A 20-year-old model has claimed her addiction to vaping caused muscle weakness that left her struggling to stand or walk, as she warns teens of the dangers of e-cigarettes.
Vanessa von Schwarz started vaping when she was 15, and quickly grew reliant on her device.
'I enjoyed the physical head rush vaping would give me. Every time I took a hit of my vape, I felt like I was inhaling a big deep breath, one that actually satisfied my body and relaxed me,' she said.
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But the side effects soon followed, with von Schwarz recalling feeling nauseous and irritable if she went too long without a hit. She noticed herself becoming weaker, and developed muscle pain, migraines and 'constant nausea' that got worse if she went more than a few hours without vaping.
'I would come home from work in absolute agony, crying because of how badly my legs ached. My upper body became weaker and weaker, and as my legs grew weak and sore, so did my arms and fingers,' she recalled. 'It began to hurt just putting my hair in a ponytail, or even holding a water bottle was too heavy for my hands.'
Von Schwarz first began experiencing side effects just months after taking up vaping, but it wasn't until May 2019 – when she was taken to hospital after fainting and cracking her head open – that she realised her addiction was causing her health issues.
While in hospital, doctors told her she appeared to have ingested a toxic substance, however she initially failed to tell them about her vaping habit, only admitting the extent of her addiction when medics noticed her creatine kinase levels were increasing despite treatment, with von Schwarz having continued to vape in secret even while in her hospital bed.
'I thought bringing up vaping to the doctors would get rid of any paranoia I had about my vape,' she said. 'Once they knew how excessive the use was they immediately advised me to stop, stating there was not enough research to know how vaping can affect the body.'
Yet despite the doctors' warnings, von Schwarz continued to vape for another year. Her symptoms grew worse and worse, leaving her dealing with crippling panic attacks that left her feeling like she was 'going to drop dead on the floor'.
With the help of her doctor, von Schwarz was finally able to kick her vaping addiction, but says she continues to suffer from dermatomyositis – a condition that causes muscle pain and weakness – that she believes stemmed from her extreme vape habit.
She's spoken out about her experience to try and dispel the 'common misconception' that nicotine addiction is relatively harmless, telling her Gen Z peers, 'I hope you will not let any addiction take over your body’s health, because the effects are irreversible.'
If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can talk to FRANK. You can call 0300 123 6600, text 82111 or contact through their website 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, or livechat from 2pm-6pm any day of the week
Hannah Smith