I can't stop coughing

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dreamrush

Full Member
Mar 9, 2011
17
4
NYC
Hello all. I'm not exactly a newbie on this forum -- I've been a member for over 1.5 years. I first joined because this forum gave me all the info I needed on e-cigs so I could decide on which pv to start with. Because of all the support from forum members, this became my go-to place when I had any questions on e-cigs. Still, with nothing to contribute and all my questions answered by one post or another, I remained a lurker, until now.

Let me just briefly tell you about my e-cig journey so far. I had been a pad smoker for almost 30 years and thought that it was time to quit. I had tried the patch, drugs, hypnosis -- nothing worked. I had gone down to 1/2 a pack/day every now and then, but soon after, I went back to pad. You see, my husband and I moved back home to live with my dad to take care of him after my mom passed away. My dad is a doctor and he would give me hell if he knows that I'm smoking. And to top that off, my husband had quit smoking at the time. So I became a closet smoker. The mental stress of sneaking out (yes, sneaking out at age 43!) to smoke and trying to get rid of the smell after a cigarette was killing me. So, around a year ago, after doing extensive research, I picked my vendors and purchased my 1st kr808 starter kit and e-liquids. I used the kit for maybe a month. Honestly, it was more for the novelty of it than anything else. I didn't think that it could actually help me quit because it tasted nothing like a real analog. I know, I know. I was so close-minded! After reading all the posts, I still wanted an e-cig that felt like an analog and flavors that tasted like analogs. And to top it off, my husband, who had quit smoking for over 5 years, decided to pick up smoking again. Oh, the guilt! Arg! I knew that my smoking contributed to this. Through all the stress of sneaking out and all the guilt, I continued to smoke. I know it's irrational, but the more I thought about giving up smoking, the more I wanted to smoke. Then around 4 months ago, my brother (who's also a doctor, oy!), casually mentioned that I had been smoking for a long time and that if anything was to happen to me, he wouldn't know how to break the news to my neice and nephew. That did it. I picked up my pv again. Within 2 weeks, I had cut down to 4 analogs a day. Then in the past 2 months, I have cut down to 2 a day.

What a relief from the mental stress! I now only need to sneak out 2x a day, instead of 20! (Ridiculous, right?) Still, I could not drop those last analogs. But all in all, I would never go back to pad or even 3/day. It has not been easy, but 2 is my quota and I have stuck to it for 2 months. I even started exercising and had been feeling great. But in the last month, I developed this shortness of breath and a dry hacking cough. If it was a productive cough, I would not be so worried. But there’s no phlegm, no sputum. Nothing. I would cough from 5 minutes to 1/2 hour. This usually happens at night, right before I sleep or while I'm asleep. I should probably see a doctor, but my primary does not approve of e-cigs. Neither does my husband, although I think that if I can one day quit, my husband will follow. I would cough so hard that I would start gasping for air. My husband, of course, is pointing all 10 fingers at vaping. Although I vigorously argued for vaping, I still have my doubts. I vape 80/20 to 70/30 pg/vg e-liquids and have been purchasing from the same 2 vendors. I know that I'm supposed to drink lots of water and have been drinking around 2 liters a day. I swear, I think I'm gaining weight from all the water intake. But am I drinking enough? Or am I developing symptoms of intolerance to pg or vg? If I am intolerant to either pg or vg, why would it start developing now, after 4 months of the same e-liquids? I caught a great sale and have over $100 worth of e-liquid stocked up right now and really hope that I don’t have to buy new ones. I would appreciate any thoughts, feedbacks or similar experiences. Thank you!
 

doots

Vaping Master
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Aug 22, 2009
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Hi Dreamrush,

My first thought is that we don't know what atties or cartos and device you are using.. If that is known it would help greatly.

Many times vapers cough or at least I did when the air to vape mixture is not correct.

If you get too much air vs. vape from your atty or carto, it will make you cough. Using the correct device might correct this. This may not be the problem at all, but comes to my mind first off.

The flavorings you are vaping can be a problem. What nic levels?

Please provide these and I am sure others can help..

Too airy a vape can cause coughing or at least does for me..

Hope you get the problem solved because this is not normal..
 

dreamrush

Full Member
Mar 9, 2011
17
4
NYC
Thanks, markinc and doots! It never occurred to me that it could be my cartos. I have been using both horizontal cartos (Smokeless Image) and double coil cartos (V4L). A week ago, I bought some bottom coil CE3s and have just started using them a few days ago.

Doots, how do I know if the air to vape mixture is correct?

Martinc, any cartos you can recommend?

I vape at 6mg to 12mg nic level.

The flavors I'm vaping are Green Tea, Coffee and Cognac from V4L and Truth Serum from Rawr. I vape these exclusively.

Thanks!
 

KuroCz

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Sep 12, 2012
104
48
east coast
After 30 years of smoking, I woudn't be surprised that continued inhalation of smoke causes you to cough. It's still going to affect the cilia in your lungs (this is why you cough at night, because they regenerate and are trying to expel the tar and smoke particulates). Switching to a lower pg vape may help, but if you're not talking about coughing right after you vape, my bet is that it's the tobacco smoke.
 

dreamrush

Full Member
Mar 9, 2011
17
4
NYC
Ok. I just had another coughing episode. It did not last long -- maybe 5 minutes. The good thing is, it's finally a little productive. Yay! I'm really hoping that KuroCz is right, that the cilia in my lungs are trying to expel the tar. I read somewhere on this forum that after many years of smoking, the tar might be keeping the cilia from moving. Maybe that's why my cough has not been productive. Also, I had almost 3 liters of water today. Maybe that helped too. Thanks for all the great advice! I love this forum!
 

skwerrel

Full Member
Verified Member
May 27, 2012
61
41
usa
First of all, congrats on taking a proactive path!
Second, you are not at fault if DH started smoking again, that is his choice.
Third, sneaking is not gonna work, lol - I even used to spray myself with febreez after grabbing an outside smoke but non smokers could still pick up on the cig smoke....dang it!
Fourth - too much water can be as bad as too little ( hyponatremia)- but you do not seem to be exhibiting any symptoms of this, however electrolyte balance can be offset by a number of things, but coughing is not a first line symptom of this. Most vapers seem to vape more than they smoked, due to we can do it (or sneak it) almost anywhere undetected and its allowed in some places where smoking is not, anyway whenever you exhale you loose some H20 -remember exhaling hard on a window to draw a smiley face on the moisture fogged glass.... so that is why many get dehydrated from vaping. Also some juices tend to make your mouth water more (especially fruity ones) and that just gets swallowed and lost by being ...... away also.
Fifth-yes it can take a while to develop a sensitivity to an irritant, it could be the juice, the filler material in the cartridge, it could be dry hits, it could be a number of things. Sorry no easy path there. Generally an intolerance to the PG also causes other symptoms - rash, usually near the mouth or nose area, pimples are also common - again no easy answer here.
Sixth - find a new doctor, I seriously mean this, I come from a medical career and there are many Doctors who are open to this. Your doctor has the responsibility to treat the whole patient, and that includes a smoking history. If they cannot work with a better alternative, then they are adding to your stress and creating more of a problem. My Dr was thrilled with the drop in CO2 in my blood work and my PO2 is normal now after just a few months, he said "whatever works is what matters". He is realistic enough to know how hard it is to quit smoking, and to just say "you need to quit cause your Dr says so" is a cop-out that does not help, because it is an addiction, both physically and emotionally, and needs to be treated as such. I suspect your coughing has another underlying cause that is not totally related to vaping, and you need a Dr you can be totally honest with and will work with you, along with a new full workup from a fresh mind, is the way to go. Seriously, this issue of coughing is too involved and has too many potential causes variables to be answered in a forum. If it was simply a lung restoration of the accumulated gunk, it would be usually be presenting and progressing in a totally different manner. There are a large number of possible causes, but the good news is that this is doable with the right Doc and your commitment. Hang in there:)
 

doots

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Aug 22, 2009
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Well its kind of not really scientific but here it goes. If you feel like you are getting more air than vape.. :) You really ought to try a 510 atty and drip a few drops in it. You will see the difference from a carto to a reg atty. You kind of have to have a reference to be the judge. I know that most carto filler material gives me a wheezing fit.. Something in it I guess doesnt like me. I close up and hvae to use an inhaler device to get my throat open again and lungs working after using cartos..

I would highly suggest
getting one of these attys with a drip tip
BetterLife 510 3-Hole Dripping Atomizers (2.0-2.5 ohm) [BL510-3Hole] - $4.99 : ValueVapor.com, Discount Electronic Cigarettes and e-Liquid
They are very good attys and at $4.99 each everyone can afford one..
Drip 3 or 4 drops in it every now and then as it needs more.

Try it and see if your symptoms go away (coughing and such) I bet it does..

I wouldnt look to the juice causing this unless you are using 100%PG which you said youre not. More likely the cartos doing it..

Let us know..


Thanks, markinc and doots! It never occurred to me that it could be my cartos. I have been using both horizontal cartos (Smokeless Image) and double coil cartos (V4L). A week ago, I bought some bottom coil CE3s and have just started using them a few days ago.

Doots, how do I know if the air to vape mixture is correct?

Martinc, any cartos you can recommend?

I vape at 6mg to 12mg nic level.

The flavors I'm vaping are Green Tea, Coffee and Cognac from V4L and Truth Serum from Rawr. I vape these exclusively.

Thanks!
 

zuzette

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Jul 29, 2012
645
505
Colorado
have you checked yourself for post nasal drip? a sinus infection can cause the kind of coughing you describe. especially noticeable at night because a horizontal position allows the mucus to pool and be more irritating.


second you don't have to inhale to get the nic from vapor. take a slow not too hard but long pull on your device an slowly exhale through your nose. if you do have a sinus infection this wont be pleasant. but if you don't you will feel the nic .
 

dreamrush

Full Member
Mar 9, 2011
17
4
NYC
Thanks for your encouraging words, skwerrel. And you're right. I need a doctor who would work with me to tackle my addiction. My current doc is very good. He probably saved my hubby's life. But he's just so judgmental and always makes me feel ... lacking. And no doctor can help me unless I can be totally honest with him. I'm also beginning to suspect it's something other than vaping that is causing my hacking cough. I just had another episode last night after I fell asleep. Whenever I exhaled, my lungs just contracted, making me gasp for air. After reading your post, I made an appointment with my current doctor for next week. I'm just going to tell him exactly what's going on. I know he's going to start lecturing me about smoking and how I'm just replacing one bad habit with another, but I also know that he will get to the bottom of this. Thank you, Skwerrel!

P.S. I used to carry a small bottle of Febreez in my purse. Lol!

First of all, congrats on taking a proactive path!
Second, you are not at fault if DH started smoking again, that is his choice.
Third, sneaking is not gonna work, lol - I even used to spray myself with febreez after grabbing an outside smoke but non smokers could still pick up on the cig smoke....dang it!
Fourth - too much water can be as bad as too little ( hyponatremia)- but you do not seem to be exhibiting any symptoms of this, however electrolyte balance can be offset by a number of things, but coughing is not a first line symptom of this. Most vapers seem to vape more than they smoked, due to we can do it (or sneak it) almost anywhere undetected and its allowed in some places where smoking is not, anyway whenever you exhale you loose some H20 -remember exhaling hard on a window to draw a smiley face on the moisture fogged glass.... so that is why many get dehydrated from vaping. Also some juices tend to make your mouth water more (especially fruity ones) and that just gets swallowed and lost by being ...... away also.
Fifth-yes it can take a while to develop a sensitivity to an irritant, it could be the juice, the filler material in the cartridge, it could be dry hits, it could be a number of things. Sorry no easy path there. Generally an intolerance to the PG also causes other symptoms - rash, usually near the mouth or nose area, pimples are also common - again no easy answer here.
Sixth - find a new doctor, I seriously mean this, I come from a medical career and there are many Doctors who are open to this. Your doctor has the responsibility to treat the whole patient, and that includes a smoking history. If they cannot work with a better alternative, then they are adding to your stress and creating more of a problem. My Dr was thrilled with the drop in CO2 in my blood work and my PO2 is normal now after just a few months, he said "whatever works is what matters". He is realistic enough to know how hard it is to quit smoking, and to just say "you need to quit cause your Dr says so" is a cop-out that does not help, because it is an addiction, both physically and emotionally, and needs to be treated as such. I suspect your coughing has another underlying cause that is not totally related to vaping, and you need a Dr you can be totally honest with and will work with you, along with a new full workup from a fresh mind, is the way to go. Seriously, this issue of coughing is too involved and has too many potential causes variables to be answered in a forum. If it was simply a lung restoration of the accumulated gunk, it would be usually be presenting and progressing in a totally different manner. There are a large number of possible causes, but the good news is that this is doable with the right Doc and your commitment. Hang in there:)
 

dreamrush

Full Member
Mar 9, 2011
17
4
NYC
Hm. I don't feel like I'm getting more air than vape with my current cartos, but I think it's time for an upgrade. Do you know if I can use this atomizer with an adapter for my kr808 battery? Thanks, Doots!

Well its kind of not really scientific but here it goes. If you feel like you are getting more air than vape.. :) You really ought to try a 510 atty and drip a few drops in it. You will see the difference from a carto to a reg atty. You kind of have to have a reference to be the judge. I know that most carto filler material gives me a wheezing fit.. Something in it I guess doesnt like me. I close up and hvae to use an inhaler device to get my throat open again and lungs working after using cartos..

I would highly suggest
getting one of these attys with a drip tip
BetterLife 510 3-Hole Dripping Atomizers (2.0-2.5 ohm) [BL510-3Hole] - $4.99 : ValueVapor.com, Discount Electronic Cigarettes and e-Liquid
They are very good attys and at $4.99 each everyone can afford one..
Drip 3 or 4 drops in it every now and then as it needs more.

Try it and see if your symptoms go away (coughing and such) I bet it does..

I wouldnt look to the juice causing this unless you are using 100%PG which you said youre not. More likely the cartos doing it..

Let us know..
 

dreamrush

Full Member
Mar 9, 2011
17
4
NYC
I just did the exhale through my nose test. No discomfort. At least I can rule one thing out! Thanks, Zuzette

have you checked yourself for post nasal drip? a sinus infection can cause the kind of coughing you describe. especially noticeable at night because a horizontal position allows the mucus to pool and be more irritating.


second you don't have to inhale to get the nic from vapor. take a slow not too hard but long pull on your device an slowly exhale through your nose. if you do have a sinus infection this wont be pleasant. but if you don't you will feel the nic .
 

crxess

Grumpy Ole Man
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Sep 20, 2012
24,438
46,126
71
Williamsport Md
Dreamrush, welcome and don't give up. After a 45 year struggle with the analogs I stopped all at once. Been off since 8-6-12 and loving the feeling. A cough is very common when you switch. Ever yell so loud your throat got scratchy? Well, your lungs may be at that point, yelling WE'RE FREE!!!. Next thing you know you are coughing. Mine started after about a week and lasted on/off for maybe 2 weeks.

My advice would be to stop the analogs 100% to let your lungs start to fully heal. Check with a Doctor if symptoms persist and enjoy using the great information available from the experts here. I have and will never Look back.
 

Hulamoon

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
May 6, 2012
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Waikiki Hawaii
Hmmm. For the juices you have purchased, maybe see if the vendor offers 100% VG version with 12-24 mg nicotine and then cut the current juice by half? Or ask them if they sell unflavored 100% VG with that amount of nicotine so you can cut the PG levels. I'm pretty sure most vendors on this forum will figure out a workable solution for you if you just drop them an e.
And congratulations on cutting down so well! Way to go!!!

SuziesMom and Nautty1, thanks for the VG suggestion. I had really hoped that I wouldn't have to buy new juice, but if I have to, then I'll have to. I love those juices, not to mention that I now have so much of them from the great Labor Day sales too. Ugh.
 

JENerationX

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Aug 25, 2011
2,227
3,114
Rochester, NY
I have asthma and found that high PG irritated my throat and caused coughing. High VG will cause some throat congestion. I ended up using 50/50 or 60 VG / 40 PG mixes and that solved most of my issues. Once I stopped the few cigs a day, the coughing became more productive and stopped once I'd gotten the gunk out. If you have the smokeless image 65 or 78mm little batteries try the Nano or Ce-3 they sell instead of the cartos. Filler bothers me for some reason where the others do not. If you're using the Volt X2 big batteries, try a clearo, nano, or ce-3 on there as well.
 
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