gastrointestinal issues :(

[rgregory]

Hi! I have been dabbling with e-cigarettes for a number of years now - so this post might be a little long. I am hoping I can get some help figuring out why I am experiencing some adverse effects.... I have been a pack a day smoker (marlboro light 100's for 20 years, and continue to smoke since I have not been able to switch to vaping. Here is a summary covering at least 5 years..

1. First ever e-cig purchased was a smoking everywhere. leaked nicotine into my mouth. hated it and threw it away
2.Bought a green smoke. I was able to tolerate the flavor just enough to use it. Was off regular cigs for a few days, but once my tastebuds came back to life I found the flavor disgusting, and so gave up.
3. Bought a smoke stik brand, with 18 mg cartridges in the strawberry flavor. I felt encouraged, flavor didn't taste too bad even after a few days. went a little overboard nicotine wise a couple times and had bad headache / nausea, but nothing major. Unfortunately, these were mail order, and a few times I ran out, shipping didn't arrive in time, batteries would quit working etc... Then they were completely out of stock for a while so I gave up.

4. Tried again with the same brand and made it completely smoke free for a week, then broke out into a full body rash. Got scared, gave up for another year. Had the rash biopsied, and they were not able to determine what it was. Went away in a months time. To be fair I had a similar rash in high school that had nothing to do with vaping, so who knows. (online says smoke stik ratio is 80 PG / 20 VG)

5. My sister convinced me to try a vape pen. Bought a kagortech promini tank 3. Got some juice that was just ok, but didn't like the flavor enough to stick with it or smoke too much. It sat for a few months

6. Went out and to a vape store and sat down to try different flavors. Ended up buying "Nicter" (bottle says cherryvapes,com in Choco coco mocha. OMG loved it. Used it like crazy in 6 mg strength. Towards the end of the day, I started getting stomach cramps bad. and nausea. got ........ etc. not fun.
My stomach was audibly making crazy noises before this happened but i didn't think anything of it until it got worse. I put it down for the rest of the day and didn't smoke regular ones either. I was unable to find the PG / VG ratio online... bummer. Not wanting to give up, I tried it again the following morning - this time the stomach rumbling started almost instantly.... after just a few puffs. frustrated I lit a regular cigarette to satisfy the nicotine craving, and felt just fine. resumed my normal marlboro routine with no further issues.

7. Went back to the vape store, described my issues and they basically told me i was crazy, and that "maybe I have a peanut allergy". Realizing I wasn't going to get anywhere with them, I purchased a few other flavors that I liked one was "mama's cookies" and tried again. Basically had the same problem and gave up.

8. Tried a different vender - got Halo belgian chocolate. This time in 12 mg thinking i could satisfy nicotine while inhaling less total vapor. Not sure what the PG / VG ratio is. Loved it, used it half a day and ultimately tummy rumblings started again, and I stopped for several hours. (smoked regular cigarettes during these few hours with no issues). Then right before bed I filled tank with some 100% VG chocolate blend that I ordered from Virgin Vapors. (also 12 mg). Took two puffs. instant tummy rumbles plus significant nausea.

I am ready to give up. I have no idea what my problem is. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I have definitely ruled out this being nicotine overdose, since I can put it down and continue smoking marlboros with no issues. I am not getting fluid in my mouth am extremely careful about this. I am getting these symptoms even when I use it sparingly... And have never used anything stronger than 12 mg juice...


Thanks!!!!!!

 

[SpyderBite]

I'm not sure exactly what the problem could be. I might have missed it, but have you tried vaping a 0mg juice yet? Just to rule out that nicotine has anything to do with the problem. If you still have problems after vaping 0mg juice, then it is probably an allergy to PG or VG.

I got heartburn when I smoked analogs. I thought it was stress, ulcers, alcohol (although I'm sure that didn't help), but after I switched to vaping my 20 years of heartburn disappeared. So, I ask this, are you vaping and smoking before you go to bed?

Finally, I noted that you are choosing dessert/baked goods flavors. Have you tried a fruit flavored juice yet? Anything else that doesn't have nabisco or hersey's on the label? There could be an agent in those particular flavorings that you are sensitive to.

 

[rgregory]

LOL (Nabisco/ Hersheys)!!!

I have tried some non baked goods juices but haven't like any of them enough to actually use them. I do have coffee flavors and a coconut one that I am trying out to see if its a flavor thing, but I think these probably still fall into the "Dessert" category. I haven't tried 0 mg because i am certain this isn't nicotine related (I can continue to smoke regular cigarettes with no problems and no worsening of symptoms.

I usually do smoke before bed, and have for many years... I don't ever vape before bed but this is only because vaping consistently makes me ill by lunchtime on days when I have tried to switch... So by the end of the day I am back to my marlboros because I am unable to tolerate anything else

I do agree that the only thing left could be an aversion the actual flavorings... or possibly aversion to the VG. I am basing this on the fact that I never had this kind of reaction with smokestik brand ecigs (80 PG / 20 VG according to their website)...

So I guess my next question is, can you recommend high quality vendors that I haven't already tried that will sell either 100% PG or 80 PG / 20 VG flavors? I am not concerned about the price at this point, I have spent so much already... I am planning on ordering some unflavored as well to try and eliminate that variable...

Thanks again!!!!

 

[Kaezziel]

Very odd, indeed... I can't think of anything to do with vape that would cause those symptoms, and would suggest seeing a doctor about it... strange that it comes when you vape and goes away when you stop though.... might see an allergist and mention PG and VG so that they could check for sensitivities for those... good luck, I hope that you can figure this out and get off of the smokes!

 

[VannyPak]

Sounds to me like you have a VG allergy. Maybe try 80%PG and 20% VG or 100% PG. Any site like Mt Baker Vapor, Vape Wild, DiyFlavorShack would have eliquids available. Maybe try local B&M that makes their own juices do a higher PG blend for you.

 

[amoret]

It could be nicotine related to some extant. When I was using nicotine lozenges I had a lot of burping and gas problems and my (excellent) doctor at the time said that it was from the nicotine, even though smoking did not cause the same thing. That said, I think you do need to talk to a doctor about it.

I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on television, but it does sound to me like an allergy to something in the liquids you are using. Whether that something is pg, vg or a flavor would be the question. The way to test that would be to try plain pg, plain vg and unflavored with nicotine for at least a couple of days each. If you didn't have a reaction to any of those trials then you could be fairly sure that it is something in the flavors. But talk to your doctor about it.

 

[rgregory]

Ok, Thank you very much for all the replies. I am going to order some either high PG or 100% PG in unflavored, and zero nicotine to see if I can get this narrowed down some. Hopefully I will be able to figure it out :/

I really appreciate the replies - this has been very frustrating...!!

 

[amoret]

You can also get plain USP vg - vegetable glycerin at Walmart and most big chain pharmacies. A cheap, easy way to try plain vg.

 

[aznnp77]

They sell 100% VG that is suitable for ingestion at the Vitamin Shoppe. A huge bottle only costs like $8.99, so you could probably that without nicotine just to see how you feel.

100% PG will have a very strong throat hit, but since you're still smoking analogs anyways, you might like it like that. Good luck.

I've had and still have gastrointestinal issues. I don't think switching to vaping has helped or made them worse, I believe it is a pre-existing condition of mine. Vaping did help with the chest pains I was getting though. Just need to keep hydrated.

 

[rgregory]

Oh!!! Oops I didn't realize I could get it at actual stores. Oh well, I already ordered unflavored 100% PG and max VG unflavored. Guess I will just wait.

I am sorry to hear about your GI issues- I normally don't have any. Unless I vape... I am sure that not having reg smokes would probably cause me some issues, but i don't think that's what it is seeing as to how I can't really make it even half a day vaping without having significant problems. (I can refrain from smoking cigarettes for 12 hours if I have a long day traveling/ long flight- and do not experience these issues).

GI upset is the worst, I hope you can find a way to get some relief.