Got sick (cold + asthma) and kinda paranoid now... need some reassurance

[nocturn4l3030]

Hey everyone, I know it's the popular to blame vaping for everything, but I got sick, and still am, and this has been the most sick i've been in a LONG time. It's just a regular cold, but I have asthma, and this was the first time ever since I could remember where I really was actually having serious trouble breathing because of my asthma. so much so i had to go on steroids(prednisone), which i never have to take. i also felt like i had much more phlegm than normally

Anyway I don't know if I got sick because

1) I played poker one night full of chain (analog) smokers and smoked a few analogs myself that nite. when i smoke analogs socially, the next day or two i feel congested as maybe my lungs actually work and are clearing it up.
2) because I dropped my drip tip in my car somewhere so I used another one that's been sitting in the glove compartment for a while (sanitary issues?)
3) i switched to 100% VG (AVE) the last month or so. asthma people are saying PG and VG affect their asthma in different ways and i don't know
4) i just plain got sick
5) all the above -.-

surprisingly this is the longest (since tuesday) that i've gone without nicotine in 12+ years, which is kinda nice. but i want to vape again

anyway i don't know what i'm looking for really... maybe everyone to yell at me and say "it's not cus of vaping!" or something -.-; or maybe someone who has similar suspicions or something

 

[Cassie]

Sounds like you just got a brush of a bug or flu. I am/was always a sickly person. Asthma and pneumonia and everything else you can think of my whole life. Funny thing is that I haven't had so much as a cold since I started vaping. I do know some people have PG sensitivity, I assume some may have VG issues as well. PG does tend to dehydrate and is recommended to increase fluid intake. I've never heard of that with the VG though. If you are having thick mucus (I know, gross) problems you might want to get more clear fluids(water, tea or juice not beer LOL) and it will help loosen things up.


I really don't think it effects your immune system one way or the other though it wouldn't hurt to talk to a physician that is familiar with vaping. There are some Dr's on ECF, maybe one will see your post and be able to answer =)
Good Luck and get well soon!

 

[bruiser]

I have asthma. I also vape. Smoking or vaping never bothered the asthma. I use an 80/20 PG/VG ration in the liquids. I haven't had a cold since I started vaping, over a year ago. Knock on wood. Vaping and asthma meds will dry you out. Up the drinking of liquids and see if that helps. You can only catch a cold/flu when exposed to the virus. It's possible one of your poker playing buddies had a cold, or you caught the virus somewhere else.

Now, sinus problems are a different thing for me. It seems as if they always want to run/drip into my throat. You'd think with the drying effects of vaping and meds, the sinuses would dry up, but they don't.

 

[milo hobo]

As a former smoker, your body has basically kicked out all of the junk in tobacco smoke and layed out a NOT WELCOME mat. You being around smoke and smoking some yourself, got you congested and feeling bad. The cold/flu came in and found a nice place to nestle in the mucus and decided to throw a party, you ashma kicked in and you feel like you've been kicked into heavy traffic.

I do believe this will pass, that vaping will not harm your current situation, that discontinuing nicotine will bring about new symptoms (withdrawl) that mimic the flu, and that drinking plenty of fluids will help.

This is of course, IMHO, but makes sense to me as a non-medical vaper. Next year, try to get a flu vaccine if you can, and only play poker with smokers in well venilated environments. I've experienced the cogestion as well, it sucks!

 

[Rickajho]

Hi. I don't think the vaping, or even the smoking for that matter, had anything to do with this. It simply sounds like a bad cold, complicated with asthma. And asthma is a very individual matter regarding symptoms and severity so it's nearly impossible to speculate from a distance to what's specifically going on in your case. FWIW I had a cold this season already, and one notable symptom was a nose running like a faucet for several days.

There are a couple possibilities regarding vaping aggravating what is already going on . Such as a sensitivity to PG, VG or a flavor ingredient in your liquids, or too aggressive a vaping style - "lung vaping". But as to vaping actually causing your current condition(s)? Personally, I don't believe so.

How is your relationship with your MD? Does he/she know you vape? It would be worth having a discussion about whether ingredients in your liquids could possibly aggravate your asthma. Mind you, this discussion only works when you have an open minded physician.

Feel better soon!

 

[nocturn4l3030]

thanks guys, im feeling alot more confident bout goin back to vaping when im fully better now, well appreciated

my one concern i cant get out of my mind is my phlegm is still really thick, but no more green nasty stuff... and i cant help think this is build up is due to the 100%VG i been vaping, you guys think theres any correlation to this at all???

thx everyone


edit: as far as my doctor goes...she asked if i still smoked and i said no i converted to electronic. she asked if it still had nicotine, i said yes. so he responded with "so then you still smoke" -.-; wasnt feelin well so didnt want to go any further with it.l unfortunately

 

[Rickajho]

thanks guys, im feeling alot more confident bout goin back to vaping when im fully better now, well appreciated

my one concern i cant get out of my mind is my phlegm is still really thick, but no more green nasty stuff... and i cant help think this is build up is due to the 100%VG i been vaping, you guys think theres any correlation to this at all???

thx everyone

Are you still off vaping as you indicated in your first post? If so, it seems this would be waaayy too long a time being away from vaping for it to still be contributing to your symptoms.

I had the year of "cold from hell" a few years back that put me into bronchitis and laryngitis even. I had been told previously I have asthma - but nothing like at your level. The attacks are very infrequent in my case. But that cold was one of the few times I had to break out the albuterol. I was so sick I pretty much quit smoking, sort of by accident, during that one. Frame of reference? I was sick for over a month. I did see my MD by week three - and he said it was just what was going around that year. They saw a lot of it. Keeping my fluids intake up was about the best recommendation he could give. And though I was bored to tears - rest.

edit: as far as my doctor goes...she asked if i still smoked and i said no i converted to electronic. she asked if it still had nicotine, i said yes. so he responded with "so then you still smoke" -.-; wasnt feelin well so didnt want to go any further with it.l unfortunately

Uh, oh. That's not a good sign and seems to indicate bias and a lack of knowledge. I hope she isn't just an "anti nicotine nazi." Nicotine is certainly NOT the singular issue, and far from the entire story, in the matter of how smoking versus vaping impacts your health.

There is a page in the ECF library with a whole host of links to articles supporting why vaping is better than smoking. If you can't find it and want to look at that stuff let me know and I'll find the link for you.

 

[bruiser]

I'm going to recommend a couple of supplements. Grapefruit seed extract and oil of oregano. You can look them up and read lots about them. I got them from Amazon. The oil of oregano is not the same oregano that is used in pizzas or as a spice. From the same family, but much more potent, and it tastes the same.

 

[Pamdane]

I feel for you.
I have asthma too. Its shown itself once or twice since I started vaping, once with thick phlegm. It took 50/500 Advair for 2 weeks, to go away. I DIY at around 60/40 pg/vg. I dont feel the flare ups are at all vape related. With me, it had more to do with the damp and mold spores. Also, I am allergic to thistle, and it was all over the yard.

Considering I have a dog kennel, and I vape, I think when I get sick, its just nature taking its course. I have a very asthmatic daughter. She is having much less issues since I stopped cigars. I think my clothes and the car were responsible, as I did not smoke indoors. She also started having issues around the same time I did, and I suspect she has the same triggers I do.

I'd say its unrelated, based solely on my own experiences.
Best wishes.

 

[nocturn4l3030]

(sorry cant quote, on the cell)

rick, i still (surprisingly) havent vaped. tomorrow i spend the first day out the house (finals...) and i know that vaping urge gonna kick in as soon as i start driving... very hesitant tbh as i dont want to get more sick -.- you have a good point though, hope youre right!

your post reminded me of something too. i think maybe why my phlegm, though now clear, is still super thick is cus im not drinking enough liquids. never was the type to drink alot of liquids, and kinda forgot bout the whole concept when having a cold derp derp. thx for the reminder.


bruiser, thx for the recommendations. ill look em up and see what theyre about.


pamdane, thx for your words and experence. it's always refreshing to hear others experences (esp with asthma too) to relate to your own.


thx everyone

 

[subversive]

your doctor sounds like a d**k. sorry : ( feel better.