Think I'm Allergic -- Back to Analogs

[gingersnaps]

It may not necessarily be an od. Just more than you can handle in a single puff. Definately need to do some experimenting to find out whats causing it. That's why I say try the vg and pg alone first then if all is ok add nic n go from there. Pg will increase any throat or lung irritation in nic. Example I can take 24 mg in all vg but because there is pg in flavoring i have to go down to 12.


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[jefsview]

It's really hard to go wrong with a 50/50 juice, unless you're extremely allergic. I am sensitive to PG it seems, but I don't have problems with 50/50. Higher amounts of PG cause irritation when used in longer periods, but 50/50 -- no problems.

And the same should hold true for those with VG issues, like yourself (heaviness in chest). Just try 50/50 and move from there until you find the most comfortable ratio.

 

[BigEgo]

Went down to CVS and bought some USP Glycerin. I filled up my protank and am sitting here puffing on it now. I am going to see if my chest begins to hurt, so maybe I can rule out a VG allergy.

 

[flowerpots]

Went down to CVS and bought some USP Glycerin. I filled up my protank and am sitting here puffing on it now. I am going to see if my chest begins to hurt, so maybe I can rule out a VG allergy.

BE,

You need to do this slowly and with caution, in case your allergic reaction goes overboard. I'm not saying that's common for that to happen, but don't vape like a champ right now and stop by all means if your chest starts tightening again.

Do you have any other allergies that you know of?

 

[DruidPriest]

Went down to CVS and bought some USP Glycerin. I filled up my protank and am sitting here puffing on it now. I am going to see if my chest begins to hurt, so maybe I can rule out a VG allergy.

Good choice be careful

Slim and simple EVOD tank, eGo battery. DruidPriest

 

[New2vaps]

If the issue you have does not end up being a PG or VG issue and ends up being a flavoring issue then I would recommend buying ejuice from Dripeez. No artificial ingredients, preservatives, or sweeteners. All are natural and organic. You can also customize your ejuice for 100% VG or any way you want it.

Natural & Organic E-liquids - Natural E-liquids Dripeez

 

[nmackan]

Good try. I hope it is vegetable glyceryn which can be used in food industry. Go slowly my friend no matter how many cigs you smoked along the way. Find right liquid and enjoy than.

 

[patkin]

Lungs begin to shrink back to normal size when you stop smoking and cilia begin to come out of their stupor. As a result, they get more "sensitive." That was my experience anyway. For me, it happened suddenly and drastically at the six-month mark. It probably took that long because I continued smoking 5 or 6 a day and had smoked 2PAD for over 50 years. When I dropped to two a day is when my lungs rebelled. VG was the worst during that time. I kept decreasing it until my lungs accepted the vapor better... by that I mean physical comfort and no coughing up mucous. BUT, having been through that experience, I no longer lung inhale. I shallow, or throat inhale, only. I get plenty of nic just vaping that way. Think about this: If you were allergic, you would have symptoms (consequences) involving more than lungs. Any internal part of your body coming in contact with the allergen would show signs of it. So, to my mind, your lungs are just getting more sensitive including bronchial tubes narrowing to normality. Try shallow inhaling. Pipe and cigar smokers don't lung inhale and get their nic just fine. You can vape the same way. Don't go back to the smokes. Your life depends on it.

 

[Fluid Concepts]

I agree with the masses. I am an RN and can tell you that you are most likely experiencing an allergy (Correction: Sensitivity) to the PG. Like many others have said, 100% vg may be the way to go. You may actually enjoy the sweeter vape and increased vapor clouds too! Yes VG can cause you to go through coils a little faster, but you can clean them more frequently to limit this problem. It is sooo worth it to give it another try! Also as others have said too, there are 100% natural flavoring options if the flavoring turns out to be the culprit.

 

[Bubble Gum]

I agree with the masses. I am an RN and can tell you that you are most likely experiencing an allergy (Correction: Sensitivity) to the PG. Like many others have said, 100% vg may be the way to go. You may actually enjoy the sweeter vape and increased vapor clouds too! Yes VG can cause you to go through coils a little faster, but you can clean them more frequently to limit this problem. It is sooo worth it to give it another try! Also as others have said too, there are 100% natural flavoring options if the flavoring turns out to be the culprit.

What would be sensitivity symptomes to VG?

 

[patkin]

What would be sensitivity symptomes to VG?

Heavy feeling in the chest.... some so much that they experience pain. Its been mentioned over and over again by seasoned vapers here. For me, the VG feels denser and, thus, hits my lungs harder though it has very little throat hit. PG which does provide TH feels thinner... closer to the consistency of smoke.. and, thus, does not hit my lungs so hard. So I guess I'm talking the size of the molecules in the vapor. PG.. smaller, VG.. bigger. My lungs do not like those larger molecules and seal them off with mucous that I have to bring up. Just looking at the vapor should make this clear. VG creates plumes of vapor. PG not so much. As the bronchial tubes start to "shrink" back to normal size, the less capacity they have to hold that huge amount of vapor created by VG... so, the only word I can come up with is "sensitive" but its not "allergic response."

 

[madqatter]

If you learn that you are able to vape VG with no problems, but PG ends up being the culprit, there are (as others have mentioned) many juice vendors that sell juice without PG.

PG is reportedly better than VG, however, at conveying flavor. If you ever want to increase the flavor in a VG-only juice, some vendors allow you to do that too.

The extremely popular Mt Baker Vapor, for example, allows you to add extra flavoring to your juice. So you could get a juice that's 70% VG and 30% distilled water, or even more VG and less water, with up to five extra shots of flavoring.

If, on the other hand, VG was the problem, you could get very low VG juice or even 100% PG juice from the same source. Or you could adjust your nicotine. Or you could get unflavored juice in any PG/VG/nic ratios you wanted.

 

[CrazyPenguin]

you should come watch vapetv and talk to sgt tax and danger girl. dg is allergic to high levels of pg and she can still vape, maybe its your vendor. But you should look in to vg based liquid that uses vg based nic and flavoring

 

[Rabbit Chaser]

I agree with VG juices. Please reconsider analogs. There are so many deadly poisons in them and you don't know if your chest x-ray was just revealing the damage from the sticks. I had shortness of breath and headaches when I first started vaping and tried different juices from highly recommended sources mentioned in these forums and have had no additional problems. Chest pains can also be a sign of anxiety, withdrawal from cigs, your body flushing the toxins....Drink LOTS of water to flush your system, as for free VG samples from reputable sources (maybe even a local B&M), try different levels of nicotine. Don't give up yet...my doctor is so proud that I switched to vaping and am leaving the tobacco industry behind.

Not without Vaping:

 

[Fluid Concepts]

What would be sensitivity symptomes to VG?

Sensitivity to anything, not just PG or VG when referring to respiratory system would be similar to Pnuemonia symptoms if you have every had Pneumonia you know what I'm talking about. It is usually tightness in the chest, potentially pain when inhaling deeply or it can just be shortness of breath. Basically what is happening is that the lungs are "irritated" and are experiencing an inflammatory response. Sensitivity reaction may not be as severe as a true allergic reaction, but the danger is still very real. Unfortunately it is impossible to tell what the vaper is sensitive to without isolating all ingredients and being exposed to them individually.

 

[Criticalmass]

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.

Don't let this be what causes you to give up. I had some e-liquid that had something in the flavoring that was causing my gums to bleed. Stick with Analogs if you want but I do recommend experimenting with a 100% VG mix and a different vendor. Once you find what works for you just stick with it.

I won't name the vendor or the e-juice because I am not claiming it will cause issues for everyone and I don't want to tarnish their reputation, but yes, some experimentation IS going to be necessary.. I have had some food allergies since I was 3 years old, if the vendor is using organics, it can cause problems. Your initial outlay will probably cost you just as much as you spend on cigarettes for a month, but after that it will save you 2/3rds of your money or more unless you go crazy with modding and buying different setups.



Also, you will live longer.

 

[Criticalmass]

I'm glad this question was raised. I'd really like to know if we can be allergic to the pg or VG or flavorings. If so, what can we do to avoid it?
A lot of people say they are allergic to smoking, but it's actually impossible to be, because there are no proteins in it. It is an irritant that triggers our allergic reactions to something else. Do vaping ingredients have protein? Maybe I don't quite understand allergies (doh).
I know when I walk into the hay shed built out of stiff foam insulation, my chest tightens. Yet, I don't think there is a protein there either. Lots of mice & hay though lol. But I never tightened before the insulated walls went up.
I realize there are sensitivities with either one or certain Flavors, that needs to be ruled out one by one.
What causes the sensitivities? Or allergies?
I need a lab doc on call lol

Yes you can. If you have food allergies and you are buying from a vendor that uses only organic ingredients it is very possible to have an allergic reaction just based on the ingredients being used.

I have read recently (no I can't site the source) about a study that was done concerning PG allergies. What I read suggested that different people have different tolerances for PG. Some have no allergies at all, but a small percentage of the population had varying levels of tolerance before reactions occurred. Some in the study could handle up to 9% and then would break out with skin irritation while others could handle up to 18-29% and others less than 5%.

 

[Criticalmass]

I wouldn't take any advice from anyone here, to be honest. You should go to an allergist, discuss vaping and it's ingredients and go from there. If you're having strong enough reactions to go to an emergency room, consult a doctor about vaping before you experiment on your own.

Most doctors don't even know. Ask 9 out of 10 doctors and they will know very little, if anything, about electronic cigarettes.

Note: I also have the throat irritation from PG. 80/20 causes the irritation for the first 5-6 puffs, then it goes away. If I wait an hour to puff again, it comes back, then goes away. This doesn't happen with 70/30 mixes

 

[flowerpots]

My first 2 months of vaping I had red blotches on my arms, chest and back. I broke out like a teenager. I did experience coughing too and attributed that to my lungs expelling some of the built-up tar, toxins over the years. It did self-resolve over time and I don't have those symptoms now. But, true allergic reactions are nothing to play with. Constriction of air passageways can lead to not being to able to catch your breath at all. I'm sure it can be determined through experimentation what the OP is allergic to, over time, with enough variables isolated, but I would still recommend doing it under a Dr's care just in case.

 

[flowerpots]

Most doctors don't even know. Ask 9 out of 10 doctors and they will know very little, if anything, about electronic cigarettes.

Most don't, I have also found. They only know catch phrases and what the FDA has said so far. But, they do know what an allergic reaction is, how severe it is, when it needs medical attention and not, and how to slowly test to see which ingredient is the culprit.

I'm not trying to be alarmist in this, just pragmatic and making a smart decision over someone's health.