Am I the only one getting burned out? Why can't this be easier for me?!?

[Sirius]

The pain is a huge part of it, I won't lie. LIFE is hard, having non stop pain and trying to be a mother and wife, wanting to be a GOOD mother and wife, sometimes I feel like this is one more stress I have to deal with. You're the second person that's said (in this thread) you have type 1 diabetes and that SUCKS! I'm sorry you guys have to go through what you do. I had a really close friend that passed away 1 year and 9 days ago from type 1 diabetes at the age of 29! But he lost his job and insurance and didn't tell anyone he couldn't afford his insulin I can't help but think how happy he would be though, knowing I was trying to get healthy.

Thank you guys though, none of you really know me at all and you truly make an effort to make me (and everyone else) feel better, I LOVE that about this group of people!

I won't go into aches and pains because you might think I'm 100 years old..lol
Sorry for your frustrations. Hang in there. The IWANTADAMNCIG phase will pass I promice you. I was a smoker for 40 years and when my mind tries to tell me it's to big of a hassle to vape, I ignore it.
The mind is a terrible thang ain't it? lol

 

[wv2win]

Gonzi - I do use a filling tool, I didn't think I'd need it at first, but it is wonderful!

CoalYard - I know what you mean! You're right, I'm so glad I'm not smoking anymore! I wouldn't change that part for anything.

Tmrr - I have 4 tanks set up with different flavors and I have NO idea why I didn't think to just leave it alone! I have this need to fix everything as soon as they happen and that's something I'm going to have to change if I want to keep my sanity! 'And I'm not smoking around my kids!' That's what got me started and keeps me going.

WV2win - I do need to get better tanks I'm sure. I do love my tanks, they're pretty lol and they don't break me! But they may not be the best.

Maybe one of you can tell me, how bad are they?
SmokTank XL Pyrex U-DCT V2 - Dual Coil Cartomizer Tank - New glass tank design for 510 PV's! 2.5ml 1.5ohm

The Phiniac's are a little more expensive initially but are worth it in the long run as you will never need any other ones. Plus if you like "pretty", you can pretty much design your own tank:

Phiniac Rugged Pyrex Glass Tanks

 

[cramptholomew]

I actually got a RDA a couple of days ago with a kit I bought off the forum, I'm going to my local shop today to have them set it up for me. Idk that I'll like it or use it, but they said they'd fix it up for me. I have done some rebuilding a little, after only about a week or two into vaping and found I really just don't have time, energy or patience for it, but if they can build it, I (think) can probably do the maintenance, or at least take it back for them to do it lol.

The thing about rebuilding is that you don't need to do it often. I have a coil in my RDA that's been there almost a month. I just dry-burn and rewick it every few days. That takes about 1 minute. Same with my Kayfuns. Every other tank full (a tank full lasts me a day and a half), I clean it and rewick it. It ends up being MUCH LESS maintenance than clearos, etc. The only issues is getting comfortable with building a coil. BUT, once you have that down, the problems seem to disappear. I read on Reddit yesterday, one of the specialty PV manufacturers was ranting on the quality of beginner equipment. Just the fact that it's so problematic for beginners. I went through it, and you're going through it. No one has, yet, made a close-to-foolproof setup that beginners can enjoy, without the need for fiddling. It needs to be done, and probably will be done, but we're not there yet. In the meantime, though, don't give up!

 

[rurwin]

The hassle decreases over time. When you're first starting out every little problem is a big deal. But once you've got a bit of experience behind you, you hardly notice that stuff any more. Right now I feel I've got clearos down pat. I know what makes them leak and gurgle, and I can clear them up without hardly thinking about it. So now I'm playing about with coils, RBAs and RDAs. I've got to where I can expect to make a decent coil and have half a chance of wicking it right with cotton or silica. But I don't need to depend on those; if they go pear-shaped, or if I just can't be bothered to fix a problem or put a new wick in my dripper, I've got my Protank II or even my original EVOD to fall back on and that is fill and forget. Not because it doesn't have problems, but because I don't even notice myself fixing them. I imagine that in another month or so I won't even think about rewicking the RDA; I'll fancy a new flavour, take the wick out, put the new one in and get dripping.

Sorry I just have to comment on this:

I had a really close friend that passed away 1 year and 9 days ago from type 1 diabetes at the age of 29! But he lost his job and insurance and didn't tell anyone he couldn't afford his insulin

I know Obamacare and whatever is horribly politically divisive over there, and I'm not in a position to comment on your politics, but I have to say, from this side of the Atlantic, that story sends a cold shiver down my spine. I cannot imagine wanting to live in a country where that was possible.

 

[MrsP0721]

Sorry I just have to comment on this:I know Obamacare and whatever is horribly politically divisive over there, and I'm not in a position to comment on your politics, but I have to say, from this side of the Atlantic, that story sends a cold shiver down my spine. I cannot imagine wanting to live in a country where that was possible.

I've started feeling the effects of Obamacare myself! I wear a patch for my pain, not even the super strong one, but it's about $600 to get it here and I'm already paying $250 just to see my pain doctor so I go through the manufacturer to get my patch at a low cost but now I get a letter saying thanks to obamacare, I can no longer use them, I have to get the insurance, except when I go to see how much the insurance will cost, it tells me I can't afford it, that I need to go through medicaid! Guess what, I can't get on medicaid and even if I could, I don't know a single doctor that takes it! Not that will be able to treat me! Sorry, Obama and his 'care' gets my blood boiling!!!

My mom's insurance stopped covering her diabetic medicine (she has type 2) for some reason, she's been on it for YEARS, but suddenly they won't cover it and haven't given her any explanation why! This place is going to [Deleted] if you ask me and it's so sad.

 

[MrsP0721]

I won't go into aches and pains because you might think I'm 100 years old..lol
Sorry for your frustrations. Hang in there. The IWANTADAMNCIG phase will pass I promice you. I was a smoker for 40 years and when my mind tries to tell me it's to big of a hassle to vape, I ignore it.
The mind is a terrible thang ain't it? lol

Oh trust me, I say ALL the time I feel like I'm 80! The good thing is, I don't really crave cigs anymore so I don't have that issue (I've had the craving probably 3 times since I quit).

I do want to get a better tank, but that'll have to wait for now. I want to get some better cartos too!

I just got back from the local shop, they fixed up my RDA for me, I kinda like it! Which actually does suck for me b/c I don't know anything about them, much less how to build them.

 

[Sirius]

Oh trust me, I say ALL the time I feel like I'm 80! The good thing is, I don't really crave cigs anymore so I don't have that issue (I've had the craving probably 3 times since I quit).

I do want to get a better tank, but that'll have to wait for now. I want to get some better cartos too!

I just got back from the local shop, they fixed up my RDA for me, I kinda like it! Which actually does suck for me b/c I don't know anything about them, much less how to build them.

PM me and I will help you understand how to do it hun. Very easy really. Put what kind of RDA you have in the PM plz.

 

[edyle]

Oh trust me, I say ALL the time I feel like I'm 80! The good thing is, I don't really crave cigs anymore so I don't have that issue (I've had the craving probably 3 times since I quit).

I do want to get a better tank, but that'll have to wait for now. I want to get some better cartos too!

I just got back from the local shop, they fixed up my RDA for me, I kinda like it! Which actually does suck for me b/c I don't know anything about them, much less how to build them.

RDA is exactly what I was thinking about.

 

[cbrite]

I had a few bad vaping days recently. So I charged all my batteries, sat down and prepared some clearos. Tested the clearos, made sure they gave me a good vape. Those that worked best, I put on the batteries. Then I sat most of the batteries on a shelf. Now they're my "break glass in case of emergency" units.

Yes...I have those also. I never want to find myself without something I need to vape. I never even consider having a cig anymore, but I am still afraid that if I couldn't vape I would be on my way get a pack. So I have backups to the backup's backups.

 

[AndriaD]

Hang in there! We've pretty much all gone through those periods where it's seems we struggle with this or that. I've heard that there are times (the 3's) that cigs want to emerge. It usually happens 3 days in, 3 weeks and 3 months.

And then the dreaded vapers tongue. Blah! When you're able financially, get some more of the things you have had the best results with.

Good luck, keep at it and this will pass.

Great post, Robino -- I've heard that before about the "3s", and I'm at one of them right now, 3 wks. Really don't feel like smoking at all, no pesky thoughts or cravings or any of that, and pretty much enjoying my regular vape, though some I've tried recently, that should have "steeped" long enough at 2-3 wks, just have that "blah" taste -- at least my regular one is still good. But I wonder if this 3's thing could apply to more subtle things, like mood? Like, just feeling depressed, the "nobody likes me, everybody hates me, guess I'll go eat worms" kind of feelings? Up until the last few days, I've felt kinda "blissed out" about the whole thing, which is partly my joy at being FINALLY free of cigarettes, and probably also my body enjoying oxygen without a big dose of carbon monoxide mixed in. Like I said, no interest in smoking whatever, but it sure would be nice if I could get rid of these other feelings. I think I have every reason to be "blissed out," even after 3 wks so it's not so much a novelty anymore, but 'bliss' is not what I'm feeling in the last few days.

Any thoughts?

PS: MrsP -- I haven't spent nearly that much, but I'm totally with you on how much all this stuff costs! The banner says I've saved a bit over $100, but no I haven't, I've spent at least that much, probably a bit more, on all the vaping paraphernalia, and I'm trying to do it cheaply! Heck, the shipping alone is probably a third of what I've spent.

Thx!
Andria

 

[Robino1]

@ Andria, Just try to get through it. Switch up to a new flavor, drink a lot of water to help flush your system. Basically time, it takes time for it to feel..... normal again(?). Spring is just around the corner and getting outside will help. Especially when you can take a deep breath of that fresh spring air!

Look towards the good

 

[rurwin]

I don't know anything about Obamacare, and it sounds like a real mess. Here any hospital stuff is free and doctors prescriptions and dental work is very heavily subsidised. For instance, every prescription costs £7.85... unless you're a child, a pensioner, poor or have a chronic illness, then it's free. Health Insurance, such as we have it, sits on top of that. You get nicer facilities and faster treatment, but the NHS is expected to be good, not second-best. Yes, it's in trouble too; it's 20% of general taxation (just over £1000 per year per person on average, but only £300 of that from personal taxation) and rising. But it works.

 

[Sirius]

@ Andria, Just try to get through it. Switch up to a new flavor, drink a lot of water to help flush your system. Basically time, it takes time for it to feel..... normal again(?). Spring is just around the corner and getting outside will help. Especially when you can take a deep breath of that fresh spring air!

Look towards the good

Yeppa Robin it does take time to feel normal again. I really don't think I would feel normal without vaping each day.
Love that poetic last bit. You're such an artist!

 

[AndriaD]

@ Andria, Just try to get through it. Switch up to a new flavor, drink a lot of water to help flush your system. Basically time, it takes time for it to feel..... normal again(?). Spring is just around the corner and getting outside will help. Especially when you can take a deep breath of that fresh spring air!

Look towards the good

Yeah, I'm trying. Got the kitchen window open today, it's so nice and fresh and sunny outside, also because I'm cooking soup and it's steaming the place up.. heh

That obamacare mess is probably another reason I'm depressed. I was all in favor of it, as I've had no health insurance for 8 yrs, but when I looked into it, what I find is that I STILL can't afford it -- I'd have to pay $65/mo -- which I can't afford -- and still have a $6300 deductible? That's utterly ridiculous. So I guess I'm stuck with STILL having no insurance, and having to pay a fine for it??? How is this helpful???

At least, I do have something to look forward to; my mom was so impressed that I've quit smoking, and so disbelieving that I'd stick with it, she told me if I made it 30 days, she'd give me $100 -- that's coming up in 9 days. She asked me the other day what I would spend the $100 on, to which I replied, OF COURSE, "more vaping stuff." I'm no dummy. Plus, we'll be getting about $1k back on our fed refund, sometime in May, and of course, that means... yet MORE vaping stuff.

Andria

 

[EvilZoe]

I'm lucky that my state accepted the ACA agreement and I qualify for the extended insurance with my little job.

I wish all the states had opted in so it would be easier for people who don't make enough money.

 

[MrsP0721]

We had insurance before my husband lost his job, it was through his job, but it was still @ $500-$600 a month for just me and him! It was insane, he made $17.51/an hour and we still couldn't afford to live in our own home b/c health/medical stuff was eating us alive! I was spending at least $120 a month in meds, but only $25 for the Dr. Now I spend $250 on my Dr. and only about $40 on my meds. I had to quit taking a lot of my meds b/c I just couldn't afford it. It doesn't make sense, I was for it too b/c with my medical crap, I NEED insurance, but now it's SO messed up!

 

[AndriaD]

We had insurance before my husband lost his job, it was through his job, but it was still @ $500-$600 a month for just me and him! It was insane, he made $17.51/an hour and we still couldn't afford to live in our own home b/c health/medical stuff was eating us alive! I was spending at least $120 a month in meds, but only $25 for the Dr. Now I spend $250 on my Dr. and only about $40 on my meds. I had to quit taking a lot of my meds b/c I just couldn't afford it. It doesn't make sense, I was for it too b/c with my medical crap, I NEED insurance, but now it's SO messed up!

Yep, I can totally relate -- lost our group insurance in 2006 when the co. my husband worked for got liquidated, and I've had no insurance since then. In 2008, my husband found out he could get med care thru the VA, he's a vet, so he's taken care of, thank god with his HBP, but it still leaves me out in the cold. Also in 2008, I applied for low-income assistance with Glaxo-Smith-Kline, who make my asthma inhalers, so I've been getting those free for 6 yrs now, but what the heck is going to happen to that, with this obamacare mess?? I still have to pay my doc, which fortunately is only $75 about twice a year; even if I had to pay for the inhalers (which I cannot afford!), that would be about $860/yr, plus the $150/yr for the doc and it's still nowhere close to that $6300 deductible figure -- so I would be paying $65/mo FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. So they want to fine us next year if we don't sign up this year? Fine, fine away; 10% of his income isn't even CLOSE to what we would be out of pocket, FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

If that isn't enough to make anyone depressed, nevermind a 3-wks-smoke-free anyone, I just don't know what is.

On the vaping front -- to bring this back to the topic before someone moderates us -- a friend PIF'ed me a couple of drippers and a cartomizer today so I could try them out. I keep hearing that dripping is THE BEST flavor, but I can't taste my regular juice at all with those, I get a lot more taste with my T3S on this iTaste vv3. Sent him a msg to make sure I know what to do with this carto, before I try and maybe break it.

*sigh*
Andria

 

[Gonzi]

Yes...I have those also. I never want to find myself without something I need to vape. I never even consider having a cig anymore, but I am still afraid that if I couldn't vape I would be on my way get a pack. So I have backups to the backup's backups.

I would run to the gas station or the pharmacy and pick me up a disposable before I bought me a pack of smokes.

 

[MrsP0721]

AndriaD, I know what you mean, it's actually still cheaper for us to just pay the money for my Dr. than to pay for insurance! I don't get the point of making someone pay b/c they made the choice not to get something that costs more for some!

Gonzi, me too, I wouldn't pick up a cig again, not with these available, even if it was a cheapy gas station brand! I still have my V2 though so I wouldn't really need to get another lol.

 

[AndriaD]

AndriaD, I know what you mean, it's actually still cheaper for us to just pay the money for my Dr. than to pay for insurance! I don't get the point of making someone pay b/c they made the choice not to get something that costs more for some!

Gonzi, me too, I wouldn't pick up a cig again, not with these available, even if it was a cheapy gas station brand! I still have my V2 though so I wouldn't really need to get another lol.

Yes, the insurance thing is completely, 100%, insane. There's no other word for it.

I told my husband a while back that even if I got without any of my regular supplies here, I'd just go get an Njoy till I could get back to my regular vape. At least those have throat hit and don't taste like pipe tobacco, and they're cheaper by a couple bucks than the Blu's. However, I do still have my eRoll, that I started out with, so that would do even better, in a pinch; at least that way I get the familiar smell, even if somewhat lacking in taste. But I really am going to spend most of that $100 from my mom on vaping stuff -- new clearos mainly, gotta get a PT II mini or three and a couple spare iTaste batteries.

I'm also thinking I should also get one of those eGo Twist things, the 1100 mAh, I've found some REALLY decent prices on those on eBay. They use their own dedicated charger, right? Found one of those for like 86 cents. Yeah that would be a good thing to have, to use for dry-burning and stuff; I need to dry-burn two coils right now, but don't want to lose the use of my iTaste for the time involved. I know, sad. All I can say is THANK GOD FOR E-CIGS!!!!!

BTW, I just noticed you're in Denton... I once knew a girl from there, many many years ago... '79-'80... I asked her once what they did for fun in Denton; she looked at me like I was crazy, and said "nothing."

Andria