anyone else have shortness of breath?

[CaptJay]

I was hypERthyroid before I quit smoking and took up vaping - I am due to get a level check soon as I am on meds for it, and switched from Iodized to non iodized salt too (surprising how much iodine is in certain foods as an additive).
I still take the meds, don't want to stop just because one thing changed (not smoking) but I'm curious if they have levelled out or not, enough to stop taking the meds.
I still get some phlegm issues (throat clearing) but its impossible to say if this is detoxing from the fags or from the vaping.
I do feel more tired but I attribute that to not getting the spike hits off the nicotine and just drink more coffee
That sorts it out pretty much.
I've had no SoB, I vape both PG and VG mixes (though I find all VG is too drying), get a dry throat, (drinking more doesn't seem to make a dfference) drier eyes, skin, but otherwise no real adverse effects SO FAR.

Edit to add: I forgot indegestion - I get that a lot more now but I did used to get it after lots of cigs too so maybe its nicotine linked.

 

[AlexTM]

My levels dropped quite a bit after only three weeks of vaping, and I think I should try to stop my meds, but I'll have them checked again, I think, before I do that.

 

[RexFactor]

Hey Axl,

I seem to have the same issue you do.. I was never really a heavy analog smoker, maybe 3 a day average for the past 13 years (I'm 35 now), and I've been exercising quite regularly for the past 3 years and the analogs never seemed to interfere.

Found out about vaping last October and decided to give it a try since my wife hated the smell of smoke and I liked the vaping idea. Got a Vapure kit with the cartomizers, seemed to work great, I'd take 10 or so drags a night. Probably only went through 12 or 13 carts total.. About 6 weeks in I noticed the same shortness of breath.. We do a p90x type workout at lunch and while I used to be able to hang I had to crawl away 15 minutes into it. Felt like my bronchial tubes were on fire. Same thing running after 4 or 5 miles I started feeling dead..

I stopped soon after went back to analog in mid-december. Saw my Dr, and he did a lung test as well. Was about 20% below peak. He thought it was temporary asthma and gave me an inhaler. Seemed to help alot, went back mid-January and even though I felt better still had the same peak test. Got another asthma inhaler, some cipro in case this was an infection, and I decided to quit totally, this .... ain't worth it.

So that was almost 3 weeks ago, somedays I'm better, but somedays I still feel tight in the chest and have shortness of breath. I haven't touched an e-cig in almost 2 months.. Not an analog in 3 weeks.

Are you still feeling these symptoms axl, or are you better now? How long has it been since you've hit the e-cig? Just curious since you sounded like you had the exact same timeline and symptoms that I did..

The most plausable thing I can think of is that I was allergic to something in the e-cig and that's causing the asthma.. I showed my Dr the full e-cig ingredient list and although he hadn't heard of one, he did say it looks a hell of a lot safer than analogs.. I researched this quite a bit before buying, so I know most people don't have issues, but be safe everyone..

 

[W Axl Rose]

rexfactor,
Yes, that is pretty much my scenario to a 'T'. I have been off of ecigs totally since january 21st. Like you, some days are fine, some, NOT. I feel like I have to pull really hard to get a full breath. I don't wheeze or pant, just really struggle to get full breaths. I can run on the treadmill pretty much ok, but when I am at rest is when I really notice my problems.
Is it that way for you? Or different? If different, how so?
My dr is not sure what is wrong. I was scheduled to do a lung function test last week, but the clinic had an emergency so that got pushed back. After reading your post, I am afraid to do so. I don't WANT to hear that I have done permanent damage, but I fear that may be the case.
Had you ever done a lung function test before this to establish a baseline? I hadn't. I did have a chest xray and my dr said he didn't see any damage to my lungs on that, but I haven't heard back from the radiologist yet.
Best of luck, and let me know how things turn out for you please.

 

[ladyraj]

Regarding the tobacco cessation and hypothyroid theory I must respectfully disagree. At the age of 27, I weighed 107 pounds, smoked a pack of ciggies a day (sometimes more), and when I began feeling cold and tired all the time a thyroid panel revealed a hypothyroid condition. I've been on daily medication to supplement my lack of thyroid hormone although I continued to smoke for an additional 25 years. Switching to the e-cig has not altered my thyroid panels in any way nor my daily dosage of synthyroid.

Perhaps my response is idiosyncratic but it seems unlikely that ciggies mask underlying metabolic disorders. Further, the opposite side of the debate would be that smokers inhaling extra thyroid would become hyperthyroid and the research indicates this is simply not proved.

The correlation of thyroid disease/self medicating appears odd.

 

[AlexTM]

Do check those two abstracts (and if you want to, the articles):
The effect of nicotine on thyroid function in rats. [Metabolism. 1998] - PubMed result
Examination of antithyroid effects of smoking prod... [Acta Endocrinol (Copenh). 1992] - PubMed result

Obviously, everybody is different, but there is no denying that for most people, smoking has an effect on their thyroid.

 

[RexFactor]

Hey Axl,
Yeah, I got that "Oh crap, this might not go away feeling" too, but when I step back and think about it, I don't think that will be the case. I just don't think it's likely that a 2 - 3 month exposure to something can cause permanent damage to any part of the body. Especially if others aren't having the same issues.

My doc said it's either an infection, asthma, or something simply irritating my bronchial tubes. they're basically inflamed and according to what he told me permanent asthma rarely kicks in this late(mid 30's) but I suppose it's possible that it could based on something in the e-cigs? He seemed to think it would clear up, and seemed pretty confident that removing any possible irritaants and taking meds would clear it. Of courses he's a general practitioner so being that I have a couple of Dr. friends I've asked them to refer me to a pulmonary specialist.. They might be able to shed some more light on it. We shall see.

As for my symptoms, I'm basically fine until I really push it exercising. A couple months ago when I had this I was running 8 or 9 miles training for my second marathon(It didn't happen due to this BTW). I was ok, but I didn't have quite that stamina I did 6 months ago, and I pretty much feel fine when I'm not exercising.. What gets me is when we do circuit type workouts that involve all sorts of cardio and resistance, or sprinting.. Anything that taxes my lungs for max oxygen seems to hurt my bronchs due to breathing hard. I didn't have a peak lung function test done before, and I imagine due to the fact I smoked some it wouldn't have been 100%, but it wasn't this bad. I did have a chest Xray last year, so when I go in in a week I'll have another done for comparison..

My gut - and my Dr's hunch - is that this is allergic asthma of some kind, and I suppose the worst case scenario is that I'll have to actively manage it indefinitely. However, I paid the extra 30 bucks per paycheck for the PPO healthcare plan for a reason, so when .... like this happens I can seek any kind of help I want from any kind of specialist.. And that's exactly what intend to do. So I will get as much info as I can and I will keep this thread updated.

If I were you I'd get a Symbicort inhaler from your doc.. They usually have samples they can give you. It helped me quite a bit, and possibly get a antibiotics prescription if it's an infection. Oh, I did read that acute bronchitis - is similar to this - is quite often viral, so antibiotics don't help and it quite often takes months to heal.. So that might be good news? Either way man, please get to the Dr.. What's done is done, and the best weapon to this is knowledge.. Not only that you're the only other person I've seen with the same issues, heheh

Just for comparison. I smoked Winston lights Analogs. And I vaped Vapure cartomizers. Did you use carts or those 3 piece refillable parts?

Good luck..

 

[Bellasin]

I should get the orders for the labs I want done in the mail soon. I called a doctor and told them about this huge bizarre weight gain and hair loss and fatigue. I also asked to have my kidneys and liver checked.

I am able to climb the stairs now with much less shortness of breath. I am never SOB anymore just sitting around, and the wheezing completely stopped, no matter how much I vape. I vape mostly Halo juice and MFS and the one from China that Mist-stix sells. When I suddenly became SOB immediately after vaping that one juice, then it kept getting worse the longer I vaped it, it was obvious something wasn't right. I was almost scared to vape at all, but the weight gain is so bad I was more afraid of getting any bigger if I stopped vaping the nic.

Once I figure out why I can't eat more than 800 calories a day without gaining 2lbs overnight, I plan to vape nic awhile longer then decrease that to 0mg again. I truly believe nic isn't the substance in tobacco that keeps smokers thin. If all else fails I looked into those Stonewall things, but with the weird gum problems that also cropped up a month into vaping, I was hesitant to use anything new orally. And here I always thought if I quit analogs I would feel amazingly better. I can't afford analogs, so smoking is not an option.

Anyway congrats to those of you who vape with no problems. I wish it could be like that for everyone, vaping is so enjoyable really.

 

[jdw650]

So Ive been Vaping a mixture of about 70pg/20vg/10flavor. for over a week now. I havent had a shortness of breath since i stopped using the liquid that had distilled water in it. Any one else experience this. I know everyones different, but for me i think it was the water.

 

[Knapweed]

I think the bottom line is that you can't deny somebody else's experience, no matter how different it is from your own.

I haven't had breathlessness but I have had an increase in acid indigestion. One of the main reasons I gave up smoking after 45 years was an increase in breathlessness. Even the covers being over my face at night increased the C02 levels to the point where my breathing got heavier - giving false hope to my wife in the process

I have noticed a slow but steady decline in my breathlessness since vaping (3.5 weeks now and no desire for analogs) but is slight enough that it could just be wishful thinking - certainly I haven't coughed at all in the morning for the past two weeks.

This thread has been an awesome read. I was gutted initially hearing all the problems people were having but there does appear to be enough variation to rule out a single cause.

I'm so sorry to hear the problems Axl and Bell are having. Breathing is the very essence of life and anything that interferes with that must be scary as hell.

 

[jamie]

I forgot indegestion - I get that a lot more now but I did used to get it after lots of cigs too so maybe its nicotine linked.

In general I think we take in a lot more air while vaping, which can cause more gas or uncomfortable, bloated feeling.

Switching to the e-cig has not altered my thyroid panels in any way nor my daily dosage of synthyroid.

My thyroid panels and meds had been stable for a long time. After a while on the ecig, mine did change and now I need less medication.

 

[W Axl Rose]

I was thinking about the permanent damage thing and I thought of this. People inhale aerosol paint, glue, lysol (huffing is what I am referring to) and can recover so I HOPE that I can recover too. Paint and household cleansers have to be worse than a few months of ecigs, right???? I'm not advocating huffing by any means, but when I have my bad days I have to try to 'talk myself down'!
I smoked salem ultra light 100's for 12 years, a pack a day.

 

[WVfem]

I've been following the discussion here on the subject of shortness of breath. I posted earlier in this thread, a couple of weeks ago. My sob continues, though I stopped the ecig 7 days ago. I've interpreted this to be mostly anxiety symptoms from lack of nicotine, much as I've experienced at quitting smokling in the past. Today, I caved and used my ecig loading with "high" nicotine Johnson Creek original smoke juice. Despite this, the sob continues. I'm not sure what I'll do next. Maybe an exercise regimen and resume my quit.

 

[AlexTM]

If you still think it might be anxiety, you may need something from tobacco that is not nicotine. Head over to the smokeless tobacco forum, there are quite a few threads discussing that problem.
There are very good solutions for it, too.

 

[W Axl Rose]

As info, I did go to smokeless tobacco when I quit the ecig and that has not relieved my sob, but it has enabled me to not go back to analogs. I am hoping that this is just what I am going thru til my lungs heal.

 

[KellsBell]

Hi all, I know this may sound strange but one can never rule out anything, and Axl, from what I've read, your SOB sounds more like mine which is not so much wheezing as not bein able to catch a full breath all the time, and the more I think about it the more I try, the more anxious I get and the the worse it seems. I have only been vaping for about a month, totally off the stinkies, and I am experiencing this, but... I have had this problem many times in the past and the culpret has been my back being out of whack and once it is in place and the muscles can relax it clears up, this hasn't yet happened for me this time, but I'm also afraid my anxiety and/or looking for a connection to the ecig has kept me too anxious and uptight to relax enough to get a full breath 100% of the time. The spot that is usually out that causes this is the area right above the bra strap and up. There is also an area just below the strap that when out causes me nausea. Like I sais some may think it is strange, but every little thing is worth looking into in my opinion, and I think as a whole, society is way over-medicated. My Dr. is not only a surgeon and family physician but also a Chiropractor. Just thought I'd offer my 2 cents, it never hurts to think about even the smallest possibilities.

 

[W Axl Rose]

Kells, at this point I will try anything, and I appreciate the suggestions! What you described is alot like my symptoms. I think I'll take your advice and pay my chiro a visit, can't hurt!

 

[htchhikr]

Hello to all experiencing issues,

Not to put down any research into the devices or the juice themselves I do feel I should put up this info (as having experienced it myself).

When you have the shortness of breath do you feel like your going to die? That would most likely then be anxiety. It does seem that lowering/eliminating nicotine can cause anxiety.

Quitting Tobacco: Handling Anxiety - National Cancer Institute

I would talk to your doctor about your symptoms.

Common Physical Anxiety Symptoms:
Pounding heart
Sweating
Stomach upset or dizziness
Frequent urination or ........
Shortness of breath
Tremors and twitches
Muscle tension
Headaches
Fatigue
Insomnia

Emotion Symptoms:
Feelings of apprehension or dread
Trouble concentrating
Feeling tense and jumpy
Anticipating the worst
Irritability
Restlessness
Watching for signs of danger
Feeling like your mind’s gone blank

 

[Sparklet]

KellsBell I've had 2 of those similar attacks where the pain goes right thru to the front and makes it very difficult to take a full breathe of air into the lungs. For the most part it only lasted a couple of days and the only way I could get rid of the pain was to try different positions by moving my arms around enough to move all my upper torso including ribs etc.
The last time I couldn't breathe [three years ago] I thought it was the same thing however there was no pain so I ran [drove] to the doctor's office and he confirmed that I had pneumonia so had the chest x-rays and sure enough it was confirmed. The bad thing after I was admitted to the hospital it was bacterial pneumonia so ended up staying there for a few days.
I smoked for over 40years and at a point was smoking 3 packs a day but still can manage to get an oximeter reading of 97 average and sometimes hit 98 so I consider myself very lucky for getting off analogs before something happens.

 

[wegster]

so is Diacetyl being used or not? I would doubt it as I haven't seen any butter flavored carts. If it is not being used, great. BUT, who is to say other flavorings don't do similar things? Or maybe it is all harmless. UGH!

Diacetyl has been discussed around a year back on the forums. Some DIY flavors like Lorannes and others may contain diacetyl, but most do not. As far as I recall, none of the ejuice we've seen toxicity reports/analysis on contains diacetyl either. This is one of the reasons there are 'approved flavorings' threads for the DIY crowd - not only for diacetyl, but other chemicals as well.

This is one of the reasons I've become quite hesitant to purchase juice from any supplier 'mixing liquids in his garage,' and those who have never provided an ingredients list at minimum, or ideally a toxicity report.

PS - what's the deal, seems a LOT of people are now using 'VP' to mean PV (Personal Vaporizer). Are that many dyslexic, or did I miss a new name for them somewhere?