Facial Flushing

[Mac_1]

Hi everyone, thanks for bringing me onboard!
I've been vaping for about 4 years now, when I swapped in vaping for cigarettes (I smoked 1/3-1/2 pack a day for 40 years). I've really enjoyed it and my wife loves the aroma.
I'm a teacher and about 15 months ago we got shoved into online teaching because of the pandemic. I worked 7 day weeks at my computer for about six months. It was stressful (I'm not a sit-at-a-computer-all-day kinda' guy) but once my classes were written, it wasn't too bad. I found my pace and made the transition okay. But a few weeks after the stress let off and things seemed easier, I started facial flushing. My ears turned bright red and burned, my nose turned bright red and throbbed, and my cheeks and forehead got red and VERY hot. And it's been happening every day since. Every single day now for about seven months. My doctors are stumped. My endocrinologist said all my bloodwork is "remarkably unremarkable". I had a PET scan to rule out cancer (carcinoid syndrome flushing) and it came back negative, so that was a huge relief! Allergist ran a bunch of tests and all I'm allergic to is tree pollen (the flushing started at the beginning of last winter). Essentially my health appears to be fine, and I feel fine until the flushing starts. In the cool weather it doesn't start until afternoon. However, warmth will make me flush right away. A warm room, standing in the sun, the stove, etc. And exertion of any kind will bring on an episode. The flushing is often accompanied by a headache, and then anxiety. It NEVER starts with anxiety, so it's not panic. The anxiety, I'm sure, is just from the freakiness of the flushing and the headache.
I ran across a thread on this forum from about ten years ago where a member had the same issue and narrowed it down to VG. I tried quitting vaping a couple of times but I only lasted a day each time, so I tried vaping pure VG for about four days but there was no change to the flushing so I moved on to other rabbit holes. That is until last night when I found the above mentioned thread.
This morning I went back to analog cigs and I hate it! And so does my wife. But I feel I need to do this as a diagnostic.
Is there any new information on vaping and facial flushing? It's really the only thing left other than extremely exotic, rare diseases. I went gluten and sugar free about 5 weeks ago and recently started a lower histamine diet but still no change. Doc put me on antihistamines a week ago and still no change.
Any ideas how long it will take the vape chemicals to leave my system? My juice is a mix of mostly vanilla with a little menthol. Been using the same stuff for almost four years but my my intake probably doubled when we went online. I was at 3mg nic when we went online but I quickly worked that down to under 1mg because I figured it was a good time. I was probably at between 1.5 and 2 mg when the flushing started. I also went nic free for about a week but with no success.
Any info would be awesome! Thanks so much for reading this much. I'm a bit freaked out and nearing the end of my coping rope. I dunk my head in cold water all day and sleep with a cooler full of ice packs. Oh, and I keep my pillow on the freezer.
Again, thanks for any and all input. I'd like to get back to vaping and off the analogs as soon as possible.
-Mac

 

[SupplyDaddy]

Welcome to the EFC Mac.

Tell us, are you taking any type of vitamins?

As to vaping, what are/were you vaping, what are/were you vaping on and at what settings?
Did you tell your docs that you vaped? Are you taking any major pain meds?

I was a 36 year smoker, up to and past 2 packs a day of the little cigar type cigarettes.
At almost 9 years of vaping now and started DIY soon after starting.
I have found since then that I'm getting older.... Blah!
B Vitamins give a flush, tramadol makes me sensitive to nicotine, and nothing will take me back to smoking!

 

[Mac_1]

Hey SupplyDaddy, I feel your getting-older pain.
I vape(d) a brand named Trippy Drips (a local manufacturer), it's called O.G. Puddin'. And I add in a little Smoothol to mellow it out (menthol). It's a PG-VG blend but it doesn't say at what ratio. I talked to the folks that make it and they've never encountered my problem.
I tried a different brand of menthol but it didn't change anything.
I was actually on Tramadol when the flushing started, so of course I figured that was the problem so I stopped immediately (6 months ago, maybe). I was also on Lunesta because of the stress and the Tramadol induced insomnia but stopped that as well. I also can't drink wine. It makes me flush as well. I don't know the exact timing of that one, but it's definitely been since I started vaping.
No vitamins for me, thanks. I'd rather eat home cooked meals. at least, as much as possible. I thought about the niacin flush but it's not that.
Thanks for the reply.

 

[Mac_1]

Oh, and I have an iStick Pico that I like to use .3 ohm coils in and at about 40-45 watts. Coils are made by Tobecco. Although sometimes I use Trinity.

 

[Mac_1]

And to your other question; I'm not hiding my vaping from the doctors but I also haven't focused on it. So no, it's never been addressed with the Docs. I have an appointment with my allergist this week so I'll bring it up.
I hate these cigs! Did they always taste this awful or has something changed?

 

[zoiDman]

Hi everyone, thanks for bringing me onboard!
I've been vaping for about 4 years now, when I swapped in vaping for cigarettes (I smoked 1/3-1/2 pack a day for 40 years). I've really enjoyed it and my wife loves the aroma.
I'm a teacher and about 15 months ago we got shoved into online teaching because of the pandemic. I worked 7 day weeks at my computer for about six months. It was stressful (I'm not a sit-at-a-computer-all-day kinda' guy) but once my classes were written, it wasn't too bad. I found my pace and made the transition okay. But a few weeks after the stress let off and things seemed easier, I started facial flushing. My ears turned bright red and burned, my nose turned bright red and throbbed, and my cheeks and forehead got red and VERY hot. And it's been happening every day since. Every single day now for about seven months. My doctors are stumped. My endocrinologist said all my bloodwork is "remarkably unremarkable". I had a PET scan to rule out cancer (carcinoid syndrome flushing) and it came back negative, so that was a huge relief! Allergist ran a bunch of tests and all I'm allergic to is tree pollen (the flushing started at the beginning of last winter). Essentially my health appears to be fine, and I feel fine until the flushing starts. In the cool weather it doesn't start until afternoon. However, warmth will make me flush right away. A warm room, standing in the sun, the stove, etc. And exertion of any kind will bring on an episode. The flushing is often accompanied by a headache, and then anxiety. It NEVER starts with anxiety, so it's not panic. The anxiety, I'm sure, is just from the freakiness of the flushing and the headache.
I ran across a thread on this forum from about ten years ago where a member had the same issue and narrowed it down to VG. I tried quitting vaping a couple of times but I only lasted a day each time, so I tried vaping pure VG for about four days but there was no change to the flushing so I moved on to other rabbit holes. That is until last night when I found the above mentioned thread.
This morning I went back to analog cigs and I hate it! And so does my wife. But I feel I need to do this as a diagnostic.
Is there any new information on vaping and facial flushing? It's really the only thing left other than extremely exotic, rare diseases. I went gluten and sugar free about 5 weeks ago and recently started a lower histamine diet but still no change. Doc put me on antihistamines a week ago and still no change.
Any ideas how long it will take the vape chemicals to leave my system? My juice is a mix of mostly vanilla with a little menthol. Been using the same stuff for almost four years but my my intake probably doubled when we went online. I was at 3mg nic when we went online but I quickly worked that down to under 1mg because I figured it was a good time. I was probably at between 1.5 and 2 mg when the flushing started. I also went nic free for about a week but with no success.
Any info would be awesome! Thanks so much for reading this much. I'm a bit freaked out and nearing the end of my coping rope. I dunk my head in cold water all day and sleep with a cooler full of ice packs. Oh, and I keep my pillow on the freezer.
Again, thanks for any and all input. I'd like to get back to vaping and off the analogs as soon as possible.
-Mac

Hi Mac. Welcome to the ECF.

I'm Not a Doctor. So I'm Not Qualified to give any Advise. But if this was happening to Me, the 1st thing I would do is Switch to Unflavored e-Liquid. And use that for at least 4 Weeks.

Beit rare, Flavorings/Sweeteners have been know to Cause some Unusual Problems. Even in people who have used them for a Long period of time. And Flavoring Formulation can change without any notice.

If that Doesn't work, I would move to 0mg Unflavored. This is Really Two Fold. One, it determines if the Nicotine you are using is the problem. But two, and the Big One, it preps you to where I would go Next if it Doesn't Work.

And that Next is if 0mg Unflavored doesn't work, I would Quit Vaping. Not Quit Vaping while going back to Smoking. Quitting Vaping as a Non-Smoker.

It is just Undeniable the Adverse Affects of Smoking. And every time someone goes Back to Smoking it becomes Harder and Harder to Permanently Quit.

No Matter what Happens, I would want to get thru things as a Non-Smoker.

 

[Mac_1]

Thanks zoiDman, where would I find unflavored, 0 nic juice in Illinois? My understanding is that I can still order online as long as it's in my state. And would that juice be a blend of VG and PG? The gal on this forum, many years ago, ended up having a sensitivity to VG, which I think is unusual.

 

[zoiDman]

Thanks zoiDman, where would I find unflavored, 0 nic juice in Illinois? ...

0mg Unflavored is just a Mix of VG and PG. Both of which can still be Obtained from Health Food Stores or even Amazon.

Just look for USP Grade VG and PG.

 

[Mac_1]

From a local manufacturer (mixer?) called Trippy Drips. They're about a half hour away but I can also get it locally in our vape shops.
I was never interested in mixing my own. I just mix two different brands and flavors to get what I want. The menthol I use is called Smoothol and is also available through my local shops.

 

[zoiDman]

From a local manufacturer (mixer?) called Trippy Drips. They're about a half hour away but I can also get it locally in our vape shops.
I was never interested in mixing my own. I just mix two different brands and flavors to get what I want. The menthol I use is called Smoothol and is also available through my local shops.

Gotcha.

I'm not sure if you know about it? But there is a Looming USPS Ban on "Vape" products. Which would effect you ability to buy Unflavored Nicotine Base. Or any type of e-Liquid that has Nicotine in it.

US Vape Mail Ban - USPS/FedEx/UPS/DHL

But if you want is to try 0mg Unflavored, all you would need in USP Grade VG and USP Grade PG. Both of which can be found Online. And Very Possibly Locally to you.

 

[Mac_1]

Yeah, I know about it. Seems vape is the new evil. It started right after I started vaping, so it's probably my fault. Sigh....
I will heed your advice. But ultimately, I want to start with no vape whatsoever. If the flushing stops, I can then experiment with pure PG, VG, and different flavors until I can find something I can tolerate. If it's possible.
I don't like being back on analogs but if I can get the flushing to stop, I'll have more coping skills to move forward. I made the switch to vaping VERY easily. Like in just a few days. Quiting everything will be a different story, I'm sure.

 

[zoiDman]

Yeah, I know about it. Seems vape is the new evil. It started right after I started vaping, so it's probably my fault. Sigh....
I will heed your advice. But ultimately, I want to start with no vape whatsoever. If the flushing stops, I can then experiment with pure PG, VG, and different flavors until I can find something I can tolerate. If it's possible.
I don't like being back on analogs but if I can get the flushing to stop, I'll have more coping skills to move forward. I made the switch to vaping VERY easily. Like in just a few days. Quiting everything will be a different story, I'm sure.

You know Best. And I'm sure you have talked about things with your Wife. My Best suggestion is to look at where things are Today. And where they could be in 6 Months.

If you think that there is a Possibility that you will want to use Nicotine in e-Liquids at some time in the Future (Like to Quit Smoking or to Stay Quit) you had better buy some Nicotine Base NOW as a Hedge.

Having Bottle of 100mg/ml of Nicotine in the Freezer might just be a $100 Waste of Money. Or it might be they way you get back off Cigarettes. Or maybe something in between.

But it's Changing Very Fast Right Now.

 

[zoiDman]

BTW - What do you Teach?

 

[Mac_1]

So it's the nicotine they're going after? I thought it was the flavors. Honestly, my oral fixation is a lot stronger than my need for nicotine. If they made nic free cigarettes, I'd totally be doing that right now.

 

[Mac_1]

I teach painting, drawing, and sculpture. Moving online was a bit of a challenge. I've got some 150 how-to videos on YouTube now.

 

[zoiDman]

So it's the nicotine they're going after? I thought it was the flavors. Honestly, my oral fixation is a lot stronger than my need for nicotine. If they made nic free cigarettes, I'd totally be doing that right now.

They're kinda throwing a Blanket over the Entire e-Cigarette Market. But Non-Nicotine products might have some Wiggle Room. Whereas Anything with Nicotine in it, or package with a Nicotine Product, Isn't going to make it.

Food Flavoring from Non-Vape shops shouldn't be effected. Same with VG and PG.

 

[zoiDman]

I teach painting, drawing, and sculpture. Moving online was a bit of a challenge. I've got some 150 how-to videos on YouTube now.

Cool.

Paint and Drawing would seem like somewhat Easier Transitions to an Online format. Sculpture seems like it would be a Harder to present Virtually.

I stood in front of a Whiteboard and taught Math and Machine Programming for about 36 Semesters. Retired now.

Kinda Miss It sometimes. Other time, Not So Much.

LOL

 

[Mac_1]

I've seen VG in craft shops made for icing. Is that the same?

 

[Mac_1]

Cool.

Paint and Drawing would seem like somewhat Easier Transitions to an Online format. Sculpture seems like it would be a Harder to present Virtually.

I stood in front of a Whiteboard and taught Math and Machine Programming for about 36 Semesters. Retired now.

Kinda Miss It sometimes. Other time, Not So Much.

LOL

I will miss the students. NOT the administrators! Lol. It's so different now. I've been teaching for 26 years but the last five have been the worst. last I knew we had 1.3 faculty for every administrator. I'm sure its worse now. We worked all last summer for free, while they hired more admin to oversee the office of unicorns and hand-holding. It's sad, really.

 

[SupplyDaddy]

I hate these cigs! Did they always taste this awful or has something changed?

Yes, Yes they did, we just accepted it...

Opened a couple of storage boxes last year from when I left Border Operations about 9 years ago, right after I started vaping. OMG THE SMELL!!!!!!!!! Even 8 + years old, cigarette smoke STANK!!!