Our Story

[lamer]

That is actually fairly common, and probably not PG related. The "sandpaper" feeling can be from quitting smoking (healing and/or loss of the sugar in cigarettes) or not drinking enough water when you vape. Bleeding gums often happens when your gums start to heal after smoking cessation. Take a look at this list: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...hen-quitting-tobacco-changing-ecigarette.html

Yeah, it says PG can cause the dry mouth because it is a humectant. When I vape the VG juice, it doesn't happen. I drink a ton of water during the day (it is the only thing I drink with the exception of morning coffee) and started gargling no alcohol mouthwash every few hours to see if it would help. It really hasn't... each time I vape, that sugary sandpaper feeling coats my mouth and it is quite unpleasant. I even increased my water intake to help speed along flushing all the cig toxins out of my body (and I spend a lot more time in the bathroom now too )

I really like the BWB flavors I got, but I can't really use them because of the high amount of PG. Which sucks, because I'm addicted to their Cafe Mocha. It is quite delish. Maybe it isn't PG at all... it could be some flavoring or sweetener in the jucies.

Eagerly awaiting my DIY kit and liquids... maybe experimenting with that will solve the mystery.

 

[Red Skare]

Congrats on the change but i may not have understood something right.
Your husband drilled your orifices so you would put out and your neighbor helped out dressed up like a fireman?

 

[Doomed!]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, if that is indeed what I am doing.

I just want to say that I love vaping. I have smoked since I was 15 and after one day of vaping I never want to go back. The thought of it actually makes me a little nauseous. I used to be a fairly light smoke, I guess, .5 a pack /day usually, but I also smoked a pipe. I don't think that the vaping will ever replace the pipe, I just like it too much, but I am completely off the cigs.

Congratulations, lamer, and I wish you the best of luck.

 

[lamer]

Congrats on the change but i may not have understood something right.
Your husband drilled your orifices so you would put out and your neighbor helped out dressed up like a fireman?

That was pretty creative. I give it a 6/10.

I have smoked since I was 15 and after one day of vaping I never want to go back. The thought of it actually makes me a little nauseous.

Congrats and I feel the same way.

--

My tastebuds are dead today. DEAD. I can barely taste any of my juices, PG heavy or not. I tried to clear palate with a VG Double Mint gum type flavor and it tastes like dead roses. Since that didn't work, I went back to my coffee types and all I can taste is the sweetening agent in the juices.

Plus insomnia of course. I'm apparently immune to melotonin all of a sudden.

Bad vaping day... I hope it doesn't turn into bad vaping week.

 

[Mudflap]

My tastebuds are dead today. DEAD. I can barely taste any of my juices, PG heavy or not. I tried to clear palate with a VG Double Mint gum type flavor and it tastes like dead roses. Since that didn't work, I went back to my coffee types and all I can taste is the sweetening agent in the juices.

Plus insomnia of course. I'm apparently immune to melotonin all of a sudden.

Bad vaping day... I hope it doesn't turn into bad vaping week.

I hate when that happens.

Water with a splash of lemon juice helps sometimes.

 

[lamer]

Either I'm doing it wrong or I have to cut juices with some PG. Either I get a torn up mouth (too much PG) or I need a ton of flavoring for extra globby VG. I tried thinning with distilled water and it didn't help the flavor situation much.

I am analog free for two weeks, but this is starting to be a bit more frustrating that I thought. I'm also constantly vaping for a few minutes every 45 mins or so, and the cravings are returning.

I don't mean to sound whiney...I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I am inhaling from lungs and whatnot, but I'm not tasting the juices while generating a lot of vapor. Any help appreciated.

 

[alisab]

Lamer -

I have several ideas that might help: when I am not getting enough flavor I often change flavors and switching them around helps give me a new freshness with each flavor. Also, you may have seen mentioned in different threads on the forum -people talk about the "sweet spot" - When I was early into vaping (not so long ago) I found I wasn't getting "enough" maybe it was a TH or the Nic level too low or just not enough flavor. Our taste buds may need more right now because of all the smoking we have done until recently - it may be just a case of waiting to see if it clears. I've never been too good at waiting so I increased the voltage - to 6 volts - and used a higher nic level (24mg) and that really did the trick for me. I hit the sweet spot but I still need or prefer to switch around my juices, maybe for taste or just because it tastes good. Since you are a dripper changing flavors shouldn't be difficult to do.

As far as your other problem - I am shocked about the way you are describing the sandpapery feel you are getting in your mouth - it doesn't happen to me so I have no recomendations with that. If you figure it out please let us all know because you can't be that unique! Though I do enjoy you. Good luck and keep in touch.

 

[clevelandlove]

Hello, great story! I started vaping on Jan. 5 and haven't had a real cig since. So, almost 3 weeks vaping and I have the sandpaper feeling too! I can't taste any of the liquids I have vaped on for weeks. I keep switching atty's and flavors and refilling etc thinking something is wrong with them, but it is my mouth! Can't figure out why (if it's from vaping) it would happen almost 3 weeks later. All of my liquids are the same mg and are PG. Let me know if you figure out why your's is happening. Good luck!

 

[lamer]

Thanks for suggestions... here is a quick recap and status.

24mg is too high for me -- it makes me feel really strange and my heart starts to race. I vape 18mg but I'm going through juice like it is going out of style. Dominant PG juices make mouth like sandpaper, so using as close to 100% VG juice as possible.

I got unflavored nic VG liquid and a ton of flavors on Friday, so I am mixing my own now. I am seeing if something like 21mg or whatever the highest threshold I can tolerate will help. The problem is that VG is very thick so I tried cutting it with distilled water to thin it out and I am only dripping. I still have a lot of pre-mixed juice at my disposal, so I'm alternating that with my own experiments.

Something isn't right with what I'm doing, because I'm still getting analog cravings even chain-vaping. The only thing I can think of is that I'm probably addicted to something in analogs that isn't nicotine, and that is what I'm craving.

I still haven't touched an analog since I got my PVs, but I figure if I can make it through at least this third week without having one, I might be over the hump. Vaping just isn't really satisfying right now.

 

[kinabaloo]

Hi lamer,

Are you a big coffee drinker?

Also, have you used St Johns Wort before? Or similar. And did you add it to your regime these days?

Also, what level of melatonin dod you take ? 3mg ?

The taste issue might resolve in another week or so.

 

[sweetblackkitten]

you and i started around the same time, and i am saddened to find that you arent doing well!

i hate to admit this, but i have taken up to 25mg of melatonin at night w no issues...or maybe try 5HTP, or something related to tryptophan....the latter is what in turkey makes ppl tired.

the cravings: imo they are putting something in the analogs that is so addictive, it makes the withdrawal of both it and nicotine almost impossible.

when i try to have a cig to quash those cravings now the cig makes me sick...the sickness helps me not want to have an analog...maybe try having one and see how it makes you feel? the thought of it alone turns me off!

w regards to the rest, perhaps you should start a new post...either in the ask the veterans, or the health section...

i hope you dont give up! our bodies really get put thru hell during this change, keep that in mind...and sometimes there is a serious dip b4 things return to baseline...

 

[Rosa]

As for the taste issue, it sounds like classic dehydration to me. And for what it's worth BOTH pg and vg are humectants, so vg will also cause you to be dehydrated - just not as badly as pg.

As for the cravings, it's very likely that you really are addicted to some of the other chemicals in cigarettes. It's an hardship, but don't give up! A lot of times, the element that people still miss is the carbon monoxide that they used to get in cigarettes - now, you don't want to smoke just so you can still get carbon monoxide, do you? Just keep at it and you'll make it in the end. Just vape like a crazy person whenever you get that bad, bad urge and see if you can survive another day without smoking.

Here's a trick I figured out to give me a little more of a hit: Inhale the vapor into your lungs without doing a deep full-lung inhale (I don't know how else to explain that) and then exhale it forcefully out through your nose - repeat this two or three times in a row. Most of the nicotine is absorbed in your mucous membranes so you want the vapor to contact the surfaces of your mouth and nose more than your lungs - you'll get a better hit of nicotine that way.

Good luck!

ps: if worse comes to worse, you can look into supplementing with swedish snus which is also a reduced harm nicotine product (as of yet has not cause any sort of cancer and been around for many many years) but it retains the "feel fuzzy" chemicals that you get in cigarettes.

 

[aewolfe]

Keep going! You are doing great. It is not easy to stop using our old friend the cigarette. I smoked for a long time and quit 34 times over the years and always found myself going back to it. Vaping worked... I tried it last year and after a short time I went back to analogs. This past Thursday I decided to quit again and went back to vaping. I really don't know much about it and got my kit at a mall but it works. I have had three analogs since Thursday and honestly, the last two were really habit. I do not have the craving for an analog at all anymore.

The dose of nicotine is funny and different for each person. My girlfriend smoked as long as I did and she smoked much more than me. However she can't vape even the 6mg cartos. She gets a headache and feels a little sick even from just a few drags. A number of years ago she quit for a bit with the help of patches but she had to use a very low dose, even 14mg made her ill. So, each person seems to handle nicotine differently and smoking an analog is different than vaping. Keep trying to find that middle ground and it will all work out.

I am using a PG based carto and I also notice the sweet taste in my mouth. I do have a little bit of dry mouth but that may be due to the PG or not using analogs. Your body is still getting used to the lack of tar and such. So, lots of withdrawl symptoms can occur, even if you are getting your nicotine from vaping. Drink lots of water. Suck on a candy. Also remember that your sense of smell and taste will return and as such, what tasted good a few days ago may no longer taste the same and you may not like it anymore.

Keep going and please keep us posted on your progress. Each of our stories can, and do, help those who come later to the forums.

 

[lamer]

Thank you so much for all your well wishes and tips... this community is fantastic.

Are you a big coffee drinker?

I was... before vaping, I would have at least two cups per day. Since I'm vaping mainly coffee flavors during the day, I haven't had the urge for a second or third cup. Because of this insomnia, I am really trying to avoid caffeine later in the day.

Also, have you used St Johns Wort before? Or similar. And did you add it to your regime these days?

I used it years ago but just bought a bottle today and will see if adding that helps.

Also, what level of melatonin dod you take ? 3mg ?

I believe so... I'd have to check the bottle. Standard one pill, popular brand you can get at any supermarket or pharmacy.

you and i started around the same time, and i am saddened to find that you arent doing well!

i hate to admit this, but i have taken up to 25mg of melatonin at night w no issues...or maybe try 5HTP, or something related to tryptophan....the latter is what in turkey makes ppl tired.

Hey! Hrm, I will try to double the dose and see if that helps. I knew this was going to probably be a side effect for me, but I'm still hanging in there. Haven't smoked an analog since that first day.

the cravings: imo they are putting something in the analogs that is so addictive, it makes the withdrawal of both it and nicotine almost impossible.

I get the cravings mostly in the morning, and really just vape my head off until it is tolerable. If it were just nicotine, then you'd think I'd be okay with vaping for pretty much 10m straight... that is why I think I'm doing something wrong with this. I am a bit scared to light up an analog because I'll hop right back on that wagon again... maybe if this doesn't pass in another two weeks, I'll give it a shot, have it get me sick, and then really swear them off again. But really scared to do so.

i hope you dont give up! our bodies really get put thru hell during this change, keep that in mind...and sometimes there is a serious dip b4 things return to baseline...

I cannot give up. I really have no choice in the matter. I am scheduled for fertility treatments within the next six months, and the doc compared me smoking through those treatments as ripping up thousands of dollars as well as wasting his time. Plus I just spent a small fortune on this setup so I'm not going down without a fight.

As for the taste issue, it sounds like classic dehydration to me. And for what it's worth BOTH pg and vg are humectants, so vg will also cause you to be dehydrated - just not as badly as pg.

That is good advice. I thought I upped my water intake enough, but I'll drink even more and see if that helps. I guess our bodies have to really purge out all those chemicals we put in them for years, and anything that helps speed it along will get us over that hump. The first week of this was fine, and then it just started to go downhill after that. I'm plowing through it though -- maybe add more fruit juices like cranberry to diet?

As for the cravings, it's very likely that you really are addicted to some of the other chemicals in cigarettes. It's an hardship, but don't give up! A lot of times, the element that people still miss is the carbon monoxide that they used to get in cigarettes - now, you don't want to smoke just so you can still get carbon monoxide, do you? Just keep at it and you'll make it in the end. Just vape like a crazy person whenever you get that bad, bad urge and see if you can survive another day without smoking.

I'm really doing that... I'm going through so much juice, and haven't hit a level where I'm like "okay, I'm satisfied." I have some 21mg and 22mg DIY juices steeping this week, so maybe when those are ready, they'll help a bit.

What is strange is that my husband is reaching for his PV less and less during the day. He really took to it like a fish out of water, and he is at 24mg so he is scaling back to 18mg.

Here's a trick I figured out to give me a little more of a hit: Inhale the vapor into your lungs without doing a deep full-lung inhale (I don't know how else to explain that) and then exhale it forcefully out through your nose - repeat this two or three times in a row. Most of the nicotine is absorbed in your mucous membranes so you want the vapor to contact the surfaces of your mouth and nose more than your lungs - you'll get a better hit of nicotine that way.

I just got a slight headrush trying that... is that what it is supposed to do? A minute after doing the "quick hit" method you describe, I'm reaching for my PV again.

I am using a PG based carto and I also notice the sweet taste in my mouth. I do have a little bit of dry mouth but that may be due to the PG or not using analogs. Your body is still getting used to the lack of tar and such. So, lots of withdrawl symptoms can occur, even if you are getting your nicotine from vaping. Drink lots of water. Suck on a candy. Also remember that your sense of smell and taste will return and as such, what tasted good a few days ago may no longer taste the same and you may not like it anymore.

I really try to keep this in mind, especially with water intake. I'm brushing my tongue and everything hoping it will help, and trying to make the flavor stronger in my own DIY mixes so I can taste something. I am going through about 1-1.5ml of 18mg VG liquid per day.

 

[Rosa]

FWIW: The average vaper goes through 3ml per day.

 

[lamer]

FINALLY!

On a whim, I added some menthol to some DIY chocolate 22mg VG juice with a bit of custard and EM. The result is sort of a mint chocolate chip creamy flavor.

I never smoked menthols in my life, but MY TASTEBUDS ARE BACK!!!!!! The addition of the menthol did it. I don't know why, but my mouth isn't dried out from vaping. It is also clearing out my nose if that makes any sense.

I almost turned cartwheels up and down my hallway tonight. Now to conquer the insomnia...

 

[Rosa]

Hooray!

 

[alisab]

Great News!!!!

 

[mychl717]

I did something similar - I actually called my partner in and we had a little ceremony standing around the trash can and I threw all of my tobacco away. He then took out the trash ;-) Strange that taking out the trash can be such a pivotal experience!! But the "good bye, good riddance" and the realization that I had been smoking trash was a big step for me.

Me too! I still had almost a full pack just before New Years and asked my wife to help me w/ my 'ceremony'... where I had her turn the water on so I could run the rest of the pack in water before putting it in the trash.... lol, funny how important things can be to some...