Confusion and mild frustraiton (broad)

[bronccat]

Hi all. Incredible resource here. I spent many hours reading posts here before buying my first e cig - and many more leading up to this thread.

I am a Marl Light and Cam Light smoker for 20 years. Last 5 years or so, 10 or fewer a day, averaged about a pack a day over the 20 years.

I have quit for as long as 4 months before, and now sometimes I would go up to 24 hours without a cigarette.

So anyway, I wanted to quit. I got my first kit from Vapor4Life (vapor king e cigs) and the 555 cartos + blanks.

At this point I am a week in, have tried the below juices (with comments) and I feel like I am a bit lost.

I started vaping a week ago Saturday night. By the next night (no cigarettes) I woke up half sick. Felt like my mouth was coated in sugar and my lungs coated in artificial flavors (for lack of a better term). Couldn't get the taste out of my body.

Hacked up alot of clear phlegm, lots of throat irritation. Bear in mind I was barely inhaling, like I would take a drag into my mouth and then inhale just a little of that. Otherwise I would have coughed my head off.

In addition to not inhaling much, never had a 14 - 16 puff session. I'd guess in that first 24 hours I took 40 draws maybe?

I spent the week trying other liquids and this has led to my desperation.

Everything I have tried either tasted like nutty, candied, whatever - or - some of the most "basic tobacco" flavors just felt like (and tasted like) I was inhaling toxic powder.

Not a tobacco flavor to me - just some odd irritant.

Almost immediately, headaches, itchy throat, etc.

Same technique as before: half inhaling, no long sessions (usually 3 or 4 puffs then I walk away).

Tried mixing juices, found some more tolerable mixtures but still grew tired quickly and started getting a little ill.

So, is it just me?
Am I expecting too much out of the flavor?
I mean will it never simply just taste like a cigarette?
What's with all of the irritation? (I know that's a broad question)
The closest parallel I can draw is like I spent a night drinking beer and smoking someone else's marlboro ultra lights (which always gave me a headache and irritated my airways - whereas lights didn't). And the cigarettes gave me a worse hangover than the beer LOL.

I think the most discouraging thing for me is when I read other people's reactions to vaping and the flavors I have listed below, I do feel like I am in the minority with these issues. As I mentioned above, in general the flavors either overwhelmed me with loud sweetness – or were highly irritating and tasted toxic.

I really want this to work - but I am really surprised by the irritation, phlegm and nausea. I know in some other threads people have remarked that often times these are symptoms of your "body without smoking" but I don't buy that in my case. Too many days I have skipped smoking and not felt like this.

I really appreciate any feedback you can provide.

Here are the flavors I have tried to far (with comments about how my palate interpreted them)

V4Life - 555 – 8mg: First thing I tried. Smells like kettle corn to me, tastes very sweet and nutty
VS Tampa 11 mg: a little bit smoky smell, but very sweet. Too sweet for me to vape, steeping now.
Red Oak – Wisconsin Frost – 11 mg VG: I only got this one to add a little minty taste to others – haven’t tried by itself.
Red Oak – Tennessee Cured – 11 mg VG: smell is overwhelmingly sweet like caramel / butterscotch. Taste not much smoky, but lots of sweet flavors (same comments for next two, but I expected it with the Valencia)
Red Oak – Domestic – 11 mg VG: above
Red Oak – Valencia – 11 mg VG: above
Backwoods Brew – Backo – 11 mg: barely a sweet smell. Has a moment of smoke taste, but mostly for me vaping it felt like I was inhaling a irritant powder (throat hit) with nothing but a “chemical taste”. I know these are popular, but maybe I didn’t smoke enough before I vaped to enjoy these. I was REALLY looking forward to these and was really disappointed because I find them highly irritating. Ugh.
Backwoods Brew – Virginia – 11 mg:
Backwoods Brew – Adirondack – 11 mg:

Thanks All!

 

[redheadone]

Since I am no expert all I can tell you is what I have experienced inthe past. Maybe some other can chime in and give you more info. The hacking up stuff and depression I think is coming from the getting off analogs. The longer you stay off them a lot of things you are experiencing will subside. Another thing you might be going through are taste bud issues. Your taste buds are going to change when you quit smoking. Things are going to taste different to you. I would suggest that you dring plenty of water. This will help. Another thing is the pg and vg You might and I said might be having a reaction to either the og or vg. I would suggest that you try different mixtures to see if this might be the problem. Hang in there. We have all gone through this at one time or another. There were times when I felt like throwing in the towel but I hung in there and now I am saling along with still minor bumps in the road. I hope this helps some and I hope other will chime in with added advice.

 

[Hoosier]

Uh, yeah, let me blunt in an effort to help.

Stopping smoking is stopping smoking and you should expect your body to go through phases as it moves the toxins out. It can feel like getting sick, so feeling "off" for awhile is normal.

The big thing I see in the list at the bottom of the post is you keep going after the same thing and the first part of the post note how you are frustrated by the same results. You keep going after 11mg tobacco flavors. It would seem from a quick read by me that the problem is you keep going after 11mg tobacco flavors and getting the same results. (Yeah, I had this problem in too. Drove me nuts.)

Here is what helped me and it took me by surprise. I tried something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. So different I called it the weirdest flavor I could think of. It was suppose to taste like a food that I really liked, but it just had to be horrible to vape. Yeah, I was wrong, it worked.

So looking at your list and knowing nothing about your sense of taste, I would suggest going 6-8mg in a bakery type flavor. Something "bread-like" because they tend to have low throat hit as long as you stay away from alot of cinnamon and/or chocolate. I know it is weird, but if you keep trying the same kind of thing, how will you get different results?

 

[salemgold]

I agree with Hoosier. I never ever thought that I would like food flavors and even thought that others were a little nuts for vaping them lol But I ended up loving the flavors that I never thought that I could tolerate. Do as Hoosier says and get a wider variety. Maybe a sample pack would be a great start.

Good luck to you and don't give up. You will find something that you not only like but love

 

[bronccat]

Thanks folks. I appreciate the feedback. I don't think the physiological effects were caused by not smoking cigs since I was only off smoking for 24 hours - which isn't unusual for me.

However,

Readheadone, the PG / VG thing I do believe could be at play as well. The Red Oak are all VG and I think the VS is all PG. I need to consider how I may react differently between these two.

BUT, I think what you said Hooiser still holds true "stopping...is stopping". No amount of vapor is going to make the overall side effects of trying to quit go away.

Also, I know exactly what you mean. I kept trying to get satisfaction from the same family. It occurred to me last night that maybe I wasn't going to be able to tolerate a tobacco flavor and should do something completely different.

 

[bronccat]

I agree with Hoosier. I never ever thought that I would like food flavors and even thought that others were a little nuts for vaping them lol But I ended up loving the flavors that I never thought that I could tolerate. Do as Hoosier says and get a wider variety. Maybe a sample pack would be a great start.

Good luck to you and don't give up. You will find something that you not only like but love

I think you're right, I may have tried to be to methodical in my approach.

 

[Twinster]

I started vaping a week ago Saturday night. By the next night (no cigarettes) I woke up half sick. Felt like my mouth was coated in sugar and my lungs coated in artificial flavors (for lack of a better term). Couldn't get the taste out of my body.

I've been vaping for over 6 months and never experienced this. I know certain people do have a sensitivity/allergy to PG and certain flavors. What kit are you using to vape? - Try Symptoms of PG Allergies and Sensitivity - Vapers Forum Or http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/194099-wheezing-after-smokeing-ecigs.html and see if you are having similar symptoms.

As for finding something that will truly feel or taste like a cigarette, there are plenty of tobacco style flavors out there, but none are going to give you the exact feeling/taste of smoking a cigarette. You just need to find something that you like, and stick with it. Backwoods is a really good vendor, a lot of people describe their tobacco's as having a smokier flavor, so I would say you're definitely on the right path. I hope that you can find something that works for you, and I'm sure there will be more responses to your post to help you out.

Good luck!

 

[Hoosier]

Thanks folks. I appreciate the feedback. I don't think the physiological effects were caused by not smoking cigs since I was only off smoking for 24 hours - which isn't unusual for me.

However,

Readheadone, the PG / VG thing I do believe could be at play as well. The Red Oak are all VG and I think the VS is all PG. I need to consider how I may react differently between these two.

BUT, I think what you said Hooiser still holds true "stopping...is stopping". No amount of vapor is going to make the overall side effects of trying to quit go away.

Also, I know exactly what you mean. I kept trying to get satisfaction from the same family. It occurred to me last night that maybe I wasn't going to be able to tolerate a tobacco flavor and should do something completely different.

Exactly! If you switch to vaping, you will not have nicotine cravings or miss the hand-to-mouth habit, but other things may be missed like the toxins in burning tobacco. You may not miss them, but your body will and it will not be overly happy about it.

I took around 5 weeks to make the full switch as I smoked and vaped. Vaped when I could and smoked when I had to. I woke up one morning and discovered the open pack of cigs I put in my pocket had the same number missing as the day before. I forgot to smoke. I had some very minor cravings after that point for a cig, but never found a good reason to bother with the lighter. So I "weaned" myself down over a longer period.

Only you can find the PG/VG ratio or all PG/VG that will work for you and it is a matter of trying and observation.

 

[madjack]

...to the best of my studying, finding a juice that tastes like an inhaled bonfire of leaves, paper and a few thousand assorted by products of combustion is not out there...the majority of tobacco flavs I have tried has strong tastes of nuts, grains and grasses...a few tasted like a tobacco shop smells...and a few had a smokey taste on the exhale after a sweet taste on the inhale...these tastes will stick with you unless you sip enough water along with them to keep your mouth refreshed...

...the next thing are all those added chemical big tobacco laces their ciggys with...many are either addictive in their own right or enhance the addictive nature of nicotine...no matter what you do, those addictions have to be beaten with will power...

PG/VG one or the other(usually PG) can cause a reaction in some small percentage of folks and playing around with the make up of your juice can help eliminate or narrow this down...also nic is a irritant...most of the nic is absorbed in the soft tissues of the mouth/throat/nose and lungs...this can be reduced by sipping water while vaping

...with out any doubt, there will be detox from all those other chemicals that can leave you feeling rotten for a while...scratchy/sore throat, an off feeling, feeling like you have cold, headache are just a few of these symptoms and will have to be rode out as the body adjusts to it's new reality...drinking plenty of water and fluids can help the body accomplish this faster/easier...

...most all of us have had similar problems at first...it took me at least a week before I could inhale significantly, now I can take a 10second draw and smile...try some non tobacco flavs as suggested and try diff nic levels...going up as well as down...HANG IN THERE, you have made a choice for better health...give it a chance...their is a definite learning/convenience/comfort curve to vaping and it can take a couple of weeks(or more) to get up and over it.....good luck and Happy Vaping......
madjack

 

[Kenzi]

Uh, yeah, let me blunt in an effort to help.

Stopping smoking is stopping smoking and you should expect your body to go through phases as it moves the toxins out. It can feel like getting sick, so feeling "off" for awhile is normal.

The big thing I see in the list at the bottom of the post is you keep going after the same thing and the first part of the post note how you are frustrated by the same results. You keep going after 11mg tobacco flavors. It would seem from a quick read by me that the problem is you keep going after 11mg tobacco flavors and getting the same results. (Yeah, I had this problem in too. Drove me nuts.)

Here is what helped me and it took me by surprise. I tried something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. So different I called it the weirdest flavor I could think of. It was suppose to taste like a food that I really liked, but it just had to be horrible to vape. Yeah, I was wrong, it worked.

So looking at your list and knowing nothing about your sense of taste, I would suggest going 6-8mg in a bakery type flavor. Something "bread-like" because they tend to have low throat hit as long as you stay away from alot of cinnamon and/or chocolate. I know it is weird, but if you keep trying the same kind of thing, how will you get different results?

I would agree with this . My experience has been pretty much the same as you have described. GL to OP and hang in there !! Also might just add that even with being a somewhat lighter smoker , your lungs still most likely have a lot to flush..

 

[Uncle Willie]

Contrary to what you may have read, the e-cig is not a cure all and not for everyone .. liquid almost seems to be a neverending quest until you find one you like and then that vendor changes the blend and you start all over again ..

I don't like any sweet flavors, and there are some that consistently irritate folks lungs .. after well over 6 months using an e-cig, I still get a clear mucous cough up that has been tested by my doctor and found to be PG/VG buildup .. and I am not constantly using my e-cig .. as well, my bloodpressure has stayed borderline high even after 6 months of no analogs ..

The point is, although I agree that the e-cig is less harmful than an analog, we have, in fact, traded one habit for another .. and that new habit comes with it's own set of issues ..at least IMO ..

 

[dormouse]

Batteries

Hopefully you are using manual batteries. If you are using auto batteries try manuals and press the button in 1-2 seconds before you start dragging so nice vapor is waiting. IMO autos suck for getting a good drag compared to manuals.

Juice

You are putting VG in cartomizers? Unthinned VG doesn't work well in most slim ecig cartomizers. If you have manual batteries, you can put a standard resistance DSE901 atomizer and drip tip on the battery and vape thick juices that way.

I use juices with 20% or less VG though some of the cartos below might like 30% OK.

V4L cartos can be hot/harsh - try SmokelessImage and Bloogplent and Halocigs G6 cartos for a different kind of drag.

Try the Vapor4Life WOW tobacco shop sample pack - the WOWbacco and WOWBoy (WOWbacco w/ a bit of mint) are pleasant and have a good number of fans.

If you want something stinky like tobacco, try FreedomSmokeUSA Desert Ship (w/ 20-30% VG) - Turkish blend, nutty and a bit pungent, reminds many of a freshly opened pack. Nothing is going to smell/taste like burning leaves, paper and carpet glue plus 4000 chemicals, tar and carbon monoxide.

Smell the vapor. Your tongue can only taste 5 things - sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami (MSG). That's it. Everything else is aroma.

Drink plenty of fluids.

---

And first try those SmokelessIage or Bloogplanet cartos - they give a bigger easier drag though not quite as hot.

If you are not getting enough heat or big enough drags even with those - move on - slim ecigs are not for you. Try a Riva 510 kit from Liberty-Flights.com (3.7v) or any 3.7v mod and then you can use hotter low resistance cartos and atomizers and big tanks. Or skip right to variable voltage.

But you also need to try more juices and find ones that make YOU go ahhh

---

Re irritation

Nicotine is a skin irritant. If you overdo vaping even with 11mg you can get irritated. And Vapor4Life WOW cartos are hot and that increases TH. Vaping is also drying - drink fluids that hydrate you (like water).

Having a bit of VG in your liquid and using less harsh carto may help. Try those SmokelessImage/Bloogplanet cartos. And again I recommend manual batteries - less dragging to get a good mouthful of vapor. And if you are going to vape a lot more than you smoke, try 6-8mg liquids too - maybe they will be less irritating.

 

[Roach]

I had many of the same symptoms you describe when starting. Sore throat, dry mouth, flavored teeth, and a white tongue. I still get an occasional phlegmy throat. These lasted for a couple weeks until I got used to vaping instead of smoking. I don't think it was only "quitters flu" but a reaction to the vapor itself.

Drink LOTS of water, brush often, eat a pickle. I used Cepacol mouthwash once or twice a day. Eventually my body adapted to the new habit and now I'm fine with vaping.

I think what you describe is kind of common. Like sore muscles from a new exercise. It eventually goes away.


edit: I really like Vermillion River flavors. The Kentucky Premium Blend is the base but they add apple, peach, maple, cherry, etc. to make several tasty blends. The base is a kind of nutty/woody/tobacco flavor, very tasty. They have a good sample package.

http://www.vermillionriverejuice.com

 

[Cyberpixie]

If you want a ciggie flavour rather than a freshly opened tobacco taste, Pure Cig by Freedom Smoke USA is the closest you'll get.

 

[legionx]

i tried some similar flavors until i discovered that trying to imitate smoking real cig is pointless.

now i try fruit flavors and they worked great!

 

[cmecha]

blu cigs cherry crush is very pleasing reminds me of high school smoking black and milds.

 

[bronccat]

Thanks everyone for the plethora of information. I have alot to work with here, in particular: it's not just me, try other juices and certainly the insight posted above about V4life cartos. It is an auto ecig and it's usually the 2nd or 3rd drag before I get a good amount of vapor.

The other thing I hadn't considered enough was the dehydrating effect.

Ya'll have given me lots of new things to try and lots of hope. It is greatly appreciated.

 

[bnrkwest]

What helped me was Halo tobacco flavors, love them. I have not found any other tobaccos I liked. Menthol worked for me too but I was not a menthol smoker.
Here is what i found when doing DIY- I must let them sit for a day or two because if I vape day mixed I get a horrible headache and the taste is just not right. Maybe that will work for you too. Slow easy draws, drink water before & after everytime you vape helps too. Good luck. bnrk

 

[bronccat]

What helped me was Halo tobacco flavors, love them. I have not found any other tobaccos I liked. Menthol worked for me too but I was not a menthol smoker.
Here is what i found when doing DIY- I must let them sit for a day or two because if I vape day mixed I get a horrible headache and the taste is just not right. Maybe that will work for you too. Slow easy draws, drink water before & after everytime you vape helps too. Good luck. bnrk

I have been a bit of a fiend - rip open the mail, fill the carto, stick it in my mouth and puff, puff, puff LOL

 

[BeBop82]

eat a pickle

lol does that really help? I do love pickles!