Opposed to others in this thread, I never before in my life had any issues with sinuses, allergies, reflux, phlegm etc.

All of these just showed up out of nowhere about 5 weeks ago.

Long story short, LPR (silent reflux) is suspected and I've done all that was suggested, raise the head of your bed, stop eating 3 hrs before going to sleep, don't eat certain things, use Neti Pot for the sinuses etc.

Nothing really helped at all. No change in my situation. Very frustrating.

Then a friend suggested it may be the e-cig? my first reaction was "What?, no way!!!"

But I figured I kinda tried everything else that was suggested to me and nothing changed.

So first thing I did was switch from all VG juice to 50/50 PG/VG mix.
Within hours the phlegm was 80% gone, and I should stress that 80% equals a ton of friggin phlegm!
I was literally clearing my throat non stop, gargling salt water, everything... nothing worked, until I switched out the VG juice, so obviously it had an effect.

However, the random hoarsness and sinuses are still here, so a few days ago I figured I'll try to get off the e-cig altogether, at least for a little while to see if this helps.

So I'm on my 3rd day off the e-cig today and I'm climbing the walls cuz my brain is screaming out for nicotine, I've been there before when I quit analogs 2-3 times cold turkey in the past (I'm sure many here are familiar with the dreaded 3rd day)

My voice started clearing out a bit, but it's not perfect yet.

I'll be very happy if the hoarseness finally goes away, but I I'll also be pretty bummed out if all this health crap I'm going through really has to do with the e-cig.
There are no other alternatives really as I'm not going back to analogs and I'll already be clean of nicotine anyways by the time this experiment is over.

 

[togetreal]

Hmmm...not sure I agree with the chronic bronchitis. I too have coughed up stuff and that is why I switched to a vg bLU. I also have some wheezing and it is directly related to vaping and I only do about twice a week so it's very concerning to me. I too have no shortness of breath and am very active, etc. I may seek out a pulmonary doctor. I guess not too excited about doing so!! I always wondered if this were an issue with anyone else. I NEVER had coughing, wheezing when I smoked. Confused for sure.

 

[rival11]

Rated-R-Ron - yes, LPR can cause major issues with sinuses/Post nasal drip feeling. Also, I had a pretty big problem with Hoarseness as well...to the point where when I was talking my damn voice would cut out.....ALL a part of LPR. I do remember at one point the mucus getting stuck behind the nose and half way down the throat a lot - that really sucked as well.

You may have to give it more than a couple of days to go away in full though.

So yours was a direct result of vaping huh? I stsill blame mine on anxiety because after posting a lot of replies in this thread....I don't think it's from just quitting analogs - I can see a full year maybe but after that, lets say I never got into vaping....I don't see it extending past a years time....still could be wrong though.

togetreal - how long did you smoke for and how long have you been off them?

Also, I only post so much in here because I literally had an over hour long conversation with my ENT who explained everything - he did this for me because he saw how I ...... I got when I didn't believe my diagnosis was just acid reflux - after explaining everything to me...out of the 4 doctors I saw....he was the only one I would obviously listen to.

 

[Rated-R-Ron]

Rated-R-Ron - yes, LPR can cause major issues with sinuses/Post nasal drip feeling. Also, I had a pretty big problem with Hoarseness as well...to the point where when I was talking my damn voice would cut out.....ALL a part of LPR. I do remember at one point the mucus getting stuck behind the nose and half way down the throat a lot - that really sucked as well.

Interesting, I had that exact same feeling dealing with the mucus/phlegm, it was very dynamic, it kept changing positions, I could feel it at the very bottom of my throat, then it would move up and I would feel it behind the nasal passages, or just behind the left nasal passage, then it would move down again... so weird.

But I can say that once I stopped vaping the 100% VG juice, it pretty much went away almost entirely, so I conclude it had something to do with vaping and post nasal drip as well.

I hear what your saying about your voicecutting out, I could be talking and all of a sudden my voice would drop what seems like an octave or two and get really low and husky, then I will clear my throat and it'll be back and then go away again. so strange, and very frustrating.

How long did it take you to recover your voice fully?

 

[rival11]

For me, it went away immediately once the reflux calmed down a bit but as an example sometimes my refulx comes back out of nowhere for about an hour or so and I may end up getting hoarse during that time (this really doesn't happen that much at all anymore).

And if you're also wondering.....my hardcore reflux (up until it got bearable) lasted approx.11 months

Also, the mucus shifting sucked didn't it? I mean at one point it was stuck in my chest...then my nose, then my throat...then ALL 3 at once!!! That was night I thought I was just going to die cause I couldn't breathe at all....ugh, bringing back bad memories.

 

[Rated-R-Ron]

For me, it went away immediately once the reflux calmed down a bit but as an example sometimes my refulx comes back out of nowhere for about an hour or so and I may end up getting hoarse during that time (this really doesn't happen that much at all anymore).

And if you're also wondering.....my hardcore reflux (up until it got bearable) lasted approx.11 months

Also, the mucus shifting sucked didn't it? I mean at one point it was stuck in my chest...then my nose, then my throat...then ALL 3 at once!!! That was night I thought I was just going to die cause I couldn't breathe at all....ugh, bringing back bad memories.

Good god! 11 months of that thing... how awful.

The hoarseness is clearing away quite nicely, but I am curious if it's because I stopped vaping altogether, or if it's the PPI's doing what they're supposed to (Guess I'll know when 14 day treatment is up)

The mucus shift is one the worst experiences I've ever had, especially since it tended to get thicker, mobile and more annoying during the night, which obviously also affects you psychologically as you're laying down to sleep, and it's keeping you from falling asleep. Thank god it's over.

 

[rival11]

If you just started PPI's it is most likely due to that - when I first got on them EVERYTHING went away almost immeditately...DO NOT stay on them for too long though - you can go a lot of cycles (2 week cycles for PPI's) though but if you stay on them for too long (prob 4 months or longer) youre reflux symptoms will come back 2 fold.

EXACTLY - I freaked out cause I had no idea what the hell was worng with me - it messes with your mind big time - people have no clue until they go through it which is why I really hope they would find this thread here on the most popular ecig forum if they did.

 

[Rated-R-Ron]

If you just started PPI's it is most likely due to that - when I first got on them EVERYTHING went away almost immeditately...DO NOT stay on them for too long though - you can go a lot of cycles (2 week cycles for PPI's) though but if you stay on them for too long (prob 4 months or longer) youre reflux symptoms will come back 2 fold.

EXACTLY - I freaked out cause I had no idea what the hell was worng with me - it messes with your mind big time - people have no clue until they go through it which is why I really hope they would find this thread here on the most popular ecig forum if they did.

Yeah, I'm somewhat tempted to pick up the e-cig again just to test if it's the PPI's working, though I must admit now being off the e-cig for six days, the craving is slowly going away, so maybe it's for the better altogether.

 

[thejager]

i have had the mucus shift thing...and the phlegm in my throat..oen night it was bad so iwent to the doctor and they couldnt find anything... they gave me somethign called (no joking) "Mary's MAgic Potion" which i think is just Benadryl and some numbing agents.... Doctor thought it was a scratchy throat which can give you the sensation of somethign in your throat but without the actual mass (phlegm or food etc)...

As i took the magic potion it immediately helped and i didnt feel any phlegm sensations... gradually it lessened thoguh it has never entirely went away....i do think i need to hydrate more which coudl be some of the issue for me... but i also do wonder if using some of the certain wicking materials may be physically scratching my throat slightly...thus causing the phlegm sensation...i haev noticed less of a problem when using Genesis atomisers but it is still there, though i am uncertain if it is just remnants of an earlier scratch that cant heal due to eating etc...

nevertheless...when it gets too bad i haev some Magic Potion and things go away for a while...

im not saying this is anythign anyone else has experienced...but it is something that i havent really read anyone else discussing as a possible reason.... nevertheless...i cant stand the mucus feeling in my throat...i stopped ecigs for about a month to see if it helped and it did not really...so im not sure what to do with that.... anyways... more info and suggestiosn are welcomed!

 

[Homedude]

I know this is an old thread but I just wanted to add a little to it...

I've been treated with omeprazole for GERD for nearly 10 years now. I switched from cigs to vaping in nov 2011. In July 2012 I started showing LPR symptoms and ignored them for a few weeks. I was then diagnosed with bronchitis which led to a week long hospital stay due to my inability to keep my O2 levels above 85%. I'm just now finishing my 4th run of Prednisone, taking an inhaled steriod twice a day and have replaced Omeprazole with Dexlansoprazole. I'm waiting on appointments with a pulminary specialist and gastroenterologist (getting the scope)... all this should give me an official LPR diagnosis. Besides the drugs, I've also radically modified my diet including avoiding caffeine, carbonation, nicotine, alcohol and pretty much all the yummy stuff. I feel great at this point but it's a tight rope that I'm going to be walking for a while. I tested myself by going to bar, having a few drinks and vaping for a couple hours... it was fun but I woke wheezing and coughing again. Not as bad as previous attacks but I now see how quickly the LPR can act up and effect my breathing. I don't blame vaping but I will say that it definitely doesn't help my situation. I'm sure that I'll be able to do/have most of these things again in moderation but for now I'm going to proceed with caution. Just wanted to put this out there for anyone with similar symptoms.

edit to add...
Pre bronchitis LPR symptoms - Horseness, constant throat clearing, PND, constant lump in throat and difficulty swallowing.

 

[rival11]

But did you find the cause of your bronchitis? Was bacterial or viral (sounds like it was viral which is more frequently what people get). It honestly sounds like you just caught bronchitis from the regular cigs.

LPR sucks .......it really ... sucks. Mine started to act up again as well but I switched off from the disposable blu cigs to their kits (they finally fixed the sensitive battery issue!!!) today is my first day and already I can tell a big difference but.....I think I'm sensitive to panic attacks now....but.....I can control them in full (I get the shallow breathing but force myself to take long and deep slow breaths and it takes about an hour and a half for my breathing to return to normal).

And rally quick if this helps anyone...if you find e-cigs are giving you panic attacks just remember you are ALWAYS in full control of a panic attack..just say to yourself "it's nothing" then seriously force yourself to laugh....this little trick works wonders.

And I agree with you homedude....vaping does not help matters but the good news is that it also doesn't cause damage either...maybe one day they will be made with different ingredients.

 

[Homedude]

But did you find the cause of your bronchitis? Was bacterial or viral (sounds like it was viral which is more frequently what people get). It honestly sounds like you just caught bronchitis from the regular cigs.

I believe that the "Bronchitis" was actually caused by the LPR. When the LPR symptoms get really bad, I get bronchospasms. When things were at their worst, just before being admitted to the hospital, the spasms were about 18 hours per day. I was coughing so bad and having such difficulty catching my breath that I was blacking out. This would also explain why the antibiotics did nothing to help my situation. The steroids and Albuterol treatments were the only thing keeping me out the hospital until I made the LPR connection and talked to my doctor about investigating that path further. I've seen docs in the hospital, my regular family doc, a walk in clinic doc and done a breathing test so far. I have appointments coming up with a pulmonary specialist, a gastroenterologist, my family doc and an upper GI endoscopy. The LPR diagnosis isn't official yet. I proposed it to my family doc and he agrees with me. We'll see what consensus everyone comes to when the tests are done.