I am having a dreadful time

[Hunters Friend]

As you can see, I have been a member on this forum since back in 2009. In that time I have watched countless people kick the cigarette habit with eCigs and it just KILLS ME.

I have tried so many brands and models, different strengths of nicotine, even went so far as to wear a patch and vape at the same time. Still cannot get over my analog cravings.

Here is the issue - I am 47 now - smoke minimum 2 packs of Marlboros a day, have smoked almost exactly the same amount for the past 30 years - am slowly losing what health I have left - and have came to the end of my rope.

Quite frankly, I hate the taste of eCigs and cannot come close to the feeling and taste I get with analogs. It almost tastes like I am sucking in burnt plastic with eCigs.

Believe me, I have tried and tried and tried. From my first mall purchase to my latest Joye510 with 10, 18, 24, and 30 mg nicotine juice blends (and of course the exotic flavors as well)

I just don't know what is wrong with me. I will jump on the wagon, use them for a week and be right back to Marlboros. Literally craving them the entire time I am vaping - complete with nightmares.

On a side note, I own a resort with a convention center and have honestly thought about putting together a vaping convention for people all over the US to come to and sample the manufacturers products. "Don't like that? Try this. Or try this one...." and so on. We already host the largest Indian Motorcycle gathering in the world, why not Vapors?

Anyway, I am SO frustrated and would LOVE to hear from others that have beaten a similar problem like mine and how they did it.

Thanks, Mike

 

[Dauslyn]

Hey Mike,

first of all, congratulations on what seems to be a valiant effort to become smoke-free. It sounds to me like it's not the juice or the nicotine strength that's hampering you, but more so the models and delivery methods. 30mg juice is enough to stop a horse, and while you'll never find a juice that replicates the flavour of cigarettes accurately (nor should you want to, as cigarettes really do taste awful), there are literally hundreds of flavours to test out - I'm sure there's a few out there for you. Can you provide us with a little more details on the different models and atomizers/cartomizers/tanks you've tried? Might help us zero in on some suggestions for you.

Remember, you're still quitting smoking. There's no magical PV that will make you instantly forget about analogues. You still have to be mentally prepared to quit, and the PV is simply a tool that makes this endeavor much less difficult.I've seen many long-time multiple-packs-per-day smokers quit with a PV - it's a matter of finding the setup that you relate to most. I failed probably 6 or 7 times before I found my ideal setup, and you will too - just hang in there.

 

[Cloud Wizard]

Wow Mike, I really feel for you. I smoked between 1.5/3 PAD marlboros for 33 years. I tried everything before vaping and the longest I ever went was about 2 weeks. Even when the first time I tried ecigs a couple years ago, it didn't take. This time, seems to have worked. The thing that got me through the tough times was dripping. It was the closest to my smoking ritual when I had a really bad craving (hard hitting, for about the same amount of time it took to for a smoke and then put away till the next craving). You might not want to think of it as an all or nothing game. You'd still be doing better to use vaping to cut back.

 

[Hunters Friend]

So therein lies my first problem I guess. When people tell me that cigarettes taste awful I look in wonderment at them because I genuinely love the taste and smell of cigarettes. That alone spooks me because I am reacting to cigarettes like I should.

Literally name it - I have bought it. Joye 510, eGo-T, SmokeFree, etc. Again on the nicotine juices - I literally have lost count. Wouldn't even know where to start. I have probably bought 100 different types and strengths. Like I said, it comes across to me like boiling plastic when I vape. If it is too strong, I REALLY cough (as if I have a miniwheat stuck in my esophagus) If it is too weak I get the shakes terrible. Hence my one shot at trying to wear nicotine patches in conjunction with vaping. (Stuck out there too)

 

[mwa102464]

A Joy 510 huh, what about a decent Mod, or even an Ego Twist that has VV ? Maybe your not getting enough delivery using the Joy 510 or any of those small stick type Batts. Most of us where able to stop with the small stick batt but being a heavy smoker maybe you need more then just 3.7v and need to kick it up a notch into the mid 4v to 5v and with a good Atty like an HH-357 or Iken i06, just a thought.

 

[Cloud Wizard]

Have you ever tried vaping something like unflavored pure VG nic juice? You could get the strength that matches your nic craving, but it vapes really smooth and soft on the throat. It doesn't have any fancy flavor to it (like fake tobacco or fruit, etc), but it's not unpleasant.

 

[Dauslyn]

So therein lies my first problem I guess. When people tell me that cigarettes taste awful I look in wonderment at them because I genuinely love the taste and smell of cigarettes. That alone spooks me because I am reacting to cigarettes like I should.

Literally name it - I have bought it. Joye 510, eGo-T, SmokeFree, etc. Again on the nicotine juices - I literally have lost count. Wouldn't even know where to start. I have probably bought 100 different types and strengths. Like I said, it comes across to me like boiling plastic when I vape. If it is too strong, I REALLY cough (as if I have a miniwheat stuck in my esophagus) If it is too weak I get the shakes terrible. Hence my one shot at trying to wear nicotine patches in conjunction with vaping. (Stuck out there too)

I'm going out on a limb here, but I think most smokers 'think' they love the taste and smell of cigarettes, because they've become so accustomed to it. Now I was nowhere near the smoker that you are, I smoked about a PAD for 5 years. During that time I too 'loved' the taste and smell of cigarettes.

Now 10 months without one (and I can actually smell again!), the smell disgusts me. It's actually a completely different odor than what I remember, and one that I can't believe I carried on my person every day for five years. I'm surprised I've never been kicked out of an elevator for smelling so bad. but I never noticed that smell as a smoker.

If you're really willing to give it another shot, and don't mind spending the money for a last-effort, I would get yourself a high-end VV device like the Provari or even the Lavatube (which I use personally). It really allows you to experience a wide range of strengths and flavour, and somewhere in there you just might find your sweet-spot. That taste of burning plastic may simply be a result of the cartridge being dry, but it seems like you have enough experience in that area to know the difference.

I wouldn't wear a patch while vaping, as a nicotine overdose is a real possibility. But my thinking is the nicotine isn't the issue, it's finding the right wattage, the right flavour, and the right delivery method. Let's hope some other more advanced users chime in to give you a hand.

 

[Stosh]

One thing you may want to research is the addition of more than just nicotine.
Some vapers swear by WTA juice (whole tobacco altoids) or using snus along with
vaping. There's an entire section dedicated to Smokeless tobacco

edit: and a long thread here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/general-e-liquid-discussion/228147-wta-future.html#post4249507

 

[Dauslyn]

or even adding a bit of menthol to your juices may help - it 'feels' like a cooler vape, gives a slight additional throat-hit (kind of like riding your bike, with your mouth open, in the wind, while chewing spearmint gum), and has a nice and distinct flavour. Before you knock it, I hated menthol cigarettes, so much so that I would forgo smoking altogether if the only available cigarette was a menthol. Now, my all day vape is an organic menthol - go figure?

 

[dnakr]

Since you have tried so many different juices and strengths, maybe you could benefit from WTA (Flavoured Eliquid with Whole Tobacco Alkaloid (WTA)). I have been reading up on this and the "calming effect" that it is suppose to have. I have not tried it yet, just ordered some for the first time to see if it does make a difference, to me anyway.

I agree with the Ego Twist, might be just what you need to see if that makes a difference. I would get the 1000mah.

I have been vaping since 2007 and the one flavor I keep going back to, over and over again, is Flue Cured Tobacco. I vape at 36mg. I am not fond of fruity flavors, I like tobacco, and this is the best one I have found for me. This is my "all the time" vape. I do try different flavors, but keep going back to this one.

Edited: I also found dripping the best method for me, until 2 weeks ago when I decided to try the vivi nova. I found that I do like the vivi and haven't dripped for the first time in 3 1/2 years.

 

[Stosh]

LOL.... Dauslyn, I'm glad you posted that, I thought I was the only one!!

would always rather a nic fit than a menthol smoke.....
now it's my go to when nothing else will satisfy

 

[mitzeli]

I agree with Stosh. I smoked for 35 years and love the taste of analogs. Try this recipe and add to your juice. The tobacco taste overpowers everything and the only way I can describe it is it is rich. The first time I vaped this my whole body smiled. You need to add it to a juice that is fairly strong already.
Tobacco Additive:
1. Add 2 cups of water and 10 grams of tobacco to a large pot
2. Boil on medium/low to low, you basically want a low simmering boil.
3. Add a bottle of your artificial flavoring (didn't do this part)
4. Low boil and stir occasionally until you have boiled off most of the water and are left with about 1/2 to 1/4 a cup of water. By now the alcohol in the artificial flavoring would have boiled off and your left with a concentrated flavored tobacco water juice.
5. Pour the juice through a reusable gold coffee filter and strain the juice into a container, be sure to use something that can hold HOT liquid. And be careful, the water will be hot. It is best to take off of boil and let the water cool for 15 mins or more before straining into the container.
6. This step is optional, but if you want to get the most from your tobacco, then you should do this step. Set the liquid aside and place the tobacco back in the pot, add another 2 cups of water and repeat. (didn't do this step either)
7. Take the second batch of tobacco juice and add to the first. Make sure you strain again though the gold filter.
8. Now strain the combined batches of tobacco juice back into the pot and slow simmer boil down to about 1/4 a cup of liquid again. Make sure it is still liquid and not thick tar! If you cooked it down to tar, you need to try again.
9. Strain one final time.
10. At this point you should have a super tobacco juice concentrate water mixture. Now add a drop or two of your tobacco juice to your smoke liquid that we used in the beginning of the tutorial and test! Keep track of how many drops you use and find your preference for taste and strength

 

[MiamiMom63]

I think it's hard for anyone that loves smoking and still hasn't kicked smoking, to imagine hating the smell of it or the taste of it. I never thought I would and I smoked for 30 years and nothing worked for me. I went into vaping with the attitude that it didn't mean I wasn't going to ever smoke again, but I figured every analog I didn't smoke was better than smoking one. It's sort of like an alcoholic being told they can't ever have a drink again. (Well, bad analysis but you know what I mean.) Like I've told other friends of mine when starting to vape, don't think about Oh, I have to give up cigs and life will be forever miserable! lol. Think about supplementing vaping with cigs at first. What makes me really wonder is why Hunter's Friend is getting a burnt taste? That doesn't sound right or make sense to me. I don't understand how every single type of atomizer, cartomizer, clearomizer, tank could give a burnt taste? What type of delivery are you using on your mod/battery, Hunter? Are you using atomizers? Is it possible you are not using them right? It sounds like something is not right because no way do I taste burnt anything if I'm using my mod at the right voltage with the right accessory on top

 

[ShogaNinja]

I have 3 suggestions. I would be shocked to hear that at least one of them or the combination of all 3 did not work.

Suggestion 1: Try an insane number on the nic strength like 36 mg. I know DarkCityVapor sells some pretty high powered stuff. Don't go for tobacco flavors - they pretty much suck. Get something different like a sweet flavor or fruit flavor.

Suggestion 2: Get an EGO Twist or if you have money to burn a Lavatube or Provari but do note that they have a safety feature which will kick back the voltage without your knowledge on dual and triple coil cartos, which basically makes the EGO Twist the better choice because to my knowledge it doesn't have that capability (or anywhere to fit it in the battery case).

Suggestion 3: Try hypnosis. They have these all over the place and I have never heard of it failing. In fact many of them will give you another session or your money back for free if they fail. I have seen 4 people try it and I have seen 4 people succeed at it. Maybe go with this step first and then use steps 1 and 2 as a backup.

 

[Iusedtoanalog]

Hi Mike, It seems to me that you would be a good candidate to substitute snus and vaping to help you push yourself over the proverbial hump into vaping. I am not suggesting that you gain yourselff a new habit but I have read many many reports of new/returnig vapers who broke their initial craves by adding snus to the equation, eventually as they got more accustomed to vaping they stopped the snus and replaced their nicotine intake soley with vaping. See the way I see it we where all so accustomed to all the additives that kept us smoking for so very long that the only thing that would do it for us whas that burning tube of plant and paper in addition to the nicotine, not the other way around. Substituting nicotine is fine for some, for some not so fine.

I would also agree with the above posters that with the equipment you have listed , they are all slim small models. If you can substantiate your decision to vape then you may do much better with a Low Resistance cartomizer(or stardust etc) and a larger battery. Something like a kGo or eCo would surely run circles around those small analog sized batteries. I didn't actually enjoy vaping or the first six months or so , until I bought mysel a bigger battery model something like this would be much better that those little type batteries GP eCo-U CE2 MINI Kit this is a test the waters type unit, there are many more similar to this, but for as inexpensive as this one is it would equate to just over a days worth of analogs..........

Up in the top corner at the search box type in natural tobacco liquids, You will be lead to want2vape and heather's heavenly vapes and about fifteen others. Those two are the most talked about over in the liquid area, they may be worth a look if you haven't aready. They extract their base flavors from real tobacco and use expert skill in creating their mixes. This may also help to provide some of that comfort that seems to be missing. Keep in mind that good liquid would actually taste more like the product smells like(sniff your pack just after you open it) rather that what it tastes like when its on fire.

All in all it appears to me that you really want to enjoy vaping more that you currently do.... keep in mind this is not nearly quite as easy as picking a color and lighting a match, but nothing that is truly good is truly easy........ Good Luck. Happy Vaping.

 

[MiamiMom63]

I further recommend an Ego Twist. I met with one lady that was smoking for like 40 yrs recently and she was vaping but just not getting quite enough satisfaction. We told her to get the Ego Twist so she would get more throat hit and she was fine after that. They are only about $28 and last all day and are really the way to go nowadays at a cheap price. I also recommend for newbies the visions/stardusts. I personally don't use them alot but I think they are sort of fail safe for newbs getting used to vaping. You can't mess up on using them easily. And I would avoid 100% VG juices and try to get juices that have 80 PG/20VG, or 70/30 if possible so they don't clog up or start to taste burnt faster. That is what I recommend to newbs until they get used to vaping and are ready to experiment. I personally drip but that's just me.

 

[VapingRulz]

Ok, here are my suggestions.

1. Up the nicotine to 36mg. I had to do that and I stayed there for nearly two years, but it worked.
2. Get a better e-cig. You sound like a hard-core smoker, so I'd spring for a Provari if possible. A cheaper alternative is the Ego Twist. I find that I'm perfectly happy with the KGO and LR cartomizers but the bottom line is that you really need to beef up your ecig model if you want it to work for you.
3. WTA e-juice. I've never tried it but you certainly sound like a good candidate.
4. Coffee flavored ejuices and their stronger cousins like espresso & turkish coffee seem to help many people who hate the taste of tobacco ejuices. Alternately you could try another strong flavor like black licorice, peppermint or red hot cinnamon.

Good luck.

 

[salemgold]

One thing you may want to research is the addition of more than just nicotine.
Some vapers swear by WTA juice (whole tobacco altoids) or using snus along with
vaping. There's an entire section dedicated to Smokeless tobacco

edit: and a long thread here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/general-e-liquid-discussion/228147-wta-future.html#post4249507

+1 for WTA Don't let anyone tell you that 30 mg is too high. It took 36 mg for me to quit and even a little higher for my mom. Everyones tolerance is different.

Don't give up. Check out the WTA it has worked for many that just nicotine did not work for.

Good luck to you!

 

[thinkingaboutit]

One thing I haven't seen, is HOW you hit an ecig. It is not a direct inhale. Pull it into your mouth, wait a second, inhale, and exhale out your nose. As I understand that will get the most nic absorbed. Unlike a cig, your mouth and nasal passages will absorb more with vaping.

As suggested, get a vv. a vtube is a great start, and a small investment from your habit.

My suggestion:
Apollo vtube
Boge SR cartos
24mg juice and some 36 for really tough cravings.

Soon, a tank for an all day vape.

 

[Hunters Friend]

To start - THANK YOU EVERYONE who has responded here. Like I said before I have been a member here for 3 plus years but just could never bring myself to post. Honestly, I hated to see that I couldn't do this and everyone else could. I hate hate hate that I have failed so many times with this.

(My latest trick is not one that my wife applauds over very well. I cough and cough and cough till I wake up on the floor blacked out - cool trick huh?)

Honestly, money is not the problem. I need something that I am not constantly running back and forth to fill with new drops, will last longer than an hour on a charge (would be incredible if there was a system that you just laid the battery on and it induced the charge rather than turn turn turn turn, unturn unturn unturn unturn, then re-turn re-turn re-turn re-turn)

The 36mg suggestion may end up being the trick. Same as with the snus. Honestly, I would rather have nicotine poinsoning than to go through another week of how awful I feel from wheezing, coughing, and gagging. But man, the hooks are deep in me.

BTW - the 2 PADs are 30 years normal. Don't get me in the woods hunting (yes, kill plenty - even smoking with bow and arrow) fishing, playing cards, or programming. Any one of those combinations could lead me to a 3 to 4 pack a day binge.

Cool huh?