I'm one who can't stop coughing....

[jenmurray116]

So frustrated at the moment.... I tried the e-cig months ago, but the mall style one (Nuvo) and it wasn't enough, so back to analogs. 2 weeks ago I received my ego-T kit, CE4 clearo's and several juices - all juices are 70 pg/30 vg and split between 12 mgs and 6 mgs (6 is mainly for night). I am about a pack to a pack and half a day with the analogs.

But I cough - every time. To the point where it's probably been about 2 days since I've even used my ego. I've read about how it's different then a cig, and the inhale should be slower, not a hard drag. I've tried just doing a slow pull into my mouth, then inhaling - but no matter what I do. I cough - sometimes small, sometimes like a lung is coming up. If I take these tiny little puffs I won't cough, but that's not exactly cutting it for me. It's to the point where I'm still pretty much on analogs, which I don't want to be. I have some new juice coming, hopefully tomorrow, that is lower in pg. I can't lower the nic because even the 12 mg might be too low for me (but I'm hoping it's not). Any other tips or suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong, or what might help? I did watch one or two videos on youtube about how to use the e-cig but they haven't really helped.

Thanks, as always, for any help and advice!

 

[akatina]

When I train new skaters I have a mantra for them: if what you're doing isn't working, try a new path.

If inhaling isn't working for you right now then don't inhale. Take a few small puffs and keep them in your mouth. Chew them, swish them around, breath it out from your nose and mouth at the same time. You'll still be getting some of the nic this way and hopefully you'll get more accustomed to how vapor is different from smoke.

With that said, my guess is the high PG is causing more throat hit than you can handle right now.

 

[Rickajho]

Hi. It sounds like the inhaling part is doing you in. You don't need to suck vapor into your lungs in order to get nicotine from the experience. Basically, you need to un-learn your smoking technique. vaping style should be more like smoking a cigar - suck on the e-cig (versus the longer type drags you are used to taking on a cigarette) and take the vapor into your mouth and to the back of your throat and... that's it. Exhale any way you prefer. This takes practice, especially if you have smoked for a long time. If you are doing it right the coughing should be minimal when you first start. Still coughing a lot? You are probably lung inhaling too much vapor.

 

[onry]

like AKATINA said you may want to try a lower PG juice like 50/50 or even 20pg/80vg
pg gives you vapor and throat hit vg gives you tons of vapor but reduces the throat hit

 

[Caridwen]

Try inhaling with your mouth open so you're also inhaling air

 

[jenmurray116]

Thanks everyone! I'm definitely trying to do a slow pull just into my mouth, but the second it gets anywhere near the back of my throat, I'm coughing. I've tried doing the little puffs but that isn't really satisfying - I can barely notice the flavor if I do that (though I don't cough). I do have some 50/50 juice coming, which will hopefully at least help me figure out if it's the pg bothering me or if it's still "user error"

 

[bacc.vap]

It is a good idea to take the vapor into your mouth first before inhaling, it really does'nt work to well drawing directly into the lungs.

When I first started vaping I had 10 cigs left and I would take turns smoking then vaping. I coughed every time I would vape during this time, once my cigs were all, and all I did was vape, the coughing went away after a little while. Could be you just have to push through a little while till you get used to it.

 

[HyperRealist]

I don't do a slow pull. I do 4 fast puffs in my mouth then inhale.

 

[Phaidra]

My brother smokes hand rolled cigarettes. He is used to throat hit. He wants to quit but everything he has tried makes him cough like crazy as too! I couldn't figure out if it was how he was puffing off it or if it was the juice. But most of my juices are 30PG/70VG if not 20PG/80VG. Everyone is different. I think it is how he inhales, to be honest.

I would take akatina's advice above and try a higher VG ratio as well as less inhaling. If less inhaling, maybe a higher nicotine content since you are used to a pack and a half a day? Have you tried other tanks and/or cartomizers by chance?

 

[cactus71]

I feel your pain... just not for as long a time. When I first tried vaping holy-cow did I make a coughing scene at an acquaintances' house and then again at the shop I bought my starter gear. I didn't know if I could "handle it" but the owner of the shop said, "I bet it wasn't any easier when you first started smoking." I started off taking small drags the first day of a 60/40 blend, then tried 50/50, and since I've tried 80/20... I think I'm probably going to settle at 70/30. Please try a variety of mixtures and I think you'll find a balance that works for you. GL jenmurray and please let us know what you find.

 

[Rickajho]

Please don't forget that this doesn't need to be an all or nothing experience when changing from smoking to vaping. If the small, short drags off your e-cig aren't making you cough that's enough of a good start. Many of us continued to smoke while working up to figuring out how to vape more from there. And don't forget you probably have a tongue that's been through "the war" from smoking. It takes time for your taste buds to regenerate and any sense of taste to come back.

Welcome to the learning curve. If you really have the desire to quit you can sort this out. Ask away!

 

[Chimney25]

Yeah, maybe try with VG close to %100?

 

[jenmurray116]

Have you tried other tanks and/or cartomizers by chance?

No, I haven't but I'm glad you mentioned that because I do have new one's coming with the juice as I was wondering about that too!

 

[jenmurray116]

Please don't forget that this doesn't need to be an all or nothing experience when changing from smoking to vaping. If the small, short drags off your e-cig aren't making you cough that's enough of a good start. Many of us continued to smoke while working up to figuring out how to vape more from there. And don't forget you probably have a tongue that's been through "the war" from smoking. It takes time for your taste buds to regenerate and any sense of taste to come back.

Welcome to the learning curve. If you really have the desire to quit you can sort this out. Ask away!

Thanks I had started by having a few analogs at in the morning, but just taking the e cig to work, then after work, trying to mainly vape, while having a few analogs before bed. But as I struggled, I kept reaching for the analogs more - it was when I realized I haven't picked up the e cig in two days that I realized I need to work this out if I really want to be successful! Funny thing is that I never coughed with the nuvo, but being there was less throat hit and overall less of everything, I'm guessing that's why.

 

[akatina]

Out of curiosity: what is the flavor of your juice? I find tobaccos and mints give far more TH than smooth sweet flavors like caramel and vanilla. Even the same flavor from 2 different vendors may give different levels of TH.

 

[jenmurray116]

I feel your pain... just not for as long a time. When I first tried vaping holy-cow did I make a coughing scene at an acquaintances' house and then again at the shop I bought my starter gear. I didn't know if I could "handle it" but the owner of the shop said, "I bet it wasn't any easier when you first started smoking." I started off taking small drags the first day of a 60/40 blend, then tried 50/50, and since I've tried 80/20... I think I'm probably going to settle at 70/30. Please try a variety of mixtures and I think you'll find a balance that works for you. GL jenmurray and please let us know what you find.

Thanks so much - I will keep trying and experimenting with different mixtures! I think what got to me is that my husband (who was the child of chain smokers and smoked from about 14 until he was 23....he woke up one day coughing up a storm and quit right then and there and never looked back.... We've been together for 20 years and I've smoked for 18 of those and not once has he been tempted) anyway, he saw me struggling with the coughing and being Mr. Sensitive, was teasing me about it which increased the frustration level. He hates that I smoke (really, really hates it) and not being a smoker anymore, he doesn't really get the whole e cig thing and why it's is such a godsend to someone like me. So, I think increased my frustration and embarrassment. But I will get there!! I want this too much not to.

 

[jenmurray116]

Out of curiosity: what is the flavor of your juice? I find tobaccos and mints give far more TH than smooth sweet flavors like caramel and vanilla. Even the same flavor from 2 different vendors may give different levels of TH.

Funny you ask that - I have a whole variety but have found that I have more of a problem with the really sweet, syrupy ones - butterscotch I didn't like at all flavor-wise, caramel was ok, but the coughing bad. I have a peppermint taffy, raspberry lemonade and one called "one classy mix" all of which I like (but still cough). Because of my experience so far, I haven't tried the chocolate brownie flavor I have because I just have a feeling it's going to bother my throat. Oh, and orange creamsicle didn't seem to work so well (though I really, really wanted it to! ) I can't remember exactly what I ordered with the lower pg but I know there was a bubblegum one and a peppermint one.

 

[akatina]

I'm hopeful that the lower PG will prove helpful! Another thing to consider: are you drinking water while you vape (well, between puffs of course)? The PG/VG will draw moisture off of your throat and that makes you cough more.

 

[Caridwen]

I think it's more about technique than juice. My sister coughed for a month. I made her a batch of low nicotine liquid to practice with. No idea why she coughed and I didn't. She was a heavier smoker and smoked longer than I did. Just one of those things I guess. She's fine now.

 

[Rickajho]

Thanks I had started by having a few analogs at in the morning, but just taking the e cig to work, then after work, trying to mainly vape, while having a few analogs before bed. But as I struggled, I kept reaching for the analogs more - it was when I realized I haven't picked up the e cig in two days that I realized I need to work this out if I really want to be successful! Funny thing is that I never coughed with the nuvo, but being there was less throat hit and overall less of everything, I'm guessing that's why.

Aha! Grasshopper already caught herself sliding in the wrong direction! But I can hear your determination.

As suggested, I would definitely try a high VG and a high PG liquid (something in a 100 VG base and a 100 PG base) so you can compare the experiences. It just might be you find PG too harsh. And some of us do have allergic/sensitivity problems with either one. Getting two small sample size bottles will be one way to try and rule in or rule out if this is a source of your problem. You can adjust the percentages from there should you find 100 VG doesn't make you cough and 100 PG leaves you holding a lung in hand. Some times it is a compromise. VG has low throat hit. But if PG is completely putting you off the experience then that's no good either.