How long until I don't crave regular ciggerettes?

[Kitabz]

I'm on 15 days without an analog now. I still crave it. After the 4th day without an analog, I blew up at work yelling at people in a meeting, felt like sh*t, and feeling sick. I realized when I got home that it was withdrawal. I bought some Snus and I calmed down.

Then I read the lab reports of e-cigs having about 10% of the nicotine per puff compared to an analog. It's no wonder, I was almost going full on cold-turkey!

Some are different than others. Some require the more physical addiction, like me. Others are more psychological. For me, it's been hell. I'm pushing through it, though, thanks to Snus... but I hate that sh*t!

And, as for craving a cig, some reports have concluded that it takes the body up to 10 - 15 years to fully recover from the addiction of nicotine and the cravings. Sad.

I *still* want a smoke. I really just don't enjoy the taste of any of the juices I've tried (and I've tried 3 different brands and 13 different flavors). They all have that same, sweet taste which I really don't like at all. The more I vape, the more I get sick of that sweet taste. I'm wondering if it is the PG itself that gives the sweet taste. Who knows, but life is depressing right now and I want a f**king smoke.

Sorry to hear your story and I sympathise.
I used to read all these posts from people saying that they lay down their smokes forever about 10 minutes after opening their e-cig package.
It wasn't like that for me.

It took a month before I was able to feel that I could quit analogs completely and then maybe another month before I felt over them enough that I wouldn't buckle (I didn't). And even now I'd still quite like one but it's not really a craving like it was in the beginning, more of a desire, like someone might have for a bar of chocolate for example.

It's been over three months now and what's keeping me off them is the sincere knowledge that I don't want to go back to square one. I made myself swear to remember the awfulness that it is in the beginning and I'm not prepared to go through that again after all this time. That and also I'm aware that if I were to have one it would be my choice, not a need. Of course the snus (primary), e-cigs (secondary) and nasal snuff (tertiary) all play their part but ultimately it does take determination.

Not forever I hope but for some of us, it takes a long, long time to forget that they ever existed - the ultimate goal (for me anyway).

Best of luck

 

[Vee]

Thanks for the support comment, Kitabz. It is really rough for me and glad to hear someone else has gone through what I have. Only other person I know of on the forums that did was TropicalBob.

It makes it worse that I picked a horrible time to quit smoking as I'm moving out of my apt due to a break up of a 7 yr relationship.

The only good thing I can say right now is that my motivation to stay smoke-free is pushed upon me due to the fact that the new apartment I've moved into is a non-smoking one.

Just gotta keep with the Snus, I guess. Hate it though. Gives me heartburn and bad breath. Can I ask about your use of snuff? Does it work well? Does it give a better rush of nic than the slow release that Snus does? Where do you get it? Side effects?

 

[StringDancer]

The day I got my first ecig, I went from 40 cigs a day down to 5. Somedays thereafter I'd smoke maybe 2-3. After my stash of analogs was used up, I just didn't replace them.

I was motivated to vape full-time, and I do now... a LOT. I agree it feels like you're sucking on these things like a madman at times, trying to get the nic your body craves. But now it's been over a month analog-free, and I assume my body is more or less adjusted to the lower nic input, and I'm finding satisfaction with vaping alone.

If ecigs ever do get banned and it becomes impossible to get supplies, I have resolved that I will quit altogether. I simply won't go back to analogs and give the friggin' government my hard-earned dollars anymore.

In my book, any government that would disallow ecigs in favor of analog cigs is not a government "of, by and for the people" anymore, and deserves all the disdain it gets. Truth be told, I was pretty much of that opinion anyway... but if they ban ecigs, that hits home, and will clinch the deal for me.

If I can't be free and for my government, I'll be free and against it. The system is broken, clearly. We need a new revolution of change in this nation, and I'm not sure even Obama can inspire that when the people have become so complacent and indifferent to civil liberty.

 

[surbitonPete]

I started with the 36mg and didn't find myself having any problems with cravings.

 

[Closet Toker]

Got my first "tin" of snuff today. I bought some Gawith Apricot Snuff at the local tobacco shop. I had stopped in there to see if they had Swiss snus, no luck there. Guess I'll have to purchase some online.
Anyway, tried the snuff and I really like it. The Nicotine rush is almost immediate. I could definitely see using this on a regular basis for an awesome "pick-me-up".
I have been vaping since mid-March. I still get moments where I absolutely crave cigarette smoke.... real bad. I desire and long for the thick, rich smothering tobacco smoke.....doh!
Did the snuff, and it helped to reduce the craving. I managed not to buy a pack of smokes.

 

[Kitabz]

Thanks for the support comment, Kitabz. It is really rough for me and glad to hear someone else has gone through what I have. Only other person I know of on the forums that did was TropicalBob.

It makes it worse that I picked a horrible time to quit smoking as I'm moving out of my apt due to a break up of a 7 yr relationship.

The only good thing I can say right now is that my motivation to stay smoke-free is pushed upon me due to the fact that the new apartment I've moved into is a non-smoking one.

Just gotta keep with the Snus, I guess. Hate it though. Gives me heartburn and bad breath. Can I ask about your use of snuff? Does it work well? Does it give a better rush of nic than the slow release that Snus does? Where do you get it? Side effects?

Tropical Bob has helped me to discover all these wonderful alternatives!

Regarding the timing of your quitting, - and feel free to shoot me if I sound like Alan Carr - there will always seem like a good reason why now is not a good time. I've been there so many times. In truth, I think a large part of the reason why so many people go back to smoking is that something happens (as it is bound to) which gives an excuse to go back to analogs.

The cause is not the true reason however, it just supplies the justification for the underlying desire. The desire being to have another one. Just one. But it never stops there. Now don't get me wrong, analogs are fabulous in their own way and if there was not the a) cost; b) inconvenience; c) social stigma and d) heath concerns (in my order of importance) - I would still be smoking them.

That you have moved into a new apartment is great - it gives another reason why not to start again. Imagine the inconvenience of having to go outside... And that's what it is with analogs: a "having" not a "choice" (really, when we think about it). We "choose" to smoke, true, but we "have" to have them ultimately.

I'm curious about the snus because one thing you certainly shouldn't be having is heartburn since they have sodium bicarbonate as part of their ingredients and this aleviates heartburn not cause it. I suffer from heartburn from time-to-time and I've not had this problem with snus at all. Maybe you're putting them too far back in the mouth and you're swallowing too much juice. This wouldn't cause heartburn but it might cause irritation which might feel a bit similar. In the beginning, you need to keep the snus near the front so that it doesn't cause your mouth to water. If the bulk is a problem the get purified snus like the "Oomph" brand since they are very small. I can't see why they'd cause bad breath either but just suck a mint at the same time if you think this is an issue.

There is no nic-rush with snus - the best you can hope for is a tingling sensation. For better or worse, there is no replacement from the hit that analogs can give - not e-cigs, not snus. Nasal snuff comes a little bit close but it's still not the same. Basically your choices are: accept that the hit is gone or go back to analogs. Sorry to be harsh but this is the truth.

However, in defense of the alternatives, you do get used to them and whilst they're not the same, they're better than nothing. In fairness better than that, they're rather enjoyable in their own way; just different and it takes time for our minds to adjust to the new way of things.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have more questions.

[EDIT - As surbitonPete has indicated, I'd go with with the higher mg too - I vape at around 30mg (a blend) and whilst it still isn't the same as smoking, I prefer this to sucking on an e-cig all day with lower mg. But beware, I suspect that it takes your body some time to absorb the nicotine from vapour so a 10 minute vape fest might result in an OD 30 minutes later. The latency with vaping is considerably longer with vapour than with smoke IMHO.]

 

[Vee]

I'll see if I can get some snuff somewhere. I would much prefer a quick little hit to something I have to keep in my mouth for 30+ min.

As for heartburn, perhaps it feels like it but it isn't, you're right. I put it in my front upper lip and after about 25 min or so, the Snus packet starts to leak on to my tooth and I can taste it. So, yeah, I'm probably swallowing too much of it and it's irritating my throat. Plus, from what I've read of TropicalBob on the subject, Camel Snus (which is what I'm using) is really horrid compared to Swedish Snus. But it's all I can find atm. I just did it out of desperation. Perhaps if I find a tobacco shop that has snuff, they'll have some good snus too!

I'll do what you and Pete suggest and get some 36mg liquid and give it a try. My only worry with it is that I'm using the 16mg stuff now and it's a tiny bit too harsh but barely. I've read, the higher the nic, the harsher the throat hit which I don't want. I'll give it a try and watch myself, as I agree that there's a possibility that the nicotine from vaping might get absorbed slowly. Looking forward to a study of nic levels in the blood after 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60 min after a 5 min vape session.

My goal is to exclusively vape eventually and not need any of these other aids. I really enjoy vaping, I just need to find my zone lol. Still experimenting with liquids, models, mods, etc. I'm not content with it yet. Especially in the taste and nic strength departments! The cravings are just intense right now and I'm fighting HARD not to snag an analog.

Thanks for the advice and hopefully I didn't derail the original topic too much hehe.