Vaping with COPD

[Bundybear]

Is there anyone else vaping? I just recently found out I've got COPD. I got covid and it felt like someone had put a bandage tightly around my lungs, that's when I decided to vape as I was a chain smoker. Then I found out about the COPD. At the moment I feel like I'm alone. I'm just wondering if anyone else vapes and if their symptoms have worsened or not.

[Karenanne61]

Hi and welcome to this funny, informative and friendly forum. Unfortunately vaping is, as you know, extremely bad for the lungs. They were never designed for the toxins inhaled by smoking or vaping. As far as copd is concerned you are most definitely not alone. There are lots of us copd sufferers here so feel free to ask questions or chat.

[Iridescent_2]

I've vaped about 5 years now. Copd has progressed in that time but I believe not so much as if I continued to smoke. Better to stop smoking of course if you can, but for me vaping is a self medication.

[Katinka46]

Welcome to this forum Bundybear. Is there a story behind your user name? I can’t really help you with your query but there are many here who will. All the best

K xx

[JulyAugust]

Bundybea, hello and please don’t feel alone. It’s a bit of a shock when you get diagnosed with COPD especially when you start Googling!

Regarding vaping, I wholeheartedly agree with Karenanne, vaping is very bad for you. I gave up smoking because I would literally be dead if I didn’t. I vaped for about three months after giving up smoking and I could tell it was making my lungs worse. Don’t try and convince yourself it is safe. You may think you can’t give up smoking but if I can do it anybody can. I recently saw a guy the same age as me who has COPD and he had to walk around pulling an oxygen container on a trolley and he told me he would be going to a hospice soon. Honestly you DO NOT want to get there. I always used to drink and smoke at the same time…now I can drink without the habit of smoking with the other hand. I really don’t miss smoking now and it’s absolutely bliss not to have that constant cough I used to have.

Take care.

Jan

PS. I got Covid too and it was during that heatwave and I felt exactly as you describe.

[Alberta56]

Welcome to the forum. Hope you won't feel so alone now that you've found us.

[Patk1]

Welcome.your not alone here.u did well to stop smoking but vaping does contain toxins harmful to lungs.of course its yr choice whether to continue or not but do be aware of the damage it does

[Bundybear]

Thank you everyone i am only using vaping as a giving up tool. I have found my coughing has reduced alot i dont wake up to that daily morning ritual of coughing and spattering everywhere. Yes i am fully aware vaping isn't good but it seems to work better than anything I have tried and i have tried 😅 .

[Kate124 in reply to Bundybear]

Hello i have had COPD for 6 years. Only gave up smoking 2 years ago following heart attack. I now vape which i know is not good but better i think then smoking. My breathing has got worse but i also have pulmonary hypertension so that might be why. Unfortunately i think if i gave up vaping I'd be tempted to smoke again.

[Hopeful1]

Hi Bundybear. As a heavy lifelong smoker I do sympathise with the struggle but I managed with a lot of help. English Gp Surgeries and possibly some chemists can offer support and help in a variety of ways. Patches tablets and moral support. I was 40 a day for decades and did it. I will look to see if the online support scheme is still around.

Good luck!

[Dizzart]

I vape but never inhale ... it’s a little pencil shaped one and I use a non nicotine menthol. The puffing is nice and soothing and more of a dummy I suppose but I do use the lowest dose nicotine tablets as well. I have copd and as an ex smoker I do realise that people don’t get enough advice on giving up which is why many go back to smoking. The trick is find a new habit that doesn’t hurt. Good luck , don’t inhale just puff 👍🏻👍🏻

[ghousrider]

good day you need to get of that vaping you doctors are trying to jhelp you woth copd they can refuse to see you you are asking for help burt your not helping your self i gave up smoking 2013 best thing i did i thanked my doctor for the help i cant stand that vaping get of them / ghoust rider

[Loopylorre]

I was diagnosed with COPD about 12 years ago now, I did stop smoking but did struggle & my NHS nurse suggested I used a vape but to make sure I didn’t have nicotine in anything I used, she did say the NHS were bringing out their own vape but it’s never happened, I didn’t have nicotine products & eventually I stopped using that too, still lots of questions about using a vape, for some people, but it did help me, so, if you are going to vape, try to cut down on the nicotine until there is zero in it & then work on not using that either, I never used my vape in the house, that was my way of cutting down , only outside, obviously when weather was really bad I’d think twice about it & eventually it became easier,good luck, it isn’t easy for some people to stop, but I wish you well on your little journey of trying, 😊🤗💐

[Bundybear in reply to Loopylorre]

thank you and that's what i plan to do

[Thepainterswife]

Hi and welcome 🤗. My husband was diagnosed with Copd 17 years ago and gave up smoking fairly quickly using nicotine lozenges ( no vapes back then ) My neighbour was diagnosed about 4 years ago and does vape . I would say anything is better than cigarettes but my husband ( even though he’s now stage 4) never coughs but my neighbour does 🤷🏻‍♀️ No one would expect you to give up without some aids especially with the recent stress of the diagnosis so just do what you need to do to quit as comfortably as you can 😊 just make sure you quit eventually. Ps my hubby is still on a few lozenges which obviously haven’t done him any harm - he’s 75

[irishdave]

Hi bundybear i have been vaping for 7 years with copd all i know is its better than smoking