Hello from NC

[Sharon_NC]

40 something female (former)smoker, in NC/USA... 25 year smoker, give or take. Diagnosed with COPD/Bronchitis/Asthma in 2009 during hospitalization for Pneumonia-like symptoms -- they checked for blood clots, cysts, etc -- couldn't find anything specific... aside of a 103 degree fever. Doc said I would be on oxygen in 2 years if I didn't quit smoking, another said I was going to die... and personally I believe them, but I think it was a lot to blame on MOLD that was in the house I lived in (now moved, thankfully)... but couldn't quit smoking. I did for a few days, until the psychological cravings hit me. Tried many times to quit and would've went to my grave with a lighter in one hand, and a cigarette in another.

Ordered the "Smoking Everywhere" starter kit about a week ago (60+ bucks) and couldn't get it to charge. (I think it was their USB plug). Preparing to return it for a refund(?) hopefully, if they do that... any experience there?

Checked out a local chain called TRO (tobacco Road Outlet), and they sell the "Pure Smoke" starter kits. I like what I've found in those. I've got three of those starter kits. The liquid in the cartridges made me gag on every draw, but I found Johnson Creek liquids, and ordered 15 ml of the French Vanilla and 15 ml of the Tennesee Cured liquid. (Went with the 24 mg nicotine level) Dripped in a couple drops on the "Pure Smoke" cartridges and wow without the JC liquid... "Pure Smoke" sure does live up to its name.

That's working GREAT for me and my heavy smoking habit. The JC liquid makes "Pure Smoke" bearable... enjoyable.. ummmm, more like addicted to the scent and flavor. Couldn't believe vaping was so similar to the real thing.

Today was my first day, going solid without a cigarette... where I had the cartridges, wall charger, batteries, etc., everything I needed to survive... and "vaping" all day long.

I'm curious what effect inhaling the vapor will have on COPD, if any...

My son (age 10) has came to me often pouring tears, begging me to quit smoking afraid I'd end up dying from smoking tobacco. When I began seriously considering trying e-cigarettes and explained to him e-cigarettes don't have the toxins in them like cigarettes... he was so happy, and encouraged me to go for it. Took a little bit of reading, an investment, but I think I'm off to a good start and headed in the right direction.

 

[Youthful313]

welcome to the forum!

 

[notsoogood]

Welcome to ECF Sharon! I don't know about the COPD but I'm sure someone in here will.

Congrats on going w/o for a day. That's a start! Keep up the good work!

 

[rita351]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[CaptJay]

Check out the Health subforum - lots of info from many members who have COPD - IIRC, almost all have experienced an alleviation of symptoms, but check out the pages or search 'COPD' whilst in the HEalth subforum.

 

[Automaton]

Hello and welcome! God, that must be so scary. Glad to hear you're well on your way with e-cigs.

I do recall seeing a poll in the Polls section about COPD, and a sizable chunk of people did feel that their symptoms had improved since moving to e-cigs. I can't remember the percent, and now the poll is alluding me. I'm no expert obviously, but there's certainly hope!

 

[Sharon_NC]

Thanks for the welcomes everyone. Glad to be here.

Hello and welcome! God, that must be so scary. Glad to hear you're well on your way with e-cigs.

Yes indeed! I learned of these things browsing another site, and youtube (some news stations reports), and wow, easily kicked the habit once I got the taste right. Sadly, I've been browsing this forum, and some people can't go straight from regular cigarettes over to e-cigarettes. I'm one of the lucky ones I guess. (Was a long-time full flavor Doral smoker, about 2 or 3 packs a day... give or take.) I'm using the JC French Vanilla ... 24 mg nicotine liquid. Pretty strong stuff, which helps.

I do recall seeing a poll in the Polls section about COPD, and a sizable chunk of people did feel that their symptoms had improved since moving to e-cigs. I can't remember the percent, and now the poll is alluding me. I'm no expert obviously, but there's certainly hope!

I've been reading on the devastating effects of Vitamin C loss for a few months now... every cigarette wipes out about the equivalent of one orange' worth of Vitamin C... and Vitamin C is necessary to build collagen and elastin to keep the skin smooth and wrinkle-free.
So where does one go from here, trying to reverse all the damaging effects of long-term cigarette use?

Had a friend tell me that NAC (Supplement) may be useful in the lungs rebuilding tissue, and protecting against smokers lungs... quercetin may be a viable supplement as well. I welcome any suggestions. I've got awful lines beginning in my skin... cleaned WalGreens out on Resveratrol too... that's suppose to be a powerful antioxidant (based on Red Wine... and why the French live longer and less heart disease).

Any vitamin nuts around to offer a list of supplements (and mg) I should be popping daily???

 

[mini_art]

I wouldnt know about the vitamins, but copd yes.
In 4 short months I have gone from taking 2 meds for copd to just one , and that is a rescue inhaler.
I had taken meds for it for more years then I am willing to admit too LOL
My breathing is that much better!!
You wont believe how it will change things in a few months

 

[Sharon_NC]

I wouldnt know about the vitamins, but copd yes.
In 4 short months I have gone from taking 2 meds for copd to just one , and that is a rescue inhaler.
I had taken meds for it for more years then I am willing to admit too LOL
My breathing is that much better!!
You wont believe how it will change things in a few months

I was living in a mold ridden home in Spring 2009... and that's not good combined with heavy smoking (albeit I kept the smoking outdoors and didn't do it directly around my family). When I got out of the hospital, they diagnosed me with COPD and had me on Advair and Ventolin HFA (albuterol sulfate) rescue inhaler. The Advair (or either the steroid injection) broke me out in horrible acne. I never had acne in my life.
After I got out of the hospital, I admitted/accepted I had Asthma, and bad too.

I'm stubborn. I quit using the Advair altogether and I don't trust it, and still have a full Albuterol inhaler from last year, and opted for OTC Primatene Mist. Since moving from that mold-infested home last summer, (age 41 and told by the Docs I had lungs "like a 70 year old" -- I didn't want to hear that ), my breathing improved.

I'm hoping that with e-cigarettes, I'll wake up one day with my lungs expanding, filling with air.. and never needing even the Primatene Mist again.

I'm looking at supplements as a means to reverse some of the cell damage caused by tobacco. These e-cigarettes are heaven-sent... I tried everything to quit over the past 20 years. E-cigarettes are going to work, because IMHO, they're better than nasty tobacco cigarettes. (Now watch the politicians eagerly search for any excuse to tax the **** out of them).

 

[Sharon_NC]

Been reading today... e-cigarettes are like small nebulizers. Anyone here using a nebulizer to vape from???

Any suggestions which ones might provide a powerful vapor??

 

[piratecaptainbob]

but I think I'm off to a good start and headed in the right direction.

hell yea youre headed in the right direction

 

[Automaton]

Any vitamin nuts around to offer a list of supplements (and mg) I should be popping daily???

Well, I'm lucky enough to have found e-cigs (after numerous attempts to quit with all kinds of methods - all of them miserable failures) at the age of 21. So, while I do try to look after myself, I'm sure I don't have all the insights you do.

But I take TONS of Omega-3 (from fish oil) for mood regulation. This will help you a lot as you detox from cigs. Even if you're getting all the nicotine you need, and you don't want a cigarette, your brain chemistry will still probably go wonky at some point. There's lots of posts here about "I don't even want a cigarette, why am I so irritated!?" Detox, that's why.

I typically took 4000mg a day (4 capsules a day, 2 in the morn and 2 at night). I hiked it all the way up to 6000mg a day in preparation to quit smoking. And I think it's really helping keep me level.

It's also really good for your heart and circulation, which promotes healing everywhere. And your heart need support - nicotine by itself is pretty benign compared to nicotine in the context of cigarettes, but it still has mild affects on your heart, like any stimulant, and after years of smoking, it needs all the help it can get.

So, there's one idea anyway! You can pick it up in the vitamin isle of any supermarket.

 

[scinsc]

Hi and good luck. It gets easier every day.

The best advice I got was to throw all of your cigarettes away. All of them!

You also need to look up MadVapes. They are in the Charlotte area. Great service and will be able to take care of all of your vaping needs.

Again good luck and wecome to the club.