British Lung Foundation

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Stopping smoking

I am trying to stop smoking because of my COPD.I have been using an e-cig to do this.The only problem I have with this it sometimes seems to affect my chest at times so I stop using the e-cig for a day .It is a strange feeling I get in my chest,not a pain but just this feeling which I can't describe.The best way I can describe it is a tight feeling which makes me a bit breathless.Any advice would be very welcome.

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I experienced breathing difficulties when approaching a e-stall, the seller was using a chemical flavoured e-cig, which most are.

Can you use a nicotine replacement e-cig, or one with less potent flavouring.

Thanks for the replies.The flavour I am using is Rolled which the seller says is the nearest to what I smoke and I must admit it seems to be .On the bottle,it says Vegetable Glycerine,Propylene Glycol,Natural an Artificial Flavours along with Nicotinebut no proportions.It is 18mg/ml (1.8%).It also comes in 12mg/ml.Do you think I should try this?What I was doing was cutting down from about 12 cigarettes a day to 6 a day because the last time I tried stopping a few years ago by going cold turkey,I had diaorrhea about 12 times a day for 3 weeks until I started smoking again which stopped the diaorrhea so I decided this time to try cutting down gradually rather than giving my body a shockIt was just with getting this strange feeling in my chest and making me more breathless than normal,I was afraid I was doing myself harm.The strange this it doesn't do it all the time when I used the e-cig.

Thanks for the reply.I will try the 12mg.I will keep smoking 6 cigarettes and using the e-cig and gradually cut down the cigarettes gradually till hopefully I can stop the "real" cigarettes all together.

Or you can mix 2 strengths together to create an inbetween one.

If you need extra support there is a great quit site on HealthUnlocked.

healthunlocked.com/quitsupport

Thanks.I will have a look at that forum as well.

Hi, I shopped around a bit until I found one that suited me. I found the one with less VG in the best. Clear liquids always seem to be better on my chest. I am using a brand called VIV at the moment and of the twenty odd I have tried this one does not make my chest tight.

I have googled VIV ecigs and can't find it.What I get is VIP ecigs.Is this the one?

Will try to find a link.

Sorry it is VIP, Try the 70/30 mix. I stopped using smoking flavoured ones to get away from the taste. Started on 18 mg now reduced to 3mg.

Thanks for that.I know where they sell VIP.I go there once a week.

Ok, I did the same as you cut down on cigarettes. Started vaping. I found I did not need the cigarettes I was getting enough nicotine vaping. You know when you do not have one for a while you feel dizzy when you do! Well when vaping I did not. It was not craving but habit. Since then I have not had one.

I use the nicorette inhalator. You inhale it like a e cig but no smoke is going in to your lungs, it is absorbed through your mouth. I tried the e cig but I just didn't like the thought of any smoke going into my lungs.

Hayley, there is NO smoke in an e-cig!

Oh right, I didn't know that. All I knew was when I tried one for a bit I used to exhale some smoke like looking substance and it put me off. But I needed to do something with my hands so tried the inhalator. To be honest I'm not really knowledgable about e cigs.

A lot depends on what type of e-cig model you are using. If you are on a powerful 3rd generation tank your nicotine level should be lower. I used 24 mg/ml when I had my first e-cig, but that was more than 7 years ago and things have moved forward amazingly since then. As BB says there are a lot of variables - PG/VG ratios can make or break the enjoyment of the product, I use a 70pg/30vg mix, a lot of folk go 50/50 - it's a matter of trial and error. If you mix your own juice you can choose exactly the right balance (and it is much cheaper) there are many sites online with charts to show exactly how to do this. I would advise a look at some of the vaping forums where you will get all the information you could possibly need, you have done well to switch to something which is at least 95% safer than smoking (Public Health England stated this) and I hope you stick with it and I think you will gradually come to prefer it. Try some of the flavours which are totally different from tobacco - I did because I wanted to get as far away from it as possible, and that was when I really becan to enjoy it. When you read the horror stories of "chemicals" in flavours, just think of the thousands of chemicals and carcinogens in the tobacco smoke you have been inhaling!!

When I go next week to the VIP shop,I will see what flavours they have.Thanks.

i myself have stop somking on a e cig but i found that the stuff that mean to be the same as gigs are no good try one that like bubble gum

As I said above,I will try that one when I go next week to the VIP shop.Thanks!

continue using it you will get used to it stop the poisonous fags its 95% safer I promise you I use it self becomes a habit its safe I get the same hit as a fag I promisex

Thanks for the reply.I am determined to cut back smoking gradually till I have stopped and I will be using the e-cig to do so.

I'm in the same situation trying to stop smoking it so hard I don't like e cigs and wouldn't use one my uncle used one and I think it made him worse than he was smoking I don't now if it's true but Iv heard an e cig can give you popcorn lung and as it's a moist vaper maybe this could be making you feel the way you do I'd like to find out if it's true anyway I hope you feel Netta soon