Allergic to PG AND VG?

[Eanmark]

Hello all, hope someone can give me some some insight. First of all some background:

Male
56 yrs old
Excellent health
1 to 1.5 pack a day analog smoker for years
Only known allergies are clams and honey bees

Now the problem:

Got a V2 kit with V2 Red 12 juice last Saturday. Loaded it up to give it a whirl, vaped off and on the rest of the day and broke out in hives. Patches of them from thighs to armpits. Stopped vaping, took a Benadryl, hives disappeared. Did some research that pointed to a PG allergy. Ordered some Johnson Creek, Red Oak Domestic, 1.8%, 100% PG-Free Juice. It arrived yesterday so I loaded up a new, blank V2 carto with the JC juice and have been using it this morning. BANG, hives are back, thighs to armpits again! Again, took a Benadryl and hives are clearing up. Parked the V2 for now.

Anyone have a similar experience or knowledge on why this might be happening? I've had no changes in lifestyle or environment, other than being new to vaping, so I've pretty much ruled out that scenario. Any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated!

Feel free to respond via e-mail and thanks in advance!

 

[SolemnPenguin]

Some times during production the manufacturers will put a little primer on the coil. From what I understand this primers is PG based.

Try cleaning the cartos (there are plenty of videos on how to do it) then load your PG free juice and try again.

 

[stonedkirby]

Go see an allergist.

I doubt you are allergic to vg without knowing it. You are most likely reacting to something else. Of course the other possibilities include

Cross contamination of PG that you probably are allergic to, in the VG juice from Johnson Creek.

Allergies to honey, if you allergic to honey bees. There may be some in the VG juice and the red juice, so it may not be a pg allergy at all.

Again, go see an allergist, get tested again, its in your best interest to know what can and can't harm you, and if you have a later life onset of a new allergy, you NEED to know about it.

 

[Bullette the Cowdog]

@Eanmark
Wow. This is most distressing. It sounds to me like you want to make this work. This is what I would do.
Order some 12-18 mg 100% vg UNFLAVORED juice. (Make sure you've got your Benedil on hand just in case LOL. ). See if you can safely vape unflavored. If so, then you have a flavoring allergy. And we can start there.
Geeez I hope we ECFers can help ya work this out.
Bullette the Cowdog

 

[Yourdaddy]

I would do the no flavor test then move on from there. It wouldn't hurt to go see an allergist either. Hope you get this worked out.

 

[Motoman101]

Check with your doctor.

 

[Eanmark]

A couple on to boil as I type.

 

[JollyRogers]

I have same exact allergy symptoms to PG. It developed after 2 years, and TBH I think it is a flavoring issue, because I can vape low PG now with no problems. I switched to AVE PG free tobaccos and haven't had a problem since though. I recommend doing what cowboy suggests. 100% VG, PG free unflavored. Make sure it is PG free! Then see what happens.

 

[NancyR]

I would highly suggest you speak to your dr. Tho I would also say to try the flavorless VG, as I am not sure what flavorings Johnsons creek uses, but I know most food grade flavorings have pg in them.

 

[Eanmark]

Also, I've been able to eat honey with no ill effects even after the revelation of the bee sting issue. Evidently the histamine in the sting I react to.

I am making a call to my GP tomorrow. Even with a referral it takes months to see an allergist in these parts. But the process will be started.

Unflavored juice is also on the list. Sort of sounds like eating a cup of shaved ice without the snow cone flavoring, but gotta start somewhere.

 

[Renzuli]

If you want a quick answer about any reaction to the VG , just go down to the local Walmart or drug store and buy a little bottle of USP grade Vegetable Glycerin . No nic. , no flavor , just straight VG . If you can vape that , then order some un-flavored VG in the nic. level of choice . In the meantime , you could e-mail several of the juice vendors asking what's in their flavors . Then you might just buy some unflavored juice , and some PG free flavors and add them yourself . Good Luck

 

[Eanmark]

Also, I've been able to eat honey with no ill effects even after the revelation of the bee sting issue. Evidently the histamine in the sting I react to.

I am making a call to my GP tomorrow. Even with a referral it takes months to see an allergist in these parts. But the process will be started.

Unflavored juice is also on the list. Sort of sounds like eating a cup of shaved ice without the snow cone flavoring, but gotta start somewhere.

A follow-up............went to my GP yesterday, stumped like the rest of us. Waiting on the official okie dokie from my health insurer to see an Allergist. Some puzzling developments though....analogs seem to turn on the hives now, also. Stopped vaping Sunday morning, but after a few analogs Monday evening the hives popped up. My only guess is a nic OD, but no other symptoms like nausea, palpitations, etc. No other allergy symptoms noted either. Cut way back on my analog intake today and so far no issues. Was going to go "cold turkey", but couldn't take a chance on strangling someone! Also REALLY hydrating. Got nothing done at work today but pee! If my vaping weren't involved I'd be looking for some other environmental cause for the hives but everything keeps pointing in that direction. Really strange week so far!

 

[ancfm95]

Is there such a thing as a nicotine allergy?

 

[1lasttime]

Is there such a thing as a nicotine allergy?

Hi there! I have actually been looking into this. Yes, there is a nicotine allergy. There are a lot of symptoms. If you do feel you have an allergy, you want to consult your doctor immediately as nicotine is something not to be messed with!

Here is a link that may help with questions about e-liquid allergies:

Allergic Reactions to E-liquid | Virgin Vapor | Electronic Cigarette Organic e-Liquid | Electronic Cigarettes

 

[Violetsoda]

As others have pointed out, many flavourings have PG in them. Suspecting that I may have mistaken a fluoride allergy for a PG allergy after starting to vape, I ordered from Virgin Vapor | Electronic Cigarette Organic e-Liquid | Electronic Cigarettes and tried 100% VG juices. Hers are truly 100% VG and I highly recommend her Absolute line and her option of Eco. Her customer service is quick and very personable. I have not yet found other sites that offer truly 100% VG with good customer service.

The elimination method is likely your best bet, as others have suggested. If you decide to try straight VG make sure to ask your pharmacist for the type they would use for mixing themselves and buy some distilled water, too. You may wish to add a drop or two of distilled water per couple millilitres of VG.

Don't feel in any way let down to be vaping "flavourless" juice, it's something many of us do for various reasons. For example, it can be a good way to clear flavour from a carto or clearo without actually cleaning the thing. This can be handy when travelling, for example. And sometimes I do it just 'cause.

Very intriguing that it's happening with analogs. Hives can also be a symptom of anxiety/stress for many people. I've not personally heard of it happening to the extent you describe but the brain is an amazing thing and stress can cause bizarre physical reactions. Just a thought since the transition from smoking can be quite stressful.

Best of luck in finding a solution!

 

[DaNdaNVaPoR]

I would go and see and allergist, usually with a PG allergy people just get irritated throats. I haven't heard of any hives breakout, if u feel you throat start to close up and are having trouble breathing call 911. It might be a bad allergic reaction taking place.

 

[NancyR]

I do know allergies can develop over time, and cigs do have pg in them not as much as vaping I don't think. So if it is pg related, what is in the cigs might be enough to aggravate what has already started

 

[RosaJ]

If you decide to try the diluted VG without flavor or nicotine you might be pleasantly surprised that it tastes kind of sweet because of the VG. I've tried it a couple of times when I wanted to give the taste buds a rest for a bit and found it a very pleasant surprise. Good luck, and I agree with everyone else about seeing an allergist (bet you're tired of hearing it lol).

 

[Krisfiveoh]

Hey guys! Going through the same thing. Started vaping about 3 weeks ago with no problems. Over the weekend, I began experiencing severe itching on my lower legs and hives, along with a mild headache. Hives disappear overnight and return in a different area the next day. Vaping 100% VG from Virgin Vapor, so I know that it's not PG. Not allergic to anything that I know of. I really don't want to go back to analogs.

 

[Hosedragger]

once a reaction starts from something your body will react to it quickly if you expose yourself before your body has time to get all of it out of your system so depending where the body holds on to what ever you are allergic to, is how long it will take to get back to normal. be very careful exposing yourself to anything you are or have had a recent reaction to because you can go from an allergic reaction to anaphylaxis very easy and could be life threatening. you need to take an antihistamine for a few days to help clear it up