I'm having to revert back to analog's :'(

[Hermetic]

I'm at my wits end about what to do and where to go. Have been e-vaping for the past 4 years. Started in 2009 after stopping cigarettes, but did not completely stop analog's until summer 2010.

Unfortunately, nothing has sat right with me concerning ejuice. VG caused me asthma and acne, so switched to PG/VG Mixed, problems still persisted, and finally switched to pure PG, but was always coughing up phlegm and my throat was constantly sore.

But, my biggest complaint regardless of what ejuice I was using was the totally un-explainable fatigue and tiredness, and aches in muscles (especially my legs), loss of motivation and poor concentration and attention. This persisted throughout. I'm 31 Years old.

I shouldn't be feeling like this.

I conducted an experiment where, for the last 3 week, I reverted back to smoking cigarettes. I hate myself for doing this. I HATE SMOKING.

But unfortunately, the fatigue diminished, my memory and attention span came back as did the normal motivation I used to have and the ache in my legs completely disappeared - but my Insomnia returned. When I quit analogs and took up vaping, my sleeping patterns (due to constantly feeling tired) improved vastly.

This is not the first time I have conducted said experiment. I did the same last year, as I was trying to find a cause for these side effects, so I completed an elimination diet as I thought it was dietary or intolerance's to certain food groups, but the problems still persisted. Then I stopped vaping (at the time it was VG), and started smoking analogs, and I felt normal again, like how I used to. Then I thought that maybe I had an issue with VG so progressed to find alternatives, but the problem was still persistent.

Why does vaping do this to me? I have friends who vape, who don't experience any of these side effects from vaping, yet for some reason, there seems to be something in vaping that disrupts my physiology (& psychology!).

I have one other friend (out of a possible ten) who's complaints match those of my own. Unexplained fatigue, aches, pains etc.

What could possibly be in e-liquid that causes this tiredness? I have searched for organic e-liquids, pure e-liquids, flavorless e-liquids etc and have tried quite a few different brands, but I don't know why my symptoms improve the moment I stop vaping.

I HATE SMOKING ANALOGS, but I'm in a catch 22 situation. I don't know what to do.

Has anybody else experienced symptoms similar to mine? and if so, did you ever find the cause?

 

[wonner]

You have to do what is right for you.

Far be it from me to tell someone their body is lying to them.

 

[damthisisfun]

When i started vaping I had similar issues - still get acne though. But folks recommended I get a hormone panel done - finally did - oh boy - long story short - mine were way off.......I feel much better now. U may want to consider this.....

 

[BigDaddyQ]

I've not experienced any of your symptoms whatsoever. But different people react to chemicals differently. There's thousands of chemicals you take into your body when you smoke cigarettes. Some of those chemicals can't even be identified. When you use electronic cigarettes, all you are getting is nicotine really. So had I been in your situation, if you were really so adamant about hating smoking cigarettes, I would have just tried going a week or two without doing anything. No vaping, and no smoking. The last thing I would have done is to have gone back to smoking those stinky, nasty, foul tasting, clog up my lungs with cancer causing chemicals, cigarettes.

 

[FringeChief68]

Have you seen a Doctor? I think you should go have a check up, Tell the doc all of that.

 

[Caridwen]

Are you sure it's related to vaping.

Nothing in e-liquid that's not in cigarettes really. Just nicotine, flavoring and PG & VG.

Maybe try snus?

 

[jandrew]

Just as another angle -- it may not be anything to do with vaping (or eliquid ingredients per se) that is causing your symptoms, but rather that you might be highly sensitive to the other components in tobacco smoking (MAOIs in particular) and the lack of them is the problem.

You might want to give WTA eliquids a try -- they contain more of the alkaloids besides just nicotine and work better for some people.

 

[hazarada]

well, you still havent tried PEG400 sure it has a spotty reputation for all the people killed by DEG poisoning but thats just a string of bad luck, after all PG is produced in the same tanks as PEG400 and DEG and is just as likely to be contaminated. Also DEG poisoning from vaping would be a lot less lethal due to the lower quantities so you'd have a much longer time to catch it.

 

[pamdis]

It may not be what vaping is doing TO you as much as what quitting smoking is taking FROM you that is not replaced with e-liquids.

There are several alkaloids in tobacco, nic being the major one, but just one.

Some of the others acts as MAIO inhibitors, and you make be reacting to losing those.

You could try a WTA (Whole Tobacco Alkoloid) juice like from wholecigs, or you could try snus if you think you may be allergic to the PG and/or VG from vaping.

 

[StormFinch]

Tobacco artificially stimulates the endocrine system, including the thyroid which is the metabolic control system. An imbalance in the thyroid can cause exhaustion, brain fog, muscle aches, etc. I'd suggest getting your thyroid checked as well as the hormone panel mentioned above. Have your vitamin D and ferritin tested as well, as these can be low with thyroid problems and exacerbate symptoms. For thyroid tests, make sure you have Free T3 and Free T4 ran as well as a TSH. Don't let any doctor tell you that the TSH test is all you need. If you have questions or need more info feel free to PM me.

I understand the need to feel better and going back to tobacco. I quit cold turkey for 7 months and started smoking again, both from the need and from feeling like garbage because my thyroid was crashing. Rather than going back to cigarettes though, you might try using swedish snus. They have a decade of studies behind them proving that they are many times less hazardous than smoking. There's a subforum here for smokeless if you're interested in learning more.

Best wishes to you, whichever road you travel.


Edited to add that pamdis' post above is also a possibility and all things should be investigated. Good luck!

 

[omyeyes]

I have those same symptoms when I do not take my daily allergy pill. I actually feel like I'm getting the flu with the aches and fatigue. I have no idea what I'm allergic to so I just keep taking the pill everyday. However, I have not had any problems vaping. If I were you, I would definitely see a Dr.. Sorry, wish I could help.

 

[pamdis]

+1 on getting the thyroid checked and not letting the doctor get away with only doing the 'easy' test. They always want to just do that one, and if is shows anything, then do the the others. But the first one shows false negatives 50% of the time, and they tell you there's nothing wrong with you and you chase trying to figure out what's wrong for years.

 

[Traver]

Your best bet may be a smokess tobacco product like Swedish snus. It is not an area about which I have much knowledge and I suggest you do a bit of research. There is a lot of information about it on this forum because some vapors use it in conjunction with vaping. So you could try a search on this forum.
Some info on Swedish snus.

The Swedish Experience - Swedish Match

 

[rhean]

Fatigue, sleepiness, lack of concentration are all symptoms of nicotine/analog withdrawal, and the insomnia is a symptom of getting too much nicotine, so what you're describing probably has something to do with the way analogs deliver nicotine and other chemicals. It can't simply be withdrawal, however, as the symptoms would have disappeared after a few months. They definitely would have gone away after a few YEARS.

How long did you smoke before switching to vaping? Cigarettes deliver nicotine far faster than vaping, along with other chemicals which you don't get from vaping. If you started smoking fairly young, it's possible that you associate normal functioning with the oomph you got from cigarettes, specifically.

Try switching to something like Snus to see if that gives you whatever analogs are giving you without the drawbacks of vaping. Also, please see a doc about this. Analogs are not good for anyone. Whatever health/psychological benefit you are getting from them is deceptive and minor compared to the damage they will do long and short term. Good luck!

 

[crxess]

Fatigue
Lack of attention
Aching muscles

TO MUCH NICOTINE

Nothing is a cigarette that will change that. You may well have been continually overdosing. Yes it is totally possible.

None of what you site would be gained or lost to a dramatic extent without Rest or a loss of Rest.

The key ingredient to all you list as far as additional Chemical aid is in Both. The % is a control issue.

While I have no doubt your experiment worked, it was likely skewed by your smoking habit vs. your Vaping habit. It was also conducted by a non-professional that cannot actually properly analyze the data.

You should consider speaking to a Doctor about Nicotine/smokine effects vs. NRT effects.

* so you understand - I concure, you felt better. I once attempted quitting with the Patch. Never got a good nights sleep and always felt lousy. Also refused to give up the 18mg patches as they gave my body a Kick I thought it needed.(NOT!)

 

[pamdis]

I don't have thyroid problems, but they do run in my family, so I know a little bit about it. I did not know this though:

Smoking and Thyroid Disease: Exploration of the Connections / Thyroid Disease Information Source - Articles/FAQs

If you are smoking now, maybe see an endocronologist and get the tests, tell him your history of quitting/symptoms/reverting, then quit again and get the tests again.

 

[CreepyLady]

Tobacco artificially stimulates the endocrine system, including the thyroid which is the metabolic control system. An imbalance in the thyroid can cause exhaustion, brain fog, muscle aches, etc. I'd suggest getting your thyroid checked as well as the hormone panel mentioned above. Have your vitamin D and ferritin tested as well, as these can be low with thyroid problems and exacerbate symptoms. For thyroid tests, make sure you have Free T3 and Free T4 ran as well as a TSH. Don't let any doctor tell you that the TSH test is all you need. If you have questions or need more info feel free to PM me.

I understand the need to feel better and going back to tobacco. I quit cold turkey for 7 months and started smoking again, both from the need and from feeling like garbage because my thyroid was crashing. Rather than going back to cigarettes though, you might try using swedish snus. They have a decade of studies behind them proving that they are many times less hazardous than smoking. There's a subforum here for smokeless if you're interested in learning more.

Best wishes to you, whichever road you travel.


Edited to add that pamdis' post above is also a possibility and all things should be investigated. Good luck!

Thyroid is major one to investigate - especially in females! I was already exhibiting some symptoms of a hyperthyroid issue that runs in my family. Once I was 30 days off analogs it went in to high gear. Coming off of tobacco and only replacing the nicotine can uncover and/or exacerbate thyroid issues.

And +1 on snus or a WTA before going back to smoking.

 

[Hermetic]

Thank you for all the replies.

So the general consensus is that it could possibly either be a medical related issue - i.e, hypothyroid, or, nicotine overdose?

There may be some truth in both of those. I will contact my doctor during the week to get my thyroid tested.

I do tend to be quite active and healthy - but this fatigue and memory impairment is quite frightening. I'm 31yrs old, and I started smoking at the age of 17.

I know I should have stopped vaping and not have reverted back to analog's - I still feel like I have a psychological dependency issue when it comes to inhaling something.. anything!

I have just read up about WTA, seems incredibly interesting and would love to try - does anybody know if WTA liquids have a UK vendor?

As far as I'm aware, I think snus is banned for sale in the UK too.

 

[Sweetab]

I have read that PG releases lactic acid into the muscles, causing cramping, and fatigue.

 

[pamdis]

does anybody know if WTA liquids have a UK vendor?

I only know of two vendors who make it, both in the US, but both do ship internationally.

Wholecig - This is the vendor I use and have been very, very happy with their product and service
AromaEjuice