Need intelligent answers

[BloodWolf]

Some of you know my dad has bad COPD w/emphysema. He tried an ecig a few weeks back and said he didnt like it. He now wants to give it a good shot,and for the past 2-4 days has been vaping more and smoking less. Alot less in fact. But I have been reading opinions on this all over the place. Some say it's much better than smoking, others say if you already have COPD do not vape at all. I know you're not doctors, but I know there are some well informed vapers on here that can help me on this. Am I doing him more harm by helping him vape?

Side note: He used to smoke over a PAD of ultralights. He's down to maybe 4-10 a day. When he vapes it's VERY shallow/small drags.

 

[araczynski]

well, the best way to vape is actually to take soft 5 second drags, unless you're vaping at higher voltages, where it probably doesn't take that long to get the same effect. but then again, if short is working, then why not.

i can't imagine vaping would cause anymore issues than smoking, i'd say give it two weeks and see how his lungs react to not having to deal with the crap in smokes.

not the best help, i know, but he's going in the right direction, that i think is safe to say.

 

[Ande]

The best choice, and especially with COPD and emphysema, is to QUIT.

But...if he's still smoking, even now, he's probably not gonna quit.

He really should talk this over with his doctor. The best evidence seems to be that quitting would be best, vaping would be worse than total quitting but better than smoking, and smoking would be the worst.

With that in mind, I'd think that vaping is less bad than smoking- he needs a real medical opinion for this medical question, though.

Also- think about snus. No harm, or even irritation, to the lungs at all.

Best,
Ande

 

[Ande]

The best choice, and especially with COPD and emphysema, is to QUIT.

But...if he's still smoking, even now, he's probably not gonna quit.

He really should talk this over with his doctor. The best evidence seems to be that quitting would be best, vaping would be worse than total quitting but better than smoking, and smoking would be the worst.

With that in mind, I'd think that vaping is less bad than smoking- he needs a real medical opinion for this medical question, though.

Also- think about snus. No harm, or even irritation, to the lungs at all.

Best,
Ande

 

[pantera]

I'm not 100% sure how emphysema and copd might e affected by the drying effects of the vapor... I found that vaping does dry out the throat quite a bit more than smoking and if either condition requires a humidifier or a humid environment than vaping might be bad as it tends to dry out the airways and may cause irritation...

I would talk to abductor but also ask about moisture or humidity levels best suited for those conditions... If te doc says stay moist an humid or get a humidifier, than I would probably avoid vaping an say quit... If doc says dry if ok, the talk to him about vaping as an option

Not sure if I'm right so take it with a grain of salt...

 

[pantera]

*a doctor... Sorry not abductor... God I hate this phone... L

 

[sobero4]

I may be informed enough to provide you with some humble info as I just graduated from registered nursing school. COPD is a chronic respiratory disease and, of course, is progressive in nature. COPD is an umbrella term that describes a person who has chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or a little bit of both. I have personally heard of people who are living with advanced stages of COPD (who had to basically quit smoking or die) and that have switched to heavy vaping (rather than heavy smoking) and have achieved degrees of stable pulmonary function since quitting the analogs. Every person is different, but I would say your father is much better off vaping than smoking. With emphysema, the primary pathogenic problem is overinflated respiratory alveoli which occurs through bronchiolar collapse during exhalation (air gets trapped in the deepest, gas-exchanging areas of the lungs and this is why we see things like the shallow breathing and the characteristic "barrel chest" I assume your dad may have). Diet and exercise are huge factors for your dad, as is pursed-lip breathing (which allows for a more slow, controlled exhalation to keep those lower airways open during exhalation and reduce the overinflation of the respiratory alveoli). Excessive abdominal weight is important to try to limit as it can increase the work of breathing. Constant and nagging fatigue provoked from mild to moderate exercise can lead to physical deconditioning and plenty of frustration. In advanced stages of COPD, even eating can become exhausting, leading to malnutrition. With much of that being said, it is highly important for your father to quit smoking, but it is just as important to have a supportive, loving family around him to motivate and encourage him to not give up on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and healthy spirit in the face of a serious illness. I wish your dad, yourself and your family all the best. Hope I've been able to help in some small way. Good luck

 

[Tona Aspsusa]

Great thread, and great answer sobero4.

I have a slightly similar question, but with a twist:

My chimney-smoking parent has not only COPD, but _asthma_. When she was diagnosed about 10 years ago, she was told she had probably had some level of asthma all her life, much to her surprise. The pulmonologist then roughly estimated that the asthma was at least 80% of her problems (mainly fatigue, general malaise and some "tightness"). Asthma is now under some kind of control (sorry, don't remember which substances, no "as needed" inhalators, though).

She is also one of those people for whom just nicotine will never be a good substitute, and so far she has hardly even tasted my PV.
Partly for myself, but also with a thought of maybe getting her to at least give PVs a good try, I've started researching options to get some WTAs.

But now this discussion made me think: what about the dryness and asthma? Might vaping actually be as bad or worse in this case?

Any asthmatic vapers with some insight?

 

[Stormiefury]

I'm in Nursing School now and everything he just said is exactly what we learned. Due to me starting the use of the e-cig last year my instructor who has been an RN for 35 years investigated it and we had a long debate about it. With all the materials I brought in she agreed that if the patient is unable to quit smoking but moved to an electronic cigarette it would be much better than smoking. There are now 3 girls in my class besides me who are vaping and quit analogs due to the debate we had in class.

I truely wish your Dad the best of luck. In the end what you do for him will always be what matters. It's been proven the more family support someone has the better their chances of succeeding in changes that are needed to live a healthy lifestyle.

Best of luck,
Stormie

 

[Jim Bob]

Smoking is much worse not hard to accept that. For anyone concerned about the drying effect, one need not inhale into the lungs when vaping and doubtful you get much nicotine this way anyway. We get our nicotine from our mouth and nasal capillaries is my understanding. Eliminating the smoke, poisons, tar and CO alone would IMO outweigh the drying effects overall.

 

[SuperLuckyLady]

I feel for your father, as I have COPD too. I had to quit analogs if I still wanted to walk, talk and generally function. I had mostly quit for a few years on nicotine patches, but still bummed cigarettes, bought a pack now and then, and was finding myself buying more and more as time went on. Not good.

Then my son turned me on to ecigs. Allelullah! Haven't had an analog since, and lung function has improved a LOT. I can now usually walk a few miles, swim, dance, etc. No, I don't inhale deeply, but find vaping very satisfying anyway.

However, I do have to watch out for sensitivities. E.g. for the past few months, I have had a harder time with breathing, coughing and general fatigue. Gone through lots of medical testing, with negative results, but no doctor suggested I give up vaping. Was thinking I might have to do it though. Then I got an urge to try some fluxomizers and pumpcarts, and things got a lot better. Hmmm. By going back and fore between different cartos and attys, I have discovered I cannot use some batting filled cartos. Not going to name them, as they work so well, and I absolutely love them, but just can't do it. I also have to avoid some juices, but I find that out after just a couple of puffs.

So, to answer your question, I think your father will do a lot better vaping, with the caveat that he might have some extra sensitivity issues. All my best to him and your family.

 

[DaveP]

I have a relative who is a life long smoker with history of genetically linked lung problems and COPD/Emphysema. Both he and his younger brothers are on oxygen. I bought a Riva kit for him and he uses it occasionally, but hasn't made it through two 10ml bottles of juice in several months.

I hadn't thought about instructing him to hold the vapor in his mouth for nicotine absorption. I knew that the nic is absorbed through the mucous membranes more than through the lungs, but I just didn't make the connection for him. I'll have to tell him about that method. He coughs sometimes when he tries to inhale the vapor.

 

[BloodWolf]

Thanks you all for your advise,opinions and care. I know I'm jovial alot on here but when it comes to my dad Im pretty serious. You see,I live with both my parents. Dad is 60. He works a auto parts store and mostly either sits or stands while working. It takes VERY little for him to get out of breath. Walking to our mailbox ( about 70 ft ) will do it. Then he breathes slowly while his lips are in a whistling form. I hear him cough most of the night while sitting in his recliner. And each time it breaks my heart. My family are sorta getting prepared for when he gets really bad and even die. It's horrible seeing someone you love very much die slowly.