Chest pain & Panic Attack

[Papajohns]

Hey guys,

I've been coming to these forums for a while for information, but I never made an account until now. I have a disturbing problem I'm trying to figure out.

I have been vaping for well over 6 months, I've been off analogs for about the same time period. A few nights ago, I was hitting my PV, like normal. All of a sudden, my chest gets really tight, I have trouble breathing, and I feel a severe anxiety that I have never felt before. Lasted for about 20 minutes and I ended up in the ER, but everything checked out normal. I do NOT want to try vaping again until I know what is causing this. I'm absolutely sure it's from vaping, the feeling appears immediately after taking a hit. I haven't used it in 2 days and have not had any symptoms.

What disturbs me, is that I have found A LOT of threads about this problem. There are dozens on this site alone. They all have a few things in common:

1. Nicotine content doesn't matter: I've had this problem with 12mg as well 6mg as well 0mg. I'm fairly sure its not nicotine overdose.
2. PG/VG ratio doesn't matter: Many people say that changing PG/VG ratios does NOT help with this problem. I do not think it is an allergy, as the allergic reaction to e-juice is much different.
3. I have found people who vape "other things" talk about this issue as well. This leads me to believe it is something in the process of vaping itself, not necessarily the e-cigs.

Anyone have any thoughts or similar experiences?

 

[DavidAmonettNashville]

What did the doctors say??

 

[Free6413]

There could be numerous different causes from physical to psychological. Not enough info to help. Could you be more specific..equipment, flavor, mg content frame of mind. You know the important stuff. Maybe the answer will come.

 

[DetraMental]

Vaping does not cause Panic Attacks. Panic attacks are in a league of their own and should be treated by a doctor. It seems odd that after 6 months you suddenly develop these chest pains. If you suspect vaping then by all means quit. Could it be that you are vaping a juice from a new vendor or a new ratio or pg/vg? Is it a new flavor your vaping? Some flavors can cause asthma like attacks in some people. I notice I wheeze more when vaping Pina Colada but don't when vaping Pineapple. Hope you can figure it out. Good luck.

Ps. Make sure you stay well hydrated at all times while vaping. Pleurisy can cause pain in the chest and is caused by dehydration.

 

[VaEHp]

Similar to me 1 time, it was about 6 weeks after I fully switched, I was vaping a bit heavier nic and a bit more than I normally would, I was feeling a bit stressed from quitting, chasing the nic fix I guess, I was just relaxing... then I chest pain, tingle fingers, and left side pressure, panic feeling, I'm going to passout feeling... It was weird and all of a sudden. lasted about 15 minutes. I visited ER right away for good measure, all was ok... For me I suspect it was the combination of detoxing 30 years of crud and over vaping at the same time. Other than that who knows but I have been fine since. I'm at 5.5 months now. I've Drop the nic down a bit and try not to vape like its a endless milkshake. Glad your alright at this time. Ease into it if you do. Breathing exercises from time to time. Cruse control. Monitor yourself. and Welcome to the forum is in order

 

[happydave]

sounds like a side effect of kicking the analog habit, but hey i'm not a doctor nor do i play one on tv.
my buddy who just quit smoking cold turkey with out switching to a different nicotine product is experiencing the same thing.
there are a ton (4000+) chemicals in analogs and your body adjusts to having them over the years of smoking. your body is going to go through some changes after you stop smoking.. for me when i quit i broke out in zits all over body, i freaked out. i explained my situation to my doctor and he said it was uncommon but not unheard of. still have scars on my back from it... 0_o

 

[Papajohns]

Doctor said it was a panic attack that could've been triggered by stress, nicotine, caffeine etc. So basically, they didn't know what caused it. I know it was caused by the vaping. But I do not know why. I only smoke a few flavors from 1 brand, e-liq cube. They recently changed their mix from 50pg/50vg to 60pg/40vg, but i dont see how this would cause a panic attack. Other than that, no change to my vaping habits. I stopped vaping for 2 days, I will try it tonight to see if I get the symptoms again.

 

[happydave]

Doctor said it was a panic attack that could've been triggered by stress, nicotine, caffeine etc. So basically, they didn't know what caused it. I know it was caused by the vaping. But I do not know why. I only smoke a few flavors from 1 brand, e-liq cube. They recently changed their mix from 50pg/50vg to 60pg/40vg, but i dont see how this would cause a panic attack. Other than that, no change to my vaping habits. I stopped vaping for 2 days, I will try it tonight to see if I get the symptoms again.

do you have any kind of PSTD? or suffer from panic attacks in the past?

 

[Papajohns]

do you have any kind of PSTD? or suffer from panic attacks in the past?

Nope and nope. Never had any problems with anxiety before this happened. I was watching family guy when it happened. I wasn't doing anything stressful.

 

[mmsjs5]

I'm a 51 y/o female, I have gone through something similar. May I ask what age and sex you are. There may be a biological reason for your troubles. If you are not female and over 40, then you need not answer my question.

 

[Mapultz]

Doctor said it was a panic attack that could've been triggered by stress, nicotine, caffeine etc. So basically, they didn't know what caused it. I know it was caused by the vaping. But I do not know why. I only smoke a few flavors from 1 brand, e-liq cube. They recently changed their mix from 50pg/50vg to 60pg/40vg, but i dont see how this would cause a panic attack. Other than that, no change to my vaping habits. I stopped vaping for 2 days, I will try it tonight to see if I get the symptoms again.

As someone who has dealt with panic attacks for more than a decade, I'll say that it's likely you'll have a panic attack tonight when you try to vape. Not because of the ecig, but because you're convinced that's what caused the last one.

For example, I get panic attacks when I'm on the highway. The car/highway is not causing my panic attacks. I am. Because I had a panic attack on the highway, I freak myself out everytime I'm there now - anticipating the attack.

I've only been vaping for a few months, and have gotten a racing heart when I had too much nicotine. Which freaked me out and spiraled into a panic attack. But other than that, no ill effects on my anxiety.

I can't say for sure that vaping did or did not cause this to happen to you. But I have a feeling that it's more psychological (as the majority of anxiety is) than anything.

Anything can make my anxiety worse - from surging hormones (sorry, boys) to too little sleep to too much stress. What I'm doing at the time of the attack isn't always the cause of it.

Having said that, if you're convinced this caused your attack, then maybe you should think about quitting. You said you've been 2 days without...maybe you could just keep going?

If you want to chat, feel free to PM me. I feel for you, I really do. Anxiety SUCKS.

 

[Dakota Jim]

I have panic attacks now when I read about another town that is considering banning vaping because they have heard of another 1 out of 100,000 person is blaming vaping for something that may not even be related to vaping.

I used to have constant panic attacks from my former job (customer service with a large satellite tv provider -6 years of 8 hours a day of "my tv doesn't work and I want a tech here yesterday" being screamed at me - average employee lasts about 6-8 months)

so it is possible your panic attack could have been caused by any number of things (most panic attacks are psychological in origin)

just my 2 cents

 

[18Wheels]

Hey guys,

I've been coming to these forums for a while for information, but I never made an account until now. I have a disturbing problem I'm trying to figure out.

I have been vaping for well over 6 months, I've been off analogs for about the same time period. A few nights ago, I was hitting my PV, like normal. All of a sudden, my chest gets really tight, I have trouble breathing, and I feel a severe anxiety that I have never felt before. Lasted for about 20 minutes and I ended up in the ER, but everything checked out normal. I do NOT want to try vaping again until I know what is causing this. I'm absolutely sure it's from vaping, the feeling appears immediately after taking a hit. I haven't used it in 2 days and have not had any symptoms.

What disturbs me, is that I have found A LOT of threads about this problem. There are dozens on this site alone. They all have a few things in common:

1. Nicotine content doesn't matter: I've had this problem with 12mg as well 6mg as well 0mg. I'm fairly sure its not nicotine overdose.
2. PG/VG ratio doesn't matter: Many people say that changing PG/VG ratios does NOT help with this problem. I do not think it is an allergy, as the allergic reaction to e-juice is much different.
3. I have found people who vape "other things" talk about this issue as well. This leads me to believe it is something in the process of vaping itself, not necessarily the e-cigs.

Anyone have any thoughts or similar experiences?

I know this might sound silly but you need to sneeze. When your a regular vaper the moistness created in your lungs kind of feels like congestion. It happens to me all the time. Don't take my word for it, try it. Induce a big hearty sneeze.

 

[Bunnykiller]

thats the same symptoms when I get too much sugar in me... starts off with tightness in the chest area, progresses into pain, then difficulty breathing, then some anxiety, takes about 30-45 min to go away...

 

[PtrG]

Kinda similar experience 6 mos. in to vaping after about 50 yrs. of PAD habit.
Was "learning" about nic percentages from b&m and got very smallest 36 mg tobacco flavor they had. used 18 and 24 ok. Vaped during golf round and a while after. Chest was "tight" but no pain, no panic.
Next morning chest still uncomfortable but was gone before noon.
Sure got my nic "fix" PLUS so now nothing more than 18, usually 12. 60/40 or 50/50 pg/vg.
B&m guy warned me I'd feel it and he was sure right.
Lesson learned.

 

[patkin]

Operative words referring to panic attacks: "they don't know what causes them." People who don't vape get them. People who have never smoked get them. People who have never experienced one in their lives suddenly get one in their 30s, 40s and so on. No one knows what causes them but some people have learned, on their own, what their particular triggers can be. As for vaping being the cause, there is no way to know what might have gone through your mind (thought), what you saw, what you may have smelled, felt, absorbed through you skin or heard in your environment (other than vapor of course) any of which could have brought on an attack. I would consider all these since you never experienced this vaping during the six months preceding your first attack. The thing is, as somone else said, now that you've associated vaping with an attack, it is possible it will happen again but that's a strictly menta/emotional thing.

And, want to say, I'm sorry you've gone through this. I've had a couple of those attacks in my life and they're absolutely terrifying. I'm 70 and, like I said, have had them happen only twice. I've never known the reason but I strongly suspect it was a matter of an unconscious association with a past traumatic event... I'll never know of course because I was not conscious of it at the time.

 

[BigCatDaddy]

I've had similar symptoms before, but not since I started vaping. Mine was from stress. I've had them when I was just chilling at home, but while in a particular stressful time overall. Stress doesn't just go away when you are relaxed and peaceful. The effects from a stressful period can build up and hit you when you least expect it. I'm glad you went and had it checked out. I hope it was a one time thing and you can continue on your journey to a smoke free life!!

 

[Mapultz]

Operative words referring to panic attacks: "they don't know what causes them." People who don't vape get them. People who have never smoked get them. People who have never experienced one in their lives suddenly get one in their 30s, 40s and so on. No one knows what causes them but some people have learned, on their own, what their particular triggers can be. As for vaping being the cause, there is no way to know what might have gone through your mind (thought), what you saw, what you may have smelled, felt, absorbed through you skin or heard in your environment (other than vapor of course) any of which could have brought on an attack. I would consider all these since you never experienced this vaping during the six months preceding your first attack. The thing is, as somone else said, now that you've associated vaping with an attack, it is possible it will happen again but that's a strictly menta/emotional thing.

That's a very good point. Panic attacks by definition are not caused by external things. The environment/stimuli/etc. can trigger one...but then it's all your mind taking over. Something in the vapor could have caused some symptoms similar to panic (e.g. racing heart) and that freaked you out. I know I can have the smallest twinge in my chest and I start worrying about what it is.

My point is that there isn't anything that makes you have a panic attack. Because panic attacks are a psychological phenomena that have physical symptoms.

 

[AmandaD]

It's surprising that people assume vaping causes everything.....and as others have said, vaping does NOT cause panic attacks! The thought of lack of access to vaping might for some of us, though

 

[Papajohns]

As someone who has dealt with panic attacks for more than a decade, I'll say that it's likely you'll have a panic attack tonight when you try to vape. Not because of the ecig, but because you're convinced that's what caused the last one.
For example, I get panic attacks when I'm on the highway. The car/highway is not causing my panic attacks. I am. Because I had a panic attack on the highway, I freak myself out everytime I'm there now - anticipating the attack.
I've only been vaping for a few months, and have gotten a racing heart when I had too much nicotine. Which freaked me out and spiraled into a panic attack. But other than that, no ill effects on my anxiety.
I can't say for sure that vaping did or did not cause this to happen to you. But I have a feeling that it's more psychological (as the majority of anxiety is) than anything.
Anything can make my anxiety worse - from surging hormones (sorry, boys) to too little sleep to too much stress. What I'm doing at the time of the attack isn't always the cause of it.
Having said that, if you're convinced this caused your attack, then maybe you should think about quitting. You said you've been 2 days without...maybe you could just keep going?
If you want to chat, feel free to PM me. I feel for you, I really do. Anxiety SUCKS.

Thanks for the info, definitely something to think on. It just freaked me out because I have never had any problems like this before, and it seemed to come out of nowhere. I really enjoy vaping and would like to continue, but if this keeps happening ill have no problem stopping.

It's surprising that people assume vaping causes everything.....and as others have said, vaping does NOT cause panic attacks! The thought of lack of access to vaping might for some of us, though

Poor choice of words on my part. Im not saying vaping caused the attack, but it was the trigger, Im almost certain.