New to vaping...

[JayFy23]

Hi my name is Jeremy and i started vaping for the first time a few days ago, i never once smoked before, i know its dumb but i just thought that I'd "try" getting into vaping for the enjoyment, i am an easy going person so you could say that the decisions i make fit my personality(if that makes sense...).

My build is the RX300 mod with the dead rabbit RDA, right now i use 26 gauge kanthal for a duel coil setup with the bacon cotton and my first and only flavor is a menthol without nicotine, 75% vg and 15% pg ratio.

My question and "problem" is that my lungs hurt, i don't think its anything too concerning its probably gonna get away once i get used to it but also its kind of my fault for vaping like a train, i vaped between 10 and 15 ml of e-juice in the first 2 days and also it feels like i have asthma and my throat is dry, i hydrated myself plenty today so if i continue like this it should be fine but i was just wondering what was you guy's thought here on the forum... not my decision for vaping even if i never smoked but my current problem i just explained. I did my research on vaping on my own, i am fully aware of the health risk of vaping and i have decided for myself that it was worth the risk, thank you for understanding and thank you for the help.

Here is what my vape looks like.

 

[Justin L]

Hey Jeremy, welcome to the forum. Guessing that you’ve never “inhaled” anything into your body since you stated that you never once smoked (which vaping isn’t) but it is still inhaling, I would say your lungs are still adapting. Now dry throat I can speak on first hand and my first week or two I had that same problem but now its pretty much gone. I would also try new flavors, I don’t see menthol being a good first choice especially since you weren’t a menthol cigarette smoker and are more trying to get enjoyment from vaping. There are literally 1,000s of delicious ejuices for you to enjoy. I only vape menthol when I’m really stressed and feel that craving for a cigarette. Plus you are you MTL or DTL vaping?

 

[JCinFLA]

You say what gauge wire you're using, what eliquid you're vaping, what mod and RDA you've got, but...you don't say with what ohm coils and at what wattage you've been vaping. Both of those can have a huge effect on what your lungs are trying to handle! Care to share that info?

Also, did you go into a vape shop to buy your set-up? If yes...did you tell them you weren't a smoker, and they still suggested that set-up? Or did you just choose it with no guidance from them? Or, did you order it online?

ETA: Well, I've tried rewording what I asked several times about how you're vaping, in case it wasn't making sense to you. It's hard to help you, when info that can make a difference, hasn't been provided.

 

[JayFy23]

Hey Jeremy, welcome to the forum. Guessing that you’ve never “inhaled” anything into your body since you stated that you never once smoked (which vaping isn’t) but it is still inhaling, I would say your lungs are still adapting. Now dry throat I can speak on first hand and my first week or two I had that same problem but now its pretty much gone. I would also try new flavors, I don’t see menthol being a good first choice especially since you weren’t a menthol cigarette smoker and are more trying to get enjoyment from vaping. There are literally 1,000s of delicious ejuices for you to enjoy. I only vape menthol when I’m really stressed and feel that craving for a cigarette. Plus you are you MTL or DTL vaping?

Thanks for the reply. Yes i am aware that its not really smoking but still inhaling, good to know that my lungs pain is temporary haha. I enjoyed the first puffs of menthol, the flavor was strong and good, but now i got the vapors tongue and i still have a hard time with the cotton, i get dry hits, i never seem to put enough cotton, it always feel like there is a gap even though it was hard to fit in the cotton(once in the cotton could slide in fairly well) or maybe its just normal that i have to wick it that often considering its low capacity of e-juice(tank). I was planning on getting other e-juice later on, mainly to get a variety of flavors but recently because of vaper's tongue... And i'd say that i am both MTL and DTL, i like to blow huge clouds but i also wanna get a good flavor, so sometimes i keep my airflow completely open or i reduce the airflow.

 

[JayFy23]

You say what gauge wire you're using, what eliquid you're vaping, what mod and RDA you've got, but...you don't say with what ohm coils and at what wattage you've been vaping. Both of those can have a huge effect on what your lungs are trying to handle! Care to share that info?

Also, did you go into a vape shop to buy your set-up? If yes...did you tell them you weren't a smoker, and they still suggested that set-up? Or did you just choose it with no guidance from them? Or, did you order it online?

I ordered it online, i can't tell what's my exactly is my Ohms because i don't have a measuring tool for it, but i can at least assure you that its under 1 Ohms because my vape says it has 0.54 ohms(i know its inaccurate), i used a tool on my phone to approximately get what would be my Ohms and the result was 0.43 Ohms. I gradually elevated the wattage to see whats best for me and i think that 65 watts is good for me so i don't think that the problem is there, i think i could tell if the wattage was too high, i'm pretty sure i'd get way more often dry hits and i'd be coughing often if i'd put the wattage too high. Thank you for being concern and thank you for the reply.

 

[JCinFLA]

Yes i am aware that its not really smoking but still inhaling, good to know that my lungs pain is temporary haha.

Your lung pain may or may not be only temporary. What someone else experiences isn't always the same as what you may experience, and/or why...especially since you've never smoked. Saying that you feel like you have asthma and that your lungs hurt...isn't a good thing. Your body is telling you it doesn't like it! However, since it sounds like you're going to vape anyway, and don't want anyone's advice nor opinions about that...there are things you can do to make it easier on your lungs, IF they'll adapt at all to you vaping. They may not and you may end up harming yourself by continuing to vape!

And i'd say that i am both MTL and DTL, i like to blow huge clouds but i also wanna get a good flavor, so sometimes i keep my airflow completely open or i reduce the airflow.

MTL and DTL both have to do with how you inhale - MTL (mouth to lung) or DTL (directly into your lungs). MTL is the way most smokers smoked. They pulled it into their mouth, held it there for a second or 2 and then inhaled it into their lungs. DTL pulls it right into the lungs immediately as you inhale. Blowing huge clouds is usually done by DTL vapers, but...you can get good flavor with MTL and with DTL. It will usually be less with those who want to blow huge clouds though, because that requires high VG content eliquid. But it's the PG in eliquid that's the flavor carrier. So, you can't have huge clouds and the best flavor, too. How much flavor someone gets out of their eliquid depends on many other things, too.

I ordered it online, i can't tell what's my exactly is my Ohms because i don't have a measuring tool for it, but i can at least assure you that its under 1 Ohms because my vape says it has 0.54 ohms(i know its inaccurate), i used a tool on my phone to approximately get what would be my Ohms and the result was 0.43 Ohms. I gradually elevated the wattage to see whats best for me and i think that 65 watts is good for me so i don't think that the problem is there, i think i could tell if the wattage was too high, i'm pretty sure i'd get way more often dry hits and i'd be coughing often if i'd put the wattage too high.

So, you're brand new to vaping, have never smoked, picked out and ordered your own set-up online, are vaping menthol eliquid...and you've been vaping with 0.54 ohm (or lower) coils at 65W. It's no freaking wonder your lungs are telling you they hurt, and you feel like you have asthma! As a person who's never smoked, you should've started vaping with 1.0 ohm or above coils and at lower wattage...until your lungs could maybe gradually get used to what you're exposing them to! Someone who has smoked for many years may vape like you have been when they start vaping...but even many of them don't jump right into sub-ohm vaping (<1.0ohm) and at 65W!

 

[JayFy23]

Your lung pain may or may not be only temporary. What someone else experiences isn't always the same as what you may experience, and/or why...especially since you've never smoked. Saying that you feel like you have asthma and that your lungs hurt...isn't a good thing. Your body is telling you it doesn't like it! However, since it sounds like you're going to vape anyway, and don't want anyone's advice nor opinions about it...there are things you can do to make it easier on your lungs, IF they're going to adapt at all to you vaping.



MTL and DTL both have to do with how you inhale - MTL (mouth to lung) or DTL (directly into your lungs). MTL is the way most smokers smoked. They pulled it into their mouth, held it there for a second or 2 and then inhaled it into their lungs. DTL pulls it right into the lungs immediately as you inhale. Blowing huge clouds is usually done by DTL vapers, but...you can get good flavor with MTL and with DTL. How much flavor someone gets out of their eliquid depends on many other things.



So, you're brand new to vaping, have never smoked, picked out and ordered your own set-up online, are vaping menthol eliquid...and you've been vaping with 0.54ohm (or lower) coils at 65W. It's no freaking wonder your lungs are telling you they hurt, and you feel like you have asthma! You, as a person who's never smoked, should've started vaping at higher ohms and at lower wattage...until your lungs could gradually get used to what you're exposing them to! Someone who has smoked for years may vape like you have been when they start vaping...but even many of them don't jump right into sub-ohm vaping and at 65W!

Yeah, sometimes i keep the vapor in for longer to get the flavor.
I say asthma but its not really what i meant, what i meant to say is from the throat, like you rush on your bike and your throat burns from the excessive air getting in and out, i know its completely different but that's what i meant... i don't get short on breath, my breathing is normal, at least. I'l switch my build to a higher ohms and will lower my wattage, thank you for the information.

 

[JayFy23]

i lowered the wattage to 30 and it seems lighter on my lungs... i feel dumb. But the 0.43 ohms build i just realized was the previous one, the one i have now is a 0.75-0.85 ohms build, so i just lowered the wattage and as i said, it already feels lighter on my lungs. Thank you so much for the info!

 

[JCinFLA]

Yeah, sometimes i keep the vapor in for longer to get the flavor.

You have taste buds in your lungs? Once that vapor rushes past them in your mouth...you're done getting flavor, until the vapor zooms across them again on exhaling.

ETA: Oh, I forgot this, too - If you're going for huge clouds...the less time the vapor spends in your lungs, the bigger your clouds will be. Holding the vapor in longer will actually reduce the amount of vapor that comes out. Taking smaller hits AND holding it in...is one of the things people do when they want to stealth vape. Less vapor comes out for anyone to see!

 

[JayFy23]

You have taste buds in your lungs? Once that vapor rushes past them in your mouth...you're done getting flavor, until the vapor zooms across them again on exhaling.

ETA: Oh, I forgot this, too - If you're going for huge clouds...the less time the vapor spends in your lungs, the bigger your clouds will be. Holding the vapor in longer will actually reduce the amount of vapor that comes out. Holding it in is one of the things people do when they want to stealth vape. Less vapor comes out for anyone to see!

lol oops, not to taste the flavor then. That makes sense haha

 

[JCinFLA]

i lowered the wattage to 30 and it seems lighter on my lungs... i feel dumb.

No reason to feel dumb. We all had to learn a lot when we first started vaping. Many of us are still learning various things about vaping in general, coil building, DIY eliquids, etc.!

I'm glad is feels lighter on your lungs at 30W, but you may want to also experiment with building your coils to 1.0ohm or alittle above, at least for awhile.

ETA: I'd suggest you get an ohm reader, too, so you can accurately check your coils. Also, if you'll get your eliquid at even 70VG/30PG (instead of 75VG/25PG), you'll still be able to get decent clouds, but the slightly lower VG may help with your lungs, too. Some people say lowering it helps relieve sort of a heavy feeling they get in their lungs with higher VG. The PG going up slightly may also help alittle with flavor.

 

[JayFy23]

No reason to feel dumb. We all had to learn a lot when we first started vaping. Many of us are still learning various things about vaping in general, coil building, DIY eliquids, etc.!

I'm glad is feels lighter on your lungs at 30W, but you may want to also experiment with even raising your ohms to 1.0 or alittle above, at least for awhile.

ETA: I'd suggest you get an ohm reader, too, so you can accurately check your coils.

Thank you, i will gladly take your advice.

 

[JCinFLA]

Thank you, i will gladly take your advice.

You're welcome, and I'm glad you'll take my advice. You might want to go back though and see my edits, too, as I added info. after you read some of my posts.

Having said the above...I did hold back and not give you my best advice though, because in your first post, you said in so many words that it wasn't what you wanted. I was a 1 - 1 1/2 pack a day smoker for 42+ years before finally being able to quit with the help of vaping. I'd venture to say that most of us on the ECF are vapers for the same reason...to keep us off the smokes! I've many many times wished I could go back in time...and just never start putting anything except air into my lungs. There are many on the ECF who probably have had the same wish, too. You've never smoked, and that's something to be proud of, IMO! Your lungs are most likely in wonderful shape, barring any medical conditions you may have! Knowing that...until longterm studies have been completed on the effects of vaping...I just wouldn't do it. That's my "best" advice.

 

[DeloresRose]

I ordered it online, i can't tell what's my exactly is my Ohms because i don't have a measuring tool for it, but i can at least assure you that its under 1 Ohms because my vape says it has 0.54 ohms(i know its inaccurate), i used a tool on my phone to approximately get what would be my Ohms and the result was 0.43 Ohms. I gradually elevated the wattage to see whats best for me and i think that 65 watts is good for me so i don't think that the problem is there, i think i could tell if the wattage was too high, i'm pretty sure i'd get way more often dry hits and i'd be coughing often if i'd put the wattage too high. Thank you for being concern and thank you for the reply.

I’m going to try to say this so it doesn’t sound like s lecture, because I’m not your mom.

I vape to kick a 35 year habit of heavy smoking, so I approach vaping like a sort of medical treatment, rather than a hobby ( although I will admit, collecting devices and making juice have been enjoyable). However, you do you. I mean, I wouldn’t vape if I’d never smoked, but who am I to tell you how to enjoy yourself?

But I will say this, I agree with above thoughts on your discomfort. I’d imagine vaping would feel weird to virgin lungs, but it shouldn’t hurt. You got some good advice on juice and set up to make it more gentle on you.

I’m also concerned that you’ve gone straight to sub ohm and building coils without a tester. A lot of people build, and do so safely. It’s not rocket science but you do need to understand a few things. Devices don’t fail very often (as in, burst into flames) but when they do, it’s generally because they’re not built or used properly.
There are lots of people here who know all about it and can answer any of your questions.

 

[Rossum]

i just thought that I'd "try" getting into vaping for the enjoyment

my lungs hurt

If it makes your lungs hurt, somehow I doubt you're enjoying it.

Maybe you should just stop?

Or perhaps there's more to this than you've told us.

 

[smacuser]

I've heard a phenomenon taking place where a small percentage of vapers get asthma like symptoms with juices high in sucralose or stevia.

 

[stols001]

I'm not going to tell you to stop, you're an adult and you can make your own decisions. I'm glad you aren't using nicotine.

I will share the experience of my kid, who smoked (briefly) vaped (for a few years) and then quit vaping. He definitely and positively found lung improvement from stopping vaping, and he hadn't been vaping that long.

While it is true that some lung discomfort (sometimes using higher VG juices) can be common for some vapers, I'd highly advise using higher resistance coils and less wattage and less vapor per inhale as you adjust to vaping, it should just (hopefully) be an easier process. Once you are used to vaping you may probably go more sub0hm more easily.

Keep in mind, I don't think what you are doing is the greatest idea, but if you must, do your system a favor and let it adjust to vaping slowly. I only got "lung pain" because I was PG sensitive (which can also happen) but I dealt with changing my vapes, as "lung pain" is just not a good sign, seriously.

Good luck and welcome

Anna

 

[englishmick]

This post made me wonder, what would I say if my younger self popped through a time warp and asked me if he should try vaping. Assuming he hadn't started smoking of course. And ignoring that vaping didn't exist then. Overall I think I would tell him it's a fun hobby and why not give it a try.

On the other hand I would also strongly suggest what several folks here have already said, don't start out with those high power rigs sucking down vast quantities of juice. That's asking for some pain right out of the box. It's like saying, I started smoking last week, I'm doing 2 packs a day of untipped Gauloises and it's making me cough.

Hope it works out for you.

 

[DeloresRose]

This post made me wonder, what would I say if my younger self popped through a time warp and asked me if he should try vaping. Assuming he hadn't started smoking of course. And ignoring that vaping didn't exist then. Overall I think I would tell him it's a fun hobby and why not give it a try.

On the other hand I would also strongly suggest what several folks here have already said, don't start out with those high power rigs sucking down vast quantities of juice. That's asking for some pain right out of the box. It's like saying, I started smoking last week, I'm doing 2 packs a day of untipped Gauloises and it's making me cough.

Hope it works out for you.

I recently had that conversation with my (adult) daughter. She has never smoked, but works with a lot of people who smoke or vape. And she’s interested in vaping 0 mg. Just because. I told her, better to not put stuff in your lungs, but I wouldn’t say no outright. It’s not the worst thing she could be doing. Especially knowing her, it would be a once in a while thing, like an occasional glass of wine socially.

Now if I could go back in time and stop myself from smoking, I’d do that in a heartbeat! I’d even buy myself loads of devices!

 

[JayFy23]

I see a lot saying that they started vaping to stop smoking, i understand that vaping was made to stop smoking but where its at its not just a remedy anymore to smoking but an appealing hobby to get into. I know and am fully aware that its still a dumb decision, but seeing how much lower the health risk are than smoking i thought it would be worth giving it a "try"(i pretty much got right into it with that build...).

I’m also concerned that you’ve gone straight to sub ohm and building coils without a tester. A lot of people build, and do so safely. It’s not rocket science but you do need to understand a few things. Devices don’t fail very often (as in, burst into flames) but when they do, it’s generally because they’re not built or used properly.
There are lots of people here who know all about it and can answer any of your questions.

I looked up Ohms law, i don't have any means to get the exact Ohms for my tank but i at least use a tool on my phone to get an approximate result, the app is called "Vape Tool", its free or paid on Google Play Store, because its not an exact number i still don't go too close to that max wattage possible, voltage shouldn't be an issue because i have 4 batteries but i am still careful for the amperage, still i think i should get myself a tool to get the exact Ohms as a safety insurance.

If it makes your lungs hurt, somehow I doubt you're enjoying it.

Maybe you should just stop?

Or perhaps there's more to this than you've told us.

I actually am enjoying it, the pain is not that bad to displease me, its only been 2-4 days since i started so it didn't have time to get too bad(i still vaped almost half of my bottle of e-juice already(60ml)), i don't think that there is anything else to say, the vapor doesn't make me cough but even though i said that the pain is minimal i still feel like there is something going on in my lungs, it most probably will go away with time as i get used to it, i will take the other's advise on starting with a higher Ohms build and lower wattage and everything should be fine.

I've heard a phenomenon taking place where a small percentage of vapers get asthma like symptoms with juices high in sucralose or stevia.

Thanks for the info! I'll try to lookout for those ingredient and if i happen to get an e-juice with those ingredient i will try to see if i get any symptoms.