Coughing and vaping: totally natural or am I doing it wrong?

[Vaporator]

I've got a Volcano, and in the month or so I've had it, it's been very good to me. However, it makes me cough like a whooping crane. The first bag can hit me easily, and I'll be off on a 5 minute coughing fest.

At first I thought it must be a sign that I am vaping too hot. So, I turned down the Volcano (analog) to 5.5 and I was still getting it. I'm not sure I'd want to go any lower.

Chances are, this is all normal and I was foolish to think that vaping would be zerro harsh on the lungs. What have been your experiences?

 

[Cleanfiend]

I am not sure if it is normal or not, but I too have found that I cough more as a vaporist than I did in my combustion days. moreover, the cough is different - my lungs feels very dry with vapor coughs.

Running your vapor through a waterpipe can, IMO, significantly cut down the likelyhood of irration and coughing. hope this helps and cheers

 

[Carbon]

I have a volcano as well and run it the bags through a waterpipe. It's noticeably smoother this way. Vi will say though that perhaps something is wrong if you're coughing this much.

Try the water diffusion and also try taking a little more time in between hits and see if that helps.

 

[Vaporator]

Yes, we are experiencing the same thing. Very dry, very "pointless" cough to me. I can cough for 5 minutes and yet nothing comes out. So annoying.

It seems strange to me because I'd expect vapor to have moisture in it, but obviously I am wrong about that.

Curious: what is it that the water pipe does that would help the vapor? Cool it down?

 

[fubar]

The first bag can hit me easily, and I'll be off on a 5 minute coughing fest. ?

The cough reflex is protective. Some part of your airway epithelium (lining cells) is sending a message to your brain saying "excuse me, but this doesn't feel like nice fresh air I'm getting down here" and setting off an involuntary muscular effort to clear the airways. Fresh room temperature air generally won't make a healthy person cough but there's large variation in how sensitive the reflex is in my clinical (yes, I'm a physician) experience. Excess fine particulate matter (think smoke or gross air pollution) or irritating chemicals (think chlorine or CS tear gas) will make nearly anyone cough hard.

So, what makes you cough might or might not make other people cough - but some inhalations will make nearly anyone cough. Really concentrated vapour and in particular from some skunk varieties will make most people cough in my experience.

Suggestions like filtering vape through hot/cold water are good. Unsealing your lips so you mix air to dilute the incoming vapour might help. Vaping non-skunk varieties might help. Oh and obviously lowering the temperature on the vaporizer might help - particularly if you are getting any real particulates from combustion.

 

[pakalolo]

THC is an expectorant. In other words, it promotes coughing, and this is further augmented by the heat and dryness of the vapour. If you let it trickle into your nasal passages, you'll find it can cause some pretty big sneezes as well. There have been a few discussions about this here. Here's one of them: THC and the lungs.

The biggest surprise I got when I started vaporizing was the coughing fit induced by my first big hit. Somehow I'd gotten the idea that vapour wouldn't do that. Wrong, big time!

 

[Lindsey]

High everyone!!! I definetly feel your pain Vaporator!!! I too cough pretty bad after a vape session!!! I quit smoking ciggs a year ago (April 6, 2010) & I was still combusting my herb until I got my Da Buddha Vaporizer (which I LOVE!!!) in September 2010. I did not, & still have not, coughed up anything but it is a painful dry cough. I recently bought a Vapor Tamer for my DBV... Do NOT buy this!!! It's nice to have cool vapor but 7 hours in the freezer= 6 maybe 7 cold hits!!! NOT worth the 75 bucks imo!!! I also tried using my 2 foot Trident bong with ice in it (the hose from the DBV fits perfectly inside my 14mm female piece) & that seems to work a LOT better but I feel like I'm burning up the herb too fast, it is brown after like 2 hits!!! I'm thinking that my 2 footer is making my fiance & I pull too hard. Not quite sure though. I have a small like maybe 7 inch bong somewhere & I would like to try ice water in it with my DBV & see how that works!!! If I can find it (I'm looking for it today!!!) I will repost how it works with a smaller bong & hopefully less pulling will make the herb last longer like a strait hit from the DBV itself!!!

-Lindsey

 

[Elluzion]

Turn the temperature down on your Volc

 

[crawdad]

the higher temps for me tend to release a lot of resin (im guessing i can call it that) and when i do the cough/gag episodes it really feels like my throat is lined with resin, so perhaps there is a breaking point in how much you can handle (each different) on a single draw. ive learned to start low and if i want the high temp effect i simply increase as i finish up the bowl such that im getting "acceptable" amounts for my body to handle it without the coughing fits.

of course, a strong cough can sometimes electrify your brain momentarily if you are already "up there". ymmv.

 

[fubar]

THC is an expectorant. In other words, it promotes coughing

ok, you're on my home turf and I'm a pedant so let's get this right - I suspect you really mean 'In other words, it improves the effectiveness of coughing'. Clinically, expectorants are typically used when coughing is causing distress - when the last thing you want is to promote coughing. They improve the efficiency of mucociliary clearance mechanics - so there's less muck down there to initiate the cough reflex. Google guaifenesin if you really care.

 

[weedemon]

i always cough like a mad man too. always have and i probably always will.

smaller tokes and i can handle it. but med - large tokes and im coughin

 

[Frickr]

smaller tokes and i can handle it. but med - large tokes and im coughin

you beat me to it. i was just going to say take smaller hits. for me on my surfer if i take too large of a hit, i will be coughing my ass off. if i keep the hits to around 50-75% of my total lung capacity and fill the rest with fresh air, i have no problems coughing. the fresh air eleviates the "tingle" i get in my throat that leads me to cough.

 

[Stu]

I, too have to control myself from taking rips too large. For me (I have chronic bronchitis, so I can't handle a lot) I take only about 30-40% of my lung capacity and inhale fresh air immediately to mix with the vapors. I know exactlly how much my lungs can handle and have adapted to that fact. Even so, I still find myself caughing quite often, but not as bad as when I try to take a lungbuster hit.

 

[Carbon]

I agree, try not to inhale completely when you take a hit. Try only inhaling halfway each time and you might be better off. Also you're doing well with your settings. I wouldn't set it anything past 6 for vaping personally.

 

[djonkoman]

usually I never cough, but with higher temp heavy big hits or other weed I sometimes do cough or at least get a coughreflex but surpress it(my own outdoor harvest, cmpletely organic, is very smooth, coffeeshopweed wich is usually indoorweed that isn't properly flushed, hits a lot harder)
but under regular circumstances(medium hit, a nice cloud but not too big, nice blue and with my own weed) I don't cough and also don't get the coughreflex

but sometimes I do notice it dries out my throat a bit, I notice this especially when I'm sick and having a sore throat, weed takes away my headache, opens up my arways and gives me more appetite, but with weed the soar throat lasts one to a few days more after I'm fine again(I'm usually only really sick for 1-2 days tough, with the peak one one day and a buildup and builddown on the 2 days around it, the buildup usually only in the evening)
but it's much worse with combustion, if I combust with a sore throat it stuns the pain for a moment but after that it comes back much, much worse
with vaping it isn't stunned and the vaping itself irritates a bit more as usual, but the pain doesn't really get much worse from it, it feels only a bit dryer and it lasts a bit longer but it's worth it since it relieves the other symptoms that much(I've never had a aspirine or similar painkiller, so I don't know how weed compares to those)

 

[gettin lifted]

i guess im the only one around here who doesnt cough from vapor. back in my combustion days i could take a bong rip and cough for literally 2-3 mins afterwards, to the point where id be red in the face and out of breath. it's not that way for me with vapor though, especially if i use a waterpipe with it.

 

[Vaporator]

So I turned the Volc all the way down to 5. I dare say I only get a very mild effect with my current mix (white widow and some sour d). No coughing though! Quite a conundrum.

I wonder if a little portable steam mask might help, like during "off time."

 

[weedemon]

with my volcano i use it starting around 6, and as high as 7.5-8 when i have re vaping abv to finish it off.

 

[Gunky]

I almost never cough when using a log vape. Other vapes, yeah. I try to mostly stick with logs and now and then use something else for cheap thrills.

 

[Runnershigh]

I had huge problems with this - first with my V-Tower whip (even when run through a bong), and then with my MFLB. It's extra-frustratiing because you can safely assume the same chemicals are present in combusted smoke... along with 400 pf their bestest, harshest buddies. So it made no sense but vapour hits, one time out of five or so, would really shut my lungs down and even seemed to send them into spasm where drawing a breath deeper than avergae burnt like fire and set off more coughing. So the opposite of what we're aiming for, then.

What put me onto the fact is was my technique at fault was my MFLB. I was hitting that ineptly, and noobs will, and got barely any visible vapour, or even taste. 'Screw this,' I thought... then realised I was completely ripped. I was taken aback. Was it possible 15 years of bong smoking has put an iron, subconscious rule in my head thick, throaty, visible hits = satisfaction? Well, it seemed possible, at the very least. SO I tried not giving a crap about visible vapour, puffing slowly, chasing in LOTS of fresh air after each toke and generally relaxing about the whole 'smoking' side of it. I just trusted the LB to do its job and made sure I got plenty of fresh air in after every toke and I was set. In fact, it gets me higher - probably the same reason joints get you so high, namely all the air mixed in with the smoke promotes absorption.

So many can get huge hits, but for me I could get them, but just kept on paying for it and it got scary a few times - even using Ventolin. In my case, it was because I was chasing huge, concentrated, throaty clouds. Not only is that not necessary, it's detrimental and you get higher from less by taking your time and being kinder to your lungs. So lots of fresh air, take your time and trust the device is doing its job. All you really need to do is breathe back and stop the very instant you feel a tickle. THis is the correct way to hit vape, IMHO.

 

[jolo100]

I just tried my newly purchased "Da Buddah" from 7th floor.

It was my first time and when "I got it", I didn't really know except that I started tasting it. When I exhaled, I was amazed to see the amount of white vapor coming out and I then started coughing like crazy.

• The effect of that first long, deep inhale WOW for me.
• I adjusted by simply but taking shorter inhalations that has been very effective. realized that long inhalations are too much for me.
• I also am have had sinus issues and if you are like me, clearing out my sinuses first was a great help. By using NeilMed sinus rinse once our twice a day, it made a dramatic difference. Before, when I coughed, The coughing would bring in my sinuses and I might choke on my flem. The sinus cleaning helped me a lot.
  • http://www.neilmed.com/usa/sinusrinse_isotonic.php

Thanks,
JT

 

[jolo100]

I had huge problems with this - first with my V-Tower whip (even when run through a bong), and then with my MFLB. It's extra-frustratiing because you can safely assume the same chemicals are present in combusted smoke... along with 400 pf their bestest, harshest buddies. So it made no sense but vapour hits, one time out of five or so, would really shut my lungs down and even seemed to send them into spasm where drawing a breath deeper than avergae burnt like fire and set off more coughing. So the opposite of what we're aiming for, then.

What put mThankse onto the fact is was my technique at fault was my MFLB. I was hitting that ineptly, and noobs will, and got barely any visible vapour, or even taste. 'Screw this,' I thought... then realised I was completely ripped. I was taken aback. Was it possible 15 years of bong smoking has put an iron, subconscious rule in my head thick, throaty, visible hits = satisfaction? Well, it seemed possible, at the very least. SO I tried not giving a crap about visible vapour, puffing slowly, chasing in LOTS of fresh air after each toke and generally relaxing about the whole 'smoking' side of it. I just trusted the LB to do its job and made sure I got plenty of fresh air in after every toke and I was set. In fact, it gets me higher - probably the same reason joints get you so high, namely all the air mixed in with the smoke promotes absorption.

So many can get huge hits, but for me I could get them, but just kept on paying for it and it got scary a few times - even using Ventolin. In my case, it was because I was chasing huge, concentrated, throaty clouds. Not only is that not necessary, it's detrimental and you get higher from less by taking your time and being kinder to your lungs. So lots of fresh air, take your time and trust the device is doing its job. All you really need to do is breathe back and stop the very instant you feel a tickle. THis is the correct way to hit vape, IMHO.

Thanks for your post. You made me laugh in your post, as I had the same experience as you with "then realized I was completely ripped.
I too thought to myself "Screw it" relaxed and "stopped trying so hard" , then lots of vapor.
I focused on making my inhale steady and consistent, each time and made my inhalations much shorter.
I am using da buddha.

JT

 

[Maine420]

Wow...I was just noticing this afternoon how the VAPE was irritating my throat, and I was coughing too...I just happened to stumble upon this thread. And here I am! I need to start taking shorter hits too, I also noticed I drink tons more water than usual! I'm going to try that Neilmed product as well. Never heard about it until today!

 

[SunnyHours]

Hey guys I've been having some issues recently and I'm unsure on the reasons...about 2 weeks ago, I started having issues with my usual setup. Vriptech 18.8mm to SYN showerhead bong. Never had an issue, always had the biggest, fatest rips I could dream of. 2 weeks ago I started having issues with breathing. A month earlier I had a Sinusitis and 1 week after antibiotics I'm having trouble breathing and need to take corticosteroids before and after taking a bong hit.

I just read this thread and somehow, when using the Solo it's easier for me to toke, smaller hits but no water filtration. Any ideas on what is happening to me? Please don't say go and see the doctor, that's what I'm actually doing that tomorrow...I'm thinking emphysema or another nasty infection (probably more likely)

 

[sal69]

hi there,

i quit smoking nearly 2 years ago and since then used my volcano on a daily basis.
I had similar problems like you in the beginning but after using the device for an extended duration i figured out how i should used it to get the best results.

Here are my findings.

At first you need to start at a lower temp. If you are having heavy issues with coughing i recommend you try the following.
1 Bag at 170°(C) - Very tasty not very strong medication however
2 Bag at 180°(C) - Full of medication still tasty
3 Bag at 190°(C) - Less taste, some medication

done.

If you did not overfill the bowl its gone after three average sized bags. In all my tests i was not able to get any serious effects of the fourth bag. Please not that i use the solid-valve and create my own baloons being slightly larger than the easy-valve ones.

I also do not recommend to use a higher temp before you are planning on going to bed. The beauty of the volcano is that you can control temp very exact and you should use that to your advantage. Staying at a lower temp makes sure you leave all the "downers" in the herb and get all the funny "uppers".
If you plan on going to bed soon you can do the last bag at 200°(C) or extract a fourth one.
There are great threads on this forum covering the topic of what is extracted at which temp, i recommend to look into this topic a little.

if you start with a high temp right away all these tasty oils will be "burned off" and create a rather harsh experience. If you start low you will be able to extract most of the taste and hotter bags later will not make you cough that hard.

Also take your time when emptying a bag. Do not over-inhale huge amounts of vapor at once. Fill your lungs half at max then breathe in air. Exhale-inhale that a few times, holding your breath does next to nothing, you got to move it around. Try to smoke it like a giant cigarette taking smaller draws more often and mixing in more clean air will be easier in your situation.

I usually have it running at 185°(C) all the time. I only increase the temp for the last bag before i go to bed.
Please not that your "perfect" temp setting will depend on both the herb being used and your personal preference. I find that at this temp i get the desired effects without extracting any "downers". If i up the temp i get sleepy almost immediately.

if you need any more advice let me know.