It's sad that this is what we have devolved to. Arguments and insinuations revolving around the "unknown and long-term side effects" while forgetting that the whole point is that we are supposed to be comparing it to traditional cigarettes, and other tobacco and nicotine products. We know much more about the long-term and well-documented side effects of using traditional tobacco and other nicotine products and NRT products. And the comparison on that point is overwhelmingly on the side of electronic cigarettes, even despite the lack of research. Electronic cigarettes have not existed long enough to even have long-term data from which to derive any conclusions yet. And as for unknown side effects? They are just that, unknown. Until we can get more research done, and it would have to be done by us as a community to try and ensure the integrity and relevance, the only evidence we can utilize is anecdotal and correlative. Or in other words, not very scientific. The OP's stance that he is afraid that his small usage of an E-cig, one time, led to his current debilitating symptoms is gobs of both kinds of evidence.
But, to be fair. It is still evidence. Evidence that vaping is not recommended for those who have no history of nicotine use. Evidence that inhaling anything from any device, lets say, a PV or an inhaler, is likely to cause some sort of effect on lungs that have never been exposed to such compounds. And I would have to agree on that point. The next step is to compare that to the side effects of traditional methods of acquiring nicotine and compare the results between the 2 studies. As a ex-smoker of 12 years, and a total convert to vaping of nearly 2 years, I would have to disagree and point out that EVEN IF vaping is "proven" to be worse than not vaping, kind of a given IMO, it will still be FAR LESS DAMAGING than what it's replacing.
And to the OP. I don't want to come across as being really harsh against you or your current situation and concerns, assuming you are being honest and forthright with us here, I am genuinely sorry to hear that you are suffering and feel that the likely cause is E-cigs. As a community, some here would go so far as to organize and help run and fund a charity to support and help pay for the medical needs of a fellow member. And one reason for this desire and dedication is the united nature that arises from everyone having been able to get away from the financial and health burden imposed by their addiction to a product literally guaranteed to kill you sooner rather than later (and not very pleasantly I might add) and switch to a better way of sustaining their habit. People are upset because by flouting "facts" like you have been lead to misinformation, misinformation leads to people being misled into other things, like poor or harmful legislation or into blind rhetoric, or maintaining the health-care full nelson we have been convinced many of us need and are necessary to be "well".
I wish you luck and a full recovery, there was a post earlier mentioning the mind-over-matter aspect of anxiety, I'd look into something holistic like that first before you let the doctors make that SOB worse for you with their diagnosis'.
