Need Help, 2nd Spontaneous Pneumothorax and still smoking.

[Psylent]

Hello to everyone please bare with me while I nuke you with a wall of text, I'm from Singapore and desperately trying to start vaping in replacement of smoking. I just finished my 2nd bullectomy operation on my left lungs 3 weeks ago and got the chest tube removed 2 weeks ago. My first bullectomy on my right lung was 3 years ago.

The pain on going through 2 chest tube insertion (which is very VERY painful or I'm just a sissy but you can look up the procedure) and the post and pre op didn't stop me from smoking, in fact after my first op, I went back to smoking almost immediately. 3 Years later, my smoking habit was more then a PAD.

Right now, after my 2nd operation. I realized I can't keep this on, smoking is killing me but I still.....smoke, even when i try very hard to keep it to minimum level, I still smoke 5 sticks a day and I notice that I'm fighting a losing battle. The habit is going to increase eventually and soon I'll just give up. I think I am more of a habitual smoker than a nicotine dependent one.

First I need some help on helping me chose the right device, right now I'm leaning towards on getting the Ego C twist because its VV and I can figure out my right hit. But i do not know what should i get, clearomizer or tank?

Secondly I due to my location, I need help or advice on the obvious question.

All in all i just need someone to point me to the right direction. Thank you.

 

[AZHIGHWAYZ]

Honestly if you are having lung problems I'm not sure vaping is a good choice for you. There are just too many unknowns with it. If you are only at 5 analogs a day your nic levels should be low enough to go cold turkey. Try sun flower seeds, or something else for the oral fixation. I'm no doctor and I'm certainly not telling you what to do but vaping has not been proven to be a safe alternative to smoking, just an alternative. While it doesn't contain all the chemicals of analogs, there is no hard evidence that there's no harm being done. Have you talked with your doctor and surgeon about this? If not you should do so before starting.

 

[Racehorse]

psylent,
my heart goes out to you for having to go thru a bullectomy, but I also assume you have some destroyed lung tissue and/or COPD?

If you believe you are not nicotine dependent (your words) AND your thoracic surgeon thinks it is okay to vape temporarily, maybe you should vape unflavored ZERO-nicotine juice just to give you something to do that was like smoking. Perhaps in conjunction with a nicotine patch.

Given the lung tissue deterioration you reallly need to embark on a smoking cessation progam with the help of a qualified medical doctor.

Good luck with your quest!

 

[Psylent]

I tried the nicotine patch, gum cold turkey method. Patch and gum doesn't help, as for cold turkey I always fail, and when I start to smoke back after cold turkey, the habit always worsen.

No COPD or destroyed lung tissue, but my thoracic surgeon told me smoking was one of the reason why I got spontaneous pneumothorax twice when most people only got it once. First time I thought I was just unlucky, kinda hard not to believe when it happened the 2nd time.

I figured since I can't kick the urge to smoke I just find an alternative to it, thing is I rather be vaping then inhaling the carcinogens of burnt tobacco. Sucking on sweets and eating on something don't help, because the urge becomes so strong I can't focus on the things I'm doing at hand. I notice a few things about my smoking habit, whenever I see someone smokes, when I'm sitting on my computer desk, when I'm reading, when I have a drink, when I'm waiting or nothing to do at hand, and the standard waking up, before/after meal plus a few situation which I'm not aware off yet. This things sets me off, once the thought off lighting up goes into my head, it stays there and keeps nagging me until I do, I'm sure all smokers know that feeling. All i can say is I'm just weak willed and hence the losing battle on keeping it 5 sticks a day, in fact I notice its increasing because usually i take 5 puffs and put it out, now i take more.

 

[Kellycat]

I'd recommend an eGo VV of some sort if you don't mind the thickness, though for a habit like yours you'd probably be fine with a cigalike, more realistic feel in your hand too if that's something you think would matter. Not sure on availability of cigalikes there, from what I've seen on the boards it's hard to get anything at all like that where you are, but might be worth a shot seeing if someone can get you one somehow. Once you get three more posts in you can post on the Singapore sub-forum and there will be folks there with more knowledge of your particular situation I'm sure.

As far as nic level, try 6mg or 0mg, if you're not addicted to the nicotine, just the habit of smoking like I was, 0mg will do you fine, but there's no harm in using something as low as 6mg once in a while if you do find yourself craving the nicotine after a while.

 

[Psylent]

I'd recommend an eGo VV of some sort if you don't mind the thickness, though for a habit like yours you'd probably be fine with a cigalike, more realistic feel in your hand too if that's something you think would matter. Not sure on availability of cigalikes there, from what I've seen on the boards it's hard to get anything at all like that where you are, but might be worth a shot seeing if someone can get you one somehow. Once you get three more posts in you can post on the Singapore sub-forum and there will be folks there with more knowledge of your particular situation I'm sure.

As far as nic level, try 6mg or 0mg, if you're not addicted to the nicotine, just the habit of smoking like I was, 0mg will do you fine, but there's no harm in using something as low as 6mg once in a while if you do find yourself craving the nicotine after a while.

I think I'll just go on ahead and try the EGO Twist and mini nova clearomizer kit. Heres to hoping I can receive it and get off this disgusting habit, which I hate myself for lighting up every single stick. This is hell, you know you can't smoke you know you its hurting you and yet you still do it, I can't even explain myself to people that are close to me. Not to mention my doctors who put in the effort to operate on me. Everything someone ask why, I just hang my head in shame.

 

[Susiejo]

Also if you feel you need maybe just a little bit of nicotine, try buying 2 bottles of the same flavor, get one in 6 mg nic and the other in 0 mg nic and mix the two, that way you end up with just 3 mg of nic. I've actually done that myself with a 12 mg and a 6 mg to make a 9 mg. I felt that 12 mg was to much in my ADV but when I dropped to 6 mg it wasn't enough. 9 mg was just enough.

Hope you get better soon and get off the analogs!

 

[Psylent]

Also if you feel you need maybe just a little bit of nicotine, try buying 2 bottles of the same flavor, get one in 6 mg nic and the other in 0 mg nic and mix the two, that way you end up with just 3 mg of nic. I've actually done that myself with a 12 mg and a 6 mg to make a 9 mg. I felt that 12 mg was to much in my ADV but when I dropped to 6 mg it wasn't enough. 9 mg was just enough.

Hope you get better soon and get off the analogs!

Thanks for the info, that was good to know. I actually ordered a 12 and 9mg because that was the only 2 choice I had, but I'm not really worried about the liquid, I'm worried about the Kit not getting through. If so, I guess I'll have to wait until my GF physically fly to london next month to buy it.

The reason I'm in such a hurry to get it now is I'm still not so heavily addicted yet, and I think it would be easier for me to switch to vaping.

 

[StacyInOkla]

After you get 5 posts you'll be able to post in the Singapore thread. They'd be able to help with the customs issue. Good luck.

 

[Psylent]

After you get 5 posts you'll be able to post in the Singapore thread. They'd be able to help with the customs issue. Good luck.

Thanks and this will be my 5th post.

 

[BigBen2k]

I'd recommend an eGo VV of some sort if you don't mind the thickness, though for a habit like yours you'd probably be fine with a cigalike, more realistic feel in your hand too if that's something you think would matter. Not sure on availability of cigalikes there, from what I've seen on the boards it's hard to get anything at all like that where you are, but might be worth a shot seeing if someone can get you one somehow. Once you get three more posts in you can post on the Singapore sub-forum and there will be folks there with more knowledge of your particular situation I'm sure.

As far as nic level, try 6mg or 0mg, if you're not addicted to the nicotine, just the habit of smoking like I was, 0mg will do you fine, but there's no harm in using something as low as 6mg once in a while if you do find yourself craving the nicotine after a while.

I'll back that advice.

I've been through a pneumothorax once, with a relapse; I can happily report that the tube insertion didn't bother me one bit (thank you drugs!), but ripping the elastoplast off my hairy chest is still spectacularly memorable... (Doc said they shouldn't use elastoplast anymore, duh!)

 

[I RDP I]

is vaping safe for you?

 

[Hulamoon]

Also, with vaping you don't have to inhale as any nicotine benefit can be obtained from holding and rolling the vapor around your mouth and blowing it through your nose. Just a word of caution that you may wish to try one juice in eg 50/50 PG/VG ratio, one in a 90/10 PG/VG and one in 100% VG, as both PG and VG can have some issues for us sensitive folks. For myself I find PG in too high a ratio has me dry cough hacking and makes my throat/lungs feel raw (but I inhale thus the switch to VG which I find smoother. However, other people can have the same effect from too much VG, so be prepared to try a couple suggestions above so that you are comfortable and are able to make the transition from cigarettes successfully.

 

[Hulamoon]

Its certainly safer than going back to cigarettes as the OP did last time round.

is vaping safe for you?

 

[RoseB]

I am very sorry to read of your troubles. Hopefully you feel better soon. You may want to scroll down the forum list, and click on smokeless. Check into Swedish snus you will get a more instant nicotine fix. My pc is down, and I can't post links. The folks in there know their stuff, and might even be able to help you find where to get it. Please feel better soon.

 

[Psylent]

Its certainly safer than going back to cigarettes as the OP did last time round.

That is exactly what I feel, since I have no control over the habit, the safer alternative is vaping.

Also, with vaping you don't have to inhale as any nicotine benefit can be obtained from holding and rolling the vapor around your mouth and blowing it through your nose. Just a word of caution that you may wish to try one juice in eg 50/50 PG/VG ratio, one in a 90/10 PG/VG and one in 100% VG, as both PG and VG can have some issues for us sensitive folks. For myself I find PG in too high a ratio has me dry cough hacking and makes my throat/lungs feel raw (but I inhale thus the switch to VG which I find smoother. However, other people can have the same effect from too much VG, so be prepared to try a couple suggestions above so that you are comfortable and are able to make the transition from cigarettes successfully.

This ratio you are talking about, are they self mixed? Beginner here.

I am very sorry to read of your troubles. Hopefully you feel better soon. You may want to scroll down the forum list, and click on smokeless. Check into Swedish snus you will get a more instant nicotine fix. My pc is down, and I can't post links. The folks in there know their stuff, and might even be able to help you find where to get it. Please feel better soon.

Yeah I checked out the snus, thanks for the info. Thing is I believed myself to be a habitual smoker rather than a dependent one, I need to feel that throat hit and see that smoke. However if vaping doesn't control the habit I might try your suggestion out.

 

[Hulamoon]

When you buy an e-liquid you like, the seller's website usually (but not always) has a couple of drop-down boxes with 1) nicotine mgs (i.e. 0. 6. 12, 18, 24)

and 2) PG/VG ratios (i.e. 90/10 PG/VG; 80/20 PG/VG.........50/50 PG/VG...100% VG.

Not all vendors offer all options, but most of them do. PG and nicotine strength = throat hit, and PG supposedly allows for more flavor intensity - but PG can have too much rawness in the throat and lungs, and make some people cough (as well as other probs) to some folk like myself mentioned previously. Similarly some folk have probs with VG, feeling their throat and lungs are coated with oily yuk. Given your situation I suggest trying different ratios so you can find something that will get the job done but not make things worse

Also try ordering "sampler packs" where you can get maybe 3 mg of 5 different flavors, or at least buy the smallest bottles till you know what you really enjoy. I'd also advise not going nuts with one vendor and ordering 10 different full size bottles all at once, no matter how tempting the flavors sound (and look in the photos) - because you may have an issue with a base ingredient that makes the whole lot awful for you. If you WERE to go this route, probably the safest bet for enjoying a bunch of flavors would be Ahlusion, - Wlad was a professional master flavorist for foods before (well, and still is) he launched into vapes. Let us know what other info you need to get you started.

That is exactly what I feel, since I have no control over the habit, the safer alternative is vaping.


This ratio you are talking about, are they self mixed? Beginner here.


Yeah I checked out the snus, thanks for the info. Thing is I believed myself to be a habitual smoker rather than a dependent one, I need to feel that throat hit and see that smoke. However if vaping doesn't control the habit I might try your suggestion out.

 

[Psylent]

Thanks people for the answers and advices, I finally manage to get my hands on a ego knockoff 2 weeks ago and started vaping. I wasn't provided with choices on liquid other then a shady liquid with no label except what flavor it is and the salesman doesn't even have an idea what nic level it is. I was desperate to kick the analogue habit so I bought 2 15ml bottle.

So after 2 weeks of vaping I only smoke a analogue once, that was the 3rd day of my vape and it was offered by my friend. Just finished my meal and although I had my PV in my pocket i didn't vape due to the strict laws in my country. I'm glad to say I didn't really enjoy my analogue that one time I did.

As for my Pneumothorax, the chest tube was removed and my doctor told me I don't have to go back to the clinic anymore unless I'm feeling uncomfortable or pain. But he did ask me if I quit smoking, I told him I did but didn't inform him on the E cig, also due to the laws and the closemindedness of the general populace here.

My problem now is I don't even know wth I'm vaping atm, I modified my liquid with methol crystal because I did not like the taste. I got nicotine high the first few days when I'm vaping it, right now it gone. So I can't decide what strength should I get, and again because of the ......ed laws here I don't have the luxury to test out flavor, already got one of my shipment seized and now if I'm gonna order from another website and IF it clear custom, whatever that gets to me have to last. Say if I get a medium strength nic liquid, and i find it too heavy, can I dilute it with PG?