@Vaperer , nicotine didn't "win." You just tried a bit too large a jump, that's all. Also, I think it's probably common to vape a bit more with every drop in nic, it tends to level off.
I think going to 15 is a great idea. You can adjust to that first, then make another drop when you are ready.
I'm still not QUITE ready, I don't think but even if I never decrease my nic, at all, I am still engaging in harm reduction. I'm really glad I said to myself "I am never going to put
pressure on myself to drop, and certainly not rapidly." I figured, if I could get to JUST vaping alone, I would have achieved something I never would have thought possible. None of my docs really care about my nicotine level at this point, they're just happy I am no longer wandering in to their office, chalk white, and displaying symptoms of a smoking related illness. My poor docs actually LIKE me (I'm a likable patient) and as I was consoling one of my PCPs about the likelihood of laryngeal cancer, (he really though I had it, I was being scoped by an ENT the SAME day, fastest referral I ever got, LOL) I really realized: good doctors HATE to see their patients suffer and die an early death due to tobacco, and it really kind of drove home the idea. "This is really causing harm, not just to me, and not just to my
family even, but it's bigger than that. I feel fortunate to have people who kind o gave a rats behind, as every doctor visit was worse.
I returned a few months later and my I announced to my PCP (I did call, once I got the results from the ENT) "Hi, I'm your non-laryngeal cancer patient (I always figure docs have too many patients to remember. He was like, "Yes, Anna, I remember quite well."
I felt bad, but you are already a success, you are vaping! I'm sure nic reduction will happen, naturally over time, probably with some discomfort here and there. But if you never reduced your nicotine even ONCE, you've already made tremendous strides.
I look at nic as my pal, actually. Cigarettes, not so much but nicotine does more good than bad at least in my particular body. As I decrease, when I decrease, I just plan to approach it with an open mind. The hardest transition, I ALREADY did it.
Best of luck, don't be discouraged, is my longwinded post above, I guess.
Anna