After Vaping For a While, What Happened to Make You Go Back to Smoking?

[Robino1]

What I am basically trying to do is find out what the triggers were so that we could possibly avoid them or be prepared for them when they do happen.

For example: I heard that about 3 months and 3 days into vaping, there may be a strong urge to smoke. Now that I am aware of it, I can prepare myself by making sure that I have on hand 24mg of juice to help combat that urge. If I hadn't heard that, I might have used up all my 24mg while I am stepping down in my nic. I will make sure that I keep a bottle of it on hand.

Lately I have been seeing people that are coming back to vaping. Yay and congrats! What's your story, if it isn't too personal to share, on how you started vaping then went back to smoking?

 

[Ryedan]

Hasn't happened to me yet and hope it doesn't in the future. The people I see coming back to vaping are usually people who tried it a couple or a few years ago when vaping equipment was not so good. OTOH, your 'just in case' plan does sound good to me

 

[UncleChuck]

Several triggers that I have personally experienced in the past, although thankfully I have been cig free for quite some time now:

Alcohol: I don't know if you are a heavy drinker, but if you are, it's going to make it even more difficult to completely quit cigarettes. First of all, all smokers know that alcohol and tobacco have a certain synergy. People who drink also know it can lower your ability to "do the right thing" as it were, you make a stupid choice, smoking a cigarette instead of hitting your PV, in this case. I have a few tobacco flavors that I can tolerate that really help when drinking, chain vaping also helps, as do higher nic and throat hit juices. I absolutely HATE menthol, and once awhile back while drinking with some friends I broke down, and bummed a cigarette from my friend's wife who smokes menthols. It was probably one of the most disgusting cigarettes of my life, so my LAST memory of a cigarette is thankfully not the calm, tasty, relaxing memory most have. It's a memory of a disgusting menthol cigarette. If you have a certain type of cigarettes you hate, and you DO break down, have a nasty one, it will re-train your brain that a cigarette is something that you do not enjoy.

Another trigger was seeing smoking related things. Ash trays, lighters, butts, people smoking, etc. I put away all my ash trays and lighters, and it stopped that feeling you get when you see your empty ashtray on the table staring at you begging to be filled with nasty little butts.

Running out of juice: This happened to be several times in the past. I had run low on juice, didn't think ahead and stock up, and when I ran out I just got a pack of smokes. This was before any of the corner stores were selling disposables so my only choice was to wait days for an online shipment. Now I make sure to have several hundred mils of juice on hand at any time, and frequently restock even if I don't need to. The same goes for equipment, if you run out of good cartos, or all your batteries die, or something along those lines, it's going to be much harder to stay away from a cig.

Drama: Sometimes you can't help but go through things, and then some people seek out drama like it's..... Try to de-stress your life as much as possible. I had a very close friend pass away over a year ago, which caused me to immediately revert back to smoking. Things like this you can't help or change, but in general just try to think ahead and make sure you aren't setting yourself up for something that will cause you to crave a cigarette.

Having cigarettes available: I used to have a pack of cigs stashed away "just in case" this just enabled me to cheat even more. In this case thinking ahead is a bad idea, either finish off all your cigs, or throw them out, either way do everything possible within reason to restrict the availability of cigarettes to you. I do however keep a can of dip around. I was never a dipper in the past, although I did dip on occasion. If you are having a really bad time, and can't stop thinking about a cigarette, a quick dip instead of a cig could help. I know this isn't the most ideal choice, but smoking a cig would be more likely to get you back in the habit of smoking then a dip would. But dip also gives you more of the tobacco feeling you get from real cigarettes compared to ecigs. This has helped me personally, but your mileage may vary.

Don't get super full: I'm sure most smokers are the same in that they would always look forward to that "after a big meal smoke" I noticed (specifically after thanksgiving dinner) that being so full triggered my desire for a cigarette. Whenever you tie smoking into another activity, it makes it harder to stop smoking when you do that activity. Even sex comes into this as well, a cigarette right after, so now that's another trigger. Staying away from sex would probably do more harm then good in reducing your stress levels, not to mention be no fun, but just being aware of these triggers does a great deal to reduce the chance of giving into them, again just my opinion.

I'm sure there's more, but this is all I can think of right now. I like your approach, thinking ahead instead of dealing with the issues as they arise. Good luck to you my friend.

 

[kh3ll]

I've had maybe 6-8 cigs in two years. The majority of these were while i was completely tanked, even then i don't recall ever finishing one. So I completely agree that drinking/smoking combination is a hard one to overcome. I also think some people try to drop their nicotine to fast and thats what triggers the need for the smoke. Keep your nicotine levels where you are comfortable and keep lots of juice on hand are my best advice.

After a while the taste of an analog will completely gross you out and you won't even feel like your smoking anything but burnt ash.

 

[SissySpike]

After almost a year I still get a fleeting thought of having just one smoke! But its just a thought and I do not act on it. I think any addiction carry's the opportunity for relapse. The longer you go with out the easier it is to forget why you quit.

 

[Robino1]

I imagine spring or summer might be a problem for me while at our favorite watering hole. It will be nice out and I might want to go outside to warm up. . Right now it's not a problem, I can vape inside and stay warm.

This is good for people to know and prepare for. At least to keep in the back of their minds.

Buzz, so the thoughts never really go away huh? At least I know it's normal. I will be forever vigilant. Thanks!

Uncle, thank you for the detailed thoughts! This is kind of what I was looking for when I started this thread. I'm hoping that seeing what triggers there may be, might help some of us stay on the path.

I do know, for myself, that ECF and all you guys help me stay away from smoking just by being here. Coming online and reading and joining in the threads is like having my support system right at my finger tips. For that, I thank you all very much. I sometimes wonder if the people that had joined ECF and then "relapsed", for lack of a better word, had done so because they quit coming here...

 

[AttyPops]

After the initial addiction issues are over and/or replaced.... it's a trick of the mind. So far, so good for me... haven't back stepped. However, I could I suppose.

Like you said...spring/summer and your favorite watering hole. Triggers. My story doesn't matter...yours does (for you). Know your triggers. Counter them.

Counter the triggers with positive assertions...like "I don't smoke anymore and my singing voice is better! Don't want to ruin that. I'll just vape." or "Drinking and vaping is better than smoking, and I don't stink from tobacco AND booze!"

 

[Robino1]

After the initial addiction issues are over and/or replaced.... it's a trick of the mind. So far, so good for me... haven't back stepped. However, I could I suppose.

Like you said...spring/summer and your favorite watering hole. Triggers.

Counter the triggers with positive assertions...like "I don't smoke anymore and my singing voice is better! Don't want to ruin that. I'll just vape." or "Drinking and vaping is better than smoking, and I don't stink from tobacco AND booze!"

I'm hoping I get more vapers there. As they see this work for me, I get more questions from the regulars that smoke. It would be nice if there were a couple of vapers by spring

 

[tidegirl]

Well, almost a year in I still smoke occasionally, mostly when I am around others smoking. I have always found the taste nasty, so trying to find nasty ones doesn't help.

But if you do slip, even if you slip a lot, just don't give up completely. Keep vaping. If you gotta smoke, then smoke. But next time around vape instead. Keep working at getting back to full time vaping.

3 months and 3 days? That's a pretty specific "'round about" time frame. Wonder who came up with that?

 

[teajayyy]

I've dragged a few cigs since i started vaping..only to remind me how dirty and gross they taste
i drag a friends cig and im like EWW GIMME MY VAPE BACK!
cuz it usually goes like: "Hey man lemme try that, ill let you drag this"
but no more of that

 

[oh u mad]

APV's are a godsend. there is nothign else that satisfies my cravings 100% in replacement of cigarettes. I am very thankful for technology.

 

[CJB]

I went back and forth between vaping and smoking for about a year. Then spent another year mostly vaping and smoking here and there. Now Im cig free. I know for me, the trigger was simply not relying on my PV. Once I wanted to stop smoking completely, I learned to rely on my PV if I wanted to smoke. Id chain vape and the urge to smoke would go away. To me thats the trick. Rely on that PV! Also, finding a setup that isnt too tedious or cumbersome is a factor for me. If I ran out of supplies or didnt feel like spending 15 minutes setting up my PV or changing out parts, Id smoke. Thats part of the reason I went with a tank/carto system and then started experimenting with better batteries and mods. I want to set it up and make it easy to use for at least a few days. It had to be convenient for me or else I had an excuse to smoke.

 

[FL0OD]

What sent me back to smoking was the inconvenience. When I tried vapping several years ago it was messy and just a pain. Carrying around batteries, refilling carts, dripping, it was just to much. I recently ran into some one that had a ego with a small tank on it. She had great things to say about the battery, not having to fill it all the time, etc etc. So I made a trip to a local vapeshop, VaporKings, and looked at all the new devices that were available. To say I was stunned at what I saw would be a mild understatement. I ended up picking up a SmokTech Zmax and a couple of DCT's just so I had some different juices laying around. I also ended up ordering some juice from Halo, and now I couldn't be happier. No more totting around batteries, tons of juice, so no more worrying about a dripping mess, just a all around waaay different experience. Picked all this stuff up two weeks ago and haven't touched a analog since. I'm back, happy, and already feeling better. I look forward to being a part of the community again and staying with this and watching things evolve from here on out.

†††

 

[glassmanoak]

NOTHING could make me go back to smoking! NOTHING! I've worked my way down to zero nic, and I vape to fulfill the hand-mouth thing and because I LIKE vaping and all the flavors. If ecigs were totally banned, I'd just have to live with it.

 

[Lakus]

Only problem I ran into was being a beginner and screwing up my equipment while at work. That and ordering juices with not enough nicotine while trying to make the switch. This often led me to get a pack of analogs. All worked itself out when I got the hang of the equipment and got some stronger juice shortly after.

 

[Snowblind258]

I Stopped smoking for a little bit over a year, I loved my Ego, My Ego mega dual coil. I still use both, but I am now back to smoking and vaping.

Basically what has happened is my ego batteries keep crapping out on me. The first two batteries I got with my kit (650 Mah) lasted me a year. Was finally able to stop smoking, than the batteries started to get warm on the charger so I immediately purchased 2 new 1000 Mah batteries. those lasted about 2-3 months before dying, bought 2 more this time USB pass through 1000 mah, those lasted a few months before breaking. By this point I was frustrated with buying 2 new $20 batteries every few months.

Right now I am down to one single broken battery with tape around it to stop the housing from separating / and to keep the button from falling out again (I put it in my pocket and took it out a minute later and the button had broke).

I haven't given up hope on ecigs, I know they work! I have given up on the Ego and its proprietary $20 batteries. Its been about 5 months since i was 100% smoke free but I have a Provari and a vivi nova shipping to me as I type this. The batteries are cheaper, and the PV should be 500% better than my Ego. I am planing on being smoke free again by the end of the year.

 

[Thompson]

Most tempting times for me are when drinking or just doing outdoors stuff. Few puffs on the APV and its gone but that is when I notice it.

 

[Robino1]

What sent me back to smoking was the inconvenience. When I tried vapping several years ago it was messy and just a pain. Carrying around batteries, refilling carts, dripping, it was just to much. I recently ran into some one that had a ego with a small tank on it. She had great things to say about the battery, not having to fill it all the time, etc etc. So I made a trip to a local vapeshop, VaporKings, and looked at all the new devices that were available. To say I was stunned at what I saw would be a mild understatement. I ended up picking up a SmokTech Zmax and a couple of DCT's just so I had some different juices laying around. I also ended up ordering some juice from Halo, and now I couldn't be happier. No more totting around batteries, tons of juice, so no more worrying about a dripping mess, just a all around waaay different experience. Picked all this stuff up two weeks ago and haven't touched a analog since. I'm back, happy, and already feeling better. I look forward to being a part of the community again and staying with this and watching things evolve from here on out.

†††

I thought that would be a lot of the reasons that I would see. The advance in the technology is amazing I have heard. I am glad that you have come back to vaping and wish you all the success at stopping smoking

I Stopped smoking for a little bit over a year, I loved my Ego, My Ego mega dual coil. I still use both, but I am now back to smoking and vaping.

Basically what has happened is my ego batteries keep crapping out on me. The first two batteries I got with my kit (650 Mah) lasted me a year. Was finally able to stop smoking, than the batteries started to get warm on the charger so I immediately purchased 2 new 1000 Mah batteries. those lasted about 2-3 months before dying, bought 2 more this time USB pass through 1000 mah, those lasted a few months before breaking. By this point I was frustrated with buying 2 new $20 batteries every few months.

Right now I am down to one single broken battery with tape around it to stop the housing from separating / and to keep the button from falling out again (I put it in my pocket and took it out a minute later and the button had broke).

I haven't given up hope on ecigs, I know they work! I have given up on the Ego and its proprietary $20 batteries. Its been about 5 months since i was 100% smoke free but I have a Provari and a vivi nova shipping to me as I type this. The batteries are cheaper, and the PV should be 500% better than my Ego. I am planing on being smoke free again by the end of the year.

I have heard great things about the Provari. When my twists die, I plan to get that if Hubby doesn't get it for me for Christmas after I have pointedly told him that's what I want.

Good luck!

 

[Berylanna]

I thought that would be a lot of the reasons that I would see. The advance in the technology is amazing I have heard. I am glad that you have come back to vaping and wish you all the success at stopping smoking
I have heard great things about the Provari. When my twists die, I plan to get that if Hubby doesn't get it for me for Christmas after I have pointedly told him that's what I want.
Good luck!

Or, if you can't afford a Provari, look into the Lava Tube (I got one for $44) or one of the newer PV's that take 14500's like the new Robusts. But $20 is nothing compared to a few packs of cigarettes (assuming you use ViVi Nova's or something cheap to refill) and it is MUCH cheaper than an oxygen tank you have to tow around!

I have 3 main triggers:

1. Convenience (solved by lava tube at home and kGo vv's out and about, with ViVi Novas or mini-Novas)
2. Juice too low-nic! I ordered 12 mg because I was sometimes vaping too much but found I need to consistently order 24 mg and have a little zero around to diliute it with if I need a milder bedtime vape)
3. Drama.
4. BIG triggers like meals and first-in-the-morning. Improved a lot by vaping for 10 mins before ANY analogs!

I have all except #3 solved, and I think the "vape for 10 mins before smoking" thing is turning me back around from slowly increasing the stinkys to slowly decreasing them again.

 

[Robino1]

Or, if you can't afford a Provari, look into the Lava Tube (I got one for $44) or one of the newer PV's that take 14500's like the new Robusts. But $20 is nothing compared to a few packs of cigarettes (assuming you use ViVi Nova's or something cheap to refill) and it is MUCH cheaper than an oxygen tank you have to tow around!

I have 3 main triggers:

1. Convenience (solved by lava tube at home and kGo vv's out and about, with ViVi Novas or mini-Novas)
2. Juice too low-nic! I ordered 12 mg because I was sometimes vaping too much but found I need to consistently order 24 mg and have a little zero around to diliute it with if I need a milder bedtime vape)
3. Drama.
4. BIG triggers like meals and first-in-the-morning. Improved a lot by vaping for 10 mins before ANY analogs!

I have all except #3 solved, and I think the "vape for 10 mins before smoking" thing is turning me back around from slowly increasing the stinkys to slowly decreasing them again.

At least you have noticed what your triggers are. That is half the battle! I hope you continue to progress on your journey.

As far as the Provari? Oh, he can afford it Whether he takes the STRONG suggestion......time will tell I really won't know until Christmas morning.........<sigh>