COPD Think

[postembr2]

Hi, im now 32 yold, stopped smoking 2 months ago, now exclusively vaping. I dont have much short breath, but im not fit, and also, im severe overweight 140kg (308lbs). I usually have short breath on severe dry weather or talking while walking fast on an steeply street.
I usually dont do much exercise, even walking, although im changing it. Now i dont cough, and i can sleep well, and breath well.
Since i stopped, i request the medic to do a lung test. I done an spirometry this week, gonna get my results tomorrow.
Im worried because the medic overseeing the test didnt gave me the results after the test, just said "talk to your medic about what will appear on your results"... i further inquired if the second test, done with broncho-dilator showed some change, and she just said yes. Im just worried now that i probably have some lung impairment, or COPD, just after 15 years of smoking... even if i can breath relatively well... Anyway, better that i stopped now than 10 or 20 years on future when i would have no lung left.

 

[Rickajho]

Hi

It depends on what health regulations are where you live. In the US most test results are not allowed to be given to you by someone untrained to interpret the results. An Xray technician can take an Xray but isn't qualified to interpret what they see on it, so they aren't supposed to say anything. All I'm saying is it might just be procedure and you the fact that they said nothing is because they aren't qualified to say. It could mean nothing at all. That's all.

Hoping for the best.

 

[Katya]

What he said. ^

Anyway, you'll know soon. Good luck and you're on your way to recovery! Fingers crossed.

 

[postembr2]

I know... i think anway, i probably should have some kind of lung impairment already, i was very harsh with my lungs over the years.. 15 years, 2 pack a day. Plus on 16-22 i done all kind of insane things like using solvents and all kind of drugs.

 

[Katya]

Sending good thoughts your way!

 

[postembr2]

Thanks. As majority of us are ex smokers, we all gone thru the situation to survey the damage we done to our bodies thru smoke.
To all old smokers, its not late to stop smoking and reap benefits, and for younger smokers, stop, quicker the better, every cig does damage.

 

[postembr2]

Good news, i got my results, most were way better than predicted, only FEV1 is 96% of predicted, aproximated fev rating 81, so i think i stopped to smoke right on time. If you are reading this and still smokes, stop now!

 

[TinyTimberGal]

That's great news!

 

[FourWinds]

Good news man, and as it's only been 3 ish months I guess it'll only get better. Now you're off the analogues and breathing my guess is that you'll naturally want to be out and about more, and that everything will be better over time.

I've damaged my gums through smoking; well, that's all I know about at the moment. At lease I know that I'm not making anything worse now, and I don't have that light-up-terror any more

 

[HighEnergyProton]

Congrats on quitting the ciggies, that is the best decision that you could have made. Your lungs will slowly start repairing themselves, your cilia will regrow and things will start getting better from here on out. Keep up the vaping and off the ciggies. Power to you

 

[postembr2]

Being severe overweight, i suffered a lot to breath while smoking. Sleeping was dificult, waking several times a night. Im mostly sleeping well now.
Another great thing i had was suffering from tireness. I used to get a smoke every time i was tired, and i used to wake up already tired. Every time i used to puff i was adding to my tireness, as CO2 was being added, over and over. I used to drink coffee like mad and smoke, and those things werent restoring my energy. Without all extra CO2, better sleeping and circulation, i feel a lot more of energy. I drink less coffee, and im going to start exercising while balancing my diet. Once i start reducing weight, i will probably remove part or all of my diabetes medications.
For me it was hard to stop nicotine, as im an alcoholic/drug sober for 4 years, with some severe depression. Im on depression medication for 4 years, and i feel nicotine keeps me on the good side. Its a blessing to have this vaping tool.

I just feel sorry because here in Brazil Ecigs are outlawed. Several people on streets ask me how they can get one, how it works. A lot of people dont have same resources as me to be able to spend a lot and import good gear from US/China/Europe. It would be a real health benefit if government allow it, a lot of people with low income would be able to stop smoking. But i have faith, as when i remember, i was a pioneer here when smartphones appeared. Vaping industry and commerce will hit mainstream as its hitting europe and US. Its a matter of time.

 

[Rickajho]

Glad to hear it wasn't as scary as you thought! Now if you need help staying quit - ask questions, vent frustrations - whatever we can help with. It's what we do here!

 

[HighEnergyProton]

I'm glad that you are already noticing changes in your health. Keep at it and drink lots of water

 

[JB Goode]

Hi, im now 32 yold, stopped smoking 2 months ago, now exclusively vaping. I dont have much short breath, but im not fit, and also, im severe overweight 140kg (308lbs). I usually have short breath on severe dry weather or talking while walking fast on an steeply street.
I usually dont do much exercise, even walking, although im changing it. Now i dont cough, and i can sleep well, and breath well.
Since i stopped, i request the medic to do a lung test. I done an spirometry this week, gonna get my results tomorrow.
Im worried because the medic overseeing the test didnt gave me the results after the test, just said "talk to your medic about what will appear on your results"... i further inquired if the second test, done with broncho-dilator showed some change, and she just said yes. Im just worried now that i probably have some lung impairment, or COPD, just after 15 years of smoking... even if i can breath relatively well... Anyway, better that i stopped now than 10 or 20 years on future when i would have no lung left.

It's great that you gave up smoking especially for COPD health reasons. I've had it for more than 28 yrs and my lung capacity has greatly diminished. Once the capacity and or shrinkage of the lungs happens, that can't be reversed even if you stopped smoking. I' 66 yrs old. My lung capacity is now 45 %. COPD is what originally made me look into vaping. So, I always expect that doing spirometry testing will only show that my lung capacity is so far remaining the same or has gotten a little worse. Also, when you say medics you mean the techs who are doing the spirometry test? They're not mds so they're not allowed to discuss the results. Only your specialist can talk about the results. Chin up.

 

[revco]

Glad to hear things are on the up and up. That's fantastic news! It should only get better from here!

That's pretty crazy, and unfortunate, that e-cigs are outlawed where you are. I don't think that's right, especially with how effective they are in helping many people get off cigs completely. In time, it should hopefully change. Although it's slow going, there are studies being conducted and I'm fairly confident it will be proven beyond a doubt to be an effective reduced harm cessation method. The hundreds of thousands of us couldn't be wrong...we feel it in our bodies and see our lives improve. Maybe it would be helpful to keep up on the research and lobby your government with the latest info available.

Welcome to ECF and glad you got the good news!

 

[Katya]

Congratulations and happy vaping!

 

[postembr2]

Glad to hear things are on the up and up. That's fantastic news! It should only get better from here!

That's pretty crazy, and unfortunate, that e-cigs are outlawed where you are. I don't think that's right, especially with how effective they are in helping many people get off cigs completely. In time, it should hopefully change. Although it's slow going, there are studies being conducted and I'm fairly confident it will be proven beyond a doubt to be an effective reduced harm cessation method. The hundreds of thousands of us couldn't be wrong...we feel it in our bodies and see our lives improve. Maybe it would be helpful to keep up on the research and lobby your government with the latest info available.

Welcome to ECF and glad you got the good news!

Actually, restrictions here are very political oriented, as tobacco lobby in Brazil is still very strong. Gov Health Agency and Health Ministry actually supports Risk Reduction therapy for a range of heavy drugs like ....... and crack; some NGO actually distributes snorting tube and syringes for addicteds, but we are denied of using vapor, because big tobacco is pressing government, while government keep raising tobacco taxes. As law is "very loosely" uphold in this country, you can get vaping gear and liquids easily, if you had resources, but this policy is effectively blocking the stablisment of brick and mortar shops. Vaping gear isnt prohibited, as they cant do it, as its just an eletrical resistance, but liquids in fact face the ban. If i had enough money i would defy the law and establish a shop. It would take just some money to bribe agents, but again, im no position now, to spend 10-20K US$ to establish a shop with reasonable gear. Maybe im gonna start some petition and start to agregate people for helping with the ban, see if we can face it, its hard because we would be facing really big tobacco. If some vanguards take the lead and build real shops, it would be much more easy, because it would much more invalidate the law, in pratical terms.

 

[Katya]

This is really depressing... I just hope and pray it doesn't happen here--our Big Tobacco and Big Pharma are just as powerful as yours and are trying to ban vaping in almost every state. It's disgusting, if you ask me.

 

[postembr2]

This is really depressing... I just hope and pray it doesn't happen here--our Big Tobacco and Big Pharma are just as powerful as yours and are trying to ban vaping in almost every state. It's disgusting, if you ask me.

They can do much, but they cant impede people from setting some resistance wires and vape nicotine. Even if they manage to outlaw nicotine for sale (excepting in cigarette form of course), we can extract it from tobacco leaves. It would be very bizarre if it goes this far, people trying to reduce damage and they forcing us to smoke.