Are all cigs created equal? problems quitting.

[Poppa D]

I'll try to keep this to the point.

I quit tobacco using e-cigs, which my wife had noticed at a gas station, while getting her cigs. They have worked miracles with me, but not at all for her. Hence my post.

My wife is curious if any one knows, or has noticed that any brand over another may be more difficult to quit. example: Marlboro Menthol FF (my ex-brand) compared to Virginia Slims Menthol FF (her present brand)

She goes through the MM faster than she does VS, and is thinking that there is something about the VS that is making quitting way harder.

Who knows what is in todays tobacco products, is it possible?
Any one else experience any extreme issues with kicking any certain brand, or specifically in my wifes case Virginia Slims?

 

[shanagan]

I smoked VS for years before my last quit-attempt when I started smoking my husband's Marlboro Reds, and since I smoked the super long ones, they'd last me longer than his reds - either I'd smoke the whole thing and be smoking forever, or I'd clip them, and smoke one .... in two sessions. But I don't think the VS are the problem here.

What kind of PV is she using? Maybe she needs an eGo or similar for a tighter draw (from the cone) and enhanced throat hit.

Also, how do y'all vape? I direct-drip and find I just flat don't enjoy any kind of cart setup - it's just not my thing. And that's the key, IMO - making it enjoyable.

But also - VS in particular have a sweeter flavor profile (there were times I could almost taste the vanilla in them) and maybe she just needs to branch out and try some different types of juices - rather than trying to emulate the analog, she might need to replace it altogether with something that tastes completely different. OH, and what nic level?

 

[Poppa D]

I smoked VS for years before my last quit-attempt when I started smoking my husband's Marlboro Reds, and since I smoked the super long ones, they'd last me longer than his reds - either I'd smoke the whole thing and be smoking forever, or I'd clip them, and smoke one .... in two sessions. But I don't think the VS are the problem here.

What kind of PV is she using? Maybe she needs an eGo or similar for a tighter draw (from the cone) and enhanced throat hit.

You could be on to some thing there, she does NOT like my 510 w/drip tip on my Buzz at 4 volts or so.

But oddly enough she does like the HV901 on a 6 volt device

Also, how do y'all vape? I direct-drip and find I just flat don't enjoy any kind of cart setup - it's just not my thing. And that's the key, IMO - making it enjoyable.?

She doesnt like the juice in her mouth, so she isnt a fan of drip tips.

But also - VS in particular have a sweeter flavor profile (there were times I could almost taste the vanilla in them) and maybe she just needs to branch out and try some different types of juices - rather than trying to emulate the analog, she might need to replace it altogether with something that tastes completely different. OH, and what nic level?

She was just out having one and came in stating that yes it does taste sweet.
When she tried vaping she was using 18 mg or less, because she was getting headaches from vaping, and thought it might be an overdose on nic.

Thanks for pointing out the paterns here. interesting.

 

[shanagan]

I hope she finds her sweet spot - just remember that you didn't end up with a Buzz by accident - you had to work your learning curve and find what's best for you. Now she needs to do the same.

But - I can also say that VS's are hard to replace - nothing else tastes like them or hits the way they do, IME. I'm just glad to be done with them! (My first revelation was using Cash Capp right out of the box with my ego - puresmoker.com's juice was so heavy and throat-satisfying that I was able to quit immediately. I don't know that I could vape it now, to be honest, since I've moved away from that much PG - but it was just what I needed at first.)

 

[gashin]

Cigarettes do contain other chemicals such as MAOI inhibitors which can be very addictive...

 

[Poppa D]

I will have to look that up, learning curve, yeah.

Cigarettes do contain other chemicals such as MAOI inhibitors which can be very addictive...

Ok, looked it up, sounds like some thing that I didnt know about, and now I've no idea what to do with it.

 

[ACM]

My wife is also not a fan of e-cigs. She uses one to "take the edge off" when she craves a cigarette, but she dislikes the taste and the throat hit, which she feels is too harsh. And she REALLY hates when carts leak juice into her mouth, which happens all too often. Recently I gave her an RN4081 cartomizer to try. She has found that she likes that more than the atomizer and cartridge system, and has been more willing to try to get used to the taste. In a way, I find that to be odd, since I think the throat hit off a cartomizer is much stronger than that off an atty, but the flavor is mellower and there are no leaks, so she likes it better.

 

[CaptJay]

If she likes sweet with low TH then she might do better on all VG. A sweet VG liquid has almost zero TH and Ive noticed myself that actual cigs have a very low or smooth TH - at least my ultralights have almost no TH unless it was the first one of the day.
It may be that she needs to try a few variables. Low TH, lots of vapor, sweet taste might do it for her.
I do enjoy dripping but I use empty whistle tip carts not drip tips and rarely if ever get juice in mouth issues btw.

 

[Poppa D]

Hey Capt,

If she likes sweet with low TH then she might do better on all VG. A sweet VG liquid has almost zero TH and Ive noticed myself that actual cigs have a very low or smooth TH - at least my ultralights have almost no TH unless it was the first one of the day.

Interesting one of the vendors I've been using primarily uses PG base, and adds VG as an additive. I haven't had many juices with much over 20% VG. It's possible you could be right.

It may be that she needs to try a few variables. Low TH, lots of vapor, sweet taste might do it for her.
I do enjoy dripping but I use empty whistle tip carts not drip tips and rarely if ever get juice in mouth issues btw.

You pop and drip then? Or have you modded it?

 

[Poppa D]

My wife is also not a fan of e-cigs. She uses one to "take the edge off" when she craves a cigarette, but she dislikes the taste and the throat hit, which she feels is too harsh. And she REALLY hates when carts leak juice into her mouth, which happens all too often. Recently I gave her an RN4081 cartomizer to try. She has found that she likes that more than the atomizer and cartridge system, and has been more willing to try to get used to the taste. In a way, I find that to be odd, since I think the throat hit off a cartomizer is much stronger than that off an atty, but the flavor is mellower and there are no leaks, so she likes it better.

Sounds very familiar. Is this cartomizer proprietary to the same battery? She doesn't like my big battery mods either, lol, what can I say, I like shiny things.

 

[Java_Az]

Another thing that will help with the throat hit is breath into the mouth first then inhale into the lungs. it cools the vapor in turn giving less a throat hit

 

[PoliticallyIncorrect]

This could easily be of no help--but, I've already started typing.

My feeling, based solely on my own experience, is that the psychological aspect is the true stumbling block, the more difficult aspect to deal with than the physical battle.

I understand your wife's emotional grip on analogs. I'll always understand it. A part of me will always miss Marlboro Menthol 100s. The turning point came when I adjusted my attitude about vaping and stopped looking at it as a margarine substitute for something that nothing, ultimately, could replace.

Actually, I can thank this forum for that; as I became immersed in the subculture, vaping became something I did for its own reasons, separate and apart from analogs. As I became more educated, trying out different PVs and exotic juices, the Marlboro Man began to fade into the sunset. I didn't push him; he left of his own accord. One night, as I was in bed waiting for sleep to take me, it occured to me I hadn't had a cigarette that day.

I've begun to taper off the nicotine, ordering weaker strengths of liquid. No problem, no physical yearnings. But I still envision the Marlboro man, still reflexively reach for my shirt pocket and his companionship. I miss him, but I don't think he'll be around anymore.

 

[Poppa D]

This could easily be of no help--but, I've already started typing.

My feeling, based solely on my own experience, is that the psychological aspect is the true stumbling block, the more difficult aspect to deal with than the physical battle.

I understand your wife's emotional grip on analogs. I'll always understand it. A part of me will always miss Marlboro Menthol 100s. The turning point came when I adjusted my attitude about vaping and stopped looking at it as a margarine substitute for something that nothing, ultimately, could replace.

Actually, I can thank this forum for that; as I became immersed in the subculture, vaping became something I did for its own reasons, separate and apart from analogs. As I became more educated, trying out different PVs and exotic juices, the Marlboro Man began to fade into the sunset. I didn't push him; he left of his own accord. One night, as I was in bed waiting for sleep to take me, it occured to me I hadn't had a cigarette that day.

I've begun to taper off the nicotine, ordering weaker strengths of liquid. No problem, no physical yearnings. But I still envision the Marlboro man, still reflexively reach for my shirt pocket and his companionship. I miss him, but I don't think he'll be around anymore.

I agree its different.

Cigarettes and tobacco were my first nicotine experience, and remained the one and only for a very long time. Vaping just isn't the same thing, ya, but its every bit as good.

The first time I tried vaping I got a buzz on. I hadn't had one like that since the very beginning of my habit. Instantly, I felt an excitement in me that grew in to a silly grin that I couldn't control.

"This is going to work, grab hold of this and stick with it", rolled around my head like a vibration. And as the days have passed, that vibration has turned into a beat that isn't losing time. This seems like the way to describe what it has felt like to be able to grasp vaping and let it work. Its working for me because I just let it happen, vaping did the trick.

It must be different for every one. For her, shes having to try so much harder than I did. I don't know how to relay the right message that helps her get that feeling, that I got the first time I tried it.

So, ya, I agree

 

[rosesense]

Does she really want to quit? What I mean is I might not have been successful a few years ago because I didn't really want to quit smoking. As I coughed more and began to see the negative effects, I finally wanted to quit but wasn't able to do so. By the time, I tried the PV for the first time, I so wanted it to work and it did. I have co-workers who got their PV but never really gave it a shot, they aren't at that stage of truly wanting to stop smoking. Some others quit from the first use cause they had been trying to quit and were so glad to find something that worked.

 

[Automaton]

I think it's a combination of things.

Could it be partly to do with what she smokes? It's possible. Let's keep in mind why people have "brands."

Cigarette brands all have their own special blend of extra chemicals, designed to make you not only addicted, but addicted to THAT BRAND.

I was a Lucky Strike smoker, but eventually couldn't afford tailor-made cigs anymore. I had to switch to rolling. And for the first two weeks, I really do believe I had mild "withdrawal" from whatever chemicals had made Lucky Strikes MY BRAND.

Eventually I got over it, and remained a rollie smoker. I could switch from tobacco to tobacco, and adjust to a new blend within a few hours.

There is much less crap in loose tobacco. I do believe this may have contributed to how easy quitting was for me, when I started vaping. I stopped completely as soon as my kit arrived.

Do I think it's 100% of the problem for your wife? Probably not.

You do have to really want to quit. You do have to decide that when you want to smoke, you're going to reach for your e-cig first.

And I do think, as PoliticallyIncorrect said, that being involved in the subculture makes things even easier.

She may also need a higher nic strength, a different kind of e-cig, etc.

But there is something out there that can work for her, if she wants it to.

 

[Poppa D]

its hard to say. Shes always been the one to want to quit. I was always the hard headed 'leave me alone' guy. Thats whats weird.

Shes giving up on quitting for the day. Thats fine by me. Dealing with her quitting efforts is totally exhausting. She has always been the "chat room" "face book" "computer time for Friends" person, lol, funny. I'm more of a "game person" on line. We changed roles at the moment, as far as kicking the habit goes.

I know at first the mg levels and weaker flavor was very hard to stomach and I could go off the handle because of any thing. But I learned to do it, and its worked.

May be tomorrow will be that special day, and she can try again.

 

[Barkingmad]

All in good time. I bought my first ecig a year ago ... cut down to about 3 - 5 ciggies a day, but then gradually that crept up. Ran into a few problems ... and just smoked normally again .... and from then until a couple of weeks ago I have vaped only when unable to smoke [often in the car as hubby is a non smoker so not allowed to smoke in his car, but I can vape in it - and in hotel rooms etc..] Sticking to or switching to vaping was difficult for me [was a 2.5 to 3 pack a day smoker .. and have smoked for 35 years. Then recently, an old friend who had been unaware that anything was wrong one minute, was dead 10 days later [cancer] ... and that hit home hard. Suddenly that which I had found so difficult a year ago was no longer unduly so. That special day will surely come, when for whatever reason or none at all, your wife will decide that she is done with the ciggies.

 

[K.P.]

Quitting with an e-cig takes a certain amount of wanting it to 'work' and a certain amount of pushing yourself to let it work (and a certain amount of finding the right device-juice combination). If she really wants to change over, then she needs a device and a juice that is at least pleasant (not something to choke down). Then 1. Set the more modest goal of displacing as many cigarettes as possible with minimum discomfort. Just eliminating 30% of what you normally smoke is worth trying for and patting yourself on the back for. 2. Puff it sporadically throughout the day, even when you wouldn't normally smoke or don't feel like it. 3. When you anticipate a cigarette urge, start puffing ahead of time. Such as, start puffing while the coffee is still brewing, not after you've sat down with a poured cup. 4. Puff the e-cig for 10-15 minutes as you would a normal cig and then 5. Make a sincere effort to not think about smoking for 10-15 minutes, and if you still want one after that, have it. But always give the ecig (and the 10-15 minute wait) a chance to be, if not as good, then good enough. Ideally after that 10-15min wait you'll forget about smoking for awhile until it's no longer that cigarette-urge, but the next one (like the next cup of coffee), and you try again. Or else you're reflecting that it wasn't as good as your usual brand, but you have enough of a nicotine buzz that you don't actually want a real one afterwards--it's too much too soon. Other little things can help too. If you smoke indoors, force yourself to go outside for the real ones. If your routine is to have your coffee and cigarette while staring out the back window, change to the front window for the ecig (or put the nature channel on TV for 10 minutes).

 

[kellogg]

Wow, I feel your wifes pain. I have smoked VS ultra lights since they first started selling them and got up to a minium of 2 packs a day. Quitting has been very difficult. I have gotten down to about 5-6 cigs a day and seem to be stuck there. The nights are really bad which I believe are due to the MAOI's they put in the cigarettes.

I have yet to find a liquid that I want to vape all day and night. I have found some that I really like but nothing that just knocks my socks off and nothing is going to taste like VS. Has your wife tried something other than tobacco flavors? That may help.

I vape a higher nic level at night (24mg) and a lower level (6-18mg) during the day. Have her try that.

I know from reading the boards here that everyone is different and it really is trial and error for many. At least it is for me. If she really wants to quit it will hapen. She just needs to stick with it and be thankful for the cigarettes not smoked

 

[Poppa D]

I have been keeping her up on all the responses, and I'm sure she will particularly interested in your experiences. I will post any response that she has, but she has retired for the day and it will have to wait until another time.

Wow, I feel your wifes pain. I have smoked VS ultra lights since they first started selling them and got up to a minium of 2 packs a day. Quitting has been very difficult. I have gotten down to about 5-6 cigs a day and seem to be stuck there. The nights are really bad which I believe are due to the MAOI's they put in the cigarettes.

I have yet to find a liquid that I want to vape all day and night. I have found some that I really like but nothing that just knocks my socks off and nothing is going to taste like VS. Has your wife tried something other than tobacco flavors? That may help.

I vape a higher nic level at night (24mg) and a lower level (6-18mg) during the day. Have her try that.

I know from reading the boards here that everyone is different and it really is trial and error for many. At least it is for me. If she really wants to quit it will hapen. She just needs to stick with it and be thankful for the cigarettes not smoked