VERY Frustrated New Vaper

[rbmayfield]

Hi,

I swapped out tobacco cigarettes for vaping only about 6 weeks ago and I'm having issues that are frustrating me so much that I'm seriously considering buying a cigarette, so I could really use some help. About 3 weeks ago I had a bout of what I learned was probably vaper's tongue. I could taste food just fine, but couldn't taste anything that I was vaping. That lasted about a week or so and then my sense of taste slowly returned.

Here lately, however, I've had an issue that is much different than it was before. When I first pick it up I can taste my liquid just fine, and then after sometimes only 1 or 2 puffs, I don't get any flavor at all. It's kind of like my tongue is desensitized or something. And my tongue feels slightly numb sometimes. Also I have to clear my throat a LOT it seems (I was hoping this would go away after a few weeks of giving up the cigarettes but it hasn't). But it's not all of the flavors I have. The 2 flavors that are worse about this are both sweet flavors (black cherry and bubble gum) and they are 100% vg. I don't have nearly as much of this issue with a couple other flavors that I have (a menthol and peppermint) which are mixed pg/vg but I do not know what percentage of each. I also have a coconut which is 50/50 blend and I don't seem to have too much trouble with this one. I have Kanger mini pro tank 2 and some cheap replaceable bottom coil clearomizers and I've tried all of the flavors in both of them. I don't seem to get very much flavor and I get much less vaper out of the cheaper ones no matter what flavor I use but I don't seem to get the numbness as much with the cheap ones (not real sure I like those much). And with the Kanger I get really good flavor and awesome vaper, when and if I can taste the juice.

The nic level in all of the flavors is 12 mg. I have both 1.8 and 2.2 resistance coils for the Kanger. I don't know if it's too much or not enough of the vg or pg that might be causing me a problem? Or maybe the resistance of the coil on my Kanger is maybe too low or too high? Or maybe my nic level is too high? Maybe I'm taking too long a draw on it each time, or too many draws right in a row (but I did that with cigarettes too). I really don't know what I'm doing wrong but it is frustrating me so badly. Like I told my husband yesterday, even as a pack and a half a day smoker at least I could taste everything when I was smoking cigarettes. I kind of think at this point, why bother with these e-cigs if I can't even taste it. I really don't know who to ask for answers but I just thought maybe if you didn't know what I was doing wrong, maybe you could point me to someone who could help me?

Thank you so much for your help

 

[MelvinTheDude]

Here's a secret.

Keep your vape in one hand and a glass of water in the other 100% of the time.

Flavors can coat your tongue and throat. Nicotine will do the same and I get crap in my throat from high-nic liquids. Water will keep you hydrated and flush the old crap away.

Your desired PG/VG ratio is something you'll have to figure out, but higher PG means more flavor (though it contributes to my stuffy throat), VG is smoother but less flavorful.

Good luck and don't beat yourself up. I'm just getting settled in after 3 months.

 

[Rodeorat]

Cant help completely, but have a couple tidbits.
100% VG can certainly irritate/tickle the throat. I avoid all 100% VG, except for Bobas Bounty. BB makes me cough, but its awfully good.
50/50 is really the best of both worlds. Drinking plenty of fluids while you vape will help.

Secondly, most BCCs (bottom coil clearos) are notorious for muting flavors, especially the Protanks with stock coils. I hear the Aspire Nautalis is pretty good, though haven't tried.

Since you're now getting flavor at first, but then its vanishing, I'm wondering if you're possibly using too high a voltage/wattage. Are you using a variable voltage PV? If so, start at the lowest setting and push it up until the juice flavor gets ashy, then back it off.

Finally, and this isn't scientific by any means, but I've experienced poor quality kanger heads lately. Plus there are numerous threads on bad Kanger heads within the last few months. I believe there is a quality control problem over there right now. Their heads used to be good, but I have had to rebuild all of my newer heads this year. Last time I got 2 good heads out of 10. Might try an Iclear 30b or a Vision product.

Dont give up though. Its worth it to fight through it to regain your health.

 

[Miata GT]

Most everyone goes through that. It passes within a few weeks. My solution was to have at least 2 clearomizers with different flavors at the ready. Get 2 differing flavors, like say peach and soffee. That way if one flavor starts to wane go to the other, and so on...

It helps.

 

[cbrite]

I agree about switching up flavors. Also helps to have a peppermint in the mix if you are having flavor issues. It will kind of clear your palate.

 

[Cool-breeze]

A thought I've not seen yet: Make sure you shake you're liquids well before filling your tank. Especially liquids that are freshly made you can pour most of the flavoring into one tank, then be refiling it with liquid having almost no taste. I've done it. Btw you mentioned how you pull on it. Take slow long drags. Kanger has had some quality issues recently on their coils for sure.

 

[realsis]

There is a trick chocolate tasters and other tasters do to re set their palate or taste buds and this worked wonderfully for me when I had vapors tongue. However it didn't work for my husband , so I think it works for some and not for others but it's worth a try. You get some fresh coffee grounds and wet them damp and inhale the aroma several times. I Did THIS Several Times Through Out The Day And The Next Day I Could FINALY Taste my juice again!

 

[Darthvong]

Rotate flavors, get some menthol and drink tons and tons of water!

 

[rhnda1225]

I'm new to vaping but I agree with the switching up of flavors. My favorite is hazelnut coffee. I also use cinnamon roll and gram cracker. I got a paradise island (fruity) and a USA tobacco to break up the warms. It does help. Oh, I ALWAYS have water with me. I probably drink up to 50 ozs of water a day now. I hope you can get through it. Six weeks is a long time to go back!!

 

[Ragnald Thorson]

Cant help completely, but have a couple tidbits.
100% VG can certainly irritate/tickle the throat. I avoid all 100% VG, except for Bobas Bounty. BB makes me cough, but its awfully good.
50/50 is really the best of both worlds. Drinking plenty of fluids while you vape will help.

Secondly, most BCCs (bottom coil clearos) are notorious for muting flavors, especially the Protanks with stock coils. I hear the Aspire Nautalis is pretty good, though haven't tried.

Since you're now getting flavor at first, but then its vanishing, I'm wondering if you're possibly using too high a voltage/wattage. Are you using a variable voltage PV? If so, start at the lowest setting and push it up until the juice flavor gets ashy, then back it off.

Finally, and this isn't scientific by any means, but I've experienced poor quality kanger heads lately. Plus there are numerous threads on bad Kanger heads within the last few months. I believe there is a quality control problem over there right now. Their heads used to be good, but I have had to rebuild all of my newer heads this year. Last time I got 2 good heads out of 10. Might try an Iclear 30b or a Vision product.

Dont give up though. Its worth it to fight through it to regain your health.

Just my , skip the iClear 30b and go straight for a Nautilus. I had a lot of leaking/gurgling problems with my iClear. It completely wasted my VV battery, leaking into it over night and fried the circuit.

 

[rbmayfield]

I didn't think to tell you that I use a plain ole cheapy Ego-T battery, so no, no voltage options.

I did read up on vaper's tongue and I do drink a LOT of water, and even more since I've been having so many issues with my taste. I used a top coil clearomizer to begin with and I apparently couldn't keep the wick wet enough because what I tasted was burnt more than it wasn't. I can check out some other clearomizers and possibly different batteries. We don't seem to have very good luck with these batteries either. We bought 3 of them and all of them have had to be repaired already and it's been less than 2 months of regular use.

 

[doots]

Please let me just say one thing. Clearomizers mute flavors horribly .. Dont judge your lack of taste against using these things.

You sound so much like you want this to work and I hope it does for you! It will but you need the proper equipment.. I would have quit too if all i had was clearomizers..

Theres a whole nother world out there you have yet to experience..

If you ask 100 people you will get 100 answers and some will not help at all..

I have been vaping for almost 6 years.. Went through all the stages..
I mostly use rebuildable atomizers because of flavor, taste and throat hit you get from them..

Check out youtube on different types of RDAs and RBAs. There are tanks like the Kayfuns and My Favorite, The Reo Grand by Reosmods.com and their RM2 rebuildable atty..

You will tell all the difference in the world and it doesnt cost a fortune to get there.. Takes a little study, but will help you succeed if you want it bad enough..

YMMV

 

[JohnnyBravo336]

Never go 100%... I stick close to 50 50, if you want big flavor dripping ...!

 

[Blindtarm]

I can't vape any vg, then I cough a lot and have breathing issues. Pg gives much more throat hit and flavour, so I recommend you to try out some pure pg or less vg than 50-50. I can't vape that either.
For a good tank with great flavour I will recommend Kanger aerotank mini (I haven't tried the Mega yet). I use micro coil and cotton with my protanks, so I have little experience with bad coils from Kanger except for the new coils for the aerotank, which have worked perfect!

Good luck to you, and vape on! Stay off them stinkies!

 

[chellemmm]

Ahem.

Some people ENJOY clearos and despise RBAs. The hassle is not worth it, to some. The "muted flavors" thing ... not sure if I completely agree. There is nothing wrong with using an eGo style battery. You have to find the right topper. I like EVOD or mini Protanks for that size/style battery. I have found GLASS makes more of a difference to my tastebuds...seems like a cleaner and smoother taste.

Have you ever tried pickles or jalepenos? This trick has worked for me, many times. As others have said, 100% VG may be your "problem." You have already deduced that much.

Another trick is scraping your tongue when you brush your teeth and/or using original Listerine. Good Luck and Keep Vaping! It will get better!!

Other

 

[Nuclear Cowboy]

Something that has really helped me when the taste goes away in my favorite flavors is to start regiment of gargling/swishing a 50%/50% mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water twice a day. It's a little nasty until you get used to it but it really helps.

When I first started vaping I got a bad case of "geographic tongue" and learned this little trick.

 

[DingerCPA]

I didn't think to tell you that I use a plain ole cheapy Ego-T battery, so no, no voltage options.

I did read up on vaper's tongue and I do drink a LOT of water, and even more since I've been having so many issues with my taste. I used a top coil clearomizer to begin with and I apparently couldn't keep the wick wet enough because what I tasted was burnt more than it wasn't. I can check out some other clearomizers and possibly different batteries. We don't seem to have very good luck with these batteries either. We bought 3 of them and all of them have had to be repaired already and it's been less than 2 months of regular use.

I've been at this for about 2-3 months now, myself. I've fought the "numb tongue" syndrome and dull flavors. I just started rebuilding (or at least rewicking) my kanger heads with cotton (cheapo bag - 100 for $1) Starting with that, the flavors started pulling through a little more cleanly than with the original silica wicks. It's been about a week, and I swear I'm tasting everything better now. I had a couple of bottles of juice I'd set aside - I could smell them when I vaped, but I couldn't taste anything. WHOA-HO - today, loaded up a tank, and I'm getting a rich salted caramel that I really hadn't tasted before.

I'm practicing my coil-winding skills, and once I get the right wire, I think I'm going to be just dandy (until I finally relent and upgrade to a more formal RBA)

It will take a bit of patience and perseverance, but you will find your happy spot. I agree with Doots - 100 respondents and that many or more answers

Hang in there, and good luck!

 

[jdubsss]

+1 to drinking a ton of water while vaping. It's amazing how quickly you can dry out your mouth if you're not paying attention.

 

[rbmayfield]

Yeah, I always brush my tongue, even before I started this. I'll have to try the peroxide. The coffee trick wasn't any help. I've tried that several times. Also tried lemon water with no success, read somewhere that the acid in the lemon may help.

 

[cedric212]

Sounds more like a hardware issue than a case of vaper's tongue. First, high VG% eliquids qunk/clog up fast, so the first thing you should try is to clean it (wash+dry burn). If that doesn't help, next try removing one of the flavor wicks (there should be two strands placed over the wick/coil) to help improve wicking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FQi3wZWpE4