ringing in ears, elevated bp

[taz666]

have been vaping while still smoking. was smoking around 20-25 analogs a day. cut back to about 12 while vaping occasionally. ok for the 1st 2 weeks then wow ringing in ears that wouldn't go away with elevated blood pressure. stopped vaping for a couple of days and it seemed to go away. started nicotine gum and it came back. I am only using 11 nicotine. do you guys think this is from too little nic or too much? I have since stopped both while trying to maintain cutting back on the analogs and finally feeling better but really tired. any ideas?

p.s. getting ready to leave so any questions I will get back later. thanks!

 

[srcowell]

Too much nicotine, no doubt. You're smoking, using nic gum, and vaping. Are you also mainlining nic juice?

Stop the analogs and gum. When you vape, you are probably vaping for longer periods than what it takes to smoke a cigarette, thus more nicotine. Add the cigs and you have OD. The vaping alone should satisfy your need for nicotine. The rest is just habit. You need to kick the cigs to the gutter once and for all!

Be strong!

 

[REGGAEGEEK]

consult your doctor and tell him what you are doing and what you want to do. Not knowing your medical history your symptoms could be more than just over exposure to nicotine.

 

[Uncle Screwtape]

When I first started vaping my BP went up. Nicotine can do that to you. In some people it constricts blood vessels which can lead to a rise in BP. Everyone is a little different, the best thing you can do is cut back on nic intake as much as you can stand and consult your doctor.

As far as ringing in the ears goes, I've had that for 20 years or more. In my case it didn't get worse with vaping.

Good luck.

 

[Infernia]

Too much nicotine can cause ringing and elevated BP. Be careful. Do not underestimate nicorette gum either. I used the 2mg gum and constantly found myself in trouble with ringing and headaches because the gum wouldn't be enough and I'd go smoke a cig. You seriously can't chew the gum and vape. After vaping and no analog cigs for two weeks now, I tried to chew the nic gum during a 3hr exam. Headache and nauseous. Please be careful and if the symptoms don't go away, see a doctor.

 

[taz666]

I am back thanks for the replies. I am sorry if I did not explain myself correctly. I didn't use all 3 at the same time. when I 1st rec'd my e cig, I still smoked analogs with it as many on here have mentioned. not constantly vaping, only a couple of times a day. after the ringing in the ears started I stopped vaping and went with the gum. for everyone that was able to get rid of the cigs right away I am happy for you and a little bit jealous. sometimes I think I need a smoking rehab. looks like I will just have to try and tough it out going cold turkey

 

[Demoness]

Ya- give cold turkey a try and just do the vaping. What could it hurt? Thats what I am doing and yes- it is an hr to hr struggle, but I have been analog free for almost 48hrs! I found myself vaping almost nonstop the first 24hr period, but it eventually started to taper off. I am still vaping a lot, but have noticed times between puffs are getting longer and longer. Just remember- you always have us here at the forum being your cheerleaders! The support here is great! I think of it every time I get the urge to stuff a tube and light up. You can do it- we have faith!

I am struggling also and started a blog- maybe that would help ya out if your into blogging...

 

[Infernia]

Hey taz I really hope you'll give it another try when you get it all worked out.
I had some major problems getting started on e-cigs. I was hooked on nicotine so bad that I was smoking and chewing nic gum in between. (hence the times I got into trouble with too much nicotine). Sad part is I got used to the increased nicotine. When I tried the ecigs the first time I ordered 18mg juice and I was still craving the analog cigs to the point I pretty much quit vaping because it wasn't helping except to give me a headache. (plus the first juice tasted horrible)
Then I found another type of e-cig and some good tasting juice. I tried to go higher on nicotine content to 24mg so that I wouldn't crave an analog cig. But I made the committment not to smoke or chew the gum when I did it. It worked because I had NO cravings for a cig.
So... even though you are starting to get too much nicotine. It may be because you are not getting enough nic when you vape so that you continue to smoke/or chew the gum, and then you get too much. If that's not the case disregard all that I said.
Just a thought and I hope you can find your own way without the side effects.
If nothing else you could get the 0mg juice in a flavor you will enjoy and then when you go cold turkey you can at least have something to do that will satisfy the habit.

 

[taz666]

yes Infernia I still need to experiment with different levels of nicotine till I find one that is just right. thinking I may need different levels at different times of the day. I do have a blood pressure monitor at home (not for me, for my husband) I have never had high blood pressure. It is going back to normal. I will try vaping again - this time no cigs!

thanks everyone

 

[Phil McRotch]

Nicotine itself is a stimulant. It does constrict the blood vessels, as stimulants do, so the hypertension and tinnitus (probably from the vasoconstriction) are most likely due to increased nic levels, with your supplementation of vaping with analogs and the nic gum.

As a former PAD+ smoker, I had hypertension, along with other medically tragic problems; e.g. high cholesterol, obesity, gout, and eventually diabetes, which ended up in a technical diabetic coma with acute pancreatitis...and I'm only 28.

My medical Hx may seem irrelevant, but nonetheless, I still smoked after coming out of DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis; diabetic coma) and the pancreatitis in April of this year. I still had a raised bp level even after a change in diet and exercise over the next few months. I started vaping (and gave up analogs) in August, continued with the same routine of the lifestyle change, along with the exercise and the weight loss that came with it, but strictly vaping in comparison, my bp is now excellently normal. Around 110/65-70 on average.

So, in my personal experience, moderate to constant vaping 18-24mg everyday hasn't compromised my health.

 

[No Brag]

have been vaping while still smoking. was smoking around 20-25 analogs a day. cut back to about 12 while vaping occasionally. ok for the 1st 2 weeks then wow ringing in ears that wouldn't go away with elevated blood pressure. stopped vaping for a couple of days and it seemed to go away. started nicotine gum and it came back. I am only using 11 nicotine. do you guys think this is from too little nic or too much? I have since stopped both while trying to maintain cutting back on the analogs and finally feeling better but really tired. any ideas?p.s. getting ready to leave so any questions I will get back later. thanks!

Hi taz666 You are in the right place for some advice and support. I have only been vaping for about 3 months and off of cigs for about 2 months. I developed some of the same symptoms that you are experencing last week. I had finally settled on coffee flavors for my daily vape. I had to quit drinking coffee years ago because of the same symptoms and was really happy that I could again enjoy the taste of coffee by vaping. When the symptoms started I tried less nic even clear to 0 nic. with no difference. I tried VG only and PG only. Finally I tried another flavor besides coffee. The symptoms went away. It figures that the flavor I like the best won't work for me. I don't know what there is about coffee that does that to me. Its not caffiene because there isn't any in flavoring and I can drink anything else with caffiene in it. This is just what happened to me and is probably not your problem. Its a matter of trying different things to see what works for you.

 

[taz666]

brag, you have me wondering.I was vaping black tea. why do we do this ..... to ourselves? why can't I just QUIT.

Phil, good luck to you sounds like you are doing good after going through so much