Cravings at 6 months

[stols001]

I fell off the wagon rather hard and fast right after my first anniversary. A lot of it was stress, etc.

It was harder to get back on than I'd imagined it would be and it was really frustrating.

The things that worked: upping my nic (I had inadvertently lowered it by buying a WTA liquid that was 12 m.g. and I was stressed so adding more to my tank, without realizing it.) A kind member sent me a bottle of Aroma's at 36 m.g and that helped a TON.I also did have to have a few "Superhuman" high nic setups that I used during cravings and that was more effective than I thought it would be, it really worked I saved them for the cigarette cravings.

I love this forum, I have recommended that a ton of times and I didn't even think of it until a member told me to but also, I didn't need that higher nic forever, just to get over the hump.

If they are really bad, and you want to get creative about it, you could buy a tin of American General Snus.. I was going to be trying snus anyway for work (and I can do 12 hours straight without vaping at work, using snus) but I was surprised at how much it helped me with cravings .It seems to me that there are more alkaloids in it than WTA even, it's cheap, you can find it at many gas stations. It really killed off any remaining cravings for smoking I had. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather vape. However, during times I can't, it's SO MUCH better than nicotine lozenges, and cheaper.

I'm glad I discovered it for many reasons, and again, it is also something you don't have to use forever. It may be worth a shot. You can vape on top if it if you want, especially at the nic levels in American general snus (Swedish snus comes in much higher nic levels if you WANT, but the stuff they sell here is on the lower end of the spectrum.)

Don't get me wrong, I still prefer vaping, but I am super happy to have snus. I work in a pedes clinic now, and they all seem to consider vaping to be the devil itself, I'd rather they NOT know I vape.

Anna

 

[Skeebo]

This March will make 5 years for me, however, I have had some slip ups. Especially during very stressful times. During one time I smoked for 2 months straight. My cigarette consumption was way worse than when I initially quit. I smoked like I vaped, one cigarette after another, and could easily finish 3 packs a day. I raised my nic level in my eliquid from 3mg to 6mg and have not looked back.

It wasn't easy either, not nearly as easy as it initially was when I quit. I remember that, and it's what mainly keeps me away from falling for urges that may come up still to this day.

 

[englishmick]

Way back in the 90's a guy I worked with quit cold turkey. He had a sign on his cubicle wall that said "the craving will pass whether I have a cigarette or not". When I had a craving I used to run that thought through my mind. Chain vaping helped. Getting borderline obsessed over vaping was part of it as well, especially early on. Reading on ECF for hours a day and trolling the vendor sites.

It tends to happen less frequently as time goes on, and be less intense. Eventually it just went away, for me anyway. I can't remember how long it's been since I had a craving for a smoke.

 

[Budgie]

So, I threw my cigarettes in the garbage the day I got home with my first kit about 6 months ago. Up until now, I've had no real overwhelming desire to smoke, I'm fact the smell of it was a big turn off.

In the last week or so when I'm around people smoking at work, I really want one. The urge is only getting stronger, heck, I dreamt I was smoking last night.

I know cravings can last quite a while after quitting, and I'm pretty sure I won't give in and have one, for me that would be a failure on 6 months of success. I created this thread to hear more veteran people's experiences with cravings. Do you still get them, did it peak and then get easier?

I’m just over 9 months now without a cigarette now, not even a single puff, but things over the last few weeks at work have been ridiculously stressful, and it’s only during this time I’ve really wanted a cigarette, but I feel if I have one, I would have to reset all my stats and start from zero again, this is enough to make me reach for my vape and keep me moving towards my goals. Keep up the good work.

 

[United States]

I raised my nic level to 6 and that has helped. I tried salt nics and still smoked. Matter of fact each puff from 24-35 strength made the urge to smoke much worse. So I reluctantly went from 3 to 6 and have found it eases the cravings without the need to chain vape myself into a drunken stooper.

 

[bobwho77]

My experience in 12 step groups has shown me that LOTS of people have problems with cravings around anniversary dates (3,6,and 9 months, and about once a year forever)
They get easier to deal with, with each successful experience, but they NEVER really go away.
Just remember that you are NOT alone.

 

[Jebbn]

9months was about where I had my last bout of regular craving for tobacco.
During the 49th week I wrote in a journal that I could see hitting 52weeks tobacco free no problem, "like rolling down hill in a barrel". It was around the 49th week that I realised I hadnt noted in the blog/journal/log about feeling like having a tobacco for about 4 or so weeks

 

[charlie1465]

As others have said I think a lot of the bad urges to smoke are because your nic intake is too low...especially when first giving up. I've been vaping now for nearly 5 years with one relapse and I always been happy with 18 to 20mg/ml nic. These days its put about that its dangerous to vape this if you're sub-ohming but i've never had a problem....currently vaping 18mg 0.29 ohm dual coil rda no problem.

I guess what i'm trying to say here is don't be afraid to up the nic considerably. If your are on 3mg go to 12mg it'll work and get rid of those cravings...if you find it too much you can always drop it.

 

[SupplyDaddy]

Over 6 years vaping after 36 smoking. I was a heavy smoker, and now I am a heavy vaper.

Fought the cravings off with high nic during the 1st year. Fought them off the next few by vaping harder. About once every 6 months they came around.

While I do occasionally get the urge now, I don't have to do anything except think back to how everything smelt back then. I have a tote that I packed up shortly after I started vaping. I open it up now and then and I gag from the smoke smell. Usually takes care of any desire to smoke......

 

[vapdivrr]

It's been over 7 years for me and I have attribute it all to the nic. I started at 24mg mtl and because I never craved a cig whatsoever, I just kept it the same all these years. Everyone is obviously different and I'm probably lucky as well, but after a short go with cig a likes, where I did want to still smoke, once I bought a kind of proper mtl set up, not once have I ever thought about it, in fact I have grown to detest them. I would at least try a higher nic, but with most doing dtl these days, it's hard to vape a higher percentage, so I suppose that's why nic salts are so popular, but personally dont know much about them. I do know that it's kind of fashionable to lower nic these days, as it kind of shows progress I guess, but most of the times you just increase juice consumption and chain vape, so overall nic consumption hasn't really changed. I guess what I'm saying is, one shouldn't feel bad about increasing their nic, in fact its probably better all around in that you probably will vape less juice (which is probably a healthier thing) and will keep your cravings down (which is the number one priority) .

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Brewdawg1181]

Was a year April for me. Yeah, I got cravings from time to time. At 3 months, I allowed myself a cigarette "just to see." Didn't finish it, and it kind of made me feel crappy - stale smoke in my mouth & throat, and could just kind of feel the poison. Was safely over the hump at 6 months, and tried a hit just to see if it tasted as good as I kind of remembered, and it didn't. Every now and then, when having drinks, I step outside with the smokers to vape with them, and I take a hit to see what it tastes and feels like. It really doesn't ever taste as good as I remember, and it really does leave a nasty kind of feeling. I think taking those hits from time-to-time actually help keep me from going back to it. Sort of prevents me from that nostalgic, romanticized yearning for them.

edit: After going back and reading the thread, I guess I agree with @Coyote628 - I do it occasionally to remind me why I don't!

 

[Zazie]

It occurred to me this morning that, in desperate times without the means to vape at hand, a person could probably administer a couple/three drops of e liquid sublingually to get a quick nic fix. A brief Google confirmed this, but I'd do more research before I gave it a shot. Still, worth considering.

Over the years, to those that have tracked these type of posts, it' seems pretty common that those that aren't around smokers hate the smell of burning tobacco (not to mention the stench of ashtrays) and have to work hard not to be one of those ex-smoker nazis. Those that are around smokers still enjoy the smell of fresh tobacco smoke.

This made me think about my trajectory after quitting. For the first few years, I lived with smokers, and the smell of smoke didn't bother me. It was only after I had a cigarette-free house to myself that being around smoke began to make me feel physically ill. Makes it all the more remarkable, really, that I started smoking again regardless.

The worst thing about starting smoking again after quitting was that failing once made it that much easier for me to fail again. When I quit, after year one, I could not imagine ever lighting up another cigarette. Even when the smell of smoke didn't bother me, I could be around cigarettes without having the slightest urge to bum one. That eleven years later I could pick up the habit again after all that time was chastening.

 

[FlamingoTutu]

It will soon be 9 years since I quit smoking. For me, I had cravings on/off over all those years but it got less each year. I had dreams that I started smoking again and still have them once in awhile. I wake in a panic thinking I have gone back to smoking. What a hold the nasties have had over me. I hope yours do not last as many years as mine but just know you can get through it without resuming smoking.

Soon after I completely got off the cigs I had a dream where I had a cigarette. I woke up and immediately confessed to my husband, who couldn't stop laughing. It's the only smoking dream I remember having, every other one to do with cigs is me being in an unfamiliar area trying to find a store to buy them at. Last one was years ago.

It occurred to me this morning that, in desperate times without the means to vape at hand, a person could probably administer a couple/three drops of e liquid sublingually to get a quick nic fix. A brief Google confirmed this, but I'd do more research before I gave it a shot. Still, worth considering.



This made me think about my trajectory after quitting. For the first few years, I lived with smokers, and the smell of smoke didn't bother me. It was only after I had a cigarette-free house to myself that being around smoke began to make me feel physically ill. Makes it all the more remarkable, really, that I started smoking again regardless.

The worst thing about starting smoking again after quitting wa that failing once made it that much easier for me to fail again. When I quit, after year one, I could not imagine ever lighting up another cigarette. Even when the smell of smoke didn't bother me, I could be around cigarettes without having the slightest urge to bum one. That eleven years later I could pick up the habit again after all that time was chastening.

I have seen people here say that when they are someplace they can't vape for an extended period of time, they put a drop or two on their fist (by the thumb) and lick it off. They say it works and I don't doubt them in the least. It's a good trick that, so far, I haven't had to utilize it but that day will come.

Was hospitalized for a week with pneumonia and leaped at the chance to quit smoking since I already had a week under my belt. I stayed quit for at least six months when, like a complete fool, tried a cigarette to see what it was like again. That's all it took for me to be hopelessly addicted again. It was years later that I finally found vaping.

 

[Coyote628]

Even with an occasional cig or two, i could never go back to smoking. Vaping is much preferable, especially with this new and improved version of lemon custard tart that i made the other nite. Marlboro got nothin on this stuff.

 

[BrotherBob]

I won't give in and have one, for me that would be a failure on 6 months of success.

Good for you, but if you should slip, it's not the end of the world.
A couple of things to do which might help:
Might draw up of pros and cons of smoking vs vaping and look at that before you decide to slip.
Treat your self to new juice(s)/equipment, the cost will be far cheaper than smoking.
Other members suggestions made also should help.
The main thing is do not give up vaping, that would be the worst decision.

 

[score69]

You know, I was thinking about starting a thread on this, I don't think it's inappropriate. I hope not anyways.

I've been taking a supplement, Uridine Monophosphate (UMP), for about a week now. I started taking it for brain fog, lack of motivation, etc. It's worked absolute wonders for that, even in just a week.

A 'side effect' I noticed is that I cannot drink a lot of coffee (down from 6-8 cups to 2 cups/day), and my desire to vape has been cut dramatically.

Evidently, uridine competes with nicotine in the brain. I read that uridine supplmentation (for the reasons I take it) would be less effective if you smoke or vape. However, I think it would be pretty darn easy to quit right now. I even left the house to go to the store last night without a device, let alone a backup device. I was on my way home an hour later before I realized I left it at home.

With my Simple EX as an ADV, I usually have to charge it mid-afternoon. I'm now making it two full days, and just charge it at the end of the second day so that I don't run out of juice the next day. The battery still isn't completely dead.

I'm not suggesting anybody start supplementing this, but I found these 'side effects' very interesting.

The other half even noticed I wasn't vaping much. When I explained why, I was asked why I didn't just quit then? In all honesty, I still enjoy it and hadn't even thought of stopping. I mean what will I ever do with my gallons of nic concentrate and boxes upon boxes of 'FDA closet' equipment?

Anyways, like I said, I hope this isn't inappropriate to mention something like this here. You can buy this stuff online @ Amazon, health food stores, etc. It's pretty remarkable stuff to me. It's a naturally occurring substance in the body. Not saying that supplementing it is without issues, but it's not a synthetic substance or drug. To me, the other benefits I'm taking it for outweigh any risks that I can currently find via research online.

Just thought it was interesting enough to mention and was even going to start a thread to see if anyone else uses it. My brain feels like a switch was flipped and the lights turned back on. I haven't felt this good mentally in quite some time. You can google 'Mr Happy Stack' for a lot of info on it. It's used in combination with fish oil and choline supplements for depression, brain fog, etc. Some folks respond well to it and others nothing apparently. The nicotine 'satisfaction' effect seems very real to me though.

I've been vaping for years though, haven't had a cigarette or oral tobacco craving in a long time anyways. But my urges to vape have dropped a lot recently.

If you decide to try this, please research it well, consider any prescription or non-prescription stuff you use, and check with your doctor. It potentiates anything I've tried that is a stimulant. I just take it once daily when I first wake up.

YMMV

 

[VapourFlavour]

You know, I was thinking about starting a thread on this, I don't think it's inappropriate. I hope not anyways.

I've been taking a supplement, Uridine Monophosphate (UMP), for about a week now. I started taking it for brain fog, lack of motivation, etc. It's worked absolute wonders for that, even in just a week.

A 'side effect' I noticed is that I cannot drink a lot of coffee (down from 6-8 cups to 2 cups/day), and my desire to vape has been cut dramatically.

Evidently, uridine competes with nicotine in the brain. I read that uridine supplmentation (for the reasons I take it) would be less effective if you smoke or vape. However, I think it would be pretty darn easy to quit right now. I even left the house to go to the store last night without a device, let alone a backup device. I was on my way home an hour later before I realized I left it at home.

With my Simple EX as an ADV, I usually have to charge it mid-afternoon. I'm now making it two full days, and just charge it at the end of the second day so that I don't run out of juice the next day. The battery still isn't completely dead.

I'm not suggesting anybody start supplementing this, but I found these 'side effects' very interesting.

The other half even noticed I wasn't vaping much. When I explained why, I was asked why I didn't just quit then? In all honesty, I still enjoy it and hadn't even thought of stopping. I mean what will I ever do with my gallons of nic concentrate and boxes upon boxes of 'FDA closet' equipment?

Anyways, like I said, I hope this isn't inappropriate to mention something like this here. You can buy this stuff online @ Amazon, health food stores, etc. It's pretty remarkable stuff to me. It's a naturally occurring substance in the body. Not saying that supplementing it is without issues, but it's not a synthetic substance or drug. To me, the other benefits I'm taking it for outweigh any risks that I can currently find via research online.

Just thought it was interesting enough to mention and was even going to start a thread to see if anyone else uses it. My brain feels like a switch was flipped and the lights turned back on. I haven't felt this good mentally in quite some time. You can google 'Mr Happy Stack' for a lot of info on it. It's used in combination with fish oil and choline supplements for depression, brain fog, etc. Some folks respond well to it and others nothing apparently. The nicotine 'satisfaction' effect seems very real to me though.

I've been vaping for years though, haven't had a cigarette or oral tobacco craving in a long time anyways. But my urges to vape have dropped a lot recently.

If you decide to try this, please research it well, consider any prescription or non-prescription stuff you use, and check with your doctor. It potentiates anything I've tried that is a stimulant. I just take it once daily when I first wake up.

YMMV

It's my belief that most of us vape as a healthier alternative to smoking and that if you don't do either, it's even healthier! That's why I don't recommend to anyone who's not a smoker to start vaping.

If you have the power to give vaping up, well the more power to you! I don't think anyone on here has the right to criticize that decision.