Panic/anxiety/ears ringing on first day please help

[DC2]

So in spite of the fact that you have a sensitive nervous system, your body is already used to quite a bit of nicotine.
A pack per day smoker usually starts out somewhere near 18mg nicotine strength.

 

[Tornadotwist]

I wanted to add my 2 cents because this is my second go round with quitting analog's and vaping, though I did start off with the cig-alikes. I have suffered from anxiety attacks my entire life, and smoking really helped me and how many attacks I would have. The first time I stopped smoking I was in the ER twice. I had monstrous anxiety to the point where I would pass out. I was dizzy, I could be sitting down watching TV or driving in the car and all of a sudden I would get the typical head spin as if I stood up far to quickly. I couldn't sleep, my heart pounded and my heart beat was irregular. My blood pressure went through the roof(Normally I have normal BP), and I felt as if my ears and eye's were going to explode. I literally felt as if my life was over. My poor husband had to come home from work early a few times to help me cope with the attacks, and to top it all off, I have 4 children all very young and all very oblivious to how I was feeling, and in a way, they did increase my level of anxiety while I was quitting. The anxiety lasted about 4 days, maybe a week. The dizziness and heart pounding/BP lasted for about 3-5 weeks. I did talk to my doctor who prescribed me Ativan to help. He also advised me that what I was going through was indeed withdraw from not only the nicotine, but withdraw from the other 4,000 chemicals inside a normal cigarette. Once all my symptoms passed, I felt like a new woman. I even pitched my first e-cig in the trash and went smokeless for about 5 months. I know I will likely go through these very same symptoms again this time around, but this time I am prepared and know what to expect....not to mention I was one ...... off cookie 24/7 for about a week lol. When the going get's tough, take a bath, or a walk, walks are amazing for your mood. Try your best to completely lay off the real cigarette's, because the sooner you can put those away, the sooner these symptoms will dissipate. I was a 1-1/2 pack a day smoker. I smoked Camel light wides, and I started out with 12mg's, and even though we vape, the withdraw will be there, your body isn't just craving the nic, it is craving the other chemicals it has been so accustomed to getting. I hope this helps! Hang in there, it will get better!

 

[Jetmech0417]

Sounds like a combination of overdoing the nicotine as well as mild dehydration. Both can lead to these types of symptoms. But, I'm no doctor, so don't take this as a diagnosis. Glad to hear you're feeling better today, though.

 

[DC2]

The original poster had a couple of symptoms, all of which can be explained by a panic attack.
There is no reason I can see to assume there was too much nicotine involved, especially when there was no nausea or headache.

The original poster used to smoke a pack per day of cigarettes, and probably now uses a fairly ineffective cig-a-like.

It would take probably at least 6 cartridges per day of 8mg juice to get the same amount of nicotine her body is already used to getting.
Probably more like 8 to 10 per day depending on the size of the cartridges.

My thinking is that the original poster was WORRIED that she was getting too much nicotine, which caused the panic attack.
In reality, the amount of nicotine probably had nothing to do with the panic attack.

It's more likely to me that, from a review of the evidence, she is not getting enough nicotine and that is why she is still smoking.
And in addition to that, she should stop worry about getting too much nicotine at this point.

I'm putting on my flame suit now.

 

[Hotwire]

^^ Yeah have to full disagree with the above poster seeing as the OP even said her symptoms improved when she dropped her nic level.

The effect from nic in cigs used to relax me. The effect from nic in cape stimulates me. For someone like the op prone to anxiety or with a sensitive cns system I know which theory makes more sense.

 

[DC2]

^^ Yeah have to full disagree with the above poster

I had absolutely no doubt you would, given the concerns you already have about nicotine anyway.

seeing as the OP even said her symptoms improved when she dropped her nic level.

I would imagine that any anxiety she may have had about getting too much nicotine was reduced as well.

 

[Hotwire]

Nic from vaping has the exact same effect on me, even when I'd been smoke free 6 months if I vaped over 6 - 8mg nic I'd get the exact same symptoms - racing heart, ringing in my ears, insomnia, pulsing in the veins in my neck and I still do.

Same when I tried the gum.

So yeah, guess I have the damned right to be concerned seeing as those are some bloody nasty symptoms to experience.

It's a strong stimulant, and I dislike your implications about me being 'concered' about nicotine meaning 'anti-vaping guy.'

One thing I dislike strongly on this site is the knee jerk reactions to anything not 'yeah bro it's all 100% awesome!'

Some of us ARE sensitive to what IS a powerful CNS stimulant and I strongly dislike people not acknowledging this or trying to discredit the experiences of people such as myself just because they feel their new best thing is being attacked.

Well I've not attacked anything just stated medical fact and real personal experience of very nasty symptoms if I go over 8mg.

Accept. Get over. Move on.

 

[DC2]

It's a strong stimulant, and I dislike your implications about me being 'concered' about nicotine meaning 'anti-vaping guy.'

I didn't make those implications, it was someone else that was arguing with you in that other thread.

 

[Hotwire]

Yeah well the implications are wrong. Vaping has given me my physical fitness back and I love it. Still dissagree with scotp about regulation though and explained why at length in that thread so will not here.

The OP said herself

i also have a very sensitive nervous system

Of course they're going to be more sensitive to nic than others. nic is a nervous system stimulant and also affects norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine receptors, it has a stronger effect on the CNS than people think.

That's not me saying 'Vaping is bad.' It's me saying the OP is likely just sensitive to nic and needs a lower level - based on science. I also have a sensitive nervous system and have had the exact same symptoms which went away when I dropped my nic level, so it's kind of simple math to me.

 

[DC2]

That's not me saying 'Vaping is bad.' It's me saying the OP is likely just sensitive to nic and needs a lower level - based on science.

Even though she is probably getting less nicotine from vaping 8mg than when she was smoking cigarettes?

 

[Hotwire]

Even though she is probably getting less nicotine from vaping 8mg than when she was smoking cigarettes?

I am getting less nic than when i smoked cigs too - but still get exact same symptoms as OP if I go over 6mg nic juice.

Nic from vaping gives me a stimulating effect, nic from cigs used to make me feel calm and relaxed.

I suspect the OP was the same type of smoker as me. Wiki it and you'll find most smokers smoke in a way that makes them stimulated but a rare few (usually ones with anxiety or other emotional health issues) take longer, deeper puffs and it has a relaxing effect.

Check it out on the wiki page, it's interesting reading!