VG question

[CarrieD]

Bought a Volt KR808 a couple of months ago and have been playing with it - quit analogs and got serious about vaping last weekend. Had supplies ordered but knew I'd run out before they arrived, so I checked out the local Smoker's Outlet to see if they had juice on the shelf to get me by. All they had was VG, (been using PG), "Ultra Pure e-liquid". The only strength listed on the bottle was "Regular".

It also listed no "unecessary candy oils or flavoring," so I knew it would taste like crap, but I was out, and besides that, I was curious to try some VG.

Here's the thing - after using this stuff for one evening, (4-5 hours), next day I had one of the worst, eye-popping headaches I've ever had. Made it through work, but not in my usual form. I've had a few lately, as I'm prone to sinus headaches when the weather changes, (thank you, hurricane Irene...), but this was different - far more intense and painful than my usual thumpers.

Could it be the VG? Or maybe some unknown mega dose of nic? I wasn't sick to my stomach at all - it didn't feel like nic OD. I smoked 1.5 PPD, Swisher Sweet little cigars, which aren't for the faint of heart. Started vaping 18 mg, now moved up to 24 mg and am very satisfied. No headache, no problems. Just wondering what could have caused this - if it's the VG, I will avoid it like the plague.

 

[Killjoy1]

Sensitivity to VG is rare, but possible. I tend to vape VG-heavy juice and find I get more dehydrated than I do with PG-based juices. If I'm really dehydrated, I wake up in the morning with a nasty headache (think hangover). I suppose this could be a possibility, or it could be something else in the liquid you used. Vaping in general will dry you out, so make sure you're drinking enough fluids

Since you don't really know much about that particular liquid, you could try a reputable VG-based juice and see if you get the same results. This would be one way to prove/disprove that VG is the problem

 

[calico21]

Sensitivity to VG is rare, but possible. I tend to vape VG-heavy juice and find I get more dehydrated than I do with PG-based juices. If I'm really dehydrated, I wake up in the morning with a nasty headache (think hangover). I suppose this could be a possibility, or it could be something else in the liquid you used. Vaping in general will dry you out, so make sure you're drinking enough fluids

Since you don't really know much about that particular liquid, you could try a reputable VG-based juice and see if you get the same results. This would be one way to prove/disprove that VG is the problem

Dehydration is a huge factor as vg will dehydrate you more than pg, and switching from 100 % PG to 100% VG you probably didn't drink enough.
I used to get dehydration headaches before I ever vaped, they suck big time!

 

[CarrieD]

I hadn't considered dehydration, but it makes sense considering I had no other symptoms. Hurts like all get out, I will remember in future and ***cautiously*** try other VG flavors. Meantime, this bottle of Who-Knows-What is in the circular file.

Do you do a heavy VG mix on account of the vapor level? That's why I was curious to try - my understanding is what you give up in flavor, you get back in volume.

Thanks for your input - appreciated!

 

[CarrieD]

Dehydration is a huge factor as vg will dehydrate you more than pg, and switching from 100 % PG to 100% VG you probably didn't drink enough.
I used to get dehydration headaches before I ever vaped, they suck big time!

They do. Wow.

 

[calico21]

I use a mix always, it ranges depending on where I order but if I think its too strong, too much pg, too whatever I keep a bottle of 0 nic vg and a bottle of 18 mg vg around to adjust with so most I'd say I like the more vapor that gives and I don't think with the mix I give up that much flavor.

 

[CarrieD]

Makes sense - when you get something that is too whatever and you have to add vg to it, are you doing that directly into a carto, or are you doing your adjusting in a bottle of juice?

 

[calico21]

Depends on how big a hurry I'm in but most generally in the bottle. I use clearo's so it is easy to add to them but I try to test before going that far.

 

[Killjoy1]

Do you do a heavy VG mix on account of the vapor level?

Initially, this is why I started mixing with higher ratios of VG. I still keep around 50% PG for most flavors, both for the sake of throat hit and juice viscosity, but I also do some at all VG.

I have stuck with higher VG mixes more because I simply like the way it vapes all-around (feel, hit, vapor, etc) and the little touch of sweetness it can add to some mixes. Everyone's preferences are different, of course, so one thing I would recommend to anybody is to try as many different things as you can to find what you like best. You may just be pleasantly surprised by something that you hadn't otherwise considered trying

That's why I was curious to try - my understanding is what you give up in flavor, you get back in volume.

Well, if you're adding VG to a pre-mixed juice, yeah you're going to lose some flavor (and nicotine strength, unless you're adding some of that back in, too) but you will definitely increase vapor on most pre-mixed juices by adding just a small amount of VG (maybe 10% or so).
In my case, I mostly mix my own juices so I'm getting full flavor and I can tailor all the ratios to suit my preferences exactly, but I have in the past added VG to ready-mixed juice to good results. Just do it in small amounts at a time so you don't cut the flavor too much and you'll eventually be able to find the "sweet spot" for best combo of flavor and vapor


Here's to hoping your headache issue is just related to dehydration, which is easy enough to rectify. Happy vaping!

 

[CarrieD]

Here's to hoping your headache issue is just related to dehydration, which is easy enough to rectify. Happy vaping!

Thank you! I'm looking forward to becoming a mad scientist. Who drinks alot.