How to switch to e-cigs for long term smokers

[egbertfitzwilly]

I've been smoking for over 40 years and while the reduced risk of e-cigarettes was very attractive my enthusiasm for "yet another smoking alternative" was limited. I tried the gum and had limited success during a hospital stay with the patch but these only produced overwhelming desire for the habit of smoking, and some craving since the nicotine level was reduced.

When e-cigs hit the mainstream I tried a couple of the disposables from the chain stores and was very disappointed in the flavor and feel ( what I would come to understand is the "throat hit" ). In particular as a smoker of "Kool" brand cigarettes any substitute at all is an uphill challenge. I had all but given up on these.

I decided to do a little more research, spent some time on the internet and did some experimentation with different vendors, flavors and products. In the course of that I have identified a process that long term smokers such as myself can use to make the change from tobacco products to e-cigs without discomfort or significant smoking related urges.

I put a tutorial together on instructables.com that outlines this process in detail. There is no "program", "group", book, pamphlet or registration. There is nothing to buy, I recommend some products based on my personal usage but do not sell anything.

I hope my fellow long term smokers will benefit from this, please share the link with those you know who might benefit.

I do not have permisson to post links to this form but if you go to instructables.com and search for "How-to-switch-to-E-Cigs" you will find it.

 

[Susan~S]

Hello and welcome!

How long have you been vaping and what setup do you currently use?

 

[AndriaD]

I've been smoking for over 40 years and while the reduced risk of e-cigarettes was very attractive my enthusiasm for "yet another smoking alternative" was limited. I tried the gum and had limited success during a hospital stay with the patch but these only produced overwhelming desire for the habit of smoking, and some craving since the nicotine level was reduced.

When e-cigs hit the mainstream I tried a couple of the disposables from the chain stores and was very disappointed in the flavor and feel ( what I would come to understand is the "throat hit" ). In particular as a smoker of "Kool" brand cigarettes any substitute at all is an uphill challenge. I had all but given up on these.

I decided to do a little more research, spent some time on the internet and did some experimentation with different vendors, flavors and products. In the course of that I have identified a process that long term smokers such as myself can use to make the change from tobacco products to e-cigs without discomfort or significant smoking related urges.

I put a tutorial together on instructables.com that outlines this process in detail. There is no "program", "group", book, pamphlet or registration. There is nothing to buy, I recommend some products based on my personal usage but do not sell anything.

I hope my fellow long term smokers will benefit from this, please share the link with those you know who might benefit.

I do not have permisson to post links to this form but if you go to instructables.com and search for "How-to-switch-to-E-Cigs" you will find it.

I just went there and did the search exactly as shown, and it didn't turn up anything at all. So I just searched for "E-cigs" and it turned up a pageful of results, but none of them were the one you mentioned.

Andria

 

[GinnyTx]

Sorry tried it..and it's not there under that (even without dashes)...Howdy and like that name..Egbert

there's very few studies out there on vaping/ecigs from valid and reputable sources currently for those wishing to stop, and what is out there is so biased it's ridiculous (that NY Times article that someone posted recently).

Thanks for doing that...sometimes that's all that's needed (hence the success of support groups, AA/NA etc) for some person to see "he did it, so can I" good job!

 

[Harlen]

Hello and welcome
I too have a program , I give them a ego with a T3 and 10 ml of 36mg juice of the 42 I have given away we now have 38 new non smokers
Of the 4 that didn't try the ego but gave them away the 4 are now non smokers , how do I know this ? They got my number from the ones they got the ego from to get more juice lol lol lol lol

 

[GinnyTx]

^^have given away a few set ups too in the last month and a half, nothing like you have..38 wow, so far all but one has stopped smoking, so yeah about one in four ratio.

 

[Susan~S]

<snip> how do I know this ? They got my number from the ones they got the ego from to get more juice lol lol lol lol

There's a method to your madness, I see! It's all in the juice!!!

Great juice is hard to come by (not impossible - but it takes a lot of trial and error if you are ordering premade juice). However if you are getting your juice from a "DIY Juice Mix Master" (which I see you are one) then it's a very simple transition from analogs to e-cig's.

Congratulations on your success! Both in DIY and in helping others!

 

[navigator2011]

I went searching as well, and I found nothing about switching off tobacco, as you describe. Maybe you could just share your "tutorial" here so that we don't have to leave ECF?

 

[AndriaD]

I went searching as well, and I found nothing about switching off tobacco, as you describe. Maybe you could just share your "tutorial" here so that we don't have to leave ECF?

Excellent idea, since the one he mentioned can't be found! I'm trying to get BACK off the stupid cigarettes and back to 100% vaping, so I wanted to know if there were any tips n tricks I didn't yet know about!

Andria

 

[navigator2011]

Excellent idea, since the one he mentioned can't be found! I'm trying to get BACK off the stupid cigarettes and back to 100% vaping, so I wanted to know if there were any tips n tricks I didn't yet know about!

Andria

Me too. First round, couldn't find the right device or juice, and when I forced myself to taper the cigs (despite all the flooding, gurgling, dry hits) I couldn't stop coughing while vaping--it was all just a bit off putting. So, round 2, I have a carto tank device that I like (no flooding, gurgling, works as advertised), but I still cough like crazy on these juices. So, my search continues. Meanwhile, any useful, inspirational tips would be great.

 

[pressman57]

Good article. There are just a couple of things I might take issue with.

1. You recommend 18mg juice to long term smokers. I smoked for 45 years (Camel Filters), started at 18mg and damn near lost my mind. Went up to 36mg and never looked back. But I also stopped smoking the same day.

2. You mention that you get the same nicotine from vaping small amounts of e-juice that you would from smoking cigarettes. I have not found this to be the case.

Overall, however, I found it to be well written and very informative. Good job.

 

[KcGoods]

Awesome program. One I am finding in a few places. Everyone likes free stuff. And if it helps someone quit cigarettes and vape im all for it.

 

[SanFranAndy]

I always get people started off with the Evod starter kit. It's a great way to get into vaping. No hassle, easy filling tanks and decent vapor/throat hit as well. Normally, I think its better for someone trying to get away from analogs to use 16 - 18mg tobacco flavor e-liquid too. Something that might not be so foreign to them. That's how it worked for me anyway and many others that I've helped out.

 

[AndriaD]

Well, could one of you that HAVE found it, please post a link?

Also -- 18mg made me sick as a goat, 12mg did the same thing. I smoked for 39 yrs, but had to start at 6mg, and later go up to 9mg. NOT EVERYONE needs to start at such a whopping dose!!!

Andria

 

[navigator2011]

Ah, I found it.

How-to-switch-to-E-Cigs - search Instructables

 

[gatorguy]

Great article!

 

[FattyJ]

Very good article Egbert. I agree with the others that instead of suggesting 18mg I would have a chart more like this:


less than 20 a day lights: 6mg


20 a day lights: 12mg


regular 20 a day: 18mg


between 20-40 a day: 24mg


more than 40 a day: 36mg


These are only suggestions that I have seen and heard but it seems pretty accurate at least for a starting point with nic levels. How frequently you vape certainly plays a factor.

Hello and welcome
I too have a program , I give them a ego with a T3 and 10 ml of 36mg juice of the 42 I have given away we now have 38 new non smokers
Of the 4 that didn't try the ego but gave them away the 4 are now non smokers , how do I know this ? They got my number from the ones they got the ego from to get more juice lol lol lol lol

^^have given away a few set ups too in the last month and a half, nothing like you have..38 wow, so far all but one has stopped smoking, so yeah about one in four ratio.

Nothing makes me smile more than seeing people use their knowledge, experience and blessed heart to help others in such an awesome way

 

[AndriaD]

Very good article Egbert. I agree with the others that instead of suggesting 18mg I would have a chart more like this:


less than 20 a day lights: 6mg


20 a day lights: 12mg


regular 20 a day: 18mg


between 20-40 a day: 24mg


more than 40 a day: 36mg


These are only suggestions that I have seen and heard but it seems pretty accurate at least for a starting point with nic levels. How frequently you vape certainly plays a factor.

Sounds about right to me. I was smoking about 3/4 pk a day, of *ultra-lights* -- but, I have been a serious cigarette addict for 39 years, so after I got well-established on the 6mg and gave up the smokes, I found I needed to go slightly higher, 8-10mg, depending on time of day, to keep from chain vaping constantly. But I was still doing that unfortunately, which I think was one of the contributing factors in the catastrophic dehydration/electrolyte imbalance I suffered. So I think what that means is that once I do get back to 100% vaping, I do need to use at least 10mg, but leave it across the room from me, so I have to get up if I want to vape -- as I have to go outside if I want to smoke.

Andria

 

[BobAA]

Andria dear,

You are doing a wonderful job! Please go easy on yourself. 39 years of ingraining, reinforcing, and exercising any habit is very, very, difficult to replace. The fact that you have had a little setback is all the more reason to believe you can do it. You see, you are still trying. The difference between winners and losers is that winners don't give up. I know from where I speak, as I too, have been struggling with a 50+ year pack and a half habit. I also have addiction issues, but all smokers have nicotine addictions. The thing is because of how the neurons are connected and reinforced, you can not quit, but you can substitute. Vaping can become the substitute if you so choose. It has worked for me for the last 9 months and other than one time when my mod broke, and I didn't have a backup; I bought a pack. The next day I got a back up and am back off of the analogs once again.

"Whatever the mind of man can conceive, and believe, it can achieve."----Napoleon Hill

 

[AndriaD]

Andria dear,

You are doing a wonderful job! Please go easy on yourself. 39 years of ingraining, reinforcing, and exercising any habit is very, very, difficult to replace. The fact that you have had a little setback is all the more reason to believe you can do it. You see, you are still trying. The difference between winners and losers is that winners don't give up. I know from where I speak, as I too, have been struggling with a 50+ year pack and a half habit. I also have addiction issues, but all smokers have nicotine addictions. The thing is because of how the neurons are connected and reinforced, you can not quit, but you can substitute. Vaping can become the substitute if you so choose. It has worked for me for the last 9 months and other than one time when my mod broke, and I didn't have a backup; I bought a pack. The next day I got a back up and am back off of the analogs once again.

"Whatever the mind of man can conceive, and believe, it can achieve."----Napoleon Hill

I don't feel at all like I'm doing a wonderful job; when my illness was so severe that I couldn't vape (or eat or even drink much of anything) for 4 days, the cigarette cravings were so intense I went back to smoking, but I really thought it would only be a week or 2, not the 3wks it's been already and I'm still at just about a half pk a day. That doesn't feel wonderful at all.

One thing that has happened, and I'm not sure if it's because of my illness, or because of the 115 days smoke free and then going back to smoking (so my tastebuds have NO idea what's going on), or WHAT, is that the ejuice I used almost exclusively for over 4 months doesn't really taste good to me anymore. I have one other that I really like, but it's "blueberry muffin," pretty sweet stuff, and after a while I get really tired of sweet stuff, so I try a hit of my "old reliable"... and it just doesn't do it for me anymore. I have no idea what to do about that, since that ejuice is the closest to the taste of my cigarettes I've ever found. I really might try some unflavored, if I can't get a handle on this. I'd really like to be able to go back to that ejuice, because I've still got quite a bit of it here that I don't want to waste, can't afford to waste, but at this point... I just don't know.

Of course I'm going to keep trying (and maybe even praying for some assistance!), because I really liked being smoke-free, I used to do a little dance of joy, hollering "I don't smoke anymore!" everytime I remembered that I didn't smoke anymore. And now I'm back to the stinking things, hating them, but back in the grip of a compulsion that seems a lot bigger than me.

Andria