Woman who ‘showered with e-cig’ lucky to be alive after ‘black goo poured out of her’ due to vaping addiction
A woman who was so dependant on her vape that she 'showered' and 'slept' with it was put in an 11-day coma.
Jordan Brielle, 32, from Ohio, US, was found unresponsive in bed by her partner with 'black mucus' dripping out of her nose and mouth in May.
After she was taken to hospital, doctors suctioned two litres of 'black' fluid from her lungs and put her in a medically induced coma for 11 days.
The step-mum of one has now said she feels lucky to be alive and has warned others to steer clear of vaping.
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"I was fully addicted. I was vaping so much that I slept with it, it went to the shower with me. I was vaping an excessive amount," she said.
"Then in mid-November, I began feeling a heaviness in my chest. At first it was just a respiratory infection or bronchitis so I kept going to the hospital with breathing problems.
"I had a horrible cough and was going to the hospital two or three times a week for help. I had little to no voice.
"Each time they would send me home. It felt like there were 80lbs of pressure just laying on my chest. I'd never felt so sick in my life.
"My body was swelling up from my ankles to my kneecaps. I kept going to the hospital because I was progressively getting worse.
"My skin was turning grey, I couldn't focus, I was very discombobulated. It was hurting to walk.
"I could barely do anything. Nobody knew what was actually wrong with me. I felt like I was dying."
Jordan said she started smoking cigarettes as a young teen but decided to switch to vaping in 2021.
Since then, she spent $500 (£379) a week on her habit.
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In light of recent events, Jordan has decided to ditch the vapes for good.
She said her partner found her lying unconscious in bed, recalling: "When he went to wake me up [before a night shift], he said there was black mucus coming out of my mouth and my nose.
"He said I was gasping but couldn't catch my breath. I was unresponsive and had a faint pulse.
"He began sucking the sputum out of my nose and mouth to try and give me CPR. He called 911 because the CPR wasn't working.
"I don't remember anything. I was intubated immediately and taken to hospital.
"My body was trying to force out the vape juice inside my lungs which was like concrete. It was pure black and bloody. At the hospital, they were sucking it out of me."
She added: "There was at least two litres of fluid on my lungs. In hospital, they told me my lungs were extremely damaged from smoking and vaping.
"It felt like there was a popped balloon in my lungs. I had to do breathing and lungs exercises before I was discharged. I've been left with a minor brain injury due to lack of oxygen to my brain.
"The doctors told me there's a high possibility this could happen again. I'm better now in some ways but worse in other ways.
"They really saved my life. They told me if I'd waited any longer, I wouldn't have been here. I haven't touched a vape since.
"I would say to anyone else quit any way you can. Do it for your health, your family, your life, your lungs - whatever motivates you, use that reason and stop.
"I wouldn't wish what I'd been through on anyone else. I feel grateful to be alive."
Anish Vij