Having my doubts now and that stinks

[JupiterV]

Not only are you detoxing from the nicotine but also the MAOI inhibitors that tobacco co's add to the cigarettes. That's where the personality change and emotional distress come in. Up the nic, upgrade PV's, change liquids - whatever it takes. If you feel like you have to have one, use 36 mg for 10 minutes and then if you still want one, have it and don't beat yourself up about it. It's a huge lifestyle change.

 

[mspuff]

I am at 12 mg about 2 cart a day. Also, since the whole experience was new, I was vaping A LOT but with 0 nic. I'm going to get 24 mg and see if that takes the edge off. Thanks so much!

 

[markfm]

As said so many times, classically it is the nic level, though for some getting some of the added stuff (MAOIs) from snus does the trick.

Original juice I had was 16-18 mg, I could tell the potential but new it wasn't going to get me over the hump. I picked up 24 and was pretty good, but still hit some trigger point cravings. I mixed some DIY 30, and that got me over the hump. I actually used a lot of 30 for several months, though now it is an occasional thing, I pretty much use 15 - 24 interchangeably, sometimes 12.

Congratulations for working to quit cigarettes, recognize that it isn't easy, but you're heading in the right direction.

 

[DuncanDisordely]

Such good advice on here already

My take is to up the nic, agreed - but when you do decide to stop the fags completely try not to give in to that temptation to 'just have one'... Just one is enough to start the withdrawal process back to zero and you are making it harder on yourself.

Either concede that you'll have a ciggie now and then, or completely quit them and don't give in - if you do then just wait for that glorious feeling of relief to come from knowing ciggies no longer have a hold on you and never will again

 

[mspuff]

That sounds like a really good plan. I'm going to try that. I guess, I went into it without one and all the smoking cessation advice does include a plan like yours (alternate activities, one day at a time, mental tricks). Definately a large part of my meltdown included not having them in the house. I would always get so panicked before when I was running out. Doesn't mean I have to smoke them! Thank you so much for your kind words.

 

[keelalagirl55]

My toughest is that "first thing in the morning smoke". I have found that it was the flavor....that harshness of a ciggy on a clean palate.......I now put a strong coffee flavored carto on my 808 and that is what helps me for that morning craving.....

My nic is 18....sometimes 24, but it depends on the flavor....some flavors (for me) are too harsh at 24mg. As you can see from all the great advice everyone is different....and there is no shame in having that occasional ciggy if that is what you need to keep from going NUTS There are quite a few here at ECF that still smoke, but they smoke alot less.....as the saying goes....every cig avoided is a good cig....so if you still have one a day....well you succeeded a NOT having those other 4....that is a success in and of itself.

Best of luck and keep that chin up....you'll get there eventually

EDIT: another little trick....I have a grocery bag where I emptied my very last ashtray.....well that bag didn't make it to the trash...it found it's way into a small coffee container....just popping the top is enough to make me NOT want a ciggy....that stuff REALLY smells!!! Stale and RANK!

 

[mspuff]

I lost my way on that one. I was kinda doing that and it does help. Did fine on the drinking and not smoking. I am having a lot to trouble with the first one in the morning with coffee. Those darn triggers! I am loving the advice and support. Today, I know I'll make it. Maybe not on the time schedule that I set out.......(PRESSURE). But I know I will find the right combination of things to make it work. I actually HATE smoking now. I thought I would never say that so that IS progress. Thank-you. I love the picture of you sleeping cat. I have four of my own and they are champion sleepers!!!

 

[mspuff]

Yes, it's a KR808-D1. It really works for me. Greensmoke is gathering dust or just loaded with flavors 0 nic. I'll keep looking for the right juice. That seems to be a real key to this. Still cheaper than analogs right? Thank you so much. I love your avatar BTW.

 

[Rosa]

That sounds like a really good plan. I'm going to try that. I guess, I went into it without one and all the smoking cessation advice does include a plan like yours (alternate activities, one day at a time, mental tricks). Definately a large part of my meltdown included not having them in the house. I would always get so panicked before when I was running out. Doesn't mean I have to smoke them! Thank you so much for your kind words.

I totally get that. When my first e-cig arrived I still had half a pack left. It was a great comfort to me knowing that they were there, even though I ended up not smoking them. If I went into this adventure saying, "this is it! after today, no more cigarettes!" I'd be having a nervous break down. Cigarettes have been my crutch for way too long, I had to be able to choose the e-cig - not just have to use it because there are no cigarettes in the house.

 

[DuncanDisordely]

My toughest is that "first thing in the morning smoke". I have found that it was the flavor....that harshness of a ciggy on a clean palate.......I now put a strong coffee flavored carto on my 808 and that is what helps me for that morning craving.....

My nic is 18....sometimes 24, but it depends on the flavor....some flavors (for me) are too harsh at 24mg. As you can see from all the great advice everyone is different....and there is no shame in having that occasional ciggy if that is what you need to keep from going NUTS There are quite a few here at ECF that still smoke, but they smoke alot less.....as the saying goes....every cig avoided is a good cig....so if you still have one a day....well you succeeded a NOT having those other 4....that is a success in and of itself.

Best of luck and keep that chin up....you'll get there eventually

EDIT: another little trick....I have a grocery bag where I emptied my very last ashtray.....well that bag didn't make it to the trash...it found it's way into a small coffee container....just popping the top is enough to make me NOT want a ciggy....that stuff REALLY smells!!! Stale and RANK!

I liked this, as I do all of keelalagirl55's posts, and the bit I'd focus on is the flavour..

As most peeps who've read me must know by now, I vape my diy strawberry and it's the only flavour in all this time I've liked, drawer full of weird and wonderful attempts at a change but I keep coming back to this strawberry. My point is, find your flavour!

When you've found that flavour that surpasses all other desires on this world, the rest comes easy

 

[mspuff]

I am really making all the rookie mistakes now that I have found this forum. Live and learn! I don't mind whatever it takes. I ordered higher nic juice so I'm hopeful today. I really appreciate the support. I think that is a big part of it too!

 

[smurfette]

hello! i am also attempting to lay off of the analogs! but i had a totally different experience with nicotine level so i thought i would share.. i smoked a pack a day of full flavor marlboro 100s since i was 12. i am now 31. i started off smoking non filtered camel when i was 11.. (the non filters were the only ones we could get out of the cigarrette machine fast enough before being caught at the vfw... we would sneak in .. one kid would run interference and the other would try to cram all the money in the machine before we got chased out of said vfw with a broom! ) so i thought i would need a higher nicotine level.. i was sooooooooo wrong! i started with 24 mg of what i believe is a pg based juice and felt horrible.( my grandma had given me a "green puffer" that she had ordered and didn'tuse. so i was cleaning/refilling cartomizers) so instead i tried a 12 mg juice... still felt kinda weird using only that...i guess i should describe horrible... riled up like i was on something..almost paranoid..lungs hurting, sinuses all jacked up, eyes felt like they were "peeled". etc. that may have been just a withdrawl session from reg cigs but it lasted for hours and hours and hours.. the first time i tried i also didn't smoke at all/ i just vaped!.. but that just didn't seem to work for me.. i used the "green puffer' kit while i was waiting on the v4l kit from my aunt. when my aunt gave me a vapor4life kit she no longer used i ordered some 4 mg and some 11 mg cartomizers from them... here's what i found.. when i am just bored but not really craving... i use the 4 mg cinnamon roll... when i feel that i am in the midst of a total nic fit i use an 11 mg tobacco flavor... i feel alot better.. i still have only cut down by half.. so 10 analogs yesterday.. i just restarted trying to quit/start vaping 2 days ago... today the goal is 6-8. tomorrow the goal is the same. in 2 days i am gonna cut it again.. maybe that will help there is so much other crap in analogs who knows what we are really withdrawing from aside from nicotine. i still found that the 11 mg if i puffed too much it seemed to make me feel bad. also my hubby had same experience with a ecig he bought at the local tobacco store. he was od'ing on nicotine.. so i ordered him some 4 mg juice for his and it will be here tomorrow. he's doing better than me. he is down to 2 or 3 a day. i have had 2 aunts and an uncle completely quit analogs so maybe i will be family member #4 to quiti have got another order coming with some 4 mg juice so i can refill carts. maybe you just need some low strength stuff and some higher so that you can experiment! i hope you and i will be posting how we have dropped regular cigs comepletely soon

 

[mspuff]

Thank-you for your kind words. Oh yes, I do want to quit. I already feel so much better it's worth whatever I have to do. You are right too. Worry about quitting first and then the nicotine reduction (if it matters, not sure). If I need 36 or 24 for however long, that's OK.

 

[markfm]

I also went for a fairly firm (harsh) tobacco flavor for trigger points, came up with a do-it-yourself blend with a bit of extra Tobacco Absolute (a strong flavoring from the perfumers apprentice). Just a couple of drops of it in a tobacco juice really give it more "grab".

 

[mspuff]

Thanks for all your kind words and support. I am feeling optimistic again. I will take your advice and stay glued to this wonderful forum. I've never been on a forum before so I don't know what I'm doing but I'll get the hang of it. Whatever it takes, those vile things are going for good! Maybe support is a bigger part of the equation than I realized.

 

[knobbysmoo]

And just think of the fun this will be! You will be amazed at the changes your body goes through as you tackle and conquer this. You can vape just about anywhere (sometimes stealthily) and won't have to worry about how things will get in the way of your "cig" time.

 

[pixeltiger]

It sounds like you either need to increase your nicotine level, or you need to supplement with Snu's, because you're describing withdrawal symptoms.

According to recent research (DailyTech - Study: E-Cigarettes Fail at Nicotine Delivery, No Better Than Unlit Cigarette) apparently e-cigarettes are not much good at delivering nicotine so you may want to try using a patch as well. That said, e-cigs have definitely lead to me quitting analogs and I feel much better for it. But I don't think it was the nicotine for me, I think it was the ritual of smoking I liked, so an e-cig was a godsend.

Perhaps e-cigs and a patch might work for you but be careful, nicotine is a poison and can make you sick if you overdo it. Good Luck

 

[Rosa]

@pixeltiger:

The benefit to using snus in this situation is that snus contains the maoi's that we miss from smoking cigarettes - that's what helps our brian feel calmed/focused when we smoke. Nicotine be itself won't do this. It wouldn't make sense to supplement with the patch IMO, because it only raises your nicotine and you can do that with your e-cig - but it still won't give you the maoi's that you are craving.

Also snus is considered relatively safe to use for the short term (but swedish snus is even better).

 

[Astronomer]

I have no withdraws at all, and absolutely no desire for a cigarette, and I was the most addicted person I know emotionally and physically to smoking.

But I started out with 24mg of nicotine in my juice

try a higher Nic level

 

[DuncanDisordely]

According to recent research (DailyTech - Study: E-Cigarettes Fail at Nicotine Delivery, No Better Than Unlit Cigarette) apparently e-cigarettes are not much good at delivering nicotine so you may want to try using a patch as well. That said, e-cigs have definitely lead to me quitting analogs and I feel much better for it. But I don't think it was the nicotine for me, I think it was the ritual of smoking I liked, so an e-cig was a godsend.

Perhaps e-cigs and a patch might work for you but be careful, nicotine is a poison and can make you sick if you overdo it. Good Luck

Sorry this might not be the best welcome for you considering this was your first post, but jeeez loouise please look out for media slanted nonsense
These are the same guys that spouted the apparent 'health concerns' over e-cig usage, not the best place to get info from. Take some time and read up on the real facts and try not to be put off by the many 'organisations' trying to slander and mar the name of e-cigs.

Anyway welcome! XxX