Frustrated Newbie Here

[AndreaR]

Hello, all. About two months ago my husband and I bought the Blu kits. I loved the flavor of the Java Jolt and it did not make me cough but we hated the batteries and the expense of the cartomizers. My husband upgraded to an Ego C Twist and has not smoked an analog cigarette since. He is using juice from our local Brick and Mortar. I tried his and almost coughed to death. I then ordered a juice sampler and a G6 from Halo in a lower nicotine and again, almost coughed to death. My throat feels like I gargled with broken glass. I even went to the doctor and had a strep screen. I am really disappointed at this point because the juice sampler wasn't cheap and I wasted a bunch of cartos on juice I can't vape. The cartos won't fit hubby's set-up which I did not buy because I at first blamed the coughing on the stronger battery.

I think I might have a sensitivity to PG since it is in both the local B&M juice and in the Halo juice that make me cough but not in the Blu cartos which don't make me cough.

Our local shop does not carry any 100% VG juices so I can't go buy some and test my theory. So I'm sitting here with my new Halo and nothing I can vape until I order some 100% VG. I hate to keep spending money -- what if even the 100% VG makes me cough to death? Is there anything else that might be the problem?

 

[Bigg Wigg]

Try something that gives a cool vape, instead of a warm one, and also turn the wattage, or voltage down if you can. I was able to use up the rest of my Blu cartomizers on my itaste vv 3.0, they screwed right on. I also noticed that the Blu doesn't give me any throat burn, but the others do, too. I'm thinking it is something that will go away after time, like the cough when you inhale. It does feel like strep coming on though.

 

[patkin]

PG lends a stronger throat hit as does nic... the higher the nic, the stronger the TH. Also, nics vary. Some feel "peppery" and can irritate. My advice is the lower both PG and nic if you don't like a strong TH. Get some plain VG and "water down" the juice that makes you cough to save it from being a waste. If you decide its the nic itself causing your problem, then you'll have to switch to another vendor for juice as vendors usually stick with the same nic bases. As for the hardware, you can buy adapters to match up threadings.

 

[rhean]

Blus worked for you, and their ingredients are: Distilled water, Natural and Artificial flavors, USP Grade Glycerin, Citric Acid and Nicotine. I assume the "USP grade glycerin" is VG? If so, then VG based liquids should be fine, as Blus were fine. Also, they say that they use Johnson Creek juices, and Johnson Creek does have an online store you can order from. I've never tried their juices, but I'm sure others have and can make recommendations.

Also, the Blus look like ciggies, while the ego C/clearomizers do not. Could you be sucking on the ego Cs in a way that hurts your throat? Good luck!

 

[Krazirob]

you can always clean the cartos that way they arent a total waste

 

[ancientgeek]

I have experienced the coughing as well, although mine didn't start until I was a month or two into vaping. I tried upping the vg thinking that pg was the problem. No improvement. I have now narrowed it down to the nic level. I had started low at 12 mg, but it was at this level that the coughing started. I now vape 6 mg heavily with very little coughing. When I try one of my leftover 12 mg juices, I immediately cough. My suggestion is try less nic. Still vapes well and lots of flavor.

 

[AndreaR]

My husband's juice is 24 mg. The Halo juice I ordered is 18 mg. Maybe I need to try a 12. I figured I needed a high one since I am a two-pack a day smoker but perhaps not. The Blu cartos say they are between 11-16 mg but I found myself still wanting analogs and assumed it was because I needed more nicotine.

 

[txgtr]

It may be the way that you are using your ecig.
Check this:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library/337017-inhalation-technique-e-cigarette.html

I know I had to adjust when I started vaping.

 

[Legostar]

Also try to use a bottom coil clearomizer like Kanger EVOD, T3S or a Protank, this gives a bit colder vape like Bigg Wigg suggested.
Myself had problems with CE4's that use upper coil, especially the first draws when the wick had sucked up a lot of liquid during night.

So the first draws when a clearomizer have not been used for a time can be heavy and make you cough.
Same with Cartomizers they dry out quite fast, and you get a dryer hit.

100% VG can be a bit thick and needs to be diluted with water to work well in some/most atomizers.
But i feel a cleaner vape, and does not make me cough if not the nic level is to high or using to much power when it's easily dry hits when the wick has problem with the thickness.

Also vaping dryes out your throat so drink more water when vaping.

 

[aldo.lim]

My husband's juice is 24 mg. The Halo juice I ordered is 18 mg. Maybe I need to try a 12. I figured I needed a high one since I am a two-pack a day smoker but perhaps not. The Blu cartos say they are between 11-16 mg but I found myself still wanting analogs and assumed it was because I needed more nicotine.

I used to smoke around 2 packs a day..sometimes even more..but i vape 6mg nic..
If I may suggest lowering the nic to 6mg but increase your vaping frequency..I started with 12mg and immediately switched to 6mg since my mouth and throat itched like crazy..
So IMHO, get the nic level you desire by vaping more but with less nic so that it doesn't irritate your throat..
Hope it helps and you could enjoy vaping like so many others do..cheers!

PS: keep a bottle of water in handy if you vape more..and carry around some hard candies if ever you feel "weird" sensation on your tounge..it helps if you took some candy..once you get used to vaping, you won't need those candies tho

 

[Howietzer]

I had a similar problem when I first gave up smoking. Usually it was for the first hour or so in the morning (first 10-20 vapes). It is very possible that you are having an allergic reaction, and as well very possible that you just need to get used to vaping more regularly as the few people I know that have reactions get more of a asthma attack than a sore throat. Just my Good Luck!

 

[patkin]

You've been given very good advice here but there's just one other possibility and that's the flavoring in the juice. There are many possibilities with that but I'm mention only a few. The obvious is pepper which some vendors use to increase TH for those who like it. Don't think there's any pepper taste to your juice? Different mixers are very skilled in its use and you won't taste it but sure will feel it in the TH. Others like cinnamon do the same thing but you'll taste those as you will some mints. Like I said, there are many that will irritate and, of course, you could actually be allergic to some flavoring or other but then you would also develop chest congestion as the lungs try to wall off the allergen and expel it.

 

[AndreaR]

Almost every flavor I have tried was some sort of coffee or other. Cappuccino from the local shop, Twisted Java and Cafe Mocha from Halo, etc. I sure hope I'm not allergic to coffee flavoring but it might be worth checking into.

I will say that I react badly to scents in general -- can't even walk down the cleaning supply aisle or go into a department store with a perfume section. I also suffer from seasonal allergies, etc. so it might take me awhile to find what I tolerate well. It will be worth it in the long run though.

 

[patkin]

I feel for ya AndreaR. I'm the same way. I've gone to only inhaling a mix of plain PG/VG and nic whenever I want that "smoking" feel and I use a cigalike then too... the eroll for me. It has a pleasant taste/sweetness all its own. When I want various other tastes, I vape without inhaling and exhale a bit through my nose to get more flavor. Actually, inhaling is not required to get nic. We get it through whatever skin it touches... mouth, nose, lips, even fingers. I think its pretty much gone by the time it hits the lung anyway. That's why gum and patches deliver it. Like I said, I only inhale when I want to feel like I'm smoking. I did that for about 6 months but now actually prefer mouth/nose-only vaping.

 

[bosun]

I've been looking for a flavor I like with no great luck. Best I've found is "I guess I can put up with this" (G). Tried unflavored nic liquid -- doesn't taste bad at all! Recommend you try a little bit. And on another positive note, it is a helluva lot cheaper!

 

[pinkcloud]

Almost every flavor I have tried was some sort of coffee or other. Cappuccino from the local shop, Twisted Java and Cafe Mocha from Halo, etc. I sure hope I'm not allergic to coffee flavoring but it might be worth checking into.

I will say that I react badly to scents in general -- can't even walk down the cleaning supply aisle or go into a department store with a perfume section. I also suffer from seasonal allergies, etc. so it might take me awhile to find what I tolerate well. It will be worth it in the long run though.

Andrea, I had the same problem. I don't know if this will help but I HAD to go to 6 nic...but then I still coughed. After reading many comments here at ECF I decided I needed to go the VG route. I now use 70 - 100% VG with 6 nic -- I can't use Halo because they don't have higher VG. Perhaps your local B&M carries one or two with higher VG, mine only carries a couple and I have learned to love something other than coffee flavors...lol

You can try a couple of vendors online (organic plus VG can be pricey) but you can try their "sample packs". I just ordered from Virgin Vapors and they are amazing (much steeping is necessary if you order the regular line which has alcohol) and the sample packs were within my price range. They do their own organic extraction for flavors so you shouldn't have a "perfume" problem.

I think we've all had to go through some changes when we first vape but you will finally find satisfaction. Just hang in there.

Just some thoughts for you to ponder...

 

[skydude007]

I went through a lot of expensive experimentation until I finally figured out what was working for me.
I agree with the earlier post about adjusting voltage and wattage. But your theory on 100% VG might be correct!
I found a way to experiment a little cheaper by getting things on tvnauction.com. It's a new thing since Ebay won't let us sell our stuff on their site it's a way to pick up used and new devices and sell the stuff I don't like. It's basically just for vapor's. Basic listings and stores are free. Which I find pretty cool, because if it doesn't sell it doesn't cost a dime! That seems unusual now days.
I don't have a B&M store near me (Closest one is almost 2 hours drive). But even that one doesn't have a very good satisfaction / return policy.

 

[SchmidtyKy]

Hello, all. About two months ago my husband and I bought the Blu kits. I loved the flavor of the Java Jolt and it did not make me cough but we hated the batteries and the expense of the cartomizers. My husband upgraded to an Ego C Twist and has not smoked an analog cigarette since. He is using juice from our local Brick and Mortar. I tried his and almost coughed to death. I then ordered a juice sampler and a G6 from Halo in a lower nicotine and again, almost coughed to death. My throat feels like I gargled with broken glass. I even went to the doctor and had a strep screen. I am really disappointed at this point because the juice sampler wasn't cheap and I wasted a bunch of cartos on juice I can't vape. The cartos won't fit hubby's set-up which I did not buy because I at first blamed the coughing on the stronger battery.

I think I might have a sensitivity to PG since it is in both the local B&M juice and in the Halo juice that make me cough but not in the Blu cartos which don't make me cough.

Our local shop does not carry any 100% VG juices so I can't go buy some and test my theory. So I'm sitting here with my new Halo and nothing I can vape until I order some 100% VG. I hate to keep spending money -- what if even the 100% VG makes me cough to death? Is there anything else that might be the problem?

Blu uses only 100% VG.....so it is likely that using 100% VG juices won't make you cough if Blu didn't make you cough. Ironically, I am actually sensitive to the 100%VG. It does make me cough! But PG sensitivity is common from what I understand. I'm a little bit new, too...but I would recommend ordering juices from a site like MtBakerVapor where you can customize your juice. You can use just VG or try a 20%PG 80% VG mix. Keep in mind that VG is thicker than the PG and your atty may need more frequent cleaning. Some people cut the VG with a little distilled water, MtBaker allows you to customize your juice this way if you want. They sell 15ml bottles for only $4.99...so not a huge investment if you wanted to try a couple and see how it works for you. I am sure there are other companies that allow the same customization, but MTBaker was the first place I tried at the recommendation of a family member, and I've been so happy with them I haven't tried others.

Hope you get this figured out and find your happy place!

 

[Bobnoj]

I had exactly the same problem, so save money I bought a VG base liquid which was flavourless and about 6% nicotine, and mixed all mt eliquids into one, it came out ok and now I can vape it all. I know it sounds a bit strange to mix stuff, even menthol with juices but it can work out ok.

 

[XeniaMike]

Andrea: I started with Blu's also and their Java is awesome! But I quickly went to carto tanks and Kanger Protanks and a mod. I wanted to get my Mom started on something and she had the same reaction you did! I even started her off on 100% VG juice just for that reason and it still happened. After observing her I realized she was trying to inhale the vapor the same way she did cigarette smoke. I had her try inhaling more like a cigar, just taking a large puff into the mouth, tasting it a little and exhaling through her nose and mouth both. That seemed to stop the coughing. Early on I had to teach myself the technique. I was also a 2 PAD smoker, and 24mg is perfect for me.

I think the vapor we get from twists, mods, tanks, etc. is a little bit more concentrated that what we got from Blu cartos. Also there was an adjustment period to vaping that lasted about a week or two as far as throat hit, etc.