Vaping and painful Bloating? Don't want to quit vaping!

[UNREALBANTER]

Hi guys, I see there's many people asking about vaping and bloating. However, I have yet to come across anything recent or specific.
Bare with me and my thoughts here.

So I just started vaping again... Bought a quick kit just to get me started (MELO 3 Nano Tank). Got a juice that I used to love (I vaped about 3+ years ago) which is The Upside by The Schwartz (strawberry yogurt) (0 Nicotine, 70VG 30PG)

I noticed after my first day of vaping that I was very bloated which was causing a deal of discomfort. It goes away if I don't vape for a few hours, but comes back with literally just a couple inhales from the vape. Over the past few years, I've developed a fairly sensitive stomach.

Question 1: Does this give any clue to what the problem could be? I wouldn't think you could feel pain so quickly from just a couple puffs from the vape if the issue is "swallowing air." (and I'm not doing anything different from a basic lung inhale)

I've read that PG could be the reason, as well as flavorings. VG hasn't really come up as causing bloating specifically.

Question 2: If I did have to switch to a Max VG juice, any recommends? ALSO the big part of this for me... How the heck can I vape Max VG in a sub ohm tank? I THINK my coil building days are over, it was good when I had TIME on my hands.

Question 3: If it's the flavorings, is there such thing as an unflavored juice that isn't horrid? Or flavorings that are more on the safe side? Examples?

I really want to continue to vape, and to think I might have to just stop, kinda breaks my heart! This is unacceptable....

If ANYONE has found out any ways to assist this for themselves, please let me know!

P.S.: I have been drinking Fennel and Peppermint Tea, with no luck. It can't overpower whatever is causing the pain / bloating in the first place.

I'm curious if anyone has had this experience and it went away with time when my body adjusted kinda thing?

 

[Psihoza]

I'd start from trying pure unflavored PG, then VG and notice if there is any difference. If one of those is OK and the other one is not, then you found your cause. Choose your liquid based on that or play with ratios of both that is ok with you.

If both are ok for you, then it's flavoring. Try other juices.

If neither is ok, then it can get complicated

 

[Anise]

I don't know about your condition but I vape max vg in Sub-Ohm attys. I haven't had a problem.

 

[UNREALBANTER]

I'd start from trying pure unflavored PG, then VG and notice if there is any difference. If one of those is OK and the other one is not, then you found your cause. Choose your liquid based on that or play with ratios of both that is ok with you.

If both are ok for you, then it's flavoring. Try other juices.

If neither is ok, then it can get complicated

Good point, I ordered 120ml of both on their own. In the meantime, I have 2 more juices coming tomorrow, we can always pray this was all just a strawberry flavor allergy, but I highly doubt it. I will try to just slow down in general... Take smaller puffs, etc. :/

 

[UNREALBANTER]

I don't know about your condition but I vape max vg in Sub-Ohm attys. I haven't had a problem.

May I ask which sub ohm tanks you've been successful with MAX VG? And MAX VG you mean 90VG/10PG or less PG right? I have a MELO 3 at the moment, not sure the holes would be big enough to wick it or not.

 

[Izan]

May I ask which sub ohm tanks you've been successful with MAX VG? And MAX VG you mean 90VG/10PG or less PG right? I have a LEMO 3 at the moment, not sure the holes would be big enough to wick it or not.

Hi,
Which coils are you using with the lemo?
How many watts are you using?

If you are doing a DTL inhale, it is very easy to gulp or swallow the vapor.
Have you considered a MTL tank/device?

Cheers
I

 

[UNREALBANTER]

Hi,
Which coils are you using with the lemo?
How many watts are you using?

If you are doing a DTL inhale, it is very easy to gulp or swallow the vapor.
Have you considered a MTL tank/device?

Cheers
I

MELO* I meant. Either way, they can both be used with premade coils now.

(DTL currently .3ohms @30W) Anyway, the MELO comes with a .75 coil as well for MTL, and the airflow gets fairly restricted. MTL IS technically less air going in correct? Could eliminate that possibility? I might consider getting a MTL specific tank to test that as well.

I really want to vape. Somehow, someway.

 

[Izan]

MELO* I meant. Either way, they can both be used with premade coils now.

(DTL currently .3ohms @30W) Anyway, the MELO comes with a .75 coil as well for MTL, and the airflow gets fairly restricted. MTL IS technically less air going in correct? Could eliminate that possibility? I might consider getting a MTL specific tank to test that as well.

I really want to vape. Somehow, someway.

Eleaf tank names...
I was going to suggest the .75ECML coils. Start voltage low and try for a cigarette-like inhale. (Coils rated at 8W-25W, start at 6 or 7 and after a bit of break in, increase as needed.)
The 30/70 juice should be fine. If you increase the VG level, be sure to allow time between pulls for the thicker liquid to wick properly.
IMO, Cigarettes are more of a "sip", Hookah is a "gulp". You are much more likely to swallow air/vapor with big air coils/tanks/devices.

HTH
I

 

[Myk]

I have yet to see anyone ask about vaping and bloating.

If I saw anyone asking I would tell them to go see a gastroenterologist if they used vaping to quit smoking.
1) Smoking can treat IBD, especially Ulcerative Colitis.
2) Smoking can make IBD worse, especially Crohn's Disease.
Bloating can be a symptom of either.

Also there is gastroparisis, nicotine relaxing soft muscle could aggravate that. I get random times of GP, generally from alcohol. It is bloating and very painful.
Bottom line is it could be a medical problem that only a Dr can diagnose.
You say it here, "Over the past few years, I've developed a fairly sensitive stomach.". You have a medical problem and need to see a Dr about it.

This is not a typical PG/VG reaction issue to jump to that conclusion. Even flavorings is a bit of a leap.

I vape 80%VG, 10%water, 10% flavorings just fine on sub-Ω tanks.

Unflavored isn't horrid, it's just weak. Feels like there's nothing there.

 

[lil_buddy]

I can't specifically address your issue - I mean I don't know what ingredients are causing your symptoms - but I will tell you that vaping Splenda heavy juices gives me a headache (while ingesting splenda in larger amounts will give me a weird rash) and I have an Earl Grey Tea flavoring that I have used in making DIY ejuice and the bergamot dry tartness makes my stomach burn (tastes really good, though)

I really like vaping unflavored eliquid - tastes like a super light cigarette.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Instead of inhaling when vaping, just take the vapor into your mouth and out through your nose. That is where most of the nicotine is absorbed anyway and you may find out if vaping is really causing your issues. I don't actually think its being a cause but it could be more along the lines of aggravating an already existing condition. just my 2 pennies......

And I know that stopping inhaling is an almost impossible thing to do as we did it for so long while smoking but give it a try.....

 

[UNREALBANTER]

Eleaf tank names...
I was going to suggest the .75ECML coils. Start voltage low and try for a cigarette-like inhale. (Coils rated at 8W-25W, start at 6 or 7 and after a bit of break in, increase as needed.)
The 30/70 juice should be fine. If you increase the VG level, be sure to allow time between pulls for the thicker liquid to wick properly.
IMO, Cigarettes are more of a "sip", Hookah is a "gulp". You are much more likely to swallow air/vapor with big air coils/tanks/devices.

HTH
I

This is actually the route I've taken since you brought it up. It doesn't make a huge difference, but it is surely not causing as much pain as the DTL inhales were.

I've just closed off the MELO all the way. I've also made an order for 120ml of pure PG and 120ml of pure VG to do some test. I've ALSO ordered a specific MTL tank (Nautilus X)

I have yet to see anyone ask about vaping and bloating.

If I saw anyone asking I would tell them to go see a gastroenterologist if they used vaping to quit smoking.
1) Smoking can treat IBD, especially Ulcerative Colitis.
2) Smoking can make IBD worse, especially Crohn's Disease.
Bloating can be a symptom of either.

Also there is gastroparisis, nicotine relaxing soft muscle could aggravate that. I get random times of GP, generally from alcohol. It is bloating and very painful.
Bottom line is it could be a medical problem that only a Dr can diagnose.
You say it here, "Over the past few years, I've developed a fairly sensitive stomach.". You have a medical problem and need to see a Dr about it.

This is not a typical PG/VG reaction issue to jump to that conclusion. Even flavorings is a bit of a leap.

I vape 80%VG, 10%water, 10% flavorings just fine on sub-Ω tanks.

Unflavored isn't horrid, it's just weak. Feels like there's nothing there.

I actually have IBS. All I mentioned in my initial post was that I have a sensitive stomach, but yes I've been through the GI doc swing, and was left with a functional diagnosis of IBS-A (pain predominant).

I should probably just stop, but vaping has done wonders for me managing my anxiety, and I'd like to find a way to make it work...

 

[Myk]

I actually have IBS. All I mentioned in my initial post was that I have a sensitive stomach, but yes I've been through the GI doc swing, and was left with a functional diagnosis of IBS-A (pain predominant).

I should probably just stop, but vaping has done wonders for me managing my anxiety, and I'd like to find a way to make it work...

I'd hate to send you back through that but Dr's can be wrong. I had "food allergies" at 9 months, "colitis" at 14 - here take imodium for life, "all in my head" at 20, diagnosed with IBD - Indeterminate Colitis at 49 and changed to Crohn's at 53. I swore off going back through the torture until I had to.

 

[UNREALBANTER]

I'd hate to send you back through that but Dr's can be wrong. I had "food allergies" at 9 months, "colitis" at 14 - here take imodium for life, "all in my head" at 20, diagnosed with IBD - Indeterminate Colitis at 49 and changed to Crohn's at 53. I swore off going back through the torture until I had to.

Wow that's really rough. My symptoms have improved at least 50-60% since first diagnosed, but there's still symptoms I can't seem to get ahold of. Bloating is the MAIN issue I've yet to eliminate...

It's a constant struggle, and I was very discouraged to see something that helped me WITH the stress of the disorder to be making it worse. Unfortunately, when I did the GI doc run around, I had the resources and free health insurance to do so. Nowadays, I wouldn't be able to afford ten minutes of their time, and we both know how long it takes going back through those motions.

 

[Myk]

Wow that's really rough. My symptoms have improved at least 50-60% since first diagnosed, but there's still symptoms I can't seem to get ahold of. Bloating is the MAIN issue I've yet to eliminate...

It's a constant struggle, and I was very discouraged to see something that helped me WITH the stress of the disorder to be making it worse. Unfortunately, when I did the GI doc run around, I had the resources and free health insurance to do so. Nowadays, I wouldn't be able to afford ten minutes of their time, and we both know how long it takes going back through those motions.

I know many people with IBS who say nicotine helps them. I can see how it would help. I'd try to figure it out with unflavored PG/VG nicotine. I don't know why PG, VG or flavoring would matter but I can be wronger than Dr's.

I don't know what I'd do without good insurance with infusions billed at $36,000 every 8 weeks. Even the $15,000 insurance pays/negotiated is nuts. A lot of IBD'ers I know hit their deductible and max out of pocket in the first 8 weeks of every year.

The good thing is the new torture isn't so bad compared to the torture in the 70s-80s. I laugh at the young ones complaining about barium now, try some "pretend it's a strawberry milkshake" barium chalk and the new stuff isn't so bad.

 

[UNREALBANTER]

I know many people with IBS who say nicotine helps them. I can see how it would help. I'd try to figure it out with unflavored PG/VG nicotine. I don't know why PG, VG or flavoring would matter but I can be wronger than Dr's.

I don't know what I'd do without good insurance with infusions billed at $36,000 every 8 weeks. Even the $15,000 insurance pays/negotiated is nuts. A lot of IBD'ers I know hit their deductible and max out of pocket in the first 8 weeks of every year.

The good thing is the new torture isn't so bad compared to the torture in the 70s-80s. I laugh at the young ones complaining about barium now, try some "pretend it's a strawberry milkshake" barium chalk and the new stuff isn't so bad.

Haha. Barium was the least of my worries. I didn't mind I was looking for a diagnosis.

The reason I brought up the PG / VG / flavoring sensitivity is because there's a ton of threads on this topic even with bloating specifically, and they're mostly dead ends, however a small amount of people said they found relief but only vaping one or the other. I'll figure it out, or I'll just quit.

I'm glad you brought up going through the process again though, it may be necessary. Now whether I take the time to do it, with the time / resources I already don't have, is the kicker here.

 

[Myk]

Haha. Barium was the least of my worries. I didn't mind I was looking for a diagnosis.

The reason I brought up the PG / VG / flavoring sensitivity is because there's a ton of threads on this topic even with bloating specifically, and they're mostly dead ends, however a small amount of people said they found relief but only vaping one or the other. I'll figure it out, or I'll just quit.

I'm glad you brought up going through the process again though, it may be necessary. Now whether I take the time to do it, with the time / resources I already don't have, is the kicker here.

I missed those. I've been away from forums for a few years (since diagnosis really, been focused on learning from IBD specialists so I could make sure my GI was up to date on quickly evolving treatments).

I had a PG problem but it was anxiety (which could've been caused by a lot of physical wrongs including guts) and the PEG prep makes me feel like death.

You never know what the future will hold. Hopefully your healthcare is more affordable soon.

 

[UNREALBANTER]

I missed those. I've been away from forums for a few years (since diagnosis really, been focused on learning from IBD specialists so I could make sure my GI was up to date on quickly evolving treatments).

I had a PG problem but it was anxiety (which could've been caused by a lot of physical wrongs including guts) and the PEG prep makes me feel like death.

You never know what the future will hold. Hopefully your healthcare is more affordable soon.

I appreciate your help. After another day down going mouth to lung, my symptoms have surely improved. When my MTL tank comes in the mail tomorrow along with the unflavored PG and VG, hopefully it will get even better. What blew my mind, is that I'm vaping zero Nic! I figured nicotine would make it all worse including urgency and such...

I was debating on going to 3mg, but not sure going back up would do me any good aside from the stimulate brain effects themselves lol.

 

[stols001]

Hopefully going to MTL helps. IDK it does sound to me like somehow, vapor is making its way into your stomach somehow. My husband has a sensitive stomach and has the same problem.

I think certainly you can try max VG and PG and eliminate flavors (at least for now) to see. There is also the option of PEG400 (I am PG sensitive) and it's helped a lot, but I ran close to max VG in very small, MTL atomizers with some distilled water with it too, and it was fine. I'm not going to say my coil life was particularly stellar, or anything like that, but it most certainly can be done. I found inhaling a few seconds after I let go of the fire button helped a great deal.

But it sounds like you may be isolating your cause already, and good luck!

Anna

 

[Myk]

I appreciate your help. After another day down going mouth to lung, my symptoms have surely improved. When my MTL tank comes in the mail tomorrow along with the unflavored PG and VG, hopefully it will get even better. What blew my mind, is that I'm vaping zero Nic! I figured nicotine would make it all worse including urgency and such...

I was debating on going to 3mg, but not sure going back up would do me any good aside from the stimulate brain effects themselves lol.

No urgency for me from vaping like smoking did. That may have been part of what made it worse when I quit smoking. It was before I know it was IBD and C is a symptom of lower inflammation but even my PCP suggested not smoking was part of the cause.
If the problem exists with nicotine I'd probably try nicotine again for the brain effects to rule it in or out.