6 weeks in, first big craving

[hesta]

Just wanted to share that I had my first real craving last night since quitting the stinkies. Horrible, horrible, horrible!

Blood boiling, rage and restlessness, all I could think about was the analogs. I NEEDED one, not just wanted one! I really dont know how I got through it to be honest. Vaped like a champ, stupid amounts of juice, changing from dripping atty to carto to tank to clearo as I was sure that there was something that would get me through it. Nothing did. Switched off the PC and just lay on the sofa, vamo in hand.

Eventually (hour/hour and a half) it passed, but got me thinking, there was no way that it was a nicotine craving, must have vaped about 2ml of juice during the craving. So that just leaves the other crap in the analogs. Anyone else still get the cravings, even when satisfying the nicotine cravings? How do you deal with it when it does strike?

Just needed to share with people who understand

 

[r77r7r]

6 wks in I still had 1-2 a day. I felt that vaping was working, so I didn't stress about having one.

My biggest urge came last week after 2yrs of vaping only. Wasn't stressed or anything, seemed like I wanted one just for old times sake. Quite certain it would taste like crap tho. Other folks on the forum did that research for me, and I believe them.

 

[Haktuspit]

I keep a few tins of Snus in the fridge. Try not to use them often, but when my vaping gear is driving me crazy I'll usually go for one and bask in my sweet nicotine buzz. Usually try to get all my gear working again while I have one in so I don't have to go through it again.

 

[Judge Dredd]

You're not alone, hesta! There's something about cigarettes, regardless of the nicotine, that just keeps me wanting more. Luckily I am able to get past cravings, but I am not so sure it's the nicotine that I'm craving anymore...

 

[Boiler]

I have looked wistfully at the corner store from time to time - I wonder if they miss me.

 

[Rickajho]

Six weeks... lol You got's a ways to go.

First off, congrats on toughing it out. Fits of cravings are perfectly normal for most of us. And yes! They do get better - very quickly - compared to conventional quit smoking routines. Seems there are milestones too - like every 90 days. My last significant cravings were at the nine month mark. But really? They were pretty insignificant that last time. And that was the last time.

You are probably right - it's not just about the nicotine. If it was then patches and gum would have much higher success rates than they actually do. Besides the nicotine you have a brain and a body getting used to not getting those other 4,000-ish chemicals that come along with burning processed tobacco. The withdrawal from "all that" varies from individual to individual.

So... what to do?

In my first 90 days I had two nic levels on hand. Normally 24 mg (again, for me) was sufficient. But when bad cravings reared up I bumped up to a 30 mg liquid and it helped. A lot. I only needed to boost my nic level like that to deal with cravings early on. It's something you may want to consider. First thing in the morning and those last couple hours before bed were my "craving holes."

You could always have a cigarette.

What? Sure. If you are one of the lucky many, smoking a cigarette will turn out to be the biggest negative reinforcement going. We don't really know why but for many, many of us everything about smoking gets to be disgusting starting in the first week of vaping. As a former 30 year 2 PAD smoker I didn't see that coming. I don't know how you quit but I transitioned from smoking to vaping over 90 days. Didn't really smoke that many - less as I went along - and every one of them became more disgusting the further I went along. In it's own weird way, smoking those cigarettes when I started vaping got me so turned off that I still shudder at the idea of smoking one.

 

[craigsdocks]

Yeah I've had my fits, would sit and vape and wish it away basically and this is pretty sad but I would say to myself you made it this long don't be a loser ... so me calling myself a "loser" if I have a smoke is my defense, still its pretty rough at times lol but still haven't had any and I feel I can fight it off

I sometimes have thoughts of all the good times I had when I was smoking, sad I know ... but now when I think about those times I think, hey what about the good times in the future I will have without smoking! perhaps not having to carry oxygen around with me later in life with my good times in the future wakes a person up.

To your point about ciggs having other things in them causing a lot of these with drawl pains ... I agree 100%

I used to Smoke Marl Reds and switched a few times to a more natural roll my own type of tobacco and it would take a good week or longer just to feel normal using that stuff (I would crave store bought ciggs any brand would have worked I felt with these cravings) and its was still tobacco just without god knows what all they put in commercial ciggs

 

[Ryedan]

I smoked and vaped for a few weeks when I started vaping last April. After that I gave away my last packs and have only had a couple since. Last one was in August I think.

I was lucky because I never did get any really strong cravings. I remember mild to medium cravings the first few months, but nothing I could not easily vape through. They got easier over time. I honestly can't think of the last time I had one.

I started vaping using 18 mg juice and quickly went down to 12. The 18 was giving me headaches. I really don't think I was so addicted to nicotine, more the other aspects of smoking. Some combination of the headrush, the 4,000 other chemicals in smoke and the hand/mouth thing had me very addicted. I am now between 3 & 0 nic and doing fine with no new cravings.

Be patient, vape through it if at all possible like you did this time and if you need to have a cig, don't beat yourself up about it. That's counterproductive. It's really not about the one you had, it's about the 1,000 you didn't have. It will get better over time! Best of luck with it and come back to vent any time you feel the need

 

[Kronik_ NinjaLo]

I have not had a craving since I started 6 months ago, until all my Nova heads crapped out on me at once. I took one apart, cleaned it, and rewound the coil. Not very good, but good enough to last until Monday when my new heads and wicks come in.

 

[WillyB]

Eventually (hour/hour and a half) it passed, but got me thinking, there was no way that it was a nicotine craving, must have vaped about 2ml of juice during the craving. So that just leaves the other crap in the analogs. Anyone else still get the cravings, even when satisfying the nicotine cravings? How do you deal with it when it does strike?

Why does it have to be 'crap'? Do you really think a complex plant such as tobacco is only about nicotine? Do you think coffee is only about caffeine?

 

[wyldman82601]

i had a huge craving at the 2 week mark, anxiety, blood boiling rage at nothing .... i vape 24 mg all day and it didnt help , my lil bro who was still on stinkies went out side and lit one up so i followed and took a drag off it, it tasted horrible the smell made me sick to my stomach i realized at that point i was done with stinkie cigs and now when a huge craving hits i go for a walk or laydown for a bit and it goes away , chewing gum also seems to help . i also have a 36mg "stress" juice on hand for when i need the nic boost, i chewed copenhagen for 20 yrs along with smoking, i quit the cope about 3 months before i found vaping so i quit both nasty habits in short abount of time

 

[Beardo]

4-6 weeks seems to be about as long as it takes for a lot of people to go through that sort of intense craving. Congrats for toughing it out! I don't feel bad if I smoke an analogue - I've been doing exactly that up to 40 times a day for 26 years after all, and habits can be stone .....es to break! What I DO is focus on the positives of cutting my real cig intake - improved senses of taste and smell, not stinking of cigarettes all the time (seriously, I smelled like THAT?!), and the fact that my car and house are nicer places to be for passengers/visitors

 

[robsta]

First week and I've been smoking 6-7 a day from a pack. I feel like I can breathe better, stick with it!

 

[watson_5]

Six weeks... lol You got's a ways to go.

First off, congrats on toughing it out. Fits of cravings are perfectly normal for most of us. And yes! They do get better - very quickly - compared to conventional quit smoking routines. Seems there are milestones too - like every 90 days. My last significant cravings were at the nine month mark. But really? They were pretty insignificant that last time. And that was the last time.

You are probably right - it's not just about the nicotine.....

So... what to do?

In my first 90 days I had two nic levels on hand. Normally 24 mg (again, for me) was sufficient. But when bad cravings reared up I bumped up to a 30 mg liquid and it helped. A lot. I only needed to boost my nic level like that to deal with cravings early on. It's something you may want to consider. First thing in the morning and those last couple hours before bed were my "craving holes."

You could always have a cigarette.

What? Sure. If you are one of the lucky many, smoking a cigarette will turn out to be the biggest negative reinforcement going. We don't really know why but for many, many of us everything about smoking gets to be disgusting starting in the first week of vaping. As a former 30 year 2 PAD smoker I didn't see that coming. I don't know how you quit but I transitioned from smoking to vaping over 90 days. Didn't really smoke that many - less as I went along - and every one of them became more disgusting the further I went along. In it's own weird way, smoking those cigarettes when I started vaping got me so turned off that I still shudder at the idea of smoking one.

As someone just starting out, and excited, and really apprehensive,

Thank You So Very Much!!!

I know it's coming; but this is the first time I have been excited. Ever.
I definitely needed that wisdom.
Watson

 

[badchevy]

I think from the cravings that I have had it is more about the habit of the action of smoking than it is about a chemical dependency. For example at work I go outside to vape and tonight there was 2 or 3 guys already out smoking and I got the urge to have one as well, that is until the wind blew my direction and I started smelling the smoke which quickly changed my mind.

 

[hesta]

Why does it have to be 'crap'? Do you really think a complex plant such as tobacco is only about nicotine? Do you think coffee is only about caffeine?

I don't for a minute think that tobacco is only about nicotine. But nicotine is the only part I personally desire, so refer to the other parts as crap. Maybe not the best choice of word, but the one I feel fits the bill best, for something I don't want. This is the whole reason I started vaping, to get the nicotine minus most of the negative effects of cigarettes.

Thanks for the advice everyone and happy vaping!

 

[spaceballsrules]

You could always have a cigarette.

What? Sure. If you are one of the lucky many, smoking a cigarette will turn out to be the biggest negative reinforcement going. We don't really know why but for many, many of us everything about smoking gets to be disgusting starting in the first week of vaping. As a former 30 year 2 PAD smoker I didn't see that coming. I don't know how you quit but I transitioned from smoking to vaping over 90 days. Didn't really smoke that many - less as I went along - and every one of them became more disgusting the further I went along. In it's own weird way, smoking those cigarettes when I started vaping got me so turned off that I still shudder at the idea of smoking one.

^^^THIS^^^

If you have a craving like that, go ahead and smoke one. You will find it to taste revolting, and you will wake up the next day with your throat on fire. If you're lucky, you will also be nauseous from all the extra crap that is in cigarettes. It's a good lesson to learn, and it will only reinforce the idea that cigarettes are indeed bad, and that you do not want them. It's part of the process of rewiring the brain.

 

[Off Topic]

What space balls said, once your brain transfers the addiction over to the PV, and your taste buds come back to life.... go ahead. Light one up.

You are going to be looking for a dog's .... to lick to get the taste out of your mouth.

 

[WattWick]

One month in, and I've had 1 full cigarette and 2-3 puffs of another. Even tho I get the cravings, I know a cigarette won't satisfy them like it used to. So, I just get a good cup of coffee and chain vape my favorite flavor till I forget about it. Which atm is Cherry Pipe.

Most of my cravings seem to stem from (my so-far tested) vaping gear is fairly inconsistent. Nothing makes me wan't a cig more than getting halfway through a vaping sit-down and things start to fail on me. And that's with the gear most people recommend. Vivis, Kanger (T3, MT3, Evod), Vision clearos, iClear 30, etc etc. Now I always have a carto tank ready, even tho I don't really like the filler taste / "cotton mouth". They do work, tho.

 

[dwolf111]

What you need to think about is all the cigarettes you have not been smoking. The cravings will pass. Keep your chin up and remember your on the right path.