I smoked for 44 years 2-3 packs the last few. I do upholstery here at home, and we have pickups and deliveries, anything from foot stools to couches.
For the last 5 years or so, my breathing went into the basement. I was having issues with chronic bronchitis, asthma symptoms, severe bouts of hyperventilation, and the last couch my husband and I delivered in February I thought was going to be the last thing I ever did. I of course kept all this as hidden as I could, but was coughing constantly, short of breath (I probably do have a 'COPD' type of condition going on) but the day it took over an hour for me to stop shaking and trying to suck enough air to keep from fainting. Of course, I never went to the doctor, I knew what they'd tell me right off the bat! Not stupid! right! I'd done pursed-lip breathing, diligently, about 12 times a day, and that did help, but the attacks would come on so fast I knew it was just a matter of time. Then, I'd have to go have a cigarette, you know, that did help. Ya. My fatherinlaw had COPD for years, was a light smoker, but they always called his 'farmer's lung' which of course could have meant almost anything. Could it also be hypertension...nasty stuff, that. I was nearly at the point of being non-functioning, all I wanted to do was sit and smoke. That's about all I had the energy for.
So I told my daughter the nurse, I had ordered an electronic cigarette, and what I hoped it would accomplish. That was end of February. On March 9th, '09, my NPro arrived. The juice tasted awful, I puffed too hard and got it in my mouth, did everything wrong. But I got a few good puffs, enough to know 'hey, this could work!'. After 3 hours, I had to recharge a battery, so went for a RYO. My God, that tasted worse than that stupid e-cig, I took a couple puffs and put it out, that thing STUNK!! It was my last cigarette. That was 6 months+ ago. My coughing stopped, my energy soared, my lungs started clearing, my 'smeller' came back, and my taste buds woke up again. I still have an occasional bout of hyperventilatin, a wake up, 'oh yes, I forget to do my breathing excercise the last couple days..' see, when you're not thinking about your next breath all the time you forget! So DO remember to breath in through the nose, out through pursed lips, several times a day, make it work not wimpy. It will expand your lung capacity, tighten your core muscles, very important, and get that diaphram flexible and useful again.
This summer I was out doing yard work, push mower on a side hill, and enjoying the heck out of that workout every week! More energy than I know what to do with, feeling 1000X BETTER! Broken capillaries in my face are also nearly gone, the "...." mask. My haggard, gray looking skin looks better, my hair grows fast and healthy again!
I'm using 18 mg/ml juice, down from 24mg, and vaping less, so am really getting a handle on this vaping thing, loving it!! It saved my life.
And Ladyraj is exactly right about liquid ingredients, I do a "DIY" with Vegetable Glycerin, PG too harsh, and a very light, mild, sweet VG with just a hint of real tobacco, nutty caramel, and that's it! There are four ingredients in my juice. If one happens to irritate, I can leave it out if needed. Don't try to see how many flavors you can find, my theory is KISS!! Keep it Simple Stupid. Throat hit? I don't see the benefit to irritating my throat, I want mild. I just need to feel I'm doing no further harm, but yes, damage does not go away. But you can sure improve what you have left!! BEST OF LUCK!!
OCD therapy typically centers around breaking associations with the target behavior and relieving anxiety versus replacing them with an alternative. But I'm sure you already know this..
