Vaping Possibly Speed Up Recovery

[Maky]

Hi all,

Want to keep this short and sweet as I am just heading out.

My ponderings in bed last night. The longest I have quit for after smoking for 14 years has been 8 months. This was last year before I donated a kidney. During this time, I seem to recolect only ever spitting up maybe 1 or 2 times a day the crap that has accumulated through all the smoking.

The last few days after vaping nearly 2 weeks, I have been spitting up vast amounts. I'm talking 10 to 15 times a day. In bed last night I thought to myself about the possibility of the vapour helping speed up the clearing out process.
I was thinking about when a doctor would recommend inhaling steam from a bowl with maybe a little menthol added when you have a chest infection.

Now I am fully aware that there is chemically a big difference between steam and VG/Pg vapour but, has anyone else had the same increase in spitting up phlegm with tar specks? Maybe I just have the beginnings of a chest infection but I don't feel run down at all. I feel full of energy as you normally do after quitting smoke.

Just interested to hear some thoughts on this.

 

[Ken_A]

Yes, I had a lot of discharge the first few weeks, then it tappered off. I use 50/50 blend of juice and still get flem a bit because of the VG but not enough or often enough to worry me. It's less than when I was smoking now.

 

[Maky]

The phlegm I believe is from quitting the smoke and not from the vapour so I am not worried in fact the opposite. Although Spitting this stuff in this amount would be socially a problem.

 

[Ken_A]

Yes, the first month or two the vapor helps to loosen the crud that is in your lungs from smoking. Definitely want to find a bush or bathroom when out and about.
high VG content will also produce flem, but it's not the crappy stuff you are getting rid of now... just thought I would warn you about that one.
It doesn't bother me because it's a lot less than when I was smoking and has no flavor. Or color to speak of.

 

[zyglrox]

I don't think anyone can answer that question definitively, but given the nature of the two most prevalent ingredients, I wouldn't exactly be in a hurry to rule it out. Bear in mind that what follows is merely my relatively uneducated perception of what I have observed in my own experiences and anecdotal accounts from others.

PG vapor is an expectorant, so it would make sense that administering it would speed the clearing of the lungs and breathing passageways. It causes the fluids in your lungs to dry up (i.e. coagulate) and acts as a minor irritant. I'm guessing that as the mucus bunches up, it grabs up some of the tar, which is then expelled when the irritation prompts your lungs to open up and release it.

VG, on the other hand, tends to act as a moisturizer and lubricant. You'll find it in everything from skincare products to leave in conditioners and even throat sprays for vocalists and public speakers (in which case it is used to reduce strain on the throat and vocal cords by keeping airways open and moisturized.) It may not directly speed the healing process, but I can see it potentially protecting your lungs as they undergo the healing process. It may just prevent little setbacks you might otherwise have from the coughing, which tends to be moderately damaging in itself. Additionally, areas that were previously bunched in from the constriction induced by the smoke and heat become more exposed, making the coughing especially damaging (don't worry - it is still far less than you would get from continuing to smoke for another day and is reversible. Non-smokers incur the same damage from a cold with a dry cough.) These areas could probably benefit from a bit of added moisture. VG is also viscous but easier to expel than mucus alone because it is less sticky and more lubricating, so having it mixed in with your mucus probably helps it come up more easily.

As a side note, menthol has a direct impact on breathing because it relaxes your airways, which is a good thing for smokers' lungs, as they tend to be constricted. So there's another ingredient that may aid in recovery.

 

[Maky]

Ok, so as far as now, the vapour "could be helping" but could also be causing a bit of coughing.

My lungs seem to feel less tight after only 2 weeks of cessation and I am positive that I don't usually feel this lung relaxed till at least 3 months. I work as a builder which is a strenuous job and is where I notice the problems of smoking the most. After 3 months of quitting, I can tare into work without getting lung stress which strangely when happens, I reach for a cigarette. Smoking when my lungs feel like that seems to get rid of the feeling.

 

[Maky]

Does anyone know if the mint flavoured e-liquid uses the same menthol ingrediant as would be used in medicines for bronchial complaints? Or is it just a flavouring that is different.

 

[zyglrox]

Minty does not necessarily mean menthol, though some minty juices do contain menthol. Some flavors have a minty taste but do not contain menthol. There are other additives that can be used which produce the cooling sensation of menthol but are actually something else. It really depends on the juice. Your best bet there is to consult the maker of the juice.

 

[CandyTX]

Newbie here... question for you folks - and I realize this is probably opinion-based...

I see some places do 100% VG. It seems at the PV gets the worst of the bad press as far as "oh noes, we're all going to die" - is there a benefit to using all VG? I'm not allergic, the "throat hit" - I don't really care. I pick up and put down smoking pretty easily, just had a rough time giving it up the past 2 months due to stress and being on pain meds... so I'm curious. I could just try it and probably will at some point... just wondering.

Sorry for the mini-hijack.

 

[generic mutant]

Also a newby, but this is what I've read:

PG / VG is very much a personal thing - some people seem to react to either, though most people are fine on either or both. VG creates more vapour and tastes sweeter, but can feel heavy on the lungs. PG normally carries juice flavour better. Often a mix is ideal, but you probably have to experiment if you want to find your 'sweet spot'.

 

[HK-47]

Newbie questions answers:

- Propylene Glycol (PG) is known for having more powerful taste and being a thinner (less viscous) fluid. There are some folks who have a PG allergy, but in general it is a virucide and bactericide (it kills virus and bacteria) and has been used in hospital air circulation systems for that reason. PG tends to produce less vapor but a greater throat hit compared to VG (vegetable glycerine).

- Vegetable Glycerine (VG) is known for producing more vapor, but muting the flavors in some regards (not with all flavors). It is a safer alternative as a few people do have reactions to PG. It is a thicker (more viscous) fluid which can lead to issues on occasion with usage in some delivery devices unless you compensate for that. Example: having more holes in a carto-tank to allow more juice to wick into it.

Most people tend to prefer mixing PG and VG in ratios. 70% PG/30% VG is probably a good benchmark with a lot of juices to get good vapor, strong flavor and no wicking issues. Your mileage may vary of course and taste is subjective.

 

[HK-47]

OP Answers:

I suspect that the vapor is definitely assisting your removal of the built-up phlegm and other remains inside your lungs from smoking. I haven't personally experienced much of this, but I didn't have a noticeable smoker's cough and/or any real lung issues from my time smoking. Using menthol type juices as well as the vapor action likely is breaking up some of this inside your lungs causing you to expel it faster, and that is likely a good thing. I wouldn't be overly concerned unless it's painful, or persists more than a month (let's say) by which point your lungs should have been mostly cleared out.

Humidification has been a long-time treatment for chest infections and bronchial issues, especially in conjunction with menthol. I still keep my old school Vicks humidifier around for those few rare occasions when I'm feeling a chest infection coming around.

 

[hvac999]

VG is thicker and the more you have the harder it is to use the drip method on cartos.

 

[CandyTX]

Thanks for the info, appreciate it!

 

[Ferrel1134]

On my clearos to much vg gums them up and is a no go my magic number is 65-35 pg vg. I've had no lung drainage and I've been off analogs for almost 2 months.

 

[AngelsBreath]

I do know this, before I quit smoking I had a really bad chest cold that had been hanging on for 3 weeks, I was coughing stuff up, coughing all night, wheezing like crazy and just plain felt bad. I decided to quit smoking on March 7th, on March 10th the I felt like a new person. Go figure, divine intervention or quitting the stinkies and going to vaping...IMHO-BOTH!!!