Will Vaping like this work?

[Ann48]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to change to vaping and have cut back my analogs, but just not there yet. Went to a tobacco store the other day and tried flavors - ended up with sugar cookie. Tastes good, but I could get sick of that all day - so I ordered more online. Also got a tobacco flavor that's just gross.

Here's my problems:

1) Dr is all for this and believes it's healthier alternative to cigs. However, she has given me inhaler for allergy induced asthma. I know after 44 years of smoking cigs my lungs are nasty - but she took xray and said "oh you have a little copd, but what stands out to me is arthritis in your spine." I left confused - is it asthma...copd...what is this cough and some wheezing. So went back and asked "just how bad is copd...she said mild and wants me to try vaping.

So I'm trying - and it seems I can go all day without being wheezy, but when I inhale a vape..I get wheezy!! So I thought ok...at least until my lungs heal up some from 44 years of abuse....I will just hold in my mouth and blow out nose since I read here that you get most of the nic from that area anyway, right?

So I do that - with the eGo....or even the Blu...and holding in mouth is ok...but blowing out nose causes instant sinus pressure almost to point of headache. DARN it!! So since I'm just trying to get into this and transition over....the frustration and fear that I can't do it because of wheeze or sinus issues makes me want to give up plus upsets me (with myself) that I can't just jump into this like so many success stories I read here. I know 44 years is forever....but I've seen people change who had even more years! That's what gave me hope.

Any suggestions? Anyone have this wheezing issue...or instant sinus pressure/headache?? Its the same with the Blu which is total VG I think?? As well as the juice which was prepackaged at that store...but I chose one that was made in USA. Maybe 50/50. I ordered a variety of mixes and flavors online...and hoping and praying I can make this change. I want it...and I need it before I really do cough up a lung.

By the way - the asthma she said has resulted from having 3 cats and also other outdoor allergies and some other body changes that happen as women age. So I didn't used to have it until after I got older (a year or two ago )

 

[Ann48]

Oh darn....I forgot an important question!!

So if I vape and just hold in mouth without blowing out nose....then blow it out without inhaling...can that work? I was at 2 PAD years ago....then the last few years 1.5 PAD...and recently (past few months) 1 PAD. When I use vaping I get it down the around 15 a day.

 

[MikeMills]

What nicotine level are you using? I notice high nic juice is more irritating than lower.

 

[bacc.vap]

People can have sensitivities to either pg or vg, but I'd say in your situation high vg liquid is probably not the better choice. Vg makes a more dense vapor and causes congestion and a heavy chest feeling in some people, like myself. I suggest switching to a high percentage of pg in your liquid(70% or higher) and give that a try for few weeks, the congestion may not go away quickly, took me about a week and a half.

 

[Fizzpop]

Oh darn....I forgot an important question!!

So if I vape and just hold in mouth without blowing out nose....then blow it out without inhaling...can that work? I was at 2 PAD years ago....then the last few years 1.5 PAD...and recently (past few months) 1 PAD. When I use vaping I get it down the around 15 a day.

Yes, that will absolutely work. As a pipe smoker who became a cigarette smoker, I have reverted to just taking the vapor into my mouth and exhaling through my nose. You get plenty of nicotine this way.

 

[Fisheeboy]

Oh darn....I forgot an important question!!

So if I vape and just hold in mouth without blowing out nose....then blow it out without inhaling...can that work? I was at 2 PAD years ago....then the last few years 1.5 PAD...and recently (past few months) 1 PAD. When I use vaping I get it down the around 15 a day.

Yes holding the vapor in your mouth will definitely work too. The nicotine will be absorbed not too much differently than how it would be if say you used chew or snus.
And nicotine levels in the e-liquid may make a difference in how it will affect your weezing.

 

[glointhedark]

You are doing great. You are trying and not giving up. I have sinus issues, and exhaling out my nose does not do anything for me except make my nose run. I don't really notice the flavor any better if I do it. If you are having problems exhaling through your nose, don't do it. Try just holding the vapor a little longer in your mouth, and mouth exhaling. Vaping is not like smoking a cigarette. You have to train yourself to a different technique when vaping. Keep trying and experimenting until you get comfortable.

Allergies suck. I had hoped when we moved to northern California that my allergies would tone down a bit. Nope. Apparently northern California has the same stuff growing that we were around when we lived in Ohio. Dang it. Upside is no snow where we are.

Keep trying and experimenting. There is trial and error involved, but if you persevere you will reach your happy place with vaping.

 

[Spazmelda]

I can only tell you my own experience. I have asthma and at first vaping made it worse, but only sometimes. I eventually realized that some flavors cause it for me and some don't. Also, more strongly flavored liquids are more likely to cause me to get wheezy. Since I diy a lot of my own liquids, I tend to use fairly low concentrations of flavoring now (like around 5-8% total). So, you may find that if you experiment with flavors some might not cause the asthma or COPD symptoms. You could also buy a bottle of unflavored liquid and experiment to see if that causes wheezing as well. If it doesn't, you could either vape that (I don't care for unflavored myself) or use it to cut down the flavoring in other juices that you do like. Also, as someone else mentioned, lowering the nicotine might help as well.

I've read that much of the nicotine we get is absorbed in the mouth and nasal passages, so if inhaling causes you problems you should still be able to get sufficient nicotine with just a mouth inhale.

I might have missed it, but do you use an asthma inhaler? If so, what kind(s)? I have a rescue inhaler and a corticosteroid inhaler. The corticosteroid is to be used twice a day, to prevent inflammation of the airways, and I find if I keep on top of using that as prescribed it really cuts down on the number of times I have to use the rescue inhaler.

 

[angnjc]

YES, just holding it in your mouth will work. That is the only way I can vape and it works just fine for me.

 

[Tadow Johnson]

I personally found that during the transition period while vaping AND still smoking analogs my lungs were worse than smoking analogs alone. I can only speculate as to why, but it felt as if the vapor was keeping the tar sticking in my lungs especially in the mornings. It was really pretty bad and I almost didn't switch. Who knows what the effects of those chemicals are, it reminded me of folks who can actually breathe better when they smoke than when abstaining... The good news is once I switched to vaping only, in no time my lungs were great. Now if I want to exercise, one good cough and I'm good to go and no more wheezing, huffing and puffing like I'm gonna pass out etc. So stick with it my friend it will be worth it if you do.

 

[Ann48]

This helps a lot...I sure hope I can get to my comfort level and give to this 100%. I "like" vaping, especially if I could inhale! But if it causes wheezing, well that takes the "like" out of it .

The only inhaler Dr gave me is Ventolin. Since she thinks allergy induced she wants me on meds - singular which is good for asthma sufferers. However, it makes me feel WEIRD and groggy next day...shaky and dizzy some. I've always had trouble with over reacting to meds because I've never been a big pill taker or had to be on anything. I figure that will come with age too ugh. Heck, tylenol knocks me out!

Anyway...I may try allergy meds again. Maybe that will help me with being able to vape. My nic level has been 1) Blu disposable e-cig (not sure how much nic is really in it) and 2) 12 mg, later mixed with 0 and made 6 mg.

If I'm only going to hold in mouth and blow out, I hope I can get enough nic. Maybe have to increase it?? It isn't working yet though. I got sugar cookie flavor...held in mouth only because of wheezing...and all it does is leave me wanting to smoke because I'm not satisfied at all, I miss inhaling, and the taste makes me want to have a cig...sort of like after eating a meal (sugar cookies).

 

[JeremyR]

You are on the right track! Holding in mouth will work and if you feel you need more with mouth hits just get a higher nic level.

There is an adjustment period for everyone. Your body and Sinuses and lungs need time to adjust. I recommend all new vapors to start with mouth hits and slowly progress. Eventually you can do you mouth hit and then a short inhale into the lungs if you feel its nessasary, but it's really not.

 

[Ann48]

Tadow...so there are really people who can breath better when smoking than when not? I remember telling people on a cold turkey board that one time and they laughed at me like it was an excuse. But it has felt that way sometimes! Maybe it just made me cough more to get the crud out of my lungs.

Anyway, I think I will try doing just the mouth thing. I doubt it will be as satisfying to me....but maybe if I just take deep breaths afterward, I don't know. Or do it a while, then when lungs get better maybe I can inhale some.

Angnjc, did you used to inhale smoke into your lungs before vaping? If so, how did you get to where just doing the mouth hold was satisfying?

 

[Tadow Johnson]

Tadow...so there are really people who can breath better when smoking than when not?

Definitely, my guess is the side effect of some added chemical(s) in analogs... Keeps 'em buying more packs.

 

[Cloud Junky]

Ann48,

My mother suffers from severe chronic COPD, she still smokes though I have put her on to vaping. She lives in Chicago, IL and I live in El Paso, TX so it is hard to help her when I am not there. I also got my brother on to vaping, he is smoke free for a few months now. My brother suffers from high blood pressure and he is a firefighter so he will still be exposed to smoke and toxins. Myself I have chronic migraine syndrome from when I was in the Army. Our results, vaping makes my mother breath better she said, she uses Advair inhaler from the doctor, she was told no more smoking but she can vape if she wanted to. My brother he has relief of his blood pressure, not much but by reducing the restriction of blood flow; which is common from smoking analogs. For my migraines, I still get them. I prefer inhaling and exhaling from my mouth. I guess whatever works best for you in trial and error, do your benefits outweigh your problems? I know smoking does not help with arthritis because I too have that in my spine and the doctors told me I would get some pain relief if I quit smoking, I quit two years ago and I really only notice more rest but the pain still has it's days. Well I wish you the best of luck in figuring out what works best for you. We all hope you get well and things get better.

 

[AmandaD]

I think it's already been suggested, but try a high PG juice, rather than a high VG juice. For the first few months, high VG made me wheeze and cough (and I have no known health problems, other than smoking for 40 years before I discovered vaping!). It's important to find flavors you like to make this work, and the right nic level. Too high a nic level will make you cough, too low won't give you what you need!

Good luck - sounds like you're off to a good start!

 

[Mrs C]

Another idea to try... If you find you really miss the inhale maybe some low nic and flavor high pg juice that satisfies that part of your needs, then some higher nic and flavor for mouth vaping that get's your nic needs handled.

 

[glointhedark]

Have you told your doctor how you feel when you use the inhaler? Maybe the dosage can be changed, or a different medication tried? My daughter and I have had some really weird reactions to some medications, i.e., not the reactions "normally" reported. Once medications and/or dosages were changed, things were fine. You know your body and how you react to things. My daughter's doctor has learned to listen to my daughter when she thinks her thyroid medication needs to be adjusted. What registers as a very minor change in her levels when tested really affects my daughter. Once the dosage is changed, things are fine.

Try using your higher nicotine eliquid when you get the urge to smoke. If the urge to smoke goes away, fine. If not, smoke a cigarette. Give it a little time before you go for the cigarette, however. Nicotine is absorbed slower when vaping as opposed to smoking. I love bakery flavors, so I happily vape away my desire to gorge on cinnamon rolls with cinnamon roll flavored eliquid.

 

[CountBoredom]

Maybe also vape more often? Many people who quit (myself included) find that chain-vaping helps. It helps maintain the nicotine in your system so you don't get the craving for a smoke.

 

[Rickajho]

Oh darn....I forgot an important question!!

So if I vape and just hold in mouth without blowing out nose....then blow it out without inhaling...can that work? I was at 2 PAD years ago....then the last few years 1.5 PAD...and recently (past few months) 1 PAD. When I use vaping I get it down the around 15 a day.

That will do. The majority of nicotine from vaping is absorbed through the linings in the oral cavity - not in the lungs anyway. Take a read through this one: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library/337017-inhalation-technique-e-cigarette.html

I am puzzled about the "it hurts out the nose" situation. But:

You say you have allergies.

You also say in another post that you might give allergy meds another try, implying your allergies are currently untreated.

Have you been to an Allergist? We're just going through the second worst spring pollen allergy season on record. It's sending us people with pollen allergy profiles - well at least back to our Allergists for earlier and earlier check-ins every year. Unless you have had someone poking around in your ears and up your nose you could be having an inflammatory problem going on there that is allergy related. The vaping sensation you are describing when exhaling out your nose may only be an insult to injury thing in context of an underlying inflammation caused by your allergies.