I am facing some issues... need help - new vape user

[mi2424]

I am a new vape user (smoked 18-20 years, 5-7 bensons per day). 5 days ago I bought an EIR Pod and used 25MG VGOD Mango Bomb.
Now I am facing some problems such as feeling tired after taking 2-3 puffs. Throat, and body itches after 10-15 minutes of taking puffs. Everything becomes normal again If I do not take any puff within 30 minutes to 1 hour. Can someone please give me some advice on what to do?

 

[OnTheFidele]

I'm no doctor so take everything I say with a grain of salt with zero recommendations...

Sounds to me like you're vaping at too high of a nic concentration for you. 5-7 bensons a day isn't very much. And 25mg is deceptively high, especially if you're taking more vape puffs than you were cigarette puffs. Most disposable pods are 50mg/mL, which is a LOT. One puff might have nicotine equivalent to up well over 5 puffs of a light cigarette...

A lot of these pod and nic salt companies sell high concentrations to get new vapers even more addicted to nicotine so that they'll buy their products. It's like energy drinks and caffeine. There's only so much that'll actually increase motivation and IQ appreciably. Nicotine is the same. There's only so much that'll act as a nootropic. The rest is to try to get you hooked.

To give you an idea, I'm down to 0.5mg/mL-1mg/mL., which is 25x-50x less nicotine than you use. I got hooked on one of those strong pods and it only took me abou a month to get back down to 1mg/mL. I mix my own juice and it is quite easy to make smaller and smaller doses if you get a scale with 0.01g accuracy. Just took a little research and math to figure it out.

 

[mi2424]

I'm no doctor so take everything I say with a grain of salt with zero recommendations...

Sounds to me like you're vaping at too high of a nic concentration for you. 5-7 bensons a day isn't very much. And 25mg is deceptively high, especially if you're taking more vape puffs than you were cigarette puffs. Most disposable pods are 50mg/mL, which is a LOT. One puff might have nicotine equivalent to up well over 5 puffs of a light cigarette...

A lot of these pod and nic salt companies sell high concentrations to get new vapers even more addicted to nicotine so that they'll buy their products. It's like energy drinks and caffeine. There's only so much that'll actually increase motivation and IQ appreciably. Nicotine is the same. There's only so much that'll act as a nootropic. The rest is to try to get you hooked.

To give you an idea, I'm down to 0.5mg/mL-1mg/mL., which is 25x-50x less nicotine than you use. I got hooked on one of those strong pods and it only took me abou a month to get back down to 1mg/mL. I mix my own juice and it is quite easy to make smaller and smaller doses if you get a scale with 0.01g accuracy. Just took a little research and math to figure it out.

Thank you very much, I think maybe it is better to start using the free base juice.

 

[Mordacai]

Definitely have to agree with @OnTheFidele with the Nicotine level being way higher than needed to begin with.

Bit with the itchy sort of feeling that screams to me some sort of sensitivity issue, so there may be something in the liquid your having a reaction to.

Whether it be the base liquid, some don't work well with Propylene Glycol. Or the other additives, namely flavourings and sweeteners.

 

[OnTheFidele]

Thank you very much, I think maybe it is better to start using the free base juice.

Might be a good idea

Maybe go from 12mg to 6mg to 3mg, then start mixing 0mg with 3mg, and so on

Definitely have to agree with @OnTheFidele with the Nicotine level being way higher than needed to begin with.

Bit with the itchy sort of feeling that screams to be some sort of sensitivity issue, so there may be something in the liquid your having a reaction to.

Whether it be the base liquid, some don't work well with Propylene Glycol. Or the other additives, namely flavourings and sweeteners.

This is good advice. Flavor-wise, the safest is honestly to stick with mint (as long there are no allergic reactions, of course) or fruit (again warning about allergies) vapes. For me, at least, there are the least amount of reactions. I hope that someone will correct me if I am wrong. I am only writing from my personal thoughts and experiences

 

[Mordacai]

@OnTheFidele, I'm thinking a test of plain Propylene Glycol may be in order and then plain Vegetable Glycerin with Distilled Water to confirm any issues with the base first.

And then work from there, Nicotine at most somewhere between 6mg/ml and 9mg/ml.

 

[Mordacai]

@mi2424 I found out the hard way that I just can't do any Melon flavours at all with liquids, causes me to get an irritated sore throat and then I develop a throat infection.

 

[OnTheFidele]

@OnTheFidele, I'm thinking a test of plain Propylene Glycol may be in order and then plain Vegetable Glycerin with Distilled Water to confirm any issues with the base first.

And then work from there, Nicotine at most somewhere between 6mg/ml and 9mg/ml.

I would agree with this for someone who wants to figure it out.

I was trying to go with the easiest recommendation for the absolute beginner

I would agree with Nic at 6-9mg/mL because most tend to underestimate how much they actually vape

 

[OnTheFidele]

@mi2424 I found out the hard way that I just can't do any Melon flavours at all with liquids, causes me to get an irritated sore throat and then I develop a throat infection.

Gotcha.

I personally really endorse non-flavored liquid. Been using them for most of my 10.5 years of vaping. And SUPER easy to mix once you figure it out. As @Mordacai implies, in my experience the safest looks like VG mixed with distilled water

 

[Mordacai]

I'm hoping it may be the typical run of the mill PG sensitivity @OnTheFidele, as it's more common than most realise.

It's just a pity that vape stores haven't thought of simple things like this, as you just need 2 really basic mods with replaceable drip tips so that people could be tested for any potential sensitivity to the base components, just have emergency services on speed dial just in case.

 

[Mordacai]

Yeah, as @OnTheFidele has said DIY liquid is a lot easier than most realise.

It kind of has some similarity to baking and cooking.

Even I DIY liquid myself, currently vaping through a Blueberry/Dragonfruit mix that I think needs some work but it's not bad. Next up is a Caramel Spiced Pecan, which should be interesting.

And all at 3mg/ml.

 

[Territoo]

Although I agree that your nicotine level is too high, your symptoms sound more like an allergy. It could be the source of VG. Is it palm or soy based? The simplest way to test is to switch brands of juice. If trying several brands doesn't help, it could be a PG synergy. Try VG with a few drops of distilled water, and see if that helps.

 

[OnTheFidele]

Yeah, as @OnTheFidele has said DIY liquid is a lot easier than most realise.

It kind of has some similarity to baking and cooking.

Even I DIY liquid myself, currently vaping through a Blueberry/Dragonfruit mix that I think needs some work but it's not bad. Next up is a Caramel Spiced Pecan, which should be interesting.

And all at 3mg/ml.

Yup. In the end, it's simple arithmetic. I use DIY E-liquid | Steam Engine | free vaping calculators easily calculate the weight of each ingredient. But if it's not a PG allergy as @Mordacai rightly talks about testing for, then it's really easy to calculate stuff. Before I used scales, I used my eyes to estimate ratios. So if I was trying to make a .5mg/mL juice with 3mg/mL and 0mg juices, I'd go for 5/6 0mg and 1/6 3mg

 

[OnTheFidele]

Although I agree that your nicotine level is too high, your symptoms sound more like an allergy. It could be the source of VG. Is it palm or soy based? The simplest way to test is to switch brands of juice. If trying several brands doesn't help, it could be a PG synergy. Try VG with a few drops of distilled water, and see if that helps.

Great points!

 

[OnTheFidele]

Out for the night guys, I hope you figure things out, @mi2424

 

[Mordacai]

@OnTheFidele I'm really old school, when I mix it's out with the graduated cylinders and syringes.

I need to upgrade to graduated pipettes at some point soon to make things quicker and easier.

 

[mi2424]

Thanks all, I think now I know where to start,

 

[jwbnyc]

Welcome to ECF.

Usually, I’m all about starting at 12-18mg free base, but in your case, being such a light smoker I’d recommend 3mg, then maybe 6mg if 3mg is not enough.

HTH

 

[mi2424]

I am trying to find PG free juice but in my country, it is hard to find without a name or brand, can anyone please suggest to me PG free 3 or 6 mg juice?

 

[Mordacai]

Where are you roughly based in the world @mi2424, just need a country is all to help come up with ideas for you.