Lungs, Emphysema and breathing.

[samysam1313]

samysam1313,

I understand exactly what you're saying. I've been there....about 3 weeks ago. Let me just say that I think you're going to be sooooo pleasantly surprised! For one thing, right now just lighting up a cigarette 'hurts' so bad when your lungs have been damaged already. And you say to yourself, 'I must be out of my mind...but I've got to do this anyway and I don't really know why!' And you continue to do it....and don't really know why. So did I.

And then a miracle happens, you discover that you can actually inhale a PV's vapor without thinking this time you might just die from it. And it doesn't hurt. And it smells and tastes fresh. And hours pass and you can't believe this is happening, that you don't even desire a cigarette any more! Instead, the very thought repulses you. As soon as the next day you can't believe how much better you feel, and every day after that is an adventure in rediscovering how good it feels to breathe, and not cough, no tickles in the throat, or noises in the lungs. And you have real energy again! You even look better. And you can lay on your back and watch TV, breathing comfortably. Indeed it's all a miracle.

Give yourself time to learn to use the PV (get a 510, very consistent little device). And take your time deciding if you want to cut down on the Nicotine. You probably were not getting any from cigarettes if you had trouble inhaling....so cutting the Nic shouldn't be too hard. Learn to make juice, have fun.

Soooo, I can't wait to hear about your progress, day to day, week to week. Don't worry, be happy, you've got hope now!

So glad you posted this. We seem to have a lot of kindred spirits here. I am glad that you are feeling so much better and I totally understand the insanity we do by continuing to smoke even after we start to have health problems. Your news is encouraging. I do not expect any miracles or anything, but I certainly know that getting off the poison sticks will have some kind of benefit. Even it's nothing more than not inhaling that 2nd hand smoke anymore. I do not inhale, but know all that smoke around me is making things worse. I know this because I sometimes sleep for long periods of time and when I do, I am not smoking. I feel better when I wake up and find it easier to breath. So why do I continue the insanity? Just because I have a health problem, doesnt make the addiction go away, does it?

I am waiting on my 1st ecig. Just got a cheap one for trying purposes. I intend to buy 1 or 2 good ones after and to try different liquids and flavors. It's a bit confusing when you're new to all this. I recently found out the 510 is called by different names. Funny that you mentioned the 510. I was starting to consider that this model should be the one I should go with. Seems to be quite popular. Can you give me a bit more detail on this one? I don't think it has a flat mouth piece, but the pictures are not always that clear. I would prefer something that is round. I have tried the Nicorette Inhaler and it has a flat mouth piece and I found that I tend to bite on it and my teeth get sore. I even have bite marks on it. LOL.

I will definitely keep you posted on my experience with all this. Can't wait. I'm hoping Customs will not seize it. I have been praying to God to help me with quitting cigarettes and I'm hoping this is His answer. (Not for you Athiests out there). I hope you will keep posting on your progress as well. Looking forward to reading more good news.

 

[samysam1313]

I wanted to mention something that happened to me. It's been a few days over a year for me now on the e-cig. I was a 24 year smoker of 1.75 to 2 pack a day Camel unfiltered who wheezed all the time and was just about to weak to do anything useful. I would wheeze and cough myself to sleep every night, it was f'ing pathetic. I didn't even feel the air in my lungs when I inhaled it anymore. They did a scan on my lungs (Because they thought I had cancer) however they stated I had advanced emphysema in my left lung and heavy "Smoke damage" to the rest. I knew this and would wake up every morning and light a cig and HATE myself for it but I just couldn't stop (I even considered getting myself arrested because you can't smoke in jail).

Anyway, I digress. As I said it's been about a year now, I feel so much better there are no words. I actually want to go out and do stuff, I kinda enjoy cutting the lawn. I can jog short distances. I feel like I got my life back. As Kate said, I feel like it saved my life. About a week ago I was doing some intense physical labor and was winded and breathing heavy and it felt like something in my lungs snapped, it was the weirdest feeling and on my next breath on my inhale it felt like was able to inhale to my full lung capacity. Like my lungs filled ALL the way up with air. It was THE BEST FEELING I have had in years. It was wonderful, I didn't think I would ever be able to do that again.

I just thought I'd share that. I figured after a year it was as good as it was going to get, then it got better

You don't look old enough for emphasema Darkest. Goes to show age isn't the only factor. I am glad to hear you are doing so much better. I was diagnosed with Emphasema about a year ago. I always knew smoking would get me no where good, but I never let myself believe I could have something like that. Enjoying my smoking habit made it all the worse. I knew I had to quit. Haven't been able to accomplish it. 40 years is a long habit and the NRT's just don't do it for me. Someone here told me that e smoking was not going to help me and to not get my hopes up. Yet, I keep reading posts such as yours and it encourages me. Thanks for that.

 

[Darkest]

Samysam, I smoked a lot and started young. I'm 42 now (Don't tell anyone). I didn't think there was anything in the world that I could use instead of cigs. I even tried making nicotine candy out of tobacco once. The patch was a joke, the gum too weak, and the pills just gave me nightmares. When I started with the e-cig I thought I wanted a cig and I told myself I could have one if I wanted and the first few weeks I did every once in a while. Then they just started tasting nasty and I didn't want them any more. I think it took my subconscious a little while to make the connection that I was getting my nicotine with the e-cig and now regular cigs have no pull for me.

It wont make it all go away, but it WILL make it sooo much better, and it wont get worse. It's wonderful

 

[samysam1313]

Samysam, I smoked a lot and started young. I'm 42 now (Don't tell anyone). I didn't think there was anything in the world that I could use instead of cigs. I even tried making nicotine candy out of tobacco once. The patch was a joke, the gum too weak, and the pills just gave me nightmares. When I started with the e-cig I thought I wanted a cig and I told myself I could have one if I wanted and the first few weeks I did every once in a while. Then they just started tasting nasty and I didn't want them any more. I think it took my subconscious a little while to make the connection that I was getting my nicotine with the e-cig and now regular cigs have no pull for me.

It wont make it all go away, but it WILL make it sooo much better, and it wont get worse. It's wonderful

LOL Dark. I won't tell anyone. I promise. I started when I was 16 and that was 40 years ago. OH NO! I just revealed my age. HeHe. I bought it all and most of it is still sitting on my shelf. None of it is anywhere close to satisfying. Very painful actually.

Nicotine candy. Now that sounds awful too. But then again, isn't that what the NRT lozenges are. I'm not a candy eater and I couldn't eat 10 of those a day which is what they recommend. YUK! The only one I haven't tried yet (even though that's on my shelf too) is the patch. Not supposed to smoke at all with those. (Although my doctor said you can get away with smoking half a pack on them.)

As time goes by I'm getting more and more anxious to get my ecig. I sure hope I will feel like you and others I've read about here. Wish me luck.

 

[samysam1313]

I booboo'd. I never tried the pill either. It's an anti-depressant and I have been on them before with bad side effects. They aren't for everyone. So I stayed away from that option.

BTW: Love Nashville. See my Avatar. That's the singer I went to see there among other places.

 

[samysam1313]

Yes, and yes!
Terri will help you find whatever you need and she can, and she's the fastest shipper ever.....ECOpure is brand of IntellicigUK, and there is another vendor I believe Innovapor will go look for that link as well, many people are using it now, and the thing all say is how 'clean' it is, and I say very atomizer friendly 'clean'. Some people don't care for the very ellusive flavors, they are very mild and you don't really 'catch' the hint of flavor right away. Most people want a 'throat hit', whatever that is, to me it sounds painful! For some reason right now there are a lot of vendors who are selling both VG and PG, for awhile VG flavors were pretty scarce. But I highly recommend ECOpure. Look for them in the heading above (sponsoring suppliers), you can talk to them here and find the web sites also.
Note to one of you other statements, about inhaling: it's been proven through testing that vaporized liquid does not carry nicotine to the lung very well. Absorbtion of nicotine is mainly through mouth nose and throat. Particles in vapor are too large for the lungs to absorb, unlike combustion of tobacco. So inhaling of VG or PG vapor has not been proven detrimental to lung tissue, and because it is a humectant, it may be a little drying. PG, moreso. So they are more readily excreted from the lung either through metabolism or normal lung function. These substances have been in use and tested heavily for over 40 years. Testing took a lot of mice!!! Poor buggers.
Drinking plenty of water to keep your tissues well hydrated is important, especially to folks with lung damage from disease, along with deep breathing sessions to further increase lung capacity. Hydration also helps the cilia in the lungs in the areas where it can recover do their jobs more effectively, cleaning the lungs! Most of us are lacking as far as drinking enough H2O, not coffee, soda, etc..H2O!

Thank you Kate. Everyone is so helpful here. I will definitely try to get some of that. My only concern is trying to get stuff into Canada. Don't yet know how easy it is to get stuff shipped here. I have seen that a lot of American companies for ecigs and supplies don't even ship to Canada, so that worries me. Have no idea if Customs will allow these products in or if they will confiscate it. I hope not. There aren't many suppliers here in Canada and I read that Health Canada is warning people not to use these products. Scare tactics I know. Gov't would loose so much tax revenue. The taxes on real cigs here are out of this world. 80+% of the price is tax and then they have the nerve to charge you tax on that tax. If we did this, we'd be charged with extortion. Hypocrits. They just take advantage of our addictions. Who would pay those ridiculous prices if they were not addicted? Then they try to make us think they care about our health. If that were true, then they would hurry up and test these things and see if they were good or bad.

I do drink a lot of water, but a lot of coffee too. That's my other addiction. I jokingly tell people I'm a drug addict. That I'm addicted to caffeine and nicotine. Truth be told, it isn't a joke. I'm thinking I will try some of the coffee flavors out there. Might kill 2 birds with one stone. LOL.

 

[thewomenfolk]

samysam1313, Actually, about 3 and a half weeks ago I went to Smoker Friendly to get my usual 2 cartons of SM Menthol 100's. I liked Marlboro Smooth's best but they were too expensive. I mentioned that I just HAD to quit these things and the girl said, 'Have you tried these', and showed me the Njoy (Npro) e-cig. I bought it on the spot. Went home and really liked it but the vapor wasn't consistent, so I searched the Net and found this Forum.

Through the Forum I found a local supplier of the 901 and 510. I asked him to call me and arranged to drive up on Labor Day to make a purchase. I liked the 901 because it was smooth and had good vapor. But the 510 was somehow better, more vapor and also consistent with each puff. After a few days I bought the Janty Stick online, which is now my favorite. Has a little holster, looks like a little cell phone. And Janty is making a new model called the Cameo, which I can't wait to get.

You can get the 510 at a lot of places so do a search here. I think you can get the kit for $35 somewhere. That's a great deal! I used to sell on Ebay so I know how much more you have to pay to get US things shipped to you. It's awful.

Gotta get ready for church. I'll be back!

 

[thewomenfolk]

samysam1313....the 510 for $35.00 is here:

White JOYE510 Starter kit [JOYE510] - $34.99 : Healthcabin Electronic Cigarettes - Wholesale and Retail

 

[ladyraj]

My 1st purchase was the 510 but the battery life was way too short and required frequent refilling. So I bought the Janty Stick and can rely on about 4 hours battery life, larger cartridge, and a usb charger to vape and charge the battery at the same time. I also love their warranty of 6 months on most products. But honestly, I've only required replacement of 1 dead atomizer on delivery and I own 5 of their e-cigs. I really needed the consistency to overcome my 36 year habit of smoking. I also smoke ciggies halfway and let them burn down in a totally unconscious manner. So my ritual has changed to the e-cig maitenance. I never would have thought switching would be so easy. It's trial and error but strangely as you use the e-cig more, you start craving the flavor of e-cigs over regular ciggies. There are so many flavors to choose from and associate to different behaviors thru out the day. I use a stronger tobacco type in the AM (RY4), and thru out the day I love vaping Red Bull, Cola after dinner, and something sweet in the evening.

I think Janty has a Euro site that can ship to Canada: Janty Europe - EURO SHOP || Netherlands/Rest of Europe

 

[thewomenfolk]

The Janty site is here:

Janty USA - USA SHOP || Shipping in USA

Click on "Sets" below and then "Stick Sets" on the page that comes up.

You can see it better on YouTube, such as here:

YouTube - Review of the Janty Stick Electronic Cigarette

 

[thewomenfolk]

Here's another review of the Janty Stick, I just wish all those who do Videos would blow the vapor to the side instead of in our face so we could see how much vaper the device is producing.

YouTube - Parked's Review of The Janty Stick 5-5-2009

 

[Kate51]

samysam1313, I think ladyraj hit on the idea that perhaps you'd have better luck ordering from Intellicig UK, as far as customs goes. Don't know if it would be easier to get through or not, but seems possible. Just an idea. Maybe you could check with some of your country folks about that.

 

[Jules22871]

I had an accident 5 years ago that has caused me to have to lay in a semi-lounging position since then. I have developed what is called Chronic Atelectasis in both the lower lobes of my lungs. In essence, the bottom lobes of my lungs have collapsed and were spongy. I was a 32 year smoker who had worked up to over 2 packs a day and my lungs weren't getting any better. After a month of vaping my breathing had improved and later my pulmonary function tests showed improvement. I now have air movement in my lower lungs since I started vaping. (Sorry, didn't mean to write a book,lol)

Don't wait. Find an ecig you like and get to vaping before it's too late. Your lungs will thank you for it!

 

[UtdVare]

Been vaping for 2 weeks, after 5 years of smoking ten analogs a day I feel far better than I did over the last couple of years, breathing is getting better and feeling fitter, I have been exercising over the years I smoked but feel more fitter as a result of cutting out the tobacco smoke.

 

[samysam1313]

samysam1313....the 510 for $35.00 is here:

White JOYE510 Starter kit [JOYE510] - $34.99 : Healthcabin Electronic Cigarettes - Wholesale and Retail

You all are so awesome. It is very much appreciated. I have been to this site. I knew I'd seen that price before. Plus you get 2 Batteries, 2 Atomizers and 5 Carts. Like getting 2 for the price of one. Looks like they give you a black and a white. Nice. Think I will order it.

These are ones you refill yourself right? Now I just need to figure out what liquids to get. I know EastMall has nice sample packs. Might go that route first.

Thanks again soo much.

 

[thewomenfolk]

samysam1313, you can buy carts for the 510 or refill them with your own juices. It's a lot cheaper to buy the liquids or make your own. Don't forget the copper colored JOYE 510, it's really pretty! I think you'd have to see it in person....

Sample packs are good because then you don't get stuck with a lot of juice you don't much like. Also, try the "pear lung juice" from nhaler. Read about his lung juices on his site here:

Liquids - Nhale/Xhale - NHaler

I'll be back!

 

[thewomenfolk]

Oh.....I forgot to say that Drew's 'Pear Lung Juice' on nhaler is a big hit with the members here, very highly spoken of. It's yummy, and maybe even good for you.

We'll teach you how to make the 'Pyramid Tea Bag' filler for your carts. They work very well and you can just rinse them out and use them again and again.

 

[samysam1313]

My 1st purchase was the 510 but the battery life was way too short and required frequent refilling. So I bought the Janty Stick and can rely on about 4 hours battery life, larger cartridge, and a usb charger to vape and charge the battery at the same time. I also love their warranty of 6 months on most products. But honestly, I've only required replacement of 1 dead atomizer on delivery and I own 5 of their e-cigs. I really needed the consistency to overcome my 36 year habit of smoking. I also smoke ciggies halfway and let them burn down in a totally unconscious manner. So my ritual has changed to the e-cig maitenance. I never would have thought switching would be so easy. It's trial and error but strangely as you use the e-cig more, you start craving the flavor of e-cigs over regular ciggies. There are so many flavors to choose from and associate to different behaviors thru out the day. I use a stronger tobacco type in the AM (RY4), and thru out the day I love vaping Red Bull, Cola after dinner, and something sweet in the evening.

I think Janty has a Euro site that can ship to Canada: Janty Europe - EURO SHOP || Netherlands/Rest of Europe

Such helpful folk. Glad you are all here. So ladyraj, do you vape all day long? Is that USB device what they call a Passthrough? I may get one of those as I spend a hugh amount of my time in front of my computer. I can see the advantage of a Janty Stick. Big battery life. Just not sure I'm ready for that yet. Guessing I may want one once I get used to vaping. Will see. Right now I kinda like the idea of something that looks more like a cig. A big learning curve for me is ahead. Think it will be a good one though. I don't have a sweet tooth, so don't know how I'll like the sweet flavours. Need to try them first.

 

[samysam1313]

samysam1313, I think ladyraj hit on the idea that perhaps you'd have better luck ordering from Intellicig UK, as far as customs goes. Don't know if it would be easier to get through or not, but seems possible. Just an idea. Maybe you could check with some of your country folks about that.

I will do that Kate. Thankyou. From what I've read so far on the Canadian forum, they seem to mostly order from Canadian suppliers or China. They do say they haven't yet had problems getting stuff from China. I'm pretty sure the Canadian suppliers get their stuff from China anyway and their prices are more expensive. They don't seem to have sample packs either, so I may just order direct from China myself. Will try to find out if anyone has ordered from the UK and their experience with this.

 

[samysam1313]

I had an accident 5 years ago that has caused me to have to lay in a semi-lounging position since then. I have developed what is called Chronic Atelectasis in both the lower lobes of my lungs. In essence, the bottom lobes of my lungs have collapsed and were spongy. I was a 32 year smoker who had worked up to over 2 packs a day and my lungs weren't getting any better. After a month of vaping my breathing had improved and later my pulmonary function tests showed improvement. I now have air movement in my lower lungs since I started vaping. (Sorry, didn't mean to write a book,lol)

Don't wait. Find an ecig you like and get to vaping before it's too late. Your lungs will thank you for it!

Hi Jules. I am so sorry you have all that. Sounds bad. Id never heard of Chronic Atelectasis before. I'm getting an education on more than ecigs here. You have that much improvement after only a month? WOW! And DBLE WOW! That is great. So glad for you and it gives me hope too. Thanks so much for telling your story here.

Writing a book? LOL. Have you seen my posts?