A newbie's experience - and a couple of questions

[GrumpyOldMan]

I smoked my last tobacco cigarette at the end of September and was astonished and delighted to find how easy it was to switch to e-cigarettes.

I invested in a Liberro Realis starter kit. I gather that hard-core 'vapers' seem to look down on these 'lookie-likey' things, but my logic was that if I was to succeed in switching away from tobacco, the least change I could make would be better and these things look, and largely feel, like real cigarettes.

My problem (there's always a problem, isn't there?) is probably that I over-vape. I've been through a stage of gastro-intestinal effects (i.e. daily diahorrea) which I've been attributing to excess nicotine, and my appetite has all-but evaporated. ( I gather these are not unusual side-effects?)

I started with the 'default' 1.8% nicotine e-liquid that came with my starter kit. I've tried 2.4% nicotine and I'm now slowly reducing the percentage. I tried 1.8% and I've just started with some 0.8% e-liquid (The Rothmans King Size of which I used to smoke 40 a day said "0.8mg nicotine" on the side of the pack) and I've ordered some 0.6% liquid today.

But I find I'm not really smoking these e-cigs like I did 'analogues'. I don't 'take a puff and put it down in the ash tray'. I suck on it like it was a baby's bottle. And how do you know when you've had enough? An 'analogue' cigarette burns away. When it's burned down to the filter, you're done. How long does one smoke an e-cig for? I'm thinking about 5 minutes. But I'm doing that half-hourly (my internal logic is 'Hey, it's not hurting me, I can smoke this thing as much as I like'). I tend to stop only when a bolt of dizziness hits me in the side of the head).

Oh, wise and experienced vapers, do you have any words of wisdom for me?


GrumpyOldMan

 

[Ryedan]

Hi Grumpy and welcome to ECF! Good for you on getting off the cigarettes. Almost everyone vapes more than they smoked specially at first. It's hard for me to say how often I vape because it can change so much through the day. I do know that I go through about 3 ml a day. I started vaping 1.8% and did that fro a couple of months until I got over most of the pangs for a smoke. I thn lowered the nic level in my juices until I got to zero after about nine months.

I would not worry about vaping too much specially at first. I know I vaped non-stop at times in those first few months to keep from smoking. On those days I could knock back 5 - 6 ml. I figured anything I did to keep from smoking was good and that I could reduce my use later. That worked out well for me. There are some people who vape 10 ml a day and up with no adverse effects.

My symptom of too much nicotine was slight headache and a bit of nausea. You have different nic level juice to experiment with so you can see how it goes with that. Don't hesitate to ask questions

 

[DrillRX]

I smoked my last tobacco cigarette at the end of September and was astonished and delighted to find how easy it was to switch to e-cigarettes.

I invested in a Liberro Realis starter kit. I gather that hard-core 'vapers' seem to look down on these 'lookie-likey' things, but my logic was that if I was to succeed in switching away from tobacco, the least change I could make would be better and these things look, and largely feel, like real cigarettes.

My problem (there's always a problem, isn't there?) is probably that I over-vape. I've been through a stage of gastro-intestinal effects (i.e. daily diahorrea) which I've been attributing to excess nicotine, and my appetite has all-but evaporated. ( I gather these are not unusual side-effects?)

I started with the 'default' 1.8% nicotine e-liquid that came with my starter kit. I've tried 2.4% nicotine and I'm now slowly reducing the percentage. I tried 1.8% and I've just started with some 0.8% e-liquid (The Rothmans King Size of which I used to smoke 40 a day said "0.8mg nicotine" on the side of the pack) and I've ordered some 0.6% liquid today.

But I find I'm not really smoking these e-cigs like I did 'analogues'. I don't 'take a puff and put it down in the ash tray'. I suck on it like it was a baby's bottle. And how do you know when you've had enough? An 'analogue' cigarette burns away. When it's burned down to the filter, you're done. How long does one smoke an e-cig for? I'm thinking about 5 minutes. But I'm doing that half-hourly (my internal logic is 'Hey, it's not hurting me, I can smoke this thing as much as I like'). I tend to stop only when a bolt of dizziness hits me in the side of the head).

Oh, wise and experienced vapers, do you have any words of wisdom for me?


GrumpyOldMan

Not sure about the problems you are having, I didn't experience the "runs". You might however be going through some withdraws from the chemicals that are in cigarettes. I did have some nausea for a short time around 2 to three months quitting cigarettes.

I use my PV all day, the only difference is I only take about 3 or 4 puffs and then put it away, when you smoke you usually take maybe as much as 20 to 30 before you quit so using your PV is much much different.

 

[LeftHandBlack]

The only symptoms of "overvaping" I have experienced in my almost 7 months was headache and rapid heartbeat. Your intestinal problems and lack of appetite seem unusual compared to what I have heard others say.

 

[teq1800]

I would hope that no vaper would look down on anyone who is trying to get of smoking just because of the PV they use. As far as over vapeing I say vape your .... off. What ever it takes not to light up. Vape On

 

[Blueeddie1]

Yea I Still give myself the spins every once in a while, especially if I have a particularly yummy juice. In general I try to limit a Session to around 5/10 minutes unless the Juice is nicotine free.

 

[tuss08]

I think your lack of appetite is normal, well it was for me. Just like cigarettes, nicotine suppresses appetite. You ask how long to vape as it doesn't burn out. I had the same question but it really doesn't matter how long you do it, its HOW you do it that can make a difference.
Eveyones different but i learnt from this forum that taking a slow long inhale, holding it in your mouth for a few seconds and then inhale and exhale, seems to deliver the nic better. Consequently a few of these puffs are more effective than puffing short and sharp as you would with a cig.
I puff away most of the day when i can, but we ex smokers need to remember that vaping frequently is not a concern like smoking was, so if u need to vape and use it like a "Babys bottle"….go right ahead.
Best of luck, hope this helps.

 

[billbryant78]

I occasionally experience something that feels a bit like heartburn when I overdo it on vaping. It seems to happen more often with juices that contain more PG than VG. When I am vaping 100% PG juice, I don't seem to have that problem much.

 

[Themilkman]

It is easy to get carried away, I lowered my nic right away because I was vaping so much. I try to make a concision effort to put down the vape im using and give it a rest every once in a while.

 

[Way2Gone]

I have gotten headaches from smoking too much of it and also since I just started when I wake up in the morning after smoking a whole lot of it I feel weird like nauseous in the morning like I am coming down with something. like a scary sickness. But after a little while it goes away and I feel fine. I think it is due to me just starting to smoke the vape and not being used to it and plus I am trying to give up ciggerettes which I have been smoking for 7 years now. Cold turkey aint easy I know that but I am sure trying. I just hope I don't get sick or anything.

 

[christiang]

It sounds like your suffering from too much nicotine.

* Excessive nicotine intake can cause gastrointestinal problems like nausea, ........, dyspepsia and flatulence.
Taken from Nicotine Side Effects

 

[Way2Gone]

I appreciate that link bud.

 

[K_Tech]

The first week or two I had my PV in a white-knuckled death grip. I don't know anything about the starter kit you purchased, but my completely uneducated guess (which is probably wrong) is that you're seeing a combination of anxiety from quitting smoking and possibly not getting enough nicotine from the delivery method you're using.

As to the other issues, it's said over and over in the forums (and elsewhere). Cigarettes put something on the order of 4,000 different chemicals into your body, and everyone reacts differently to their sudden absence.

 

[Thrasher]

it is more a case of the battery not vaping the nicotine fully then it is just over exposure. with the weaker batteries the vapor, for lack of a better term, is more wet. and too much liquid nicotine/juice enters the system.
since the beginning I vape pretty strong juice and notice with some devices that dont seem to work efficiently it tears my stomach up, soon as i switch back to other things, it stops.

I have passed on many common setups and atty's because of this effect, and you may look into a better delivery system.

 

[Way2Gone]

The first week or two I had my PV in a white-knuckled death grip. I don't know anything about the starter kit you purchased, but my completely uneducated guess (which is probably wrong) is that you're seeing a combination of anxiety from quitting smoking and possibly not getting enough nicotine from the delivery method you're using.

As to the other issues, it's said over and over in the forums (and elsewhere). Cigarettes put something on the order of 4,000 different chemicals into your body, and everyone reacts differently to their sudden absence.

I think I might be getting too much nicotine because I get headaches from vaping too much. I am vaping at around 12-18 mg. ( I have been mixing alot so its different all of the time ).
I think I am going to drop to 12 mg or maybe less. Maybe like a 8-10 mg or something if I can.

 

[Bobster]

The thing is, in my experience, that it's a different type of habit. A cig is a finite object. You take one out, light it and smoke it until it"s gone. It's easy count them and know how much you've smoked. You don't smoke an e-cig straight until it's empty. so it becomes a different style of smoking/vaping.

When I was vaping first, I'd wonder had I the equivalent of a cig smoked yet? I smoked a cig one night a few months ago (drink involved), and thought I'd never get to the end of it. My 'style" of smoking had changed. So just go with the flow I'd say. You'll eventually find your own style.

 

[Blueeddie1]

James,
I AM NOT A DOCTOR!

I personally haven't heard of anyone "getting sick or anything" ... I do know that some people can be and are allergic to PG- one of the ingredients in some vape juice mixes. The allergy can range in symptoms, so yes I guess you could get sick, or make yourself queasy from consuming too much nicotine.

I also know that the long term affects of using e-cigs/Personal Vaporizers has not been studied to PROVE OR DISPROVE ANY FINDINGS. Because they haven't been around long enough and because of the sheer variety of devices and liquids needed to be tested to give any tests or findings any credibility in my eyes.

Once you realize your not Quiting though,,, your Switching Nicotine delivery systems. And this one Doesn't cause Cancer.



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