3 months of vaping

[kc57]

Have been smoking for 35 years and on June 1st began my 4th attempt at quitting only this time using ecigs to address the cravings for the experience of a cig and nic addiction. Been cig free for 3 months.

Began with SmokeTip 180mAH and then added EVO 250mAH, as I could buy them local, while waiting for battery replacements from SmokeTip. Started at 18mg nic, then 12mg and a month ago down to 8mg and began refilling my own carts with about 50/50 VG/PG, peanut butter tobacco mix. Second set of SmokeTip batteries stopped working a week ago and in last month, batteries are needing to be recharged after about 30 mins on both sets, re-filled carts not lasting half as long as pre-filled ones (2 a day vs 6 a day) and vapor, TH and flavor very light after first 5 mins with refilled carts although all are stronger with lower mah battery. I also seem to be chain vamping since decreasing to 8mg.

Thought the problem might be needing a stronger ecig and better quality carts so order Elite 808 and carts for light use such as at work and looking at a 650mAH and pass through for heavier use such as at home and on road trips. Should be getting the ecig and carts soon. Have followed directions on refilling carts, vamping and cleaning batteries.

Any feedback on what kind of juice to get, heard light color is best? Also feeling very achy and lungs feel like I have asthma or engaged in heavy smoking. Trying to drink more but with my job I only get to drink a glass of water every 2 to 3 hours. Not sure if these symptoms are from withdrawn or ejuice. Any ideas?

Spend many hours reading posts and without this forum, would have given up and went back to cigs.

 

[washvap]

WELCOME TO THE ECF

Glad you have made the transition to e-cigs and have quit smoking cigs. It's going to pay off in the long run. You've seemed to have made some great progress with decreasing your nicotine in a fast pace. But, if you feel that 8mg isn't doing much for you than there's no problem in going back to 12mg until your ready.

The Elite 808 has been getting some very solid reviews on the forum. A 650 mah battery can last a light and moderate vaper the whole day. Which is a good thing. Now, as for your questions. Light colored juice is better for cartomizers and will make them last longer as well.

Although, there are VERY few e-liquids that are light colored. Some people end up DIY e-liquid which give them the ability to add no artificial coloring to theirs. Which is an added bonus but even if it's moderately dark. You can still use them in a cartomizer with no issues at all. Since they are meant to be disposable and are generally usable for a week to a month depending on how heavy you vape.

Here are some very solid vendors you might wanna check out:

Virgin Vapor | Electronic Cigarettes | Organic Electronic Cigarette eLiquid <----100% Organic
Alien Visions E-Juice <---Caters to people that are allergic to PG. They mostly have 100% VG e-liquids and they work well in cartomizers.
Welcome to Tasty Vapor
Rawr Vapor: Home page


As for you having issues with vaping the stuff that you currently have. There is a possibility that you may have an allergic reaction to PG juices. Only way to find out is to order a sample of 100% VG e-liquid (make sure this is in your first order) and see if the symptoms persist. That is another suggestion I wanna give you. Order a LOT of samples at first and see what works for you.

 

[washvap]

If you have further health concerns. It's in your best interest to check out this section and ask questions at the same time:

Health and Medical Issues

 

[blue8091]

I just passed my 90 days too!! Congrats on hitting the milestone - isn't vaping a blast?! My two cents would be that if you only get to water every 2-3 hours - try to slam 2 bottles (16oz) or 1 33oz bottle. I think staying hydrated is super important...at least for me personally.

I don't know what everyone else is doing - but I found a piece of advice here on ECF when I first started and I've been running with it - the advice was to start on a fairly high nic (at least 18mg) and stick with it for at least the first 6 months. I moved up to the 20-24 range and find I can vape for a bit...and then go on and do whatever for a few hours. For me, my vaping habits are completely diff from ciggie habits..which is a good thing. Over the last 3 months the journey has been all about finding a great ejuice and the right device - I've found my sweet spots and now I'm just playing around with my obsession

Congrats again!

 

[MiXoLoGiSt]

Welcome to ECF and congrats on your switch to e cigs. E cigs truly are a great thing and i enjoy them much more than i ever enjoyed cigarettes.

Only now im spending MORE money on Mods and stuff LMAO!

 

[kc57]

I suspected I decreased too much too soon but since I am new to vamping, wanted to get some feedback to be sure before I increased nic. Problems likely related to lower nic caused increased vamping which in turn increased battery usage and intake of ejuice. I was doing really good at 12 nic so will go back to that.

blue8091, ex-smokers should get chips like they give at in AA and NA or something like that. Maybe we could start a new tradition for ex-smokers like 30 day, 60 day, 90 day, etc. bands to put on a ecig.

Received my Elite 808 and will see how it does. Will also check out those ejuice joints.

 

[LilyBear]

I still feel like I am new to vaping but I got my first ecig while on Easter break (felt that would be a good time to start kicking analogs since it was a week and a half break from school since I work at one). I have been totally analog free now since Mothers day, though there was only occasional lapses to see if I still wanted to smoke at all - I did NOT want to - threw the last one in the ashtray after one hit and have not looked back. My hubby keeps asking when I will quit these though and after just getting my new ego-t's (awesome pink 1000 mah)....ummm not soon?! After discovering Mrs. T's maybe not ever! Congrats to all of us for getting off the analogs. So I guess I need the 4 month chip soon LOL

 

[Boodle]

At around 3 months I'd stepped from 24mg to 12 then to 6mg. That didn't work for me at all. 6mg was too low. I'm back at 18 with 24mg handy if a big crave hits. I felt pretty awful at 6mg, I was vaping too much with no satisfaction.

Ave juice is fabulous but gets funky in carts quickly like all thick juices. That's the downside of vg juice. If you could drip on a atomizer AVE might be a perfect fit for you. Their Boba's Bounty (from my non-scientific research) is among the most universally-liked juice on the market.

Johnson Creek's original line is PG or RPG (very thin). The juices I've tried are clear, give a strong throat hit and cartos last and last. I can't say they're my favorite tasting juices but I find myself using them more and more. They mix in a lab environment, have lot numbers on each bottle and come in glass containers. Halo juice is thin, clear and seem pure also with shrink-wrapped, glass-bottle packaging.

You might want to post in the "Ask the Veterans" forum. There are some real smart people that huddle-up and give your questions serious consideration. It might take a day or so to get your answer but it's worth the wait. I hope you feel better soon and find your happy vape. Be well.

 

[tanikir]

Wow, I didn't realize until I saw this that I'm up to four months now!

 

[kc57]

Using only the Elite 808 today and have experienced much stronger vapor, TH and taste which has resulted in a significant decrease in how often I am vamping. Maybe 5 drags and then I am done for 30 mins or more compared to constant vamping the last several weeks. I got a small bottle of 24 mg of nic with the Elite and added it to my ejuice to make it 12 mg of nic so that may be helping also.

Negative symptoms stronger today, even with drinking water all day. Been reading the post in the health section, don’t have enough posts to ask a question on there, and only found two post regarding shortness of breath and tightness in chest but no response was given. I have noticed some other symptoms starting that were listed as common side effects of either cig withdraw or PG intolerance. Am surprised over the symptoms as I have not had a cig for 3 months and did not have any problems with pre-filled carts. Likely has something to do with the ejuice but to be on the safe side will go with VG and less additives. I do have a tendency to have an intolerance for many things that doesn’t show up until several months later.

 

[washvap]

It's probably best to go with VG organic juices for now. I listed the virgin vapors link above just for that specific reason. Also, all you need is 2 more posts and you will be able to access the health section after an hour after 5 posts.

You can press the reply with quote and respond to some of the people on this thread and you will be there in a second.

 

[Ericscott_68]

Wow, I didn't realize until I saw this that I'm up to four months now!

LOL I keep forgeting how long it's been too.

 

[kc57]

I think I may be reacting to the VG. About a month ago, purchased a bottle of 100% VG peanut butter and 80% PG tobacco both 8 mg nic from BlueMist. Switched back and forth between the two for a few days but felt the VG flavor was too sweet and no TH and PG flavor too harsh so mixed some peanut butter in the tobacco, about 1/4 VG to 3/4 PG. Noticed I was vamping more since decreasing nic but thought it would pass. It didn't and in about two weeks began getting a heavy feeling in my lungs, like when I had chained smoked, every once in awhile and although annoying not a big problem.

After posting to this website, it was recommended to increase nic and change to 100% VG. I did not think about and therefore did not share about the mix. Saturday afternoon received a sample of 24mg nic so decided to mix up 3/4 VG to 1/4 PG and add the extra nic. Within about 4 hours my chest began hurting and it got to the point of feeling like I was having an asthma attack as I could hardly breath. Also got a headache, stomach upset, gas and body aches increased. This was with me drinking about 8 ounces of water every hour all day and evening. After reading more on the health forum and the ingred of the prefilled carts I had not problems with which only listed PG, it dawned on me about the mix I had used and likely I am reacting to the VG.

I am going to buy some sample juices, as recommended on this site, with a higher nic to test out mix and flavors. I am thinking something like 70 PG/30 PG, 80/20 or around that. Anyone have a reaction to VG and if so what mix did you find worked? Also Checking out ECBlend as they have samples for around $3. Any other recommendations for getting samples of ejuice?

 

[kc57]

Contacted company where I purchased prefill cartos and was told they just use PG so changed juice to PG 80% and have had no problems since my last post. Thanks for your help and the welcomes.

 

[Iffy]

... and have had no problems since my last post.

Great news! Now let the experimentation begin...