The congestion question

[BLUwazoo]

Well, first of all, let me say that I DID do a search first and came up with tons of stuff about congestion issues when vaping. The problem is I ended up more confused than ever. It turns out that: 1) Some people are allergic to VG. 2) Some people are allergic to PG. 3) Some people are allergic to certain flavorings used in the e juice. And finally, 4) Sometimes people just get the flu/allergy when they are vaping and there is no connection between the two whatsoever. Jeesh!

Now, here's a little bit more detail about my situation. I've been off cigs for over a month and a half. Almost all of my juices are about a 50/50 blend, with a few leaning more toward the VG side. I've only really noticed the increase in congestion in the last couple of weeks and just realized that it might be related to the vaping. Since there seemed to be more people who reported problems with VG than PG, I went to the vape shop today and got some juice in a 70/30 PG/VG blend. I figure that this will allow me to rule out #1 and 2 above. If things get better, it might be a sensitivity to VG. If it gets worse, it could indicate a sensitivity to the PG. If there is no change, then I will probably assume that it's just an allergy, since this is allergy season, after all. I have always had allergy issues, but have always felt that smoking cigs helped me with allergies, since I was putting so much tar and other gunk in my lungs that I figured the allergens couldn't get in as well. I suppose I could go get an unflavored juice and rule out out #3 as well, but I consider this the least likely of the four possibilities.

Do you think I'm approaching this right? Any other suggestions?

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[Lessifer]

What kind of equipment do you use and what is your vape style? Mouth only, mouth to lung, direct lung inhale?

Also, after a month and a half, your lungs could be expelling the stuff leftover from smoking.

 

[BLUwazoo]

Thank you!

Well, I'm using spinner type batteries with basic T3 cartomizers and some Nautilus mini's. It only recently came to my attention that there were different "vape styles." It never occurred to me that there were different ways of vaping. I think I mostly draw it into my mouth and then sometimes briefly draw it on into my lungs before the inhale.

Is it really possible that I could still be expelling smoking related stuff after a month and a half?

 

[AndriaD]

Well, first of all, let me say that I DID do a search first and came up with tons of stuff about congestion issues when vaping. The problem is I ended up more confused than ever. It turns out that: 1) Some people are allergic to VG. 2) Some people are allergic to PG. 3) Some people are allergic to certain flavorings used in the e juice. And finally, 4) Sometimes people just get the flu/allergy when they are vaping and there is no connection between the two whatsoever. Jeesh!

Now, here's a little bit more detail about my situation. I've been off cigs for over a month and a half. Almost all of my juices are about a 50/50 blend, with a few leaning more toward the VG side. I've only really noticed the increase in congestion in the last couple of weeks and just realized that it might be related to the vaping. Since there seemed to be more people who reported problems with VG than PG, I went to the vape shop today and got some juice in a 70/30 PG/VG blend. I figure that this will allow me to rule out #1 and 2 above. If things get better, it might be a sensitivity to VG. If it gets worse, it could indicate a sensitivity to the PG. If there is no change, then I will probably assume that it's just an allergy, since this is allergy season, after all. I have always had allergy issues, but have always felt that smoking cigs helped me with allergies, since I was putting so much tar and other gunk in my lungs that I figured the allergens couldn't get in as well. I suppose I could go get an unflavored juice and rule out out #3 as well, but I consider this the least likely of the four possibilities.

Do you think I'm approaching this right? Any other suggestions?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Sounds fairly sound to me. For a chest congestion type of problem, I would definitely think VG is the culprit. PG sensitivities seem to be more towards irritation in the mouth and throat. I suppose a true allergy to anything could cause all manner of problems that might not even seem related to vaping.

Lately even my 75PG/25VG has been worsening my asthma pretty drastically; I'm heading for 80/20 country.

Andria

 

[Lessifer]

Thank you!

Well, I'm using spinner type batteries with basic T3 cartomizers and some Nautilus mini's. It only recently came to my attention that there were different "vape styles." It never occurred to me that there were different ways of vaping. I think I mostly draw it into my mouth and then sometimes briefly draw it on into my lungs before the inhale.

Is it really possible that I could still be expelling smoking related stuff after a month and a half?

I think I was still coughing up phlegm balls after about 6 months or so. The gear you're using shouldn't be putting out huge amounts of vapor(not like sub ohm drippers) so that rules that out, and mouth to lung is what I do. You could try just drawing into your mouth and holding, then exhaling, maybe out through the nose too. Most of the nic absorption happens in the mouth and nose. Or you could be sensitive to the vg/pg, and your plan for testing that out seems pretty sound.

 

[salemgold]

My vote is that it is the VG making you more congested. That is what it does to me and I know many others with the same issues from VG. I vape a 70/30 PG/VG blend and that works ok for me.

Good luck to you.

 

[cjcaddy]

I agree with AndriaD. When I first started vaping with store bought high PG juices I didn't have a problem. Then when I started DIYing I was making juices with a high VG ratio and that's when I noticed a heavy feeling in my lungs-like I was smoking again.Haven't had the problem since I went back to high PG.

 

[Via!]

Well, BLU...here are my 2cents...I've been vaping for just over three years...I was a 1.5 PAD smoker since 1967...it took me a GOOD 20-24 months of not even getting NEAR a cigarette to rid myself of all the KRAP in my lungs! As a result of smoking for so long, I also developed chronic bronchitis...and even a teeny tiny cold germ can get my lungs all congested and yucky!

I will also confess to being a FLAVOR CHASER....at one point, believing I could get more INTENSE flavor, I was punching my cartos with a hole just a "wee bit" bigger than I had been doing before...just a little quarter turn extra with my punch device...I didn't notice right away, because the effects were very insidious...but, the extra (and unneeded) vapor molecules obviously carried more of the pg/VG blend, and started causing lung problems for ME, too!

My pulmonary doc who is also a Vaper, by the way...suspected that my ailment had something to do with carto tanks...so I made the move to clearos...then to the nautilus and AeroTank....and this change has helped me a lot! While I still occasionally fill my Phiniac tank, I just keep the holes in my carto a "normal", not an enlarged size, and I use a 50/50 VG/pg blend.

I hope this helps a little...stay well, and healthy!

 

[joelmora89]

In my case it was the cotton that gave me the sneezing and the Niagara Falls all day long .....my 2 cents

 

[BLUwazoo]

Wow! A lot of great advice here. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all the insightful comments. You guys and gals are the best!!!

Based upon what I'm reading here, I think my approach will give me at least some more information to work with. I should at least be able to rule out the possibility of #1 & 2 within the next day or two.

The possibility that I could still be hacking up cigarette gunk for six months or even a year or two is rather depressing.

Thanks again, all!

 

[twall]

I also think your "allergy season" hypothesis holds mucho water. My throat was starting to swell noticeably (but not dangerously) after about the same time frame as you. Same juice, same setup, that never bothered me before. I got OTC Benadryl and popped one. In an hour, I was fine. Dunno what happened, but it'll do it to me here and there. It seemed obvious mine was some kind of allergy.

Really scared me the first time.....

 

[faile]

My perspective as another Indiana resident: Most of the farmers around here just started harvesting the fields. I am currently (and always do) having congestion due to allergies this time of year. I don't know whether it's the stuff getting kicked up out of the corn or the beans, but whichever it is seems to hit me harder every year, and this year with vaping has been no exception. Ugh.

I do think you are going about ruling things out pretty well, though. It could well be a PG or VG sensitivity for you, but I wanted to point out that the 'seasonal' allergy explanation is also a good possibility.

 

[BLUwazoo]

Good point twall and faile! Yes, this would have been a rough time of the year anyway. It may be nothing more than that. I do have generic Benadryl on hand, but I've recently been staying away from it since I've been using Musinex instead to try to clear away all the flem and they work at cross purposes to each other. I'm starting to suspect that this is probably the most likely explanation, and may just be something I get to live with every time this year. But will probably try to rule out the VG/PG question anyway. It might turn out that I need to cut back on the VG seasonally during harvest season.

Again, thank you for all the helpful comments. This is an awesome site (and very friendly!)

 

[Ed_C]

My pulmonary doc who is also a Vaper, by the way...suspected that my ailment had something to do with carto tanks...so I made the move to clearos...then to the nautilus and AeroTank....and this change has helped me a lot! While I still occasionally fill my Phiniac tank, I just keep the holes in my carto a "normal", not an enlarged size, and I use a 50/50 VG/pg blend.

That's interesting. I use carto tanks and have issues with congestion. Did he think it was the polyfill or was it something else?

 

[twall]

Good point twall and faile! Yes, this would have been a rough time of the year anyway. It may be nothing more than that. I do have generic Benadryl on hand, but I've recently been staying away from it since I've been using Musinex instead to try to clear away all the flem and they work at cross purposes to each other. I'm starting to suspect that this is probably the most likely explanation, and may just be something I get to live with every time this year. But will probably try to rule out the VG/PG question anyway. It might turn out that I need to cut back on the VG seasonally during harvest season.

Again, thank you for all the helpful comments. This is an awesome site (and very friendly!)

You beat me to it. I was gonna say maybe just at this particular time of the year, you are noticing a heightened sensitivity to either VG or PG.

Your elimination process seems well thought out. Let us know how it works out.

 

[The Torch]

I feel my allergies hit a high this year and I mostly have hay fever. I have been experiencing congestion problems since the start of hay fever and it is at its worst when I am dehydrated, which vaping will do to you. I've been vaping over 6 months now (yaaayyy!) and did not have that problem, other than slightly more sensitive allergies, since I quit smoking and went over the quitter's flu for 2 weeks.

 

[BLUwazoo]

I feel my allergies hit a high this year and I mostly have hay fever. I have been experiencing congestion problems since the start of hay fever and it is at its worst when I am dehydrated, which vaping will do to you.

Excellent point Torch! My allergies are of the hay fever variety and, as has already been pointed out, this is the absolute PEAK of that season. I'm feeling much better about things right now. I'm thinking I'll be able to work out a plan for this problem. The bottom line is that I don't think I'll have to give up vaping. I'll just have to make a few adjustments, perhaps only on a seasonal basis. And I have to admit, I'm pretty much enjoying the hell out of my new vaping hobby!

 

[AndriaD]

My allergies are the hay fever kind too, but I've never suffered any of that in the fall, nor even in the spring when it's "green snow" season around here, every last thing outdoors positively *caked* in yellow-green pollen. Mine never seem to start up till around mid-May, and seem to stop bothering me around mid-June or early July. I've pretty much narrowed that down to "grass pollination" season; none of the other pollen seems to bother me at all. However *mold* from rainy autumn, winter, or spring, can bother me terribly.

Andria

 

[AngiBe]

Funny I just found this thread after typing in the search "VG sensitivity". I'm over a year quit, no allergies of any kind and have had 2 ear infections/sinus infections since I've started vaping. I have never in my life had either.

So been doing little experiments with my vaping and I believe the 2 flavors I have with 100% VG may be causing my sinus issues which inturn affects my ears. I'm pretty bummed because these 2 juices have been ADVs for me off and on for a year. But everytime I vape them (now that I have paid attention to it the last 3 months) do cause me to get congested. So looks like anything above 50% VG is out for me.