E-Cigs and Hypokalemia? Breathing problems and health issues.

[TRosey]

Hi everyone. I'm new on here, though have been reading for a couple of months.
I quit analogs on Jan 1 2013 and haven't cheated a single time. I was so excited to not stink anymore, and I loved not getting that heavy, regretful feeling afterward!
After about 2 months, I noticed a dramatic increase in my need for sleep. I can now sleep up to 16 hours a day at least. I'm tired all the time, and had been relying on my prescribed ADD medication to function daily.
I switched to Vanilla flavored right around that time that everything changed. I've been using Green Smart Living which is somewhat low priced for the starter kit. I had been using Victory and Premium brand before that with no flavors and no problems.
For the past week, on top of sleeping all the time, I've been having the HARDEST time breathing. I was just constantly trying to inhale enough for a full breath feeling, and never got it. I was getting light-headed because I was so "breathy" and last night I had hours of sleep paralysis and jerky limbs. Popped onto google at 3 am and somehow found my way to "Hypokalemia." One of the symptoms is shortness if breath, as well as jerky limbs, fatigue and headaches.
One of the causes of hypokalemia is intake of "glycyrrhizinate" which is a sweetener and found in things like black licorice. It is also a common flavoring used in tobacco products.
Intake of it can cause acute hypokalemia, which affects the CNS and can be fatal due to its effect on the sodium-potassium channels of cells causing irregularities in cardiac function.
If this is being used in flavorings of e-cigs, I can't imagine it wouldn't cause hypokalemia after a certain point.

This is an article about a man who was taking capsules of licorice and ended up with acute hypokalemia (potassium deficiency) http://jms.ndmctsgh.edu.tw/fdarticlee\2604129.pdf

I'm hoping someone else can help me research this. For now, I have gone back to unflavored vapes because I have been feeling so ill over the last couple of months and need to test this out. Something is seriously wrong!

Thanks for your time. Let me know what you think.

 

[Kamoch]

You need to see a doctor, not ask for medical advice on this forum. I'm an RN and from what I've seen and experienced, self-diagnosing a la WebMD is only going to raise your stress level. Make an appointment soon and I hope it is nothing serious.

 

[Katya]

Yup! Practicing medicine without a licence is a felony.

Seriously, we're not equipped to diagnose or treat any medical conditions. Please see you doctor. Good luck!

 

[yzer]

This is a matter for a Physician, not a public forum or Google. See a doctor.

 

[gordk]

You should indeed see a doctor, and tell _exactly_ what you're up to, and what you're experiencing as a result. I've experienced a great many of those symptoms myself. I was a _very_ heavy smoker myself until 76 days ago. REALLY, see your doctor, and just plain tell ALL. Hold back NOTHING.

 

[The Ocelot]

And you might want to Google a little more before you completely freak yourself out

"The most widely reported side-effects of glycyrrhizin use are hypertension and edema (water retention). These effects are related to the inhibition of cortisol metabolism within the kidney, and the subsequent stimulation of the mineralocorticoid receptors. Thus, consumption of black licorice can mimic disorders of excess aldosterone....

The European Union suggests people should not consume any more than 100 mg of glycyrrhizic acid a day, equivalent to approximately 50 g of liquorice sweets."

That's a lot of licorice.




(Yes, I know it's from Wikipedia)

 

[Centurion]

Doctors don't have a monopoly on good diagnostic skills and patients shouldn't be afraid to be thinking patients who actively ponder their conditions and question their diagnoses. But go see a doctor anyway. Also, I think it's a big stretch for you to assume your symptoms are even related (to vaping, not necessarily to each other). Post back and report what you find out.

 

[TRosey]

Thanks for your comments. I should have added that I have already made appointments with my physician and my psychiatrist for Tuesday, as well as appt with the blood lab. I would never go online asking others for diagnoses (no offense, other expert Googlers!). I actually wanted to post on it to see if anyone else was having symptoms, or had more to add as The Ocelot did.
After switching to the regulars, I have noticed a dramatic improvement with my breathing issues. However, this is not to say that is what was causing my issues. I have done a few things differently in the last two days and it could be any one of them.
I stopped caffeine (which is a biggie because we own a coffee shop), I started taking potassium, iron, methyl folate, magnesium, vitamin B complex, and a multi vitamin. I also am drinking more water. I will also add (for those who might stumble on this post with these symptoms) that I am nursing my daughter who just turned 1. This alone can lead to vitamin deficiency if one is not careful, obviously, so I am not ready to blame this on vaping.
But I do feel it is important to point out that I might be allergic to the flavoring, as well. As I said, I have almost no breathing problems now, only 24 hours or so later, and I did not experience any parasomnia or jerky limbs last night while asleep.

As Centurion pointed out, not accessing information that is readily available online, and relying completely on a physician (or two), is not really ideal. I feel part of the benefit of these kinds of forums is to share experiences and attempt to gain a better understanding of our experiences and others'.
I have brought printouts to my doctor before, and he did end up reading them and changing his approach, so it's really got to be a "team effort" with our doctors and others when it comes to our own health. Just my two cents.
Anyhow, I really wanted to find out about the breathing issues, and if anyone has experienced that as an allergic reaction, etc..

 

[crxess]

Glad you are seeking Professional answers.

Google is your friend...........For finding parts, repair services, good deals, etc. Only a professional can help with individual health concerns.