Need help. Feeling unwell with vaping?

[SP3CLT]

Started out last year using the primarily PG based liquids sold in the brick and mortar stores. After 5-6 months, began to feel like crap. Issues ranged from dry eyes, dry skin/hair, fatigue and occasional sharp/stinging chest pains when taking a deep breath. Although I may likely have not been drinking enough water at the time, I dismissed the issues as a detox phase from years of analogue use, or potentially just "bad import juice".

When the issues didn't get better, I switched to a mostly VG liquid from a reputable vendor after reading some forums and initially found some relief. After a few months of happy vaping, similar although different issues began to plague me again. This time around I tend to get a heavy chest, upper/mid back back and side soreness (and the constant need to stretch), occasional shortness of breath, throat clearing, fatigue, and feeling spaced out/foggy.

After changing my diet, losing weight, drinking lots of water (30-50 oz daily) and making efforts to exercise more - I still wasn't finding any relief and became desperate. Recently I decided to test the effect of not vaping for one (very long) day, and didn't hit the PV in place of nicotine gum. Putting down the PV for the day, I felt lighter, was able to breath more easily and had a lot more mental clarity and focus. In some ways, this was great news -- in another way I was at a loss since it's something I enjoy and it seems everyone else in the vaping community seems to be doing great otherwise. Am I the anomaly here?

Been to the doc and everything checks out (complete blood work, chest xray). Is it possible that I'm sensitive to both PG and VG? Is it too extreme to try and vape unflavored 100% PG or VG? Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Current setup:

12mg 20PG/80VG (Spurberry MBV) at 2.0-2.5ml/Day
Vision Spinner II, Kanger Pro-Tank II

 

[Mrs C]

You need to up your fluid intake big time 30-50 oz a day is no where near enough.

 

[earthbot]

Drink more water.

 

[earthbot]

Maybe try not inhaling. Just in the mouth and out the nose or mouth, whatever pleases? I've come to understand that vaping PG and VG basically coats your lungs, making it more difficult to breathe. Both are processable by your body, but there is still a coating in your lungs even if the juice is 0mg nicotine. It will still coat the lungs. Just an idea. Good luck.

 

[DetraMental]

I had to switch to 50/50 to get my mix right. I don't do lung inhales, well very seldom do I do them. I drink a lot of fluid to stay hydrated and it's working for me.

 

[Ryedan]

Been to the doc and everything checks out (complete blood work, chest xray). Is it possible that I'm sensitive to both PG and VG? Is it too extreme to try and vape unflavored 100% PG or VG? Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Current setup:

12mg 20PG/80VG (Spurberry MBV) at 2.0-2.5ml/Day
Vision Spinner II, Kanger Pro-Tank II

If it were dehydration the complete blood workup would have shown it. I would do what you're thinking of by trying straight PG or VG and then adding one component at a time to it. I would try VG only first, then VG with nicotine only. You might find you have to add a bit of distilled water to thin the VG a bit for good wicking. I've used 6% DW in 80%VG juice. You can go up to 10% without any issues if you need to.

Good luck with it and let us know how it goes

 

[Nermal]

You're a real champ, Ryedan. Always well thought out and helpful.

 

[dabunnny77]

here is a question, how big are your air holes, If you have small air holes and you throat hit your pv then that might explain a heavy chest. I don't know as I'm not a doctor but I had a similar reaction to vaping full time. I started opening my air holes to get bigger clouds and more satisfying vape and that feeling started to go away.

 

[Rickajho]

A lot of the "heavy chest, upper/mid back back and side soreness (and the constant need to stretch), occasional shortness of breath" sounds like it could just be bad vaping technique. Either deep lung inhaling or upper chest inhaling. May want to revisit here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ecf-library/337017-inhalation-technique-e-cigarette.html

Beyond that... I dunno. There are some people who are extremely allergic to PG, and a lesser number who have serious problems with VG. Have you tried any 100 PG and then 100 VG liquid, preferably unflavored in your regular nic level, to test for this? Do it with unflavored just to get the question of a reaction to a flavoring component out of the way.

 

[ShariR]

Welcome to ECF. You did not mention what you are using for equipment. Are you using RBAs or sub ohming?

I agree that you should go over your inhalation technique. Taking big lung hits can be hard on you. Also certain flavors can be irritating to your throat and lungs, like cinnamon or strong methols.

I find that I can not vape high VG liquids because they give me a very heavy chest feeling. I generally vape 50/50 or 70/30. Also higher nicotine levels can be harsh.

Usually it is a process of elimination to figure out what, if anything, you are sensitive to. Good luck and be patient.

 

[Ryedan]

You're a real champ, Ryedan. Always well thought out and helpful.

Thank you kindly Nermal and the same back at ya

 

[glycerol]

In contrast with all the people saying vg or pg is the culprit, I'd say go for 50/50, but UNFLAVOURED and drink more liquids.

 

[technowiz]

I had some of the same problems when I first started, the nicotine level was in the 20's when I dropped down to 11 and lower the problems went away. Also I was doing the ecigs that you fill the filter and sometimes the juice would make my mouth raw to boot. For me it was all in the nicotine levels, might try lower levels or dilute yours down a bit to see if that helps.

 

[Violation]

Hello, nice to meet you. I used to vaping on the same gear-Vision Spinner II like but bought from hekvapor (different) . Drink more water, it did work. I've met the same issue and consulted the seller, they suggested me to drink more water. It did work, I felt much better; you can have a try. If not unresolved, you can consult your vaping supplier.

 

[Bruce1]

I think your problem is a combination of not enough water consumption and the wrong PG/VG ratio. Most brick and mortor stores sell 50/50 around my parts. I personally don't do well with that much PG. Since trying to find various ratios was difficult I sat down and made a nice order of DIY supplies. I get complete control of my ratios, my flavor type and strentgh as well as Nic levels in increments of as little as 1 if I want it. Screw going from 12 Nic all the way down to 6 as my next choice. I wanted a more gradual step down. I discovered that DIY is the only way to go.
Not to mention I save tons of money and playing around with the flavors is rather entertaining for me. It's my new hobby!.......... Bruce

 

[Auxx]

Google says 50oz equals to 1.5 litres. Well, normal adult male living in normal conditions should drink at least 3 litres of pure water. If it's hot, then more water is needed. If you're overweight, more water is needed. For every cup of coffee you need to drink one additional cup of water. And my personal observation is that I need to drink one more cup of water per 1ml of vape. You are VERY dehydrated! And you are making things even worse with vaping 2+ ml. You lack at least 2 litres more per day. And if you drink coffee then you your problem is even more serious.

One more thing, never drink lots of water at once, you will only pee it out.

 

[Bunnykiller]

all this dehydration chatter about having to consume massive amounts of water since one vapes seems a bit far fetched....
I have searched for information ( medical proof) on vaping and dehydration and cant find anything that states vaping causes it.

does someone have a link that has this information??? A bonafied study done by a Medical Institute??

I think the dehydration thing is a myth...

 

[iamthevoice]

all this dehydration chatter about having to consume massive amounts of water since one vapes seems a bit far fetched....
I have searched for information ( medical proof) on vaping and dehydration and cant find anything that states vaping causes it.

does someone have a link that has this information??? A bonafied study done by a Medical Institute??

I think the dehydration thing is a myth...

You've searched and did not discover that PG and VG are both hydroscopic? Instead, why not try the most common trick to help determine if you are dehydrated: the colour of your urine! If it's yellow, you are already below optimum hydration levels. And of course, you don't have to believe me, you can search PubMD for papers on dehydration as well as the effects of PG (have not done a VG search yet)!

 

[Nick N]

Technique / restricted airflow / high VG would be my guess.

When I first started I had not had a cigarette in 12 years. I started with an ego pen, plastic BCC tank and 100% VG. I like to lung hit, and for the first week I felt like crap. When using the same clearo on the Spinner II it felt like I got a better draw. Then I drilled out the holes in the BCC and it improved even more.

Since then I have switched to 60VG/40PG and I have a tank with adjustable air flow (Aerotank Mega). I don't use the Spinner much anymore, but when I put the Mega on it I get a lot easier draw than I used to.

Today I put my original plastic BCC on the Spinner and it felt like I was drawing through a straw. I could see how my chest would hurt after drawing 100% VG through that all day.

I would start with an airflow controller for your Protank 2 and cut back on the VG a little. Have you given thought to building your own coils and wicking with cotton? With stock coils I could only set the Spinner to 3.8v (sometimes 4.3v) or else it would taste burnt.

http://www.discountvapers.com/kanger-airflow-control-valve-aerotank-2/

Good luck!

 

[Lurch]

I have to agree with what a lot of the others have mentioned, inhalation techniques. Took me some time to get used to doing it differently then I did when smoking. I don't generally lung inhale, if I do I get the heavy chest feeling.

Good luck and I hope you find something that works for you.