What's Wrong With Me/my Hookah?!

[Satyr]

Hi all,

so I've been smoking shisha for a few weeks now, without any problems. Always a nice, tasty and thick smoke. I got proper heat-management down quite fast. The last few times though, that changed though.

A while back, me and a friend of mine set up my hookah with some Al Fakher (coconut, yum). Took a bit to get it going, but it ended well. However, while smoking we both noticed a serious headache coming up. Since we both felt it we decided something was wrong and changed tobacco, coals and foil, but to no avail. It wasn't because we were smoking too much, as this was our first bowl.

The time after that, me and another friend of mine decided to smoke a bowl. This time it was honey by Prince Molasses. Again, usually this is quite good shisha and never had trouble with it. This time though, we really struggled to get it going. Somehow we ALWAYS burnt the shisha. A half coal wasn't enough, a whole coal was too much. When we finally DID get it going, I got this headache again. But this time around it was really bad, unlike anything I ever felt. It was coupled with severe nausea which got me running to the toilet more than once that night. I decided to take a painkiller and went to sleep, but actually woke up at 6 am next morning because of the truly excruciatingly painful headache.

Tonight I tried to light it up some pina colada by Prince Molasses and I couldn't even get it going. Like I said, one coal was too much heat and half not enough. And even while 'puffing it into action', I felt the headache coming back. Remembering my last headache and sickness, I decided to leave it for what it is right now and stopped smoking.

I'm getting really desperate here? Could it be the hookah, the coals...?

[king_lunchb0x]

[quote name='Satyr' timestamp='1304971858' post='508832']
Hi all,

so I've been smoking shisha for a few weeks now, without any problems. Always a nice, tasty and thick smoke. I got proper heat-management down quite fast. The last few times though, that changed though.

A while back, me and a friend of mine set up my hookah with some Al Fakher (coconut, yum). Took a bit to get it going, but it ended well. However, while smoking we both noticed a serious headache coming up. Since we both felt it we decided something was wrong and changed tobacco, coals and foil, but to no avail. It wasn't because we were smoking too much, as this was our first bowl.

The time after that, me and another friend of mine decided to smoke a bowl. This time it was honey by Prince Molasses. Again, usually this is quite good shisha and never had trouble with it. This time though, we really struggled to get it going. Somehow we ALWAYS burnt the shisha. A half coal wasn't enough, a whole coal was too much. When we finally DID get it going, I got this headache again. But this time around it was really bad, unlike anything I ever felt. It was coupled with severe nausea which got me running to the toilet more than once that night. I decided to take a painkiller and went to sleep, but actually woke up at 6 am next morning because of the truly excruciatingly painful headache.

Tonight I tried to light it up some pina colada by Prince Molasses and I couldn't even get it going. Like I said, one coal was too much heat and half not enough. And even while 'puffing it into action', I felt the headache coming back. Remembering my last headache and sickness, I decided to leave it for what it is right now and stopped smoking.

I'm getting really desperate here? Could it be the hookah, the coals...?
[/quote]

sounds like you know what your doing which coals are you using? Are you 100% sure there fully lit? Maybe your allergic or something to certain things. I can hardly smoke AF the thick red dye doesn't make me feel to good. Are you eating before you smoke and drinking(water is best) during your session. I would have said maybe bad batch but even with 2 different tobaccos you still got the same problem. If you haven't been smoking long and you usually smoke washed stuff the nicotine and then switch maybe it was too much.
1. make sure coals are fully red..try not to use ql's (if your using them)
2.eat and drink something
3. breathe! take some mini-breaks and get some fresh air into those lungs
4. buy some nak or something really dry and see what happens

dunno if that helps.usually nauseous feeling is brought on by nicotine overload in ur system and/or c02 poisoning(im pretty sure at least). Also other peeps know more then me they will chime in

[Satyr]

I tried three different brands of coals. All of them ql though, seeing how I don't have a stove in my dormroom and don't really feel like using the shared kitchen to light a coal.

The first time I got the headache, we just came back from a restaurant and had a really good meal. The weather was very nice that evening and we decided that a bowl of shisha in the park would be the best dessert imaginable. Since I own a quite small hookah, it wasn't too hard to bring along. We even brought along some water with icecubes for the base and some water to drink. So yeah, we had enough to eat, drink and a lot of fresh air.

As for the coals, we have three different types. One is labeled 'jumbo coals'. Those light very well, but give a very harsh taste, even when they are done sparkling and red/gray all over. Another one doesn't have a brand on the roll. They give a much smoother smoke and last longer. They are quite hard to get burning however, and they tend to 'explode'. Chunks of coal start flying around. The third one kind of combines those two qualities, but they are my mate's coals and I don't remember the brand.

I never had any allergic reaction, not to Al Fakher or Prince Molasses.

Never had a problem with too much nicotine either, so it'd be strange that it would come up now..

The symptoms I had reminded me very much of CO-poisining, which scared me a little.

As I said, the hookah I own is quite small. Though I read some posts by people who kind of look down on them, it always did the job for me.

Thanks for your help.

[king_lunchb0x]

well.... im at a loss, not sure what it is then

and there is nothing wrong with small hookahs. some people are love with their qt's..what ever floats ur boat

[dizzbizz]

[quote name='Satyr' timestamp='1304973876' post='508840']
The symptoms I had reminded me very much of CO-poisining, which scared me a little.
[/quote]

This is what I'm thinking. Make sure they're completely lit especially with QL. I'd recommend buying a small electric coil burner and switching your coals to something more natural, like coconut coals or lemon wood.

[Satyr]

Oh, and sorry for posting two times in a row, but I should point out that I was mistaken. The coconut shisha was not Al Fakher, but El Nakhla.

The problem remains though, El Nakhla is good shisha too in my opinion. It was the first I bought and it's still one of my favourite flavours.

[vendetta_revived]

Well you've been smoking for a few weeks and this problem has just come up now so I can't say for sure, but I ALWAYS used to get a back headache with quicklites. I always made sure that they were fully lit and everything and never really got any coal taste from them, but the headache was inevitable, with the occasional vomiting.

Bought an electric coil burner (they are available at walgreens for $10 I've heard), and switched to natural coals, smoke for hours on the trot now and never ever experience those horrible things.

Also, what hose are you using with your small hookah? Initially I was using a hose that wasn't very wide and had a straw like gauge, and even though it's hard to tell the difference if you've never used a hose with a wide gauge, the narrower hoses take a bit of effort to draw and that could lead to a headache, but not as severe as you say you're experiencing imo.

[Chreees]

It could very well be your coals. With coals that are not very commonly known, quality control of them can often suffer. So out of the same pack of coals, some will be okay, whereas others will not. Right now, that's what I'm thinking your problem is. I believe you should try to get some more commonly known coals and see if that doesn't fix the issue you're having.

[agunn1231]

that does sound like CO poisoning, i experienced it a few times workin at a hookah lounge. As everyone else said, try natural coals. You may also want to try opening the windows in the area you are smoking. it could very well be a CO build up in the air due to low ventilation. Hope it gets better. Those headaches are a bitch.

[ilikemyusername]

[quote name='Satyr' timestamp='1304971858' post='508832']



.And even while 'puffing it into action',.

[/quote]


are you smoking it too fast to get it lit? Patience is a virtue and with shisha it's one you HAVE to wait for. Try this tonight, sprinkle the shisha but not pack it into the bowl up and above the rim. Go about an eighth of an inch or a bit more above the rim of the bowl, foil it, poke your holes, place a previously lit coal on top [i]never light your coals on the bowl itself [/i] then wait a couple of minutes, let the shisha warm up and your first puff will be thick and tasty. On a side note if you HAVE to use QL coals, head over to hookahjohn.com and buy some of his "C.H." instant light coconut coals, they're the best QL coal available.

[IainUM]

well if you are in a small dorm room and dont keep your windows open and ventilate the room, it is probably the lack of air in the room. sorry if this is reposting information, as i just kinda skimmed the thread

[method]

if u smoke outside without windcover - ur coal will be way too hot to smoke which will cause the burning and maybe the headache .
if u put windcover , it will still be too hot cuz the heat will get trapped and cook everything in it .

some QL do give headache , try out more brands .

in general , unless weather outside is so calm that i can light a coal without covering it with windcover and theres absolutely no wind outside , i wont smoke outside .


try dorms , windows open , cold water , double the foil on the bowl . - good luck Edited May 9, 2011 by method

[Chreees]

Yeah, I agree with ilikemyusername, you're comment about "puffing into action" makes it sound like you're puffing hardcore on the hose to try and get it going. Don't. I give my bowl 5 minutes to warm up after I put my coals on. And yeah, always make sure your coals are fully lit before putting them on the bowl.

[EvansLight]

[quote name='INCUBUSRATM' timestamp='1304990126' post='508868']
Yeah, I agree with ilikemyusername, you're comment about "puffing into action" makes it sound like you're puffing hardcore on the hose to try and get it going. Don't. I give my bowl 5 minutes to warm up after I put my coals on. And yeah, always make sure your coals are fully lit before putting them on the bowl.
[/quote]

This for the win. I used to try and suck the bowl into action (thats what she said) but I learned very quickly just let the coals sit on the bowl for a few minutes. Now the first puff is always perfect.

Also with quick lights, some people just can't use them, any brand at all. I myself have no problem using them, and always keep some rolls of 3k around my house for when I'm lazy and don't feel like lighting my coconara coals. But I know that a friend of mine can't smoke when I'm using them, even if they were fully lit, covered in ash. He gets a bad headache and feels a bit sick. It could be CO, it could also just be your body reacting to the QL's themselves. There are a few nasty little chemicals in them that makes them QL.

Do try HookahJohns CH QL's, as I have heard good things about them. They might be good enough to keep you from feeling ill.

[Satyr]

Wow, thanks for the help everyone!

I'm just going to write down some answers, without personally adressing everyone.

It could be the coals, though I would still think it's a bit strange since I never had a problem with them. And I always make sure the coals are completely glowing before using them. I am going to try some natural coals next time though, since I remember having one of those heating elements you use to boil water with. I think those would make a great electric coal burner, with a little tweaking maybe.

I always open the window out of respect for the other people in the building. Hookah doesn't smell bad, but it does smell. And like I said, I got the same headache while smoking outside. We used a windcover over the coal, even though there was barely any wind at all.

The hose on the hookah is a VERY narrow one, about 1 cm. Maybe I should try something else then?

So right now I'm guessing the sickness was due to CO-poisoning. But since the room is always very well ventilated, it could be because of the coals I guess..

I will also try to be a bit more patient and just let it burn naturally for a while before I start puffing.

[vendetta_revived]

[quote name='Satyr' timestamp='1305023798' post='508904']
Wow, thanks for the help everyone!

I'm just going to write down some answers, without personally adressing everyone.

It could be the coals, though I would still think it's a bit strange since I never had a problem with them. And I always make sure the coals are completely glowing before using them. I am going to try some natural coals next time though, since I remember having one of those heating elements you use to boil water with. I think those would make a great electric coal burner, with a little tweaking maybe.

I always open the window out of respect for the other people in the building. Hookah doesn't smell bad, but it does smell. And like I said, I got the same headache while smoking outside. We used a windcover over the coal, even though there was barely any wind at all.

[u][b]The hose on the hookah is a VERY narrow one, about 1 cm. Maybe I should try something else then?[/b][/u]

So right now I'm guessing the sickness was due to CO-poisoning. But since the room is always very well ventilated, it could be because of the coals I guess..

I will also try to be a bit more patient and just let it burn naturally for a while before I start puffing.
[/quote]

Yes. Edited May 10, 2011 by vendetta_revived

[Satyr]

[quote name='vendetta_revived' timestamp='1305024325' post='508905']
[quote name='Satyr' timestamp='1305023798' post='508904']
Wow, thanks for the help everyone!

I'm just going to write down some answers, without personally adressing everyone.

It could be the coals, though I would still think it's a bit strange since I never had a problem with them. And I always make sure the coals are completely glowing before using them. I am going to try some natural coals next time though, since I remember having one of those heating elements you use to boil water with. I think those would make a great electric coal burner, with a little tweaking maybe.

I always open the window out of respect for the other people in the building. Hookah doesn't smell bad, but it does smell. And like I said, I got the same headache while smoking outside. We used a windcover over the coal, even though there was barely any wind at all.

[u][b]The hose on the hookah is a VERY narrow one, about 1 cm. Maybe I should try something else then?[/b][/u]

So right now I'm guessing the sickness was due to CO-poisoning. But since the room is always very well ventilated, it could be because of the coals I guess..

I will also try to be a bit more patient and just let it burn naturally for a while before I start puffing.
[/quote]

Yes.
[/quote]

Thanks dude, will try!

Oh great, I just found out that my hookah is one huge airleak... Could this be the culprit?

[vendetta_revived]

Damn! Where is the airleak? Is it somewhere in the downstem? Means that the smoke was never passing through water and you were inhaling it coming directly from the bowl?

[Satyr]

[quote name='vendetta_revived' timestamp='1305027998' post='508909']
Damn! Where is the airleak? Is it somewhere in the downstem? Means that the smoke was never passing through water and you were inhaling it coming directly from the bowl?
[/quote]

It's the grommet between the base and the stem.. There is smoke in the base though. However, when I puff I hardly get any smoke (the smoke I do get is very harsh) and when I gently blow the hose (no pun intended), massive quantities of smoke escape between the base and the stim and hardly any from the purge valve. :s

It would explain why it was so hard to get it going and why the taste was getting that harsh so fast. Edited May 10, 2011 by Satyr

[vendetta_revived]

Yes, you're inhaling the smoke coming directly from the heated tobacco without it passing through the water. Looks like you'll have to get a new stem. Since you're in a dorm room and would prefer a small hookah, I'd suggest you get either the mya qt or bambino!

Both are small and smoke awesome! I myself have a qt and it's just sheer pleasure to smoke it.

I don't really know if there is anyway to redeem the stem you already have, but may be someone else here can help you with it.