Questions about switching from smoking to vaping

[charlie1465]

Thanks!

I'm beginning to think I am just being impatient. I just assumed that cutting out all the cigs would have an immediate and dramatic effect. Perhaps that's too much to ask after smoking so much and for so long, lol.

Yes maybe...I just think that in our minds eye our lungs are half full with tar

But no with me it was pretty seamless and quite quick in that you stop coughing pretty quickly and that's about it....you've smoked for so long you forgotten what normal breathing is like...and you're definitely clearer chested but kind of not so you'd notice particularly...if that makes sense

 

[Rossum]

My questions are: when did you experience these changes after making the switch?

Very quickly, within the first couple of weeks. But there was never a spell of coughing for me. In fact it was quite the opposite, the incessant smoker's cough and bronchial irritation I'd had for about as long as I could remember simply went away.

People are different. You may never have that particular coughing/clearing experience, or it may come several months down the road.

 

[Falconeer]

As has been said - no two folk are exactly the same.

I smoked for 50+ years, firstly cigarettes and then a pipe. I inhaled both. I never had a smoker's cough like my Dad did ( he woke the whole house up in the morning when he lit up his first cigarette ). I never had a cough either when I started vaping.

The two things I noticed when I started vaping was that the mild hardening of the arteries in my calves with associated pain quickly went away and that my sense of taste changed/improved very quickly.

My sense of smell came back fully within a year which is a mixed blessing however on occasions - if someone lights up tobacco even outdoors I can pick up the smell right away ( and not feel tempted btw.)

The odd thing is that to me people who do smoke, to me, smell slightly of paraffin (kerosene) - as I said, no two folk are exactly the same!

 

[BrotherBob]

Thanks!

I'm beginning to think I am just being impatient. I just assumed that cutting out all the cigs would have an immediate and dramatic effect. Perhaps that's too much to ask after smoking so much and for so long, lol.

Might like to read:
Vaping & Coughing: What Every Vaper Needs To Know
The Potential Side Effects from Vaping - Vaping360

 

[MetalSteve]

Might like to read:
Vaping & Coughing: What Every Vaper Needs To Know
The Potential Side Effects from Vaping - Vaping360

Great links! Thanks!

 

[TheFish]

Smoked for the last 23years, 1 to 2 packs a day. tried to give up during that period many times, never lasted more than 2 weeks, typically only 4 or 5 days.

Im week 3 smoke free thanks to vaping. No coughing fits or withdrawal. Feeling better for it, taste and smell has returned.

Vaping about 7 to 8mm a day, 6mg/ml RY4 and variants mostly.

Good luck

 

[Frenchfry1942]

Just keep on keeping on. Drink plenty of water.

Taste was the last thing that returned. For me, that was about 6 months.

 

[MetalSteve]

Im week 3 smoke free thanks to vaping.

Congrats!

 

[My Batt Hurts]

Don't worry if your recovery is boring and uneventful. Mine was very bland. Well done though!

 

[gpjoe]

I always had congestion and sniffles when I smoked, and assumed it was a reaction to an ingredient in the cigarettes. When I switched to vaping it lessened with lower nicotine levels in the juice. As long as I vape 6mg I don't experience anywhere near the same level of sinus congestion as when I smoked but when I vape higher (40-50mg) juice it does seem to increase. Might be the nicotine, I don't know, but if it is a problem for you, ask your doctor.

As far as coughing/hacking - I never had fits of uncontrollable coughing but was constantly clearing my throat when I smoked and that is completely gone with vaping.

 

[Opinionated]

I made the switch from smoking to vaping six weeks ago. It's been a surprisingly effortless transition, though I'm still getting used to it and haven't found my ADV yet.

Since I switched, I have noticed that my sense of smell improved, climbing stairs is a little easier, and I feel a little "lighter" while walking. However, I have yet to go through a period of coughing and I still have the congestion I've had forever and always attributed to smoking. I expected that a week of coughing would happen within the first couple of weeks of quitting and I hoped this would help with the congestion too.

My questions are: when did you experience these changes after making the switch? Am I being impatient? Is there something I could do to help this along?

Background: I smoked for over 20 years, 25+ large American Spirits RYOs a day for the past several years. I'm vaping about 2 ml of 50 mg nic salts through a pod system a day.

Thanks in advance.

I started coughing up crap immediately. Like day two, and the more crap I coughed up the easier it was to breathe.

It began to subside by week two and was fairly well over by week 4 except when I exercised.

I did nothing to cause it, but my breathing had degraded to the point my lips were turning blue with the exertion of housework, and I had to take rest breaks just walking to the mailbox.

So.. it was bad, but so was my breathing. Many people don't cough like that. My husband and son never coughed up gunk at all..

So, you may never.

 

[Enso]

I think the biggest side effect I had was mood related. No, not joyous. Super grumpy/depressed at times. Especially as I tried to figure out what my optimal nic level was. Doesn’t sound like it offers you much insight on your current status, just something you may want to be mindful of, particularly when you interact with other people.

 

[MetalSteve]

As long as I vape 6mg I don't experience anywhere near the same level of sinus congestion as when I smoked but when I vape higher (40-50mg) juice it does seem to increase. Might be the nicotine

This is an interesting suggestion. I'm hesitant to reduce my nic for now but I'll keep this in mind moving forward.

 

[MetalSteve]

I think the biggest side effect I had was mood related. No, not joyous. Super grumpy/depressed at times. Especially as I tried to figure out what my optimal nic level was. Doesn’t sound like it offers you much insight on your current status, just something you may want to be mindful of, particularly when you interact with other people.

I have noticed some changes to my mood but I have several stressors in my life these days, so it's hard to pinpoint a cause.

I do think the high nic level I'm on reduced many of the common withdrawal symptoms.