I am having a dreadful time

[Chookychuck]

Mike i am new to vaping, i hope to get my equipment tommorow so i am a noob to vaping .... i have quit 3 times with patches long enough to not be physically addicted to nicotine ... but i think the mental addiction was there. ANYWAY I WANTED TO SAY SOME WORD ABOUT GETTING SUPPORT & I think ur on the right track now.

i did notice something in one of ur post that is VERY POSITIVE ..... YOU SAID YOU never posted in here for 3 years, and u seem to be posting now SO THAT IS VERY GOOD .... my last quit attempt on patches i used a forum for support, at first i felt silly but it HELPS ALOT since lots are experiencing just what u are ... also from what i read, A GOOD support group whether a couch, forum, phone line to call, best friend quiting with u or whatever is the most successful predictor of people who successfully quits, not whether they go cold turkey, use chantex gum or patch ... i cant imagine vapin being different in that regard. Everything big pharmaccutical sells to quit they want u in some support group also coz they want there success numbers high. i have seen ppl quit cold turkey with nothin more than support ............. Anyway like i said i am noob with vapin but i think a lot of support helps alot ... so post in here and ppl will help ......... maybe the vaping community quits at a much much higher rate ALSO coz they need support with equip and juice and stuff and that kinda forces them to get support cutting back and eventually leaving analogs.

HAPPY VAPING ... and i think u will succeed.

 

[Hunters Friend]

There are just not enough words to express how much I appreciate everyone's feedback and ideas/suggestions.

Truly, when I jumped on here a couple weeks back, I just felt lost - really lost. I honestly believed that I was one of the only people in the state who just wasn't able to do it and it irritated the hell out of me. So many success stories and I was the only bloke who continually struck out. (Charlie Brown trying to kick the football ring a bell?)

It is immensely satisfying to know that there are other people that
1. Had the burning plastic sensation as well
2. Had not immediately been able to break away from cigarettes
3. Fell off and got right back on
4. Also needed better equipment and they too had experimented with different brands
5. It is not the end of the world or a journey to fail.

In regards to #5, I should have and probably always have known this - but defeat is a terrible hole to dig out of.

Thank you all again and yes, I am genuinely going to work at this as much as I can.

 

[Hunters Friend]

Heh heh heh heh....

I just sat down here at the laptop again and instinctively went to reach and grab my smokes.

Then it hit me to go for the vape.

COOL - this may have legs after all.

 

[frankie1]

I'll celebrate that win with you! Cause it IS a win! I just walked outside to have a smoke and decided...nah, rather have a vape! There is hope for us!

 

[Bullette the Cowdog]

Yay!! Success !!
You can do it Hunters. We're all rootin for ya.

 

[Stosh]

Regarding lowering your nic, I'm down to 25mg, sometimes even 20mg after a touch over 2 years vaping. I still enjoy a 30mg jolt once in a while, usually when I'm stressed out.

I found quitting on the gum, patches, tablets, following their directions and lowering the nic, I increased my smoking as the nic dropped from <fill in the blank>...
Not making that mistake with vaping...

 

[FencingGirl]

Mike - just wanted to drop in and wish you the best! You can do it... It took me six months of vaping to quit, and now I feel like I finally earned the right to have a banner...

That's my Bro! Go Bro! and Go Hunter's Friend!

In all seriousness, everyone quits in different ways and for different reasons. When I first introduced Kopfstimmen to vaping, I didn't know if he would quit or not. He didn't seem to have a desire to and I remembered what it was like to love being a smoker. So I didn't introduce it as a way to quit, but just something fun to do, that would allow him to cut back and not have to go out in the freezing cold of Germany quite so often. I didn't say, "You should quit, do this instead." That can be a turnoff to a lot of people who smoke and love it (I know I did.) But after six months, he quit on his own. You are definitely not alone. And everyone's quitting experience is different. I wish you the best and most productive path to a smoke-free life.

 

[dee5]

Just read through all 13 pages of this thread, whew! Wanted to let you know Hunter that our whole group of Natural State Vapers in NW Arkansas would LOVE it if you had a vapefest at your place. We've got a local supplier that would probably participate as well and some very knowledgable members who like to have a good time. Please keep us posted if you decide to host one!

 

[Kremppie]

I am pretty new to vaping, but I think that dripping is more like smoking a real cig. It is hotter and harsher to me. I really hate it. I really only liked smoking in perfect weather...too hot or too cold...yuck. I am 49 and have smoked since I was 15, but still very picky about the weather I smoked in. I live in Texas, so it is too hot with too many bugs outside to enjoy smoking. Everyone smokes for their own reason. I think I like the inhaling and watching it come back out. I thought I was going for the throat hit, and I was wrong. I hope you find what works for you, and you are in the right place to get lots of good advise from people that really want to help you. I am probably not any help, but I wanted to respond, and I wish you the best.

 

[Chookychuck]

I am pretty new to vaping, but I think that dripping is more like smoking a real cig. It is hotter and harsher to me. I really hate it. I really only liked smoking in perfect weather...too hot or too cold...yuck. I am 49 and have smoked since I was 15, but still very picky about the weather I smoked in. I live in Texas, so it is too hot with too many bugs outside to enjoy smoking. Everyone smokes for their own reason. I think I like the inhaling and watching it come back out. I thought I was going for the throat hit, and I was wrong. I hope you find what works for you, and you are in the right place to get lots of good advise from people that really want to help you. I am probably not any help, but I wanted to respond, and I wish you the best.

Waiting for my equipment today and thinking about my anologs and your exact point came across my mind ... one thing i dont enjoy smoking outdoors much either unless the weather is perfect and its daytime... i like " the inhaling and watching it come back out" too and that is hard to do outside if freezing or windy or dark ect.

Also, Good luck Hunter & Happy Vapes !!!!

 

[JimmyJet]

I am pretty new to vaping, but I think that dripping is more like smoking a real cig. It is hotter and harsher to me.

For those craving a hotter vape, yes dripping does the job. But dripping is a lot of work and far less convenient, especially when out & about. A good compromise is the Shorty 510 Carto. Definitely a hotter vape but requires less refilling. Shop around because prices can vary. Shortys are a popular carto for bottom-feeder mods.

Shorty 1.7 Ohm 510 Carto

 

[cdunn96]

I smoked Newport for 20 years and got up to almost 2 packs a day. I started vaping 2 months ago and 3 weeks in the cravings became awful. I was using a tornado at the time with menthol and other flavors. I decided on a VV torpedo and vaped with it cranked to 4.8 to 5.0 at those hard times dripping instead of a tank. I have not looked back,I do not even think about a cig and I have been out with people all around me smoking. Try it, who knows it may work.

 

[Kopfstimmen]

For those craving a hotter vape, yes dripping does the job. But dripping is a lot of work and far less convenient, especially when out & about. A good compromise is the Shorty 510 Carto. Definitely a hotter vape but requires less refilling. Shop around because prices can vary. Shortys are a popular carto for bottom-feeder mods.

Shorty 1.7 Ohm 510 Carto

One thing to say about dripping - I didn't think I'd like it much, but I do... It's a great way to shake things up at the end of the day... I usually end my day with it. It's definitely not convenient, but you can easily go through several different flavors in 5 minutes... Even the ones you don't really like much are enjoyable, because you know you'll have something else soon...

 

[cdunn96]

Yes dripping is a pain sometimes, but here is the thing. When you have a bad craving, take 2 minutes if that and put on atty and drip tip to get that great hit and not light up a cig. The time it takes is worth it. I have come to enjoy dripping a whole lot better than smoking! good luck!

 

[Hulamoon]

Way to go Hunters! In regards to #5, just remember that each time you vape instead of smoke is a successful moment. As you smoked 2+ packs a day, it may be unrealistic to quit the lot immediately. For example, I went down from 20 to 7 per day. Now it's 5 a day and I'm still tottering at that number awhile. Does it mean I've quit? Hell no! Does it mean I have avoided 15 cigarettes, YES!!!!! and I'll take that as a victory as well as encouragement that it will get better the closer I get to a couple more "all day vape" flavors and given time. Went from 7 to 5 after upgrading to the Ego-Twist and clearomizers from the 510 XLs, and I am consciously starting to question myself "why on earth am I lighting one up?" when I hit an analog. All very gradual. Remember that ANY cigarette you didn't smoke today is a big step forward - a pass, not a fail.

There are just not enough words to express how much I appreciate everyone's feedback and ideas/suggestions.


5. It is not the end of the world or a journey to fail.

In regards to #5, I should have and probably always have known this - but defeat is a terrible hole to dig out of.

Thank you all again and yes, I am genuinely going to work at this as much as I can.

 

[Hunters Friend]

So here I am now - a week into the experiment and things are "good".

Always like to start with the positives so let's head there.

The eGo twist is absolutely fantastic. I cannot give it enough high marks in it's ability to adjust to my preferences. As I have the 1000 mAh models, they are a tad big - but otherwise no hassle at all.

The Heathers juices are fine. Of the 5 flavors I picked up, I can't really pinpoint one that I would declare best. What they are doing at 36mg is keeping me from going batcrap crazy. Even better, I have zero of the awful aftertaste I experienced from before. Could be because of the eGO or the eJuices. Who knows... all I know is that is a pleasant feature for sure.

Some cons - a design flaw in my opinion is the lack of a simple LED light that lets the user know if they are getting close to the end of the battery cycle would have been nice. Bit of a hassle to be vaping and have the thing peter out right there on you.

The 70/30 mix (70 being the VG) is not something I care for. I guess I am allergic to PG as it leaves the back of my throat really dry. I constantly need something nearby to wash down the dryness. So, if nothing else - this journey has taught me the important lesson of learning. Especially in regards to the acronyms and vernacular that is tossed around so freely here. Never had a clue about the PG or VG and what the significance was of either of them.

Latest trick I had to force upon myself was to sit my Marlboros off in another room. I was becoming way too casual and comfortable with saying to myself "Well, the people over at ECF said "If I wanted a cigarette to go ahead and smoke it and then get back to vaping." That sounds good in practice but in reality I was abusing it like a pinata at a Cinco De Mayo party.

Still smoke the analogs when I can no longer hang with the vaping, but now I have to make myself get up and walk into another room to grab a cigarette. Later on, I will put them out in my car making it more difficult. Eventually, maybe leave the pack at home so I have to drive the mile or so to grab one. (Man, that will be some kind of day...)

Also keep getting these weird "life coach" PMs as if I am broken and need counseling. Not sure what that is about.

Overall, things are good.

 

[Hoosier]

Looks like you finally got the water out of your boat and are getting started.

My wife is a member of a number of networking groups, so if you do need a life coach, I'm sure she has a phone number of one or two. I'm not sure what a life coach does...

 

[frankie1]

*snipped* I was becoming way too casual and comfortable with saying to myself "Well, the people over at ECF said "If I wanted a cigarette to go ahead and smoke it and then get back to vaping." That sounds good in practice but in reality I was abusing it like a pinata at a Cinco De Mayo party.

I feel ya! LOL....I think I do the same thing. I am working on it though!

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Just keep at it. It took me many tries to quit smoking. I did so successfully with the patch and stayed clean for a few years. However, I relapsed and ended up smoking again only to quit with snus. However after years of having tobacco in my mouth I wanted to do away with the plant all together. E cigs have taken me off smokeless tobacco. It just takes some time and frustration!

 

[Hunters Friend]

Nope, I'm solid - thanks. Just odd to keep getting PMs for all that is wrong with me.