Think I'm Allergic -- Back to Analogs

[BigEgo]

Been at it the vaping thing for close to two weeks now. Saturday I started having some chest pains, so I went to a local clinic to get checked out. They took a chest x-ray and drew blood for a CBC and other routine tests. Doc said the chest x-ray showed some inflammation of the lungs, and she wanted to rule out pneumonia and Legionairre's disease (we've had a few cases of it locally). She gave me an antibiotic shot, told me to come back in a few days, and sent me on my way.

So I went back today to get my blood test results and everything came back fine. I am negative for pneumonia and everything else that was tested for. She said my lungs sounded good, my cardiac function was good and I am basically in good shape.

So I come home and begin vaping. And wham, here comes those chest pains again. Not only that but my eyes become really bloodshot (doctor noticed that the other day when I went in). So, after a few minutes of vaping, I have to go lie down. My chest feels "tight" and it hurts all the way to my back. It really sucks. It takes a couple of hours, but eventually the inflammed feeling goes away and my eyes return to being white.

I get my juice from my local vape shop. He told me he does 30/70 PG/VG mix. I have no idea if I am allergic to the PG, the VG or the food flavorings and I don't really feel like experimenting to find out. I guess I am one of the unlucky 5% who is allergic to vaping.

Oh well, I tried, but it's back to analogs for me.

 

[DruidPriest]

Don't give up yet. Walmart sells VG its in the pharmacy section. Get some thin it just a tiny bit with filtered water and try that. PG is the thing most people who have a reaction to vaping react to. If your ok on that try to find a 100% VG juice.

Slim and simple EVOD tank, eGo battery. DruidPriest

 

[HawaiiVPR]

Sounds like you have an allergy to Propylene Glycol, its actually quite common. Before you go back to the analogs, I highly recommend you give it one more shot, but stick to 100% Vegetable Glycerin. I would also recommend trying another vape shop or order online. My wife has a PG allergy and will get similar symptoms as you, as well as red blotches on her chest and face.

She vapes 100% VG from VapingUSA.com and has never had any issues since.

 

[bertfelin]

well my suggestion is never buy e-juice from where you don't know what's really in it.
use some reliable source for your juice instead.

 

[Enoch777]

When I first started vaping I got horrible itchy rashes on my legs and generally bad feeling from PG allergy. You can google it, I'm not the only one. The problem is that they put PG in many different products, so when you introduce the levels you take in from vaping it can quickly accumulate in the body, causing sensitivity and allergy issues for some.

I switched to 100% VG and have never looked back. That's my testimonial

Check out: The safety of vegetable glycerin (VG) when inhaled through an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette). Studies on the effect of the inhalation of vegetable glycerin through a personal vaporizer.
And if you really think it's the flavorings, you can get 100% VG juices from quality vendors who make organic juices, such as Velvet Cloud Vapor, among others.

Hope you find what works for you!

 

[nmackan]

Adding to answers you seem to get high nicotine too what was it? Try to lower nicotine and add more VG to you liquids.
My friend it is easy to be saved from analogs dont try to find a way to smoke them. they always find a way to ingratiate themselves.

 

[iGl0]

Sorry to hear the bad news... But it seems like you only tried one juice. Sometimes artificial flavorings when vaped can cause irritation. You don't seem to have much PG, which is generally what people are allergic to. If you ever decide to give it a try again, ask for 100% VG and be sure to get it from a reputable vapor shop. Theres not much in these liquids as opposed to 4000+ other chemicals that are combusted in analogs. And if you just recently moved to vaporizing it does take a few weeks for your body to really adjust without analogs (which include phlegm, coughing, and chest pains) This is what we call smokers cessation.

Anyway, sorry about the news, but there are other ways to quit!

 

[ScandaLeX]

Like others ahve already mentiooned, you may be having an allergic reaction to the PG.
There are many online vendors who sell 100% VG juice.

BTW~ what is your nicotine level you're vaping?

Been at it the vaping thing for close to two weeks now. Saturday I started having some chest pains, so I went to a local clinic to get checked out. They took a chest x-ray and drew blood for a CBC and other routine tests. Doc said the chest x-ray showed some inflammation of the lungs, and she wanted to rule out pneumonia and Legionairre's disease (we've had a few cases of it locally). She gave me an antibiotic shot, told me to come back in a few days, and sent me on my way.

So I went back today to get my blood test results and everything came back fine. I am negative for pneumonia and everything else that was tested for. She said my lungs sounded good, my cardiac function was good and I am basically in good shape.

So I come home and begin vaping. And wham, here comes those chest pains again. Not only that but my eyes become really bloodshot (doctor noticed that the other day when I went in). So, after a few minutes of vaping, I have to go lie down. My chest feels "tight" and it hurts all the way to my back. It really sucks. It takes a couple of hours, but eventually the inflammed feeling goes away and my eyes return to being white.

I get my juice from my local vape shop. He told me he does 30/70 PG/VG mix. I have no idea if I am allergic to the PG, the VG or the food flavorings and I don't really feel like experimenting to find out. I guess I am one of the unlucky 5% who is allergic to vaping.

Oh well, I tried, but it's back to analogs for me.

 

[blondeambition3]

Try VG only juices.... anything is better than smoking.

I wish you luck.

 

[DetraMental]

It does sound like an allergic reaction and the most common factor in vaping is PG and/or the flavoring. I'd definitely try 100% VG and a different juice before I'd go back to smoking. Well I can honestly say I did exactly that. I am allergic to PG so I have to use it minimally or face the awful allergic reaction. Good luck.

 

[Richie G]

The OP is using e-liquid that is 30/70 PG/VG. Why are people suggesting to use an even HIGHER percentage of VG?

To the OP....

I'm vaping 4 1/2 years. I have the same heaviness in the chest when I use some 100% VG liquids. My symptoms are not nearly as bad as yours but I do feel it. I wouldn't call it an allergy. My advice is opposite of what I've read in this thread. Try some e-liquids that have little to no VG.

FWIW, I vape 80/20 PG/VG and never experience that heavy chest feeling I get from those rare occasions when I use predominantly VG e-liquid.

Good luck.

 

[Optimo114]

When I first started vaping I got horrible itchy rashes on my legs and generally bad feeling from PG allergy. You can google it, I'm not the only one. The problem is that they put PG in many different products, so when you introduce the levels you take in from vaping it can quickly accumulate in the body, causing sensitivity and allergy issues for some.

I switched to 100% VG and have never looked back. That's my testimonial

Check out: The safety of vegetable glycerin (VG) when inhaled through an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette). Studies on the effect of the inhalation of vegetable glycerin through a personal vaporizer.
And if you really think it's the flavorings, you can get 100% VG juices from quality vendors who make organic juices, such as Velvet Cloud Vapor, among others.

Hope you find what works for you!

I can second this. Velvet Cloud is amazing for me. I've tried countless juice and the only vendor I can handle is Velvet Cloud. Alot of vendors say they have 100% VG but their flavor has pg in them. I'm a VcV customer for life. I too have a very bad reaction to pg. Even the slightest amount. I would highly recommend giving them a shot before going back to analogs

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Ohyeathat]

Don't give up just yet. Try different mixtures of PG and VG in your liquid. Lower your nicotine level if need be.

 

[ScandaLeX]

The OP is using e-liquid that is 30/70 PG/VG. Why are people suggesting to use an even HIGHER percentage of VG?

To the OP....

I'm vaping 4 1/2 years. I have the same heaviness in the chest when I use some 100% VG liquids. My symptoms are not nearly as bad as yours but I do feel it. I wouldn't call it an allergy. My advice is opposite of what I've read in this thread. Try some e-liquids that have little to no VG.

FWIW, I vape 80/20 PG/VG and never experience that heavy chest feeling I get from those rare occasions when I use predominantly VG e-liquid.

Good luck.

Because the OP may be having an allergic reaction to the PG- it doesn't matter the amount is smaller- it's still in there.

 

[meanckz]

I know you are new to all this, but don't check out completely yet. As mentioned, you may have that allergy, most vendors use PG for the unflavored nicotine addative, however I found that thru NicVape you can order unflavored nicotine as VG base also. Maybe you can start brewing DIY juices.... or possibly order them brewed to your specifications from NicVape.


Edit: it also goes in the other direction.

 

[happydave]

so yes you may have an allergic reaction to it... most of the "side effects" people report from e-cigs are really side effects from not smoking analogs. when i started vaping the first 2 days went fine the third day my chest hurt really bad and i started coughing up nasty stuff. you spent years smoking im guessing. you did a lot of damage to your lungs in that time that's not going to be repaired in a few days or a week. have been vaping for 478 days and i still get some weird chest pains and cough up nasty stuff once in while. one thing you might try is smoking the e-cig like a cigar. just pull the vapor into your mouth and throat and exhale through your mouth and nose. nicotine is absorbed though any part of your body so you will get a buzz from doing that. i didn't much inhale when i was a new vapor.

when you smoke 4000 and some odd chemicals every day your body becomes used to having them. the damage you did from smoking cigarettes may never be completely repaired. but can tell you that i feel like a million bucks since i stopped smoking analogs.

 

[KjAthena]

I also have a problem with high VG juice...I get a painful heaviness in my chest and start to hack if I use more than a 50/50 blend. My usual juices are 70PG30VG or 80PG20VG...the blood shot eyes are from dehydration

 

[WillyZee]

please don't give up after 2 weeks ... try different solutions.

good luck

 

[Caridwen]

I get that way from high VG.

 

[Topwater Elvis]

I too get the same reaction to anything more than 60% VG juices, In my case add a coating/taste in my mouth & throat that is best described as inhaling used motor oil.
For me the chest heaviness/tightness can last from 1/2 a day to several days.

Don't buy liquids from any place that won't disclose what is in them.