Already reaping the benefits, but......

[cwolfman13]

So it's just been a week since I dumped the analogs and started vaping. I'm already reaping many benefits, most noteable, the swelling in my throat and glands has subsided and I'm far less wheezy...I can actually take in a deep breath without choking. My cough is subsiding somewhat, and while I seem to be coughing less, sometimes my coughs are very violent and I'm hacking up large tar balls.

So, like the title says, already reaping the benefits, but...when do I stop hacking up these God awful tar balls?

 

[martinc]

Should be fairly quick...your body is rejecting the bad stuff!

In fact,that mucus is there to catch the bad stuff...now the job is done,its taking a vacation

How long did you smoke?

 

[JENerationX]

It's an individual thing... some cough and hack for months, some never do. I know it sucks, but it's a good thing that you're feeling better already. It will stop at some point... but nobody can tell you when that's going to be. Congratulations on making the switch, and welcome to ECF.

 

[cwolfman13]

Should be fairly quick...your body is rejecting the bad stuff!

In fact,that mucus is there to catch the bad stuff...now the job is done,its taking a vacation

How long did you smoke?

20 years...I've been about 2 PAD the last 5-6 years or so. I knew I'd be hacking up some junk, but didn't really prepare myself for this much junk. The worst of it is still in the morning...I think it bugs me because I'm really looking forward to that morning hack being gone. Guess it's getting better though...instead of 20 minutes in the morning, it's just a couple of minutes hacking away.

 

[LisaL]

Took a good three weeks for the coughing to totally stop for me. I actually didn't realize how much I was doing a little eh eh eh throat clearing cough until a co-worker pointed out that it had stopped. That's kind of embarrassing really

 

[tracilynnie]

It took me about a month to clear it all out of my poor abused lungs.. But I only smoked for a couple of years total with all my quits in between. It is different for everyone and also depends on the climate where you live and other issues like allergies and stuff. I have bad bad allergies and we quit the analogs at the height of allergy season here LOL so it was all kinds of mucus and nasty for me for awhile

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

It's your cilia regenerating-
"Smoking destroys cilia, which are tiny hairs in your lungs located in a thin layer of mucus in the upper airways and breathing tubes. The cilia's main function is to protect your lungs against infection. Dirt and pathogens, which are trapped by the layer of mucus, are pushed up and out of the lungs by the wave-like movements of the cilia. This makes the cilia the lungs' natural cleaning and repair system. This system in general, and the cilia in particular, are paralyzed and destroyed by the poisons in cigarette smoke. However, functioning cilia can begin regenerating within a few days of quitting smoking."

 

[JENerationX]

20 years...I've been about 2 PAD the last 5-6 years or so. I knew I'd be hacking up some junk, but didn't really prepare myself for this much junk. The worst of it is still in the morning...I think it bugs me because I'm really looking forward to that morning hack being gone. Guess it's getting better though...instead of 20 minutes in the morning, it's just a couple of minutes hacking away.

Sounds about right. Mine was slower because I hadn't stopped smoking all at once so I was still killing the cilia or at least numbing them. It was probably about a month from when I stopped smoking at all until the morning hack was gone. Lemme tell ya.... seeing those brown chunks was enough to motivate me to stop smoking any more cigs.

 

[The Ocelot]

Took a good three weeks for the coughing to totally stop for me. I actually didn't realize how much I was doing a little eh eh eh throat clearing cough until a co-worker pointed out that it had stopped. That's kind of embarrassing really

I didn't realize I used to clear my throat all the time too. I never associated it with smoking - duh

 

[Huffelpuff]

This thread reminded me of a timeline that I refer to for motivation from time to time. While this was not designed for vapers, you can see what you are doing for your body by putting down the stinkies. Hope that someone else finds this interesting:

Within ...

20 minutes-Your blood pressure, pulse rate, and the temperature of your hands and feet will all return to normal.
12 hours - Your blood oxygen level will have increased to normal and carbon monoxide levels will have dropped to normal.
48 hours - Damaged nerve endings have started to regrow and your sense of smell and taste are beginning to return to normal. Cessation anger and irritability peaks.
72 hours - Breathing is becoming easier and the lungs functional abilities are starting to increase.
10 days to 2 weeks Blood circulation in our gums and teeth are now similar to that of a non-user.
2 weeks to 3 months Your heart attack risk has started to drop. Your lung function is beginning to improve.
3 weeks to 3 months Your circulation has substantially improved. Walking has become easier. Your chronic cough, if any, has likely disappeared.
1 to 9 months Any smoking related sinus congestion, fatigue or shortness of breath have decreased. Cilia have regrown in your lungs thereby increasing their ability to handle mucus, keep your lungs clean, and reduce infections. Your body's overall energy has increased.
1 year Your excess risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke has dropped to less than half that of a smoker.
5 to 15 years Your risk of stroke has declined to that of a non-smoker.
10 years Your risk of being diagnosed with lung cancer is between 30% and 50% of that for a continuing smoker (2005 study). Risk of death from lung cancer has declined by almost half if you were an average smoker (one pack per day). Your risk of pancreatic cancer has declined to that of a never-smoker (2011 study), while risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus has also declined. Your risk of developing diabetes is now similar to that of a never-smoker (2012 study).
13 years Your risk of smoking induced tooth loss has declined to that of a never-smoker (2006 study).
15 years Your risk of coronary heart disease is now that of a person who has never smoked.
20 years Female excess risk of death from all smoking related causes, including lung disease and cancer, has now reduced to that of a never-smoker (2008 study). Risk of pancreatic cancer reduced to that of a never-smoker (2011 study).