Chest pain from variant angina

[Ann74]

Hello,

This is just my experience, but after a year of heavy Juuling, I ended up with a condition called Prinzmetal's Angina (aka variant angina, coronary artery spasms, etc.), along with esophageal dysmotility. The combo of these things causes left-side chest, arm, shoulder, and jaw tightness, trouble swallowing, dizziness, etc. Required many trips to different specialists and some very complex testing to figure it all out. Neither of these are super dangerous conditions, but they can be disturbing.

I am not saying this was all caused by vaping, because there isn't enough research to support that theory. However, it seems like quite a coincidence that my symptoms started after vaping high levels of salt-based nicotine for a year straight. I wish I could still vape, but it immediately goes to my left chest and I feel like I'm having a mild heart attack, which takes the pleasure out of it.

I have since stopped Juuling and I'm taking a variety of meds and natural supplements to treat it, along with making lifestyle changes. So, if you are having weird chest pain and can't figure it out from the usual heart tests, this might be something to look into.

 

[Cool_Breeze]

Were you a smoker before taking up Jueling?

 

[Ann74]

Were you a smoker before taking up Jueling?

Yes, but I had quit for two years, and then had a lot of stress and took up Juuling so I wouldn't go back to cigarettes. I'm sure the smoking for 20 years did nothing to help, but I think the Juuling sealed the deal in terms of having these issues. Again, it's just my experience, and I envy people who can vape all day with no problems. That wasn't me, unfortunately.

 

[sonicbomb]

I am not saying this was all caused by vaping, because there isn't enough research to support that theory.

and yet here you are

 

[Letitia]

BTW nic salts are in no way "salt" based. Please do the homework before coming to the forums with little to no knowledge of the topic you are addressing.

 

[Ann74]

and yet here you are

When I first started getting symptoms, the only connection I could make was the heavy vaping on the Juul. Then I looked on various e-cig forums and saw that others had similar symptoms. So I'm sharing what I have learned after a year of complex medical testing, in case it helps anyone with similar issues. You are welcome to keep on keeping on with your vaping. I'm not telling anyone to stop, just posting in the "health and safety" forum. Carry on.

 

[Ann74]

BTW nic salts are in no way "salt" based. Please do the homework before coming to the forums with little to no knowledge of the topic you are addressing.

Guess what? I was just as defensive as you about vaping when anyone dared to mention the health risks. Right down to questioning their expertise and use of terminology. I never claimed to be an expert, I'm just sharing my experience.

 

[Letitia]

I am in no way being defensive, I'm a thick skinned broad. Just tired of misinformation being posted. Many new vaper's visit the site. There is no denying that for some vaping and the bodies don't mix well. My problem with your post is you freely admit you have no proof period so why are you even posting?

 

[zoiDman]

Yes, but I had quit for two years, and then had a lot of stress and took up Juuling so I wouldn't go back to cigarettes. I'm sure the smoking for 20 years did nothing to help, but I think the Juuling sealed the deal in terms of having these issues. Again, it's just my experience, and I envy people who can vape all day with no problems. That wasn't me, unfortunately.

Have you Quit Smoking Completely now?

Tips for someone with vaping sensitivity

 

[Ann74]

I am in no way being defensive, I'm a thick skinned broad. Just tired of misinformation being posted. Many new vaper's visit the site. There is no denying that for some vaping and the bodies don't mix well. My problem with your post is you freely admit you have no proof period so why are you even posting?

Because when I started getting symptoms a year ago, I went to the e-cig forums and noticed people complaining of similar symptoms (left side chest pain, left arm pain, left jaw pain) and people often answered with "you have an allergy" or something like that. Well, turns out, that wasn't what was happening with me. So I shared what I found out after a year of visits to different specialists. I cannot say, with 100% certainty, that this was all caused by vaping... but after going through a half-pod to a pod a day on the Juul, this all started happening, with no previous issues. So I am sharing my experience in case anyone else has similar problems. I'm sorry if this comes across as misinformation.

 

[Ann74]

Have you Quit Smoking Completely now?

Tips for someone with vaping sensitivity

Yes. Done with all of it. Wish I could still enjoy vaping.

 

[zoiDman]

Yes. Done with all of it. Wish I could still enjoy vaping.

Well that is Good at least.

 

[Ann74]

Well that is Good at least.

Yes, apparently it required feeling like I was having a heart attack to quit, LOL. Like I said in my original post, I envy people who don't have any issues with vaping. I really enjoyed it, but I can't seem to handle any nicotine at this point. Personally I think it has something to do with the Juul. But others are free to disagree.

 

[Ann74]

Because when I started getting symptoms a year ago, I went to the e-cig forums and noticed people complaining of similar symptoms (left side chest pain, left arm pain, left jaw pain) and people often answered with "you have an allergy" or something like that. Well, turns out, that wasn't what was happening with me. So I shared what I found out after a year of visits to different specialists. I cannot say, with 100% certainty, that this was all caused by vaping... but after going through a half-pod to a pod a day on the Juul, this all started happening, with no previous issues. So I am sharing my experience in case anyone else has similar problems. I'm sorry if this comes across as misinformation.

And BTW, there is some scientific evidence that nicotine can imitate the neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, which is the stuff they inject through a catheter to test to see if you have coronary artery spasms (a test I ended up having). Regular cardiac tests don't show this condition, because there isn't necessarily any blockages or heart disease, but your coronary arteries are just constricting on their own. This condition can be caused by stimulant abuse, and I think vaping a pod a day on the Juul qualifies as "stimulant abuse." If you can moderate the habit, great. Unfortunately, I was not one of those people.

 

[zoiDman]

Yes, apparently it required feeling like I was having a heart attack to quit, LOL. Like I said in my original post, I envy people who don't have any issues with vaping. I really enjoyed it, but I can't seem to handle any nicotine at this point. Personally I think it has something to do with the Juul. But others are free to disagree.

I just Impossible sometimes to say what "Caused" something from 1 Data Point.

From what I understand, what your Doctor say's you have is pretty Rare. It may have been Brought On by your Smoking? Or from your e-Cigarette use? Or maybe some Combination of Diet/Exercise/Lifestyle? Or None of the above?

Not say'n that Smoking or e-Cigarette can't or doesn't make the Problem worse. Or hinder the body's Ability to cope with something like this. But determining Causality can be a Very Tricky thing.

I've Always believed that e-Cigarette use, on the Population Level, is Harm Reduction over Smoking. Not Harm Elimination. Harm Reduction.

But when Harm Reduction is Evaluated for a Population, it Isn't that No One can get Ill. It is the Percentage of People who Get Ill is Significantly Less for those who do One Thing verses those who do Another.

 

[Ann74]

I just Impossible sometimes to say what "Caused" something from 1 Data Point.

From what I understand, what your Doctor say's you have is pretty Rare. It may have been Brought On by your Smoking? Or from your e-Cigarette use? Or maybe some Combination of Diet/Exercise/Lifestyle? Or None of the above?

Not say'n that Smoking or e-Cigarette can't or doesn't make the Problem worse. Or hinder the body's Ability to cope with something like this. But determining Causality can be a Very Tricky thing.

I've Always believed that e-Cigarette use, on the Population Level, is Harm Reduction of Smoking. Not Harm Illumination. Harm Reduction.

But when Harm Reduction is Evaluated for a Population, it Isn't that No One can get Ill. It is the Percentage of People who Get Ill is Significantly Less for those who do One Thing verses those who do Another.

I agree with you. I believe wholeheartedly in harm reduction. Switching from cigarettes to vaping can absolutely help with reducing breathing issues, lung issues, heart disease, cancer risks, etc. However, I don't think a lot of people understand that using very high levels of nicotine is not necessarily "safe." It can cause other issues, especially with your heart. So by all means, I support vaping, and I think it's an excellent way to quit smoking, but if you go overboard with it, you may end up with some issues you didn't even consider.

 

[zoiDman]

Yes, apparently it required feeling like I was having a heart attack to quit, LOL. Like I said in my original post, I envy people who don't have any issues with vaping. I really enjoyed it, but I can't seem to handle any nicotine at this point. Personally I think it has something to do with the Juul. But others are free to disagree.

BTW - I have said this For Years...

That when Enough Time goes by, and Enough Data is collected, that the Major "Cause" of Harm/Illness from e-Cigarette use will not be from Nicotine.

The Bad Actor(s) will be a Small Subset of the Flavorings/Sweeteners and the Resulting Compounds that occur when they are Heated and then Inhaled above a given threshold.

 

[Ann74]

BTW - I have said this For Years...

That when Enough Time goes by, and Enough Data is collected, that the Major "Cause" of Harm/Illness from e-Cigarette use will not be from Nicotine.

The Bad Actor(s) will be a Small Subset of the Flavorings/Sweeteners and the Resulting Compounds that occur when they are Heated and then Inhaled above a given threshold.

That could be true, too. I was using Juul with menthol, so there is a chance it was other things besides (or in addition to) nicotine. Or, it could be just my dumb luck. But it seems like a very strange coincidence that it all happened after Juuling heavily for a year. And the symptoms kicked in (and still do) whenever I vape.

 

[zoiDman]

That could be true, too. I was using Juul with menthol, so there is a chance it was other things besides (or in addition to) nicotine. Or, it could be just my dumb luck. But it seems like a very strange coincidence that it all happened after Juuling heavily for a year. And the symptoms kicked in (and still do) whenever I vape.

Once again, Causality if Tricky.

If you had Never Smoked, and Never Used Alcohol/Drugs, and eaten a Perfect Diet, and practiced Good Exercise Habits, and lived a Stress Free Life getting Good Sleep, all this would be Easier to Draw a Box Around.

But Few fall into the Above Category. So Sometimes Drawing that Box and say'n "there's the cause" can be Very Hard.

BTW - If you could have Quit Smoking without using an e-Cigarette, would We be having this Conversation?

 

[Ann74]

Once again, Causality if Tricky.

If you had Never Smoked, and Never Used Alcohol/Drugs, and eaten a Perfect Diet, and practiced Good Exercise Habits, and lived a Stress Free Life getting Good Sleep, all this would be Easier to Draw a Box Around.

But Few fall into the Above Category. So Sometimes Drawing that Box and say'n "there's the cause" can be Very Hard.

BTW - If you could have Quit Smoking without using an e-Cigarette, would We be having this Conversation?

I agree with you, once again. It helped me to quit, but in the process, I got super addicted and used it way too much, justifying it and making excuses because it's a safer alternative. I never claimed that vaping caused any of this 100%. In my original post, I'm clearly sharing the information for anyone with similar symptoms that started after a lot of heavy vaping, who can't figure out what is happening. I went through a year of major anxiety and a crapload of testing to figure it out, and I wish someone had mentioned variant angina from the get-go, since there is a test for it, and in the meantime, doctors will look at you like you're nuts because all the other tests say you are fine. It would have saved me a lot of time and money. I blame myself for smoking, for bad stress management, and for using the Juul at my desk at all waking hours. That isn't good for anyone.