My daily regular vape is 8mg only because it is so tastey it can become dangerous. Thanks Dawn for the RY4! 
Anyone stepping down the nicotine?
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I assume that my story is unusual and not at all representative of most forum members or of vapers in general.
I was an addicted smoker for 40 years (most of that time smoking 2+ packs per day). In my 50s, I developed Type 2 diabetes, and at age 58 I had a hemorrhagic stroke that should have killed me but didn't. At that point, three years ago, I resolved finally to bite the bullet and cut down on my smoking, since the risk factors in my case for possibly fatal complications were frightening.
As of last fall, I was down to six cigarettes a day. In September, I began vaping with an eGo setup. Since that first day of vaping, I haven't had (or wanted) a single cigarette. I LOVE vaping. It's better than smoking ever was. Over the first couple months, I bought a bevy of custom mods, a zillion juices, and a cabinet full of atties, cartos, batteries, chargers, and DIY supplies. During that initial phase, I was vaping mostly 24mg nic levels, with an occasional 30mg juice---and the throat hit was fantastic. Also, I work at home and could vape non-stop all day, so I did.
Well, here's the bad news: My body can't handle the nicotine.
I noticed in December that I was a bit hyper and not sleeping as many hours as I should. So, I checked my blood pressure, and---sure enough---I had gone from dead solid normal BP readings back in September (115/65) all the way to serious Stage 2 Hypertension (190/110). Yikes! In addition, I developed edema in my left foot (swelling from backed-up lymph fluid, caused by vascular and nerve damage directly related to my elevated blood pressure). As an insulin-using diabetic, that was more than merely worrisome. It scared the bejeezus out of me.
Now, two months later, I'm coming to a crossroads. My doctor has already prescribed blood pressure meds (which haven't helped), and I've steadily cut down the nicotine concentration of my juices---from 24mg to 18, then 11-12mg, and now headed to 6mg with zero nic just around the corner. This process is not as quick or easy as it may seem, since diluting juices while maintaining their flavor often requires buying additional lower-nic bottles or pure flavorings online and then waiting days to get them in the mail. I do a considerable amount of DIY juice-making, but that too requires time and experimentation. Meanwhile, I keep vaping and my blood pressure remains way too high.
I do vape less than I did months ago, but it's hard to simply stop because I get so much pleasure from vaping. Obviously, I'm trying to find a reduced nic level that my body can handle. No luck so far, though, even at 11mg. Just today I made a new batch of tobacco-flavored juices at 6mg nic concentration. We'll see how that goes over the next couple of days.
At this point, I test my blood pressure with a wrist monitor numerous times daily. After a night's sleep, my readings are normal when I first wake up, but they rise steadily throughout the day and don't come down even when I stop vaping for an hour or two or after swimming laps for half an hour at the local pool (which I do diligently twice a week). The edema in my foot is somewhat better, but not gone.
Clearly, the crossroads is approaching quickly. Looks like I'm facing one of two choices: either acclimate to zero nic juices and learn to enjoy vaping solely for flavor without any throat hit, or stop vaping entirely. I fear that the latter choice may prove necessary. (And yes, I have tried most of the various throat hit enhancers on the market, including even Totally Wicked's Diabolo Loco---sadly, none of them work worth a damn to replicate anything close to the perfect impact of nicotine.)
Ironically, cigarettes never affected my blood pressure, which remained normal through four decades of heavy addiction to smoking, but now that I've quit tobacco and found something supposedly safer, my body is reacting badly. But then, I'm not 30 anymore, and my body has suffered numerous wrecks along the highway of aging.
One more month should tell the tale. If you see a huge sale here in the classifieds for a gaggle of PV mods, lots of gear, and hundreds of juices, you'll know what my decision was. I'm glad that most folks here don't have these problems, and I'm sorry as hell that I do, but reality is notorious for not negotiating with our notions of how life "should" be.
I was an addicted smoker for 40 years (most of that time smoking 2+ packs per day). In my 50s, I developed Type 2 diabetes, and at age 58 I had a hemorrhagic stroke that should have killed me but didn't. At that point, three years ago, I resolved finally to bite the bullet and cut down on my smoking, since the risk factors in my case for possibly fatal complications were frightening.
As of last fall, I was down to six cigarettes a day. In September, I began vaping with an eGo setup. Since that first day of vaping, I haven't had (or wanted) a single cigarette. I LOVE vaping. It's better than smoking ever was. Over the first couple months, I bought a bevy of custom mods, a zillion juices, and a cabinet full of atties, cartos, batteries, chargers, and DIY supplies. During that initial phase, I was vaping mostly 24mg nic levels, with an occasional 30mg juice---and the throat hit was fantastic. Also, I work at home and could vape non-stop all day, so I did.
Well, here's the bad news: My body can't handle the nicotine.
I noticed in December that I was a bit hyper and not sleeping as many hours as I should. So, I checked my blood pressure, and---sure enough---I had gone from dead solid normal BP readings back in September (115/65) all the way to serious Stage 2 Hypertension (190/110). Yikes! In addition, I developed edema in my left foot (swelling from backed-up lymph fluid, caused by vascular and nerve damage directly related to my elevated blood pressure). As an insulin-using diabetic, that was more than merely worrisome. It scared the bejeezus out of me.
Now, two months later, I'm coming to a crossroads. My doctor has already prescribed blood pressure meds (which haven't helped), and I've steadily cut down the nicotine concentration of my juices---from 24mg to 18, then 11-12mg, and now headed to 6mg with zero nic just around the corner. This process is not as quick or easy as it may seem, since diluting juices while maintaining their flavor often requires buying additional lower-nic bottles or pure flavorings online and then waiting days to get them in the mail. I do a considerable amount of DIY juice-making, but that too requires time and experimentation. Meanwhile, I keep vaping and my blood pressure remains way too high.
I do vape less than I did months ago, but it's hard to simply stop because I get so much pleasure from vaping. Obviously, I'm trying to find a reduced nic level that my body can handle. No luck so far, though, even at 11mg. Just today I made a new batch of tobacco-flavored juices at 6mg nic concentration. We'll see how that goes over the next couple of days.
At this point, I test my blood pressure with a wrist monitor numerous times daily. After a night's sleep, my readings are normal when I first wake up, but they rise steadily throughout the day and don't come down even when I stop vaping for an hour or two or after swimming laps for half an hour at the local pool (which I do diligently twice a week). The edema in my foot is somewhat better, but not gone.
Clearly, the crossroads is approaching quickly. Looks like I'm facing one of two choices: either acclimate to zero nic juices and learn to enjoy vaping solely for flavor without any throat hit, or stop vaping entirely. I fear that the latter choice may prove necessary. (And yes, I have tried most of the various throat hit enhancers on the market, including even Totally Wicked's Diabolo Loco---sadly, none of them work worth a damn to replicate anything close to the perfect impact of nicotine.)
Ironically, cigarettes never affected my blood pressure, which remained normal through four decades of heavy addiction to smoking, but now that I've quit tobacco and found something supposedly safer, my body is reacting badly. But then, I'm not 30 anymore, and my body has suffered numerous wrecks along the highway of aging.
One more month should tell the tale. If you see a huge sale here in the classifieds for a gaggle of PV mods, lots of gear, and hundreds of juices, you'll know what my decision was. I'm glad that most folks here don't have these problems, and I'm sorry as hell that I do, but reality is notorious for not negotiating with our notions of how life "should" be.
I Was at a high of 18. That made me start feeling like I would continue to climb so I went to 16 then 11. I like 11 and feel comfortable without getting that sort of high I did with 18. I am thinking of stepping down to 6 soon. May mix in 6 and 11 for a while and get on just 6. Ultimately I want to get to 0 nic. I've been at it for a year or so and cigarettes have not crossed my mind in months. Without the negative effects of the smoking I'm content to work my level down slowly until I'm through with nic. Could take another year or two to get there but I'm sure the day will come. I don't know if I'll be around the forums when nic free. If I'm still vaping then I probably will see you over on the zero nic threads.
Wow, I hope you will be able to continuing vaping. Maybe at least at the very LOWEST nicotine level. Vaping is fun and exciting. Get well
Skeeterkck
Egos do give wimpy vapor with standard ohm res atties imo.
Perhaps you should try direct dripping with it with your zero nic juices, or even buy some LR atties to drip with - I bet that will give you tons of th!
I drip with my egos (coz I find tanks and cartos too wimpy) now on just a standard janty tawa 510 atty and with 11mg juices and it kicks ...., even makes me cough sometimes.....
Good luck, sounds like you deserve some.
Skeeterkck and Hotwire--
Thanks so much for your kind words and support.
Hotwire, I used my eGo (actually one of the cheap 2-battery Riva kits from Liberty-Flights) for about two weeks when I started vaping in September. Almost immediately, however, I began researching and buying (collecting??) custom mods. My Rivas were quickly relegated to back-up duty in the car only.
My current menagerie of PVs includes a Hello 016 3.7V 510 battery (I didn't buy the kit with the silly proprietary atomizer, but the battery alone is terrific), a Maxi RoughStack and two Omegas in chrome and silver vein, all of which I run at 6V, two beautiful Phidias feedimus units that I run on custom 5V batteries, a 2nd-generation Missy Wetbox 3.7V feeder that's a tad underbuilt but works very well, my regulated variable voltage family of two Big Brothers and a Big Daddy from Ken at BoxMods (they're my favorites), and three 5V passthroughs running off 2-amp wall converters for true 5-volt performance.
Unlike some people, I don't vape a single juice every day. I like the variety of many juices. So, I have six PVs at my desk, five beside my bed, and two in the car, all with different juices.
Yes, while many people are thrilled with their eGos, I too find them a bit (how shall I say?) tepid. Nice flavor, but no thrill. I am absolutely sold on high voltage. According to Ohm's Law, a 1.5 ohm low-res atty paired with a 3.7V battery (or even an eGo's regulated 3.2V) "should" provide roughly equivalent power wattage as a higher resistance atty at 5 or 6V, but in the real world I haven't found that to be true.
For me, 3.7V just doesn't seem to have the same whomp as higher voltage. I like warm vapor.
Despite all the advancements in 2010 around cartomizers and various tank systems (CE2s/clearomizers, eGo-T tanks, MAP tanks, and now 510 tanks), I too find all the tank vapes to be a little too smooth. I do like Boge standard and LR cartomizers, but to me there's still nothing that beats dripping on a good atomizer for true flavor and throat hit. Like you, I feel that 11mg nic gives more than adequate throat hit when dripped, depending of course on the particular juice. I'd be a happy camper at 11mg. Unfortunately, my body disagrees.
Man, I sure do love this hobby/obsession. It's like being in Hollywood back in the early days of silent films---everything is new and exciting and being invented fresh. I really hope I don't have to give up vaping.
I wish you luck from one Oregonian to another
*born and raised in Eugene. Now live in FL.*
*born and raised in Eugene. Now live in FL.*
I feel like a lone ranger when it comes to nicotine reduction. I started vaping in April 2010 with 26 mg and have dropped only to 24 mg. I have not had any adverse effects, my health has improved tremendously and my favorite flavor pops at 24 mg nic. I tried to reduce down to 18 mg and have a few dessert/fruit flavors at that level but 98% of my vaping time is spent with Virginia tobacco 24 mg and I'm happy.
I've read so many articles about nictotine, vaping, smoking etc. in the past year, my mind spins at times. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but, I find more articles on nicotine benefits than I do on the harmful effects. I'm not talking about smoking it, we all know that smoking anything is not good. There are numerous articles about nicotine being beneficial for treating and maybe even preventing Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and ADD. I have a family history of Alzheimer's and I have battled ADD my entire life so reading about the possible benefits causes me to lean toward keeping my nic consumption exactly where I have it, as long as I don't develop any nicotine related complications. My blood pressure elevates from time to time but never anything to get alarmed about because it has done that for the last 10 years or so. I have no reason to think it's nic related. I have a friend who quit smoking 22 years ago and his BP is very hard to keep controlled with no nicotine in his system period. Sometimes I think nicotine gets blamed for things that might have other causes.
I guess I chased a rabbit just to say, "No, I have no plans of stepping down on nicotine level. I have no reason at this point in time to entertain the thought."
I've read so many articles about nictotine, vaping, smoking etc. in the past year, my mind spins at times. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but, I find more articles on nicotine benefits than I do on the harmful effects. I'm not talking about smoking it, we all know that smoking anything is not good. There are numerous articles about nicotine being beneficial for treating and maybe even preventing Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and ADD. I have a family history of Alzheimer's and I have battled ADD my entire life so reading about the possible benefits causes me to lean toward keeping my nic consumption exactly where I have it, as long as I don't develop any nicotine related complications. My blood pressure elevates from time to time but never anything to get alarmed about because it has done that for the last 10 years or so. I have no reason to think it's nic related. I have a friend who quit smoking 22 years ago and his BP is very hard to keep controlled with no nicotine in his system period. Sometimes I think nicotine gets blamed for things that might have other causes.
I guess I chased a rabbit just to say, "No, I have no plans of stepping down on nicotine level. I have no reason at this point in time to entertain the thought."
You're not alone. Nicotine reduction isn't at all something I'm interested in. I found where I am happiest, and there I'll stay. According to this poll, half of the people here aren't interested in quitting nicotine at all. I'll bet a sizable percentage of them aren't worries about nicotine reduction, either.
I am only going in my third week of vaporing. I started at 24 mg. Then went to 18mg. I am trying 12 mg now. At the moment my body is not liking the 12 mg. In over 10 days, I want a cig so bad I can taste it. I got a sample of 24mg. It is too much for me.So I guess for awhile, I will do 18 in the morning and evening and 12 during the day for awhile and then go to 12mg. My husband is doing this with me. He is pushing me to get off of this asap. He check the juices level, and reminds me not to order to anymore juices. Reminds me that i am topping off too much or vaporing too much. So I have to fill them when he not looking. I have friend that got me another kit at his place. I can vape as much as I wants. Soon I will have more flavors to try. He does not care i vape. I plan to stopping ecig some day but not this moment.
It's been a week since my long post about high blood pressure and other serious health complications that came on since I began vaping back in September.
When I wrote the post, I was at the peak of a month-long crisis where I was trying to lower my nicotine intake (mainly by reformulating my many juices to lower nic concentrations). I'd also begun blood pressure meds, but no improvement had yet occurred.
Last weekend, something suddenly changed. I don't know whether it was my body finally adjusting to significantly less nicotine or the blood pressure meds reaching critical mass saturation in my body. Perhaps it was a combination of both. Anyway, I woke up last Sunday, checked my blood pressure, and it was NORMAL. Wow. Where did that come from so unexpectedly? As Sunday wore on, my BP readings did rise, but not nearly as much as before.
By Monday, my blood pressure was normal all day and the edema in my feet was improving rapidly. I even vaped more than usual on Monday just to see if it had any effect on my blood pressure. It didn't. It's now Wednesday, and my blood pressure has remained solidly normal for nearly three days (it was almost below normal when I got up today---105/58, which is a HUGE drop from the 190/120 readings I was getting last week). In addition, the edema (swelling) in my feet is entirely gone. To say that this is great news is an understatement. I am both relieved and thrilled.
Meanwhile, I've bought some new tobacco-flavored juices that have a decent throat hit even at 6mg: fsusa's American Spirit and Outlaw, and want2vape's Alcazar and ACID Blondie cigar flavors. I've even been vaping some zero nic juices that aren't half bad, because I've intensified them by adding extra flavor concentrate.
So, it appears that I won't have give up vaping after all. Hooray!
--Bill
When I wrote the post, I was at the peak of a month-long crisis where I was trying to lower my nicotine intake (mainly by reformulating my many juices to lower nic concentrations). I'd also begun blood pressure meds, but no improvement had yet occurred.
Last weekend, something suddenly changed. I don't know whether it was my body finally adjusting to significantly less nicotine or the blood pressure meds reaching critical mass saturation in my body. Perhaps it was a combination of both. Anyway, I woke up last Sunday, checked my blood pressure, and it was NORMAL. Wow. Where did that come from so unexpectedly? As Sunday wore on, my BP readings did rise, but not nearly as much as before.
By Monday, my blood pressure was normal all day and the edema in my feet was improving rapidly. I even vaped more than usual on Monday just to see if it had any effect on my blood pressure. It didn't. It's now Wednesday, and my blood pressure has remained solidly normal for nearly three days (it was almost below normal when I got up today---105/58, which is a HUGE drop from the 190/120 readings I was getting last week). In addition, the edema (swelling) in my feet is entirely gone. To say that this is great news is an understatement. I am both relieved and thrilled.
Meanwhile, I've bought some new tobacco-flavored juices that have a decent throat hit even at 6mg: fsusa's American Spirit and Outlaw, and want2vape's Alcazar and ACID Blondie cigar flavors. I've even been vaping some zero nic juices that aren't half bad, because I've intensified them by adding extra flavor concentrate.
So, it appears that I won't have give up vaping after all. Hooray!
--Bill
I'm just starting so I shouldn't really be replying but I'll add that I have been surprised at the way vaping nicotine affects me vs. nicotine from smoking. I had expected myself to be fine vaping a low nicotine level because I used to smoke lights and usually never smoked a whole cig - maybe half. I started with mostly 0-12nic juices, and while I have been vaping them, I'm also making myself stronger juices now to help with the cravings. I've been smoking a real cigarette - no more than one a day here and there to finish out the pack I had when I started a couple weeks ago... when I got to the last cigarette in the pack just the other day, after smoking it I got light headed - which was surprising to me! I've been vaping 24mg juice for the most part and am gonna bump myself up to 30/36 for awhile before I start going back down. For now I do lower the nic levels at night some.
So that was kinda off topic but I guess my point is that I think it's just a slower process than many of us anticipated/realized when we started. Slow enough of a process to find what really works good for you - muchless to start adjusting it.
For those of you who have been successful lowering your nic levels, how long do you usually vape at one nic strength before you decrease your nicotine level?
So that was kinda off topic but I guess my point is that I think it's just a slower process than many of us anticipated/realized when we started. Slow enough of a process to find what really works good for you - muchless to start adjusting it.
For those of you who have been successful lowering your nic levels, how long do you usually vape at one nic strength before you decrease your nicotine level?
i started out at 18mgs and OMG what a headrush...i'm now at 11mgs and it's still a bit too much, but i haven't had an analog in nearly a month.
i have 6mgs arriving shortly...(hmm, what if that's still too much? -- maybe i just *imagined* that i smoked over a PAD of Marlb Lights/Mediums for over 2 decades?!)
i have 6mgs arriving shortly...(hmm, what if that's still too much? -- maybe i just *imagined* that i smoked over a PAD of Marlb Lights/Mediums for over 2 decades?!)
I started at 18mg and quickly had to up to 24mgs for a few weeks to get through the worst of the quitting smoking phase. After that, it was relatively easy to drop to 18mg then to 11mg over the course of a couple months. I would occasionally give myself a boost with the higher mg when I was transitioning, but overall it was smooth and easy reduction.
When I started mixing in some zero to lower the mg further, I had problems. Depression kicked in hard for a few months and I had to up to 11mg again and hold there for quite a while. I even supplemented with some snus during that time. That was about a year ago and I'm doing okay now. I really haven't dropped the nic level much since then, though. I've been steady with about 8 or 9mg for several months, with an occasional boost of an 11mg vape and/or an occasional snus. I can't seem to drop any lower without problems, so I guess this is my comfort level... and my sanity level.
I always had a goal of getting down to 0 nic so I could have the option to break the habit or vape just for enjoyment. Now I'm not sure if I'll ever get there unless I want to take antidepressants. Did 23 years of smoking permanently alter my brain chemistry to the point that I can't be without nicotine? Or is nicotine a treatment for how my brain already was? I don't know and neither does my doctor. All I do know is that when I drop the nicotine level too low, I don't function very well.
When I started mixing in some zero to lower the mg further, I had problems. Depression kicked in hard for a few months and I had to up to 11mg again and hold there for quite a while. I even supplemented with some snus during that time. That was about a year ago and I'm doing okay now. I really haven't dropped the nic level much since then, though. I've been steady with about 8 or 9mg for several months, with an occasional boost of an 11mg vape and/or an occasional snus. I can't seem to drop any lower without problems, so I guess this is my comfort level... and my sanity level.
I always had a goal of getting down to 0 nic so I could have the option to break the habit or vape just for enjoyment. Now I'm not sure if I'll ever get there unless I want to take antidepressants. Did 23 years of smoking permanently alter my brain chemistry to the point that I can't be without nicotine? Or is nicotine a treatment for how my brain already was? I don't know and neither does my doctor. All I do know is that when I drop the nicotine level too low, I don't function very well.
As for me I'm now at 11.4mg, talk about slow pace eheh
telsie : sorry to hear that you have trouble when stepping down the nicotine, I never tought this thing could have dramatic consequences like yours! 8-9mg doesn't sound a lot though.
Rethinking... Seeing as i have no cigarette cravings, I am getting my nicotine via ecigs. The 'withdrawal' symptoms are something else...
As for me I'm now at 11.4mg, talk about slow pace eheh
telsie : sorry to hear that you have trouble when stepping down the nicotine, I never tought this thing could have dramatic consequences like yours! 8-9mg doesn't sound a lot though.
Yeah, the 8 or 9mg I use isn't much, so it's not a big deal if I stick with this level. It's enough to keep me happy but low enough that I don't crave when I can't vape for an hour or two. I think a snail's pace is the best way to go anyway. Everyone's different in how nicotine affects them, but rushing to zero doesn't work for many people. By the way, congratulations to you on your reduction
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