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POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF VAPING AND ECIGS

BigNasty

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@dmska ya that is dehydration and mineral imbalance, eat a banana or two and drink double the water.

Here is what I noticed the first time around.
Acne around the nostrils, and lips... painful as hell, but went away.
Farts, not like one or two times the standard male issue butt trumpets but many fold increase in window rattlers.. this has not gone away and is humorous... my second hobby outside of vaping now is competitive crop dusting.
Getting constipated.. this goes away drink more water and more fiber.
 

Deluxe ejuice com

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I have had so many positives with vaping compared to the negatives.

Positives:
  1. Saving HUNDREDS every month by switching
  2. My house, clothes, car, etc. no longer reek like rancid smoke
  3. Hair (cilia) growing back in my lungs. Cilia filter the air entering your lungs.
  4. No more wheezing, coughing, or gasping for breath.
  5. Sense of smell has improved.
  6. Sense of taste is off the charts now.
  7. No more having to run in to the convenience store or gas station every day to buy smokes
Negatives:
  1. Occasional sore throat
  2. Need to rehydrate more
  3. Occasional allergies to ingredients in eJuice - mainly form PG
 
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ecigworldau

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The dry mouth side effect is very common due to the nature of e-liquids.
 

Saddletramp1200

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I can't use PG anymore, makes juice to where I get way too much throat hit. I always have something to drink even if it's water. 2-3 huge hits & my mouth is so dry I can barely talk. Also keep jaw breakers but I am careful not to suck one down my lung pipe.
 

DeMiThA

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There is a known link between PG (propylene glycol) and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). This was discovered, not from vaping, but from ear drops that contain PG: http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/bilat/ototoxic_drops.htm
When you vape, vapor spreads throughout your throat and sinus cavities, which are connected (via the eustacian tube) to your middle ear. PG is known to be ototoxic.

I vaped using PG for months before I noticed my tinnitus worsening. I've had tinnitus since I was a kid, unrelated to ear drops or vaping. A little google-fu led me to many articles showing a possible connection. I switched from high PG to low PG liquids. No improvement. I switched to 100% VG base, and the tinnitus quit worsening, but it was still far LOUDER than before I began vaping.

I already DIY'ed my own liquids. A few months ago, began limiting myself to 100% VG base and no more than 3-5% flavoring, if the the flavoring is PG-based. It took 8 weeks to notice any improvement, but it has continued improving since then. If I vape a little too much PG throughout the day, the ringing gets louder. Even vaping plain, unflavored VG - it takes a couple days to recover from it.

If you've noticed new or worsening tinnitus since you began vaping, PG may be to blame. Google propylene glycol, ototoxicity, and tinnitus to do some research, and consider using maximum VG liquid instead. I've talked with many other vapers who have had issues, including louder ringing, changes in tone, and throbbing sounds. Some never had tinnitus before vaping, but the majority did. Several I know who have drastically reduced PG in their liquids have noticed improvement. Some noticed quickly, most took many weeks or months. Some had only to drop the VG in their nic base. Some had to move to zero-PG, even using alcohol-based flavorings. I consider myself fortunate that I can apparently tolerate some PG-based flavorings, because there aren't many alcohol-based flavorings I like.

i started vaping recently, now i have this loud ringing in my ears :/ i never had this before :S cutting PG will solve this?
 
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HeadInClouds

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Jesus - https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/e-cigs-and-hearing-loss.10244/ WTF? im afraid i will have this permanently. i only had this for a week and its already driving me crazy . i quit vaping for now. hope this goes away :( i wouldn't have start vaping if i knew about this :s

Don't panic, but cut the PG as low as possible right away. Do you buy vendor liquids or mix your own? There are zero-PG and max-VG vendor liquids. If you DIY, I'm happy to help you find a way to work around PG.

Oh - you say you quit vaping for now. Of course that's one way around it, but if you decide to work around it, PM me any time if I can help you DIY without PG.

P.S. People sensitive to PG have different limits so far as tinnitis is concerned. Most people have no problem at all; others can't tolerate any at all
 

DeMiThA

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Don't panic, but cut the PG as low as possible right away. Do you buy vendor liquids or mix your own? There are zero-PG and max-VG vendor liquids. If you DIY, I'm happy to help you find a way to work around PG.

Oh - you say you quit vaping for now. Of course that's one way around it, but if you decide to work around it, PM me any time if I can help you DIY without PG.

P.S. People sensitive to PG have different limits so far as tinnitis is concerned. Most people have no problem at all; others can't tolerate any at all

yes i stopped vaping for now, if this goes away i will start with 100% VG and see. thanks for the reply :)
 

AndriaD

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Smoking indoors increased, irreparably harming people nearby with nontoxic vapor. Increased USB power consumption. Feelings of fraud/enlightenment when smoking near people using actual cigarettes.

Umm... I don't smoke anymore since I started vaping, so there is zero smoking indoors or around others... just lots of vaping. And in fact, that was WHY I started vaping, so I could stop running out to the porch every 30 minutes.

And I don't go near people smoking cigarettes if I can help it, that shit STINKS.

Andria
 
Every time I Vape I get nauseated dizzy light headed and my fingertips andthe tips of my toes feel tingly and numb and I also experience a tingling pressure feeling in my nose should I be worried about that? My nicotine level is currently at 3
 

Giraut

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Every time I Vape I get nauseated dizzy light headed and my fingertips andthe tips of my toes feel tingly and numb and I also experience a tingling pressure feeling in my nose should I be worried about that? My nicotine level is currently at 3

Sounds exactly like my own symptoms :)
 

jjdell

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I get tinnitus, had it before vaping. It only gets worse if im a bit dehydrated. Drink plenty of water and im ok, its there but just a background noise. Vape heavy and dont drink enough and it becomes almost the dominant sound.
 

inspects

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Just noticed this thread, I too have crazy ringing in the ears, and don't use much PG....strange.

Have had the ringing for many years, but since vaping it seems the ringing - sound level has doubled.
 

Giraut

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My tinnitus got out of control until I quit vaping PG altogether. I reported it to my family doctor who told me he wasn't surprised: he said PG is harmful to the inner ear, and that's why eardrops (that use PG as a solvent) aren't prescribed to people who have ruptured eardrums.
 

AndriaD

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I'm just glad that I've never had tinnitus, except after sitting on a speaker or right in front of them at a rock concert. :giggle: If I couldn't vape at least 85% PG, I wouldn't be able to vape at all; VG just about suffocates me.

Andria
 

SMOKIE

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@dmska ya that is dehydration and mineral imbalance, eat a banana or two and drink double the water.

Here is what I noticed the first time around.
Acne around the nostrils, and lips... painful as hell, but went away.
Farts, not like one or two times the standard male issue butt trumpets but many fold increase in window rattlers.. this has not gone away and is humorous... my second hobby outside of vaping now is competitive crop dusting.
Getting constipated.. this goes away drink more water and more fiber.
FB_IMG_1546830852236.jpg
 
Hi all. I'm hoping some can help me before I go to the doctor. I've been vaping for 8 yrs. About 3 years ago I got a whole new piece and nic level at 6 and juice at 70/30. For about a year I had a juice that I absolutely loved. Almost 3 months ago they stopped making it. So began this adventure of finding a new love. Just a few weeks into it I started coughing. I thought new coil? Did it? New juice? Did it? Inhale/exhale technique? Changed it. Still coughing. It's not exactly like a smokers cough but close. Its fully in my chest. I haven't been sick in a long time. Only cough when I hit. Cough isnt consistent. Some days it's a few coughs, next every 10 hits, next every hit. Going to the doc and saying some things wrong I'm coughing when I smoke is just embarrassing cuz the treatment will be stop smoking. I wont do that but I also cant cough the rest of my life. I'm going back to vape shop tomorrow and let them know this one isnt helping and see what they say but maybe someone else has an idea or anyone experience this? I've read..lower nic..and change pg level. I dont know if I cld handle lower nic at this time. Help!
 

JuicyLucy

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Hi all. I'm hoping some can help me before I go to the doctor. I've been vaping for 8 yrs. About 3 years ago I got a whole new piece and nic level at 6 and juice at 70/30. For about a year I had a juice that I absolutely loved. Almost 3 months ago they stopped making it. So began this adventure of finding a new love. Just a few weeks into it I started coughing. I thought new coil? Did it? New juice? Did it? Inhale/exhale technique? Changed it. Still coughing. It's not exactly like a smokers cough but close. Its fully in my chest. I haven't been sick in a long time. Only cough when I hit. Cough isnt consistent. Some days it's a few coughs, next every 10 hits, next every hit. Going to the doc and saying some things wrong I'm coughing when I smoke is just embarrassing cuz the treatment will be stop smoking. I wont do that but I also cant cough the rest of my life. I'm going back to vape shop tomorrow and let them know this one isnt helping and see what they say but maybe someone else has an idea or anyone experience this? I've read..lower nic..and change pg level. I dont know if I cld handle lower nic at this time. Help!

Am assuming you meant vaping and not smoking - a lot of people cough with vaping if they also still smoke though

Just remember vaping and smoking are not the same thing

Does the new juice have a higher VG level? Some people get kind of a phlegm thing going on with super high VG
 

SMOKIE

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Hi all. I'm hoping some can help me before I go to the doctor. I've been vaping for 8 yrs. About 3 years ago I got a whole new piece and nic level at 6 and juice at 70/30. For about a year I had a juice that I absolutely loved. Almost 3 months ago they stopped making it. So began this adventure of finding a new love. Just a few weeks into it I started coughing. I thought new coil? Did it? New juice? Did it? Inhale/exhale technique? Changed it. Still coughing. It's not exactly like a smokers cough but close. Its fully in my chest. I haven't been sick in a long time. Only cough when I hit. Cough isnt consistent. Some days it's a few coughs, next every 10 hits, next every hit. Going to the doc and saying some things wrong I'm coughing when I smoke is just embarrassing cuz the treatment will be stop smoking. I wont do that but I also cant cough the rest of my life. I'm going back to vape shop tomorrow and let them know this one isnt helping and see what they say but maybe someone else has an idea or anyone experience this? I've read..lower nic..and change pg level. I dont know if I cld handle lower nic at this time. Help!

I am not a doctor, but you have been vaping 8 years, and now this is happening!

Maybe that PG in the juice mix does not agree with you, but there are many things that can cause a cough like dust from your heat returns, allergies, dogs, cats, birds, or just a common virus that lingers. If you tell the doctor you vape more then likely they will say STOP, even tho they are not sure vaping is the culprit.

Maybe you should try on your own to stop for a few days to see how you feel, pick up some nic gum if you are going to have withdrawals.

19260710_474722936198922_441629180485533629_n.jpg
 
Am assuming you meant vaping and not smoking - a lot of people cough with vaping if they also still smoke though

Just remember vaping and smoking are not the same thing

Does the new juice have a higher VG level? Some people get kind of a phlegm thing going on with super high VG


Juice has been same vg for last few years. 70/30. I guess I should have mentioned I haven't smoked in 8yrs. Only vape.
 
I am not a doctor, but you have been vaping 8 years, and now this is happening!

Maybe that PG in the juice mix does not agree with you, but there are many things that can cause a cough like dust from your heat returns, allergies, dogs, cats, birds, or just a common virus that lingers. If you tell the doctor you vape more then likely they will say STOP, even tho they are not sure vaping is the culprit.

Maybe you should try on your own to stop for a few days to see how you feel, pick up some nic gum if you are going to have withdrawals.

View attachment 128753
Thays my thought to..it just started. The thing is I can't stop vaping for 20, 30 mins..heck an hour...and no cough. Take a hit and boom there it is. A friend of mine said to not mention to the doc that it happens when vaping. He said vaping may just be agitating the real source. I dont want to believe that which is why I was hoping another long time vapor could come forward and say hey yup that's happened to me to and itll go away:)
 

AndriaD

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Juice has been same vg for last few years. 70/30. I guess I should have mentioned I haven't smoked in 8yrs. Only vape.

Here's the thing... 70/30 is 70% PG, and 30% VG -- I have a suspicion you might mean 30/70, since nearly all modern commercial ejuice is much higher in VG than PG. And 70% VG *will* bother some people -- I can't even deal with 30% VG!

Andria
 

dez

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Some side-effects noted by e-smokers: Weight gain, notably, wallet has more money in it and weighs you down. Smoking indoors increased, irreparably harming people nearby with nontoxic vapor. Increased USB power consumption. Feelings of fraud/enlightenment when smoking near people using actual cigarettes. Ability to run without wheezing. If wallet gets too heavy to carry consult your doctor or accountant.



all kidding aside there are some side effects and they are dependent on the user

1. could have slight sore throat, (adjust the PG/VG RATIO, pg can cause sore throat)

2. acne break out ( could be from pg, but for most it goes away after quitting smoking in about a month, some depending on person can still have breakouts)

3. Allergic to PG OR VG, you would know from a rash, hives, etc symptoms of being allergic.

4. light headed or dizzy? (this could be to high of nic, lower your nicotine)

If you have problems with health that were not present before you should quit vaping until you have seen or spoke to a doctor
Always listen to your body. Every one is different with their limits of use



if you know of other common side effects that have occurred with you please post and write if it changed and what you did to avoid it,

also always drink water, and keep hydrated when vaping, the fluid can also help with any mild sore throat.

HEARTBURN.. when I lay down at night I like to vape as I am falling asleep, and it always gives me heartburn. Generic Prilosec seems to knock it right out so I keep some by the bed. It may just be me, but in case you have the same problem, you may want to try some generic Prilosec. I said a generic Prilosec only because it is the same thing as regular Prilosec, just much cheaper.
 

dez

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Yes Everyone is Different I've had a good case of tinnitus for over 30 yrs. Started right around the time I started a certain anti depressant med-but that could also just be coincidence. Got to the level it now about 20 yrs ago and hasn't changed. I am so used to it I don't usually notice it[until I read the word in thus thread. Vaping about 40PG/60 VG for 4 months don't notice a difference. But I am moving to 20/PG/80 Vg for other reasons emerging studies about toxins released during high Voltage/wattage vaping are pointing towards PG as contributing to this. At least the ones I have read recently

I have actually increased pg, I think, because I was vaping mom and pop Vapor Shop OMG flavor, and trying to duplicate it without knowing the VG PG ratio. What I bought from them was much more thin in consistency than what I had made, by a friend who was using their flavor concentrate, which was a 30 PG mix, so now I use a 50/50 ratio.

I have noticed though, that I am waking up often with a sore throat the last 2 or 3 weeks, though I have been vaping this for a little more than the last two or three weeks, so I am unsure of the cause of this, & it is not every day.

I like pg a lot, and do not want to use less.. because I feel like I have a very close dupe to the OMG that is sold by the shop. I have noticed that since I started vaping in general, I often and thirsty..and I have heard a lot of people say they can't use PG- and I do not know why, or what the bad effects are supposed to be- if anyone can enlighten me..??
 

AndriaD

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I have actually increased pg, I think, because I was vaping mom and pop Vapor Shop OMG flavor, and trying to duplicate it without knowing the VG PG ratio. What I bought from them was much more thin in consistency than what I had made, by a friend who was using their flavor concentrate, which was a 30 PG mix, so now I use a 50/50 ratio.

I have noticed though, that I am waking up often with a sore throat the last 2 or 3 weeks, though I have been vaping this for a little more than the last two or three weeks, so I am unsure of the cause of this, & it is not every day.

I like pg a lot, and do not want to use less.. because I feel like I have a very close dupe to the OMG that is sold by the shop. I have noticed that since I started vaping in general, I often and thirsty..and I have heard a lot of people say they can't use PG- and I do not know why, or what the bad effects are supposed to be- if anyone can enlighten me..??

If you're waking with a sore throat for no known cause, except that for about 2-3 wks you've been vaping 50/50... maybe just take it to 40/60 -- that's not a great deal different, but since your symptoms aren't *extreme*, that small a change might be all you need, to address it. I had a similar issue with sore throat when I tried 90% PG for a week, and it took a couple weeks to go away even after I went back to my then-normal 80% PG-- nowadays I vape about 86%-87% PG, and it keeps me on the right side of sore throat/sinuses, but any more than 87%, and I get that problem again. Some folks (Ok, most folks!) are just really sensitive to PG's drying/irritating effects.

But if you really want to stick with 50/50, maybe just drink more water, and have some water at bedside to take a sip or two during the night... since the problem seems fairly mild at this stage, that might be all you need. PG and VG are equally hygroscopic, but VG also has an emollient effect, so you don't feel the dry mouth/throat so much, and using a slightly higher VG percentage might allow that emollient effect to shield your throat a bit. Also -- a cool mist humidifier in the bedroom, during the winter -- after my first winter with one, both my husband and son got one for their rooms, because it helps A LOT. After I started vaping, that cool-mist humidifier in the bedroom in the winter was absolutely REQUIRED.

Andria
 
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dez

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If you're waking with a sore throat for no known cause, except that for about 2-3 wks you've been vaping 50/50... maybe just take it to 40/60 -- that's not a great deal different, but since your symptoms aren't *extreme*, that small a change might be all you need, to address it. I had a similar issue with sore throat when I tried 90% PG for a week, and it took a couple weeks to go away even after I went back to my then-normal 80% PG-- nowadays I vape about 86%-87% PG, and it keeps me on the right side of sore throat/sinuses, but any more than 87%, and I get that problem again. Some folks (Ok, most folks!) are just really sensitive to PG's drying/irritating effects.

But if you really want to stick with 50/50, maybe just drink more water, and have some water at bedside to take a sip or two during the night... since the problem seems fairly mild at this stage, that might be all you need. PG and VG are equally hygroscopic, but VG also has an emollient effect, so you don't feel the dry mouth/throat so much, and using a slightly higher VG percentage might allow that emollient effect to shield your throat a bit. Also -- a cool mist humidifier in the bedroom, during the winter -- after my first winter with one, both my husband and son got one for their rooms, because it helps A LOT. After I started vaping, that cool-mist humidifier in the bedroom in the winter was absolutely REQUIRED.

Andria
Great! Thank you for the advice! You mix your own- right? I am wondering about not only mixing from a flavor concentrate, and continuing to vape the same flavor I have been paying the shop price for, for a few years.. that I really do like a lot- but I have been thinking, since I have ordered all of the supplies 2 mix by weight (except flavors), -but I do have the flavor concentrate for what I have been vaping..

I am wondering what would be the best flavors to buy to make a simple (but strong) strawberry milk with?

They do sell the flavor concentrate for a strawberry milk at Mom and Pop's vapor shop. . where I get my OMG concentrate.. which is the flavor I have been vaping for several years.

I may just get some of the concentrate to keep it simple, but their concentrate is not cheap! Can you tell me how much it cost 4 whatever quantity of flavor on average ? Because it is $33 for 120 ml of flavor concentrate with Mom and Pop vapor shop, and that only makes me 4 oz since I use almost 30% flavor . If you can't tell, I like my flavors strong.
I did see this thread: "Flavors for starting DIY".. and thought it may be helpful. I may ask the community also, what are the best flavors to have, if you are a strawberry Junkie.

http://vapingunderground.com/threads/flavors-for-starting-diy.375367/
 

AndriaD

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Great! Thank you for the advice! You mix your own- right? I am wondering about not only mixing from a flavor concentrate, and continuing to vape the same flavor I have been paying the shop price for, for a few years.. that I really do like a lot- but I have been thinking, since I have ordered all of the supplies 2 mix by weight (except flavors), -but I do have the flavor concentrate for what I have been vaping..

I am wondering what would be the best flavors to buy to make a simple (but strong) strawberry milk with?

They do sell the flavor concentrate for a strawberry milk at Mom and Pop's vapor shop. . where I get my OMG concentrate.. which is the flavor I have been vaping for several years.

I may just get some of the concentrate to keep it simple, but their concentrate is not cheap! Can you tell me how much it cost 4 whatever quantity of flavor on average ? Because it is $33 for 120 ml of flavor concentrate with Mom and Pop vapor shop, and that only makes me 4 oz since I use almost 30% flavor . If you can't tell, I like my flavors strong.
I did see this thread: "Flavors for starting DIY".. and thought it may be helpful. I may ask the community also, what are the best flavors to have, if you are a strawberry Junkie.

http://vapingunderground.com/threads/flavors-for-starting-diy.375367/

The only strawberry flavor I can taste AT ALL is Inawera's Shisha Strawberry. I buy that in the 4oz size at bullcityflavors.com, for $22.99. I'm not sure right offhand exactly how much ejuice it makes, but I also like a lot of flavoring, because of my extremely low wattage; my own recipe for strawberry & cream (it's actually more like strawberry custard cream, the way it tastes) uses 13.6% of the shisha strawberry, and my cost for my own recipe is $3.17 for 58ml -- roughly a nickel per ml.

For that cost, this is the recipe I'm currently using -- it may be a little different from what's in my blog post:

Inawera Shisha Strawberry 13.6%
TFA DX Bavarian Cream 4.7%
TFA Vanilla Swirl 3.55%
CAP Sweet Cream 1.4%

The total flavoring is 23.1%

Andria
 
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dez

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The only strawberry flavor I can taste AT ALL is Inawera's Shisha Strawberry. I buy that in the 4oz size at bullcityflavors.com, for $22.99. I'm not sure right offhand exactly how much ejuice it makes, but I also like a lot of flavoring, because of my extremely low wattage; my own recipe for strawberry & cream (it's actually more like strawberry custard cream, the way it tastes) uses 13.6% of the shisha strawberry, and my cost for my own recipe is $3.17 for 58ml -- roughly a nickel per ml.

For that cost, this is the recipe I'm currently using -- it may be a little different from what's in my blog post:

Inawera Shisha Strawberry 13.6%
TFA DX Bavarian Cream 4.7%
TFA Vanilla Swirl 3.55%
CAP Sweet Cream 1.4%

The total flavoring is 23.1%

Andria
Yes, I Vape at a pretty low wattage.. (6-9.5, but usually 9.5 since I mostly use my Aspire Nautilus tank now instead of pen-style Kanger t3s) as well, and just do not have the same delicate taste buds that I did when I started out vaping on unicorn milk.. and it tasted so great! Now I can't taste it hardly at all.. which is a shame, because it was so awesome!

I wish that I could make it myself.. and make it stronger. I wonder if I could find a dupe recipe on the ELR website for that? Then I could just add extra of each flavor..?
 

dez

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The only strawberry flavor I can taste AT ALL is Inawera's Shisha Strawberry. I buy that in the 4oz size at bullcityflavors.com, for $22.99. I'm not sure right offhand exactly how much ejuice it makes, but I also like a lot of flavoring, because of my extremely low wattage; my own recipe for strawberry & cream (it's actually more like strawberry custard cream, the way it tastes) uses 13.6% of the shisha strawberry, and my cost for my own recipe is $3.17 for 58ml -- roughly a nickel per ml.

For that cost, this is the recipe I'm currently using -- it may be a little different from what's in my blog post:

Inawera Shisha Strawberry 13.6%
TFA DX Bavarian Cream 4.7%
TFA Vanilla Swirl 3.55%
CAP Sweet Cream 1.4%

The total flavoring is 23.1%

Andria
Hey, can you copy and paste that post into a conversation so I can keep that recipe? Where can you tell me an ELR the name of the recipe and the username it would show? I would like to try it. Thanks!
 

AndriaD

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Hey, can you copy and paste that post into a conversation so I can keep that recipe? Where can you tell me an ELR the name of the recipe and the username it would show? I would like to try it. Thanks!

As far as I know, that recipe isn't on ELR -- I created it myself, because all the other strawberry cream recipes I found used one or more ingredients that contained diketones, or one of those bland insipid strawberry flavors that smell great and have zero taste -- like all the TFA and CAP strawberry flavors. As best I can determine (Inawera doesn't say one way or the other about their flavors), the recipe is diketone-free.

If you want that recipe, just copy it from my post. I do have it in my blog post, both the original recipe that started at 31% flavoring, and its latest iteration, which uses considerably less flavoring... but I haven't updated my blog post in a while, since November I think, so I dunno for sure what's there for the "latest" iteration -- the one I posted just above is what I'm currently using.

I started at that very high 31% flavoring for 2 reasons: 1) I wanted to completely avoid that steeping nonsense, because you can't tell if a recipe is good if you have to wait a week or more just to be able to TASTE it... and 2) I was only about 4-5 months off cigarettes and my tastebuds were still in a coma. Since then, anytime the recipe starts hitting me as "icky", or too sweet, I know it's time to bring the flavoring down a bit more -- currently it's that 23.1%, and I'm still enjoying that... but my ultimate goal is to get it to about 20% flavoring. At its current level of flavoring, it does need about a week or so to really taste good... but I know I like the recipe -- it's the only thing I ever vape! -- so I just mix the next bottle when my current bottle is about half gone, and that gives it pretty close to a week to sit and "ripen" -- with the occasional shake, though with my 87% PG, the shaking isn't something I have to do every day -- it mixes well, it's so thin.

Andria
 

Dan Hollis

Bronze Contributor
Member For 3 Years
I’m at the point now after almost 7 weeks tobacco free where I don’t know if my symptoms are caused by vaping or by my body getting rid of all the crap cigarettes put inside me. My sense of smell and taste is still not back fully (and maybe this is permanent.) I get the occasional stomach ache after vaping, and I have noticed some redness around my nose. On the positive side, my teeth are cleaner than ever now that I brush and use mouthwash more often (since it was recommended to cure “vaper’s tongue” and I’m hoping it can help me reset my taste buds.) I do notice a bit of weight gain, but again this is likely caused from quitting cigarettes.

I’ve actually been vaping 70vg/30pg juices exclusively, so not sure pg is always to blame (and have actually heard that some people get more of a negative reaction to the vg) so I imagine you won’t really know unless you experiment with both.
 

AndriaD

Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
I’m at the point now after almost 7 weeks tobacco free where I don’t know if my symptoms are caused by vaping or by my body getting rid of all the crap cigarettes put inside me. My sense of smell and taste is still not back fully (and maybe this is permanent.) I get the occasional stomach ache after vaping, and I have noticed some redness around my nose. On the positive side, my teeth are cleaner than ever now that I brush and use mouthwash more often (since it was recommended to cure “vaper’s tongue” and I’m hoping it can help me reset my taste buds.) I do notice a bit of weight gain, but again this is likely caused from quitting cigarettes.

I’ve actually been vaping 70vg/30pg juices exclusively, so not sure pg is always to blame (and have actually heard that some people get more of a negative reaction to the vg) so I imagine you won’t really know unless you experiment with both.

7 weeks? It's no wonder you still can't taste anything; if you smoked for any length of time, it may take a year or more for your senses of smell and taste to be anywhere near normal. My sense of smell started coming back before I was even fully done with cigarettes, since I transitioned slowly, and because my sense of smell was ALWAYS right off the charts, even when I smoked 2 pks a day -- but it took nearly 2 yrs for me to notice any changes in my ability to taste things -- the first change was that my usual DIY mix became too sweet, so I started using less and less sweetener, until it was finally gone. But even then, I was still using a LOT more flavoring than pretty much anyone else who does DIY; some of that is because of my low wattage style of vaping, but some is just that my tastebuds were damn near comatose after 39 yrs of smoking. I've now been smoke-free for a bit over 4 1/2 yrs, and I've gotten my DIY mix down to 23% flavoring -- still probably twice as much as a lot of DIYers, but it works for me because of my low wattage.

My eventual goal for that mix is 20% flavoring -- but there's no point rushing it. I smoked for 39 yrs; I've been a non-smoker for a bit over 4 1/2 yrs -- just a little more than 10% of the time I spent as a smoker. I know, I know, you want it RIGHT NOW... but you just have to be patient -- you didn't do all that damage in 7 weeks' of smoking!

Since you didn't mention any other problems, I'd say it's very clear that you're experiencing some of the usual crap that all new ex-smokers experience, whether they vape or not -- remember, you didn't do all that damage in 7 weeks' of smoking! Your body has a lot of healing to do, and some of it is uncomfortable... but it eventually happens, if you just don't smoke.

Andria
 

Dan Hollis

Bronze Contributor
Member For 3 Years

Great feedback Andria, Thank You.

I smoked for 16 years, quit for 7, then smoked again for 3 years before this latest attempt, so I’ve definitely done some damage over time. Great to hear there is hope for eventually getting those senses back, and I’m willing to wait while I enjoy all the other benefits.
 

AndriaD

Yes, I DO wear a mask! I'm vaccinated, too!
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
Great feedback Andria, Thank You.

I smoked for 16 years, quit for 7, then smoked again for 3 years before this latest attempt, so I’ve definitely done some damage over time. Great to hear there is hope for eventually getting those senses back, and I’m willing to wait while I enjoy all the other benefits.

It probably won't take nearly as long for you as it did for me, with nearly 4 decades of smoking. One thing I noticed was that it kinda came and went in fits and starts -- I'd been smoke-free maybe a month, and was cooking some bacon one day, and licked a bit of bacon grease off my fingers... and I was like, HOLY COW THAT'S GREAT! I wanted to lick the skillet clean! :giggle:

After about 6 months of not smoking, I suddenly realized that I no longer enjoyed italian sausage on my pizza -- now it tastes gamey to me, like spoiled meat.

Then there's all that "vaper's tongue" malarkey, which I think is really just "recent ex-smoker's tongue" -- sometimes it seems you can't taste ANYTHING, sometimes everything tastes REALLY strong, and sometimes things taste just plain WEIRD. And sometimes you may swear you smell something strange, but CANNOT find whatever it is. I think it's all just part of the whole healing program of both senses, smell and taste. After about a year-ish, it seems to settle down. Sense of taste AND smell may still be improving, as my sense of taste most definitely is still improving, but it seems more stable and less freaky after that first year.

And hey, welcome to VU! :hug:
Andria
 

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