Need a sanity check - mouth problems

[Briar]

Hi, everyone,

I'm a newbster to vaping, and I am having a somewhat unpleasant experience with it, so I would *really* appreciate a sanity check.

I started about ten days ago. Got a 510 with some Ecopure. Choked, coughed, etc. As I understand, that's not uncommon at first, so I persisted and, indeed, with less nic content it got better.

For a bit I vaped mostly VG (ecopure is VG, and so is Vermont Vapor that I had ordered). I was having problems with Vermont Vapor wicking and clogging my atty (it's quite thick, though I really love the vapor and the flavor when I can get it to work), so I ordered some samples of PG-based stuff.

When I got the samples in (three or four days ago), I started vaping rather heavily, trying to get off the analogs.

The day before yesterday, towards the evening, my mouth got irritated - the gums, the lips, right inside the lips (especially the upper lip), and the tip and, less so, the top, of my tongue, got tingling, burning sensation, and were visibly red.

Initially, I assumed it was due to some liquid that accidentally got into my mouth. Like I said, I am a newbster, these things happen apparently. I thought perhaps it was the liquid, and the fact that I rubbed it off rather vigorously.

I stopped vaping for most of the next day (yesterday). Irritation improved somewhat. In the evening I tried vaping one of my samples, and, almost immediately, irritation got noticeably worse.

Now, after reading around this forum, I am thinking PG intolerance. Apparently some folks had similar symptoms.

So today I am vaping VG only (very frustrating experience, I still can't get Vermont Vapor stuff to wic right in my 510, and I don't have the stuff to dilute yet, not even droppers or syringes). Thing is, I am not entirely sure that this is any better. I still have the irritation. It hasn't gotten appreciably worse, at least not by much that I can tell, but it's definitely not better either (irritation can be like that, sometimes, once it's there, *anything* will make it worse), but I am getting paranoid that I can't tolerate any of it, VG or PG...

Has that ever happened to anyone - I mean being sensitive to both PG and VG? How long should I keep trying to vape? Anyone has any experience with these symptoms?

I noticed, reading the forums, that folks often have symptoms of various kind initially, only to have them clear up in time...

I don't mind saying that I am more than a little worried and upset right now. I spent quite a bit of money (for me) on equipment and such, with the goal of improving my health and getting off analogs (which I really, really need to do). So far, I've had nothing but technical and health issues with this. Much as I would love for this to work (and I have enjoyed it very much when I things went right for a little bit), I am beginning to wonder if vaping is for me.

But I would like to give this a good earnest try and do everything I can to *make* it work before making a final judgement.

Thank you, I would really appreciate any input, advice, shared experiences, etc.

Briar.

[Moonflame]

I too had some irritation when I first started. You may want to try to drink more water (or anything that keeps your mouth wet--I unfortunately am almost as addicted to soda as I am to nicotine), I've found that helps. I've found too that it has helped to get a good lip balm because my lips seem to dry out a lot more with vaping than they did with smoking and it has made a huge difference. Also If you prefer to use VG but find it too thick you can add a little distilled water to thin it. Hope some of this helps, I know I've come to love vaping and all of the choices it gives me from different flavors to different strengths of nicotine and I change both during the day based on mood. In low stress times I'm perfectly happy at around 9 mg and if something is going on that really stresses me out I'll add a few drops of my 18 mg. I feel like I am finally in control instead of cigarettes being in control. If you do find (and I hope this isn't the case) that vaping isn't for you, then you can recoup some of the money you spent on supplies by using the classified ads on the forums.

[Kate51]

My experince: if something is making you sore, stop.
I have a very profound aversion to PG, it started very gradually over two months or so, but let me say this: a "sensitization" from a substance only gets more pronounced with continued use. A sensitization is always going to be a sensitization, to reverse it takes intervention by a professional, as with bee venon, pollen allergies, etc.
Do some reading on the subject. It can be so cummulative that it can become quite serious. Some people have no problem by just increasing water use which 99% of us need to do anyway, some have just suffered through it, but some keep getting more and more intolerant, cummulative thing. That's my problem. Vaping one cart of PG now makes my chest tighten up, my throat hurt, and feeling like I'm being strangled, on the inside. The VG you were using with ECOpure is tested for purity, so I would go back to that, that's going to be my VG of choice, and do drink more water. Vermont Vapor I think uses a high quality VG as well. I understand their flavors are very mild, but some find it takes a few days to fully develop a taste for it. Sometimes subtle is a good thing, especially starting out.

[Michele]

I agree with Kate. I think this is pretty sound advise.

[SudokuGal]

My experince: if something is making you sore, stop.

Yes, do stop, and I would add "immediately" and until your mouth is healed. Going back to analogs, if you absolutely must, for a little while wouldn't be so terrible.

[Kate51]

If it was ok using the VG, then I would go back to that. Analogs? NOT
The thing to watch, is taking very long puffs, not hard puffs. You may be having trouble with the wick because you're pulling too hard? Possible? Even with a manual battery, you should pull just enough to retrieve the vapor, other wise it pulls it from the cart, the atty can't heat it fast enough, and flooding happens.
This is where smoking Cigs and vaping is definitely opposite, More pull more smoke, for e-cig it's longer time, not harder puff!

[Briar]

Hey, folks,

Thanks so much for the input.

I vaped very little today, and only VG. And every time I vaped I drank water. And the irritation is a lot better. The inside of the mouth is almost normal, and the lips are just a little "tingly", like after a bit too much sun. Using chapstick like crazy.

I think I am too sensitive to PG. I'm not sure I'll be able to use it. But VG might work out OK. I'll have to see. I'll just take it very slow. Have to anyway - I have very little VG liquid on hand... Maybe I can make some nic-free stuff for experimental purposes.

Strangely, my throat never hurt. But I have a "mouth inhale", even with analogs. I breathe in only after holding stuff. Which sort of explains that...

I did have to use more analogs. I never quit completely, and I can't be without the nic and the action - I get horrible panic attacks. That's why I am so desperate to make this work.

Cheers,
Briar.

[DISSAPPOINTED]

Hi Everyone,
I have been using e-cigarrette for the past 2 months and very dissappointed that I have to stop, reason being my teeth, gums are sensitive and my tooth cracked yesterday, I have to have a crown fitted.. I think that the nicotine is seriously not good for the mouth. My husband and work collegue have also reported sore gums, little sores in the mouth. I have decided enough is enough and I am going cold turkey, I Wish me goodkluck.

[SudokuGal]

I wish you luck. Sorry vaping didn't work for you. I've had just the opposite effect...less sensitivity, less gum bleeding.

[Lisaf01]

Hi Everyone,
I have been using e-cigarrette for the past 2 months and very dissappointed that I have to stop, reason being my teeth, gums are sensitive and my tooth cracked yesterday, I have to have a crown fitted.. I think that the nicotine is seriously not good for the mouth. My husband and work collegue have also reported sore gums, little sores in the mouth. I have decided enough is enough and I am going cold turkey, I Wish me goodkluck.

Sorry to hear you have experienced so many problems.
Your symptoms are unlikely to have been caused by the actual nicotine (unless you were not a cigarette smoker before you tried the e-cig) It could be any number of things including the following:

• allergy to the liquid you were using
• juice leaking directly in your mouth
• discontinuation of analog cigs and the 1000s of chemicals therein
• dry mouth - a lot of people report they need to drink A LOT more water when vaping
• normal oral wear and tear

If you can go cold turkey, that's obviously better than dealling with any of this stuff but my post is as much for others who might be in your situation and not brave enough to post themselves.
I wish you all the best.