I Need Some Help, Ideas & Opinions

[Nocujo]

I just got my very 1st ever "ecig" on Monday and one for my friend too. As I smoked 1-2 pks/ day of Marlboro reds and having perused the forums here I decided that I should begin w/ 24 mg. nic. (30% VG), The unit is functioning super well but both my friend and I are experiencing what feels like MEGA nic. "side effects". Personally, I can't vape for more than 5 minutes without really feeling shaky as compared to the analogs and my friend actually had heart palpitations after a similar time-frame.
Is it possible that there was an error in the amount of nic. Actually in the mix? I really want to vape like a fiend but can't afford to gnaw off all my fingers in the process. Any suggestions/personal experiences on this topic would be Greaty appreciated as well as what to do with my liquids. Thanks for any ideas..

 

[akatina]

Congrats on the switch!

The thing with nic level is you never really know what you need till you try it. If 24 is too much, get some 18 and some 12 and give those a try. If you can't get them locally and have to ship them in, use some VG (glycerin from the local pharmacy) and/or distilled water to thin out some of the juice you have (not all, just some of it!). For example, 5ml of your current juice with 5ml of water/VG would give you 12mg nic juice to try. The flavor will be muted but you can see if the nic level agrees with your system more.

 

[Nocujo]

Congrats on the switch!

The thing with nic level is you never really know what you need till you try it. If 24 is too much, get some 18 and some 12 and give those a try. If you can't get them locally and have to ship them in, use some VG (glycerin from the local pharmacy) and/or distilled water to thin out some of the juice you have (not all, just some of it!). For example, 5ml of your current juice with 5ml of water/VG would give you 12mg nic juice to try. The flavor will be muted but you can see if the nic level agrees with your system more.

Thanks akatina, I was hesitant to cut with water but feel ok w/ it now. I'm still a bitstunned that I would react like this to 24 mg.-also curious if there is some way to measure nicotine in my juices?

 

[akatina]

I would assume there's a way to test but don't know for sure; perhaps check out the DIY sub-forum and review the stickies there? If there's a readily available test kit I would assume they'd know for sure!

As for thinning with water: just make sure you use distilled (buy a gallon for less than a buck at the grocery store). Tap water typically contains minerals that might clog your system up, not to mention that depending on where you live it might have... A flavor.

And speaking of water: drink the rest of that gallon of distilled! It's important to stay hydrated when you vape, especially first starting out. Puff, puff, SIP.

 

[Nocujo]

I would assume there's a way to test but don't know for sure; perhaps check out the DIY sub-forum and review the stickies there? If there's a readily available test kit I would assume they'd know for sure!

As for thinning with water: just make sure you use distilled (buy a gallon for less than a buck at the grocery store). Tap water typically contains minerals that might clog your system up, not to mention that depending on where you live it might have... A flavor.

And speaking of water: drink the rest of that gallon of distilled! It's important to stay hydrated when you vape, especially first starting out. Puff, puff, SIP.

Great, thanks for your insights, really helps

 

[wwaaazzup]

There is a way to check the nic levels. YouTube pbusardo, I'm pretty sure he did a video but there are several to choose from.

 

[wwaaazzup]

Basilray did one also on YouTube. Here is the link. He has links in the video where you can get them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP4zYsTtvpQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[Steeler Girl]

I smoked Marlboro Red for 23 years. I started vaping with 18mg. It was perfect. I did try 24mg as well but it was too strong.

 

[cags]

I smoked Marlboro Red for 23 years. I started vaping with 18mg. It was perfect. I did try 24mg as well but it was too strong.

when I started 18mg was the most common recommended start strength. I still think that is the highest strength a newbie should start at. and I found for me, surprise, my addiction seems to be the act of smoking/vaping. I went down in nic rather fast and now mostly vape 6mg.......
(I don't go to 0 because I think some nic is good for you)

 

[Jerms]

I'm of the view that people that smoked a lot would benefit from low to medium nic, 12mg to 18mg, as they would likely want to vape a lot too. I like to chain vape, and 24mg nic would prevent that for me.

Sent from my LGL55C using Tapatalk 2

 

[Robino1]

I started at 18 and 24mg since, by reading a LOT on ECF, I wasn't sure which would work the best for me. I pretty much stayed at 24mg for about a month. When the 24mg started feeling harsh, I dropped down to 18mg. I knew that my nic needs would become less so I was prepared with 15 and 12mg waiting in the wings. Now I'm ordering just 12mg and my next order will be lower.

You really don't know what will work for you until you actually are trying the different nic mg's. Be prepared with several levels and go from there. Keep some of the higher ones around for when you get those times where you need something stronger. Like when you're out at a bar or under stress. I only smoked a pack a day but I may have been drawing more deeply or holding it in longer.... Who knows why a stronger nic worked for me? I never got nic sick either. We are individuals with individual ways of smoking and now vaping.

I even smoked and vaped for a while and just let vaping take over. It took about a month for that to happen. .

Oh, I still have a bottle of 24mg in my stash just in case.

Good luck finding your nic that works for you. . It's great when that happens. Pretty soon you will be a pro at vaping.

 

[weaseman]

I too smoked the red cowboy killers for 28 years a pack a day , i started with 18 nic. not enough had to go to 24 mg nic.

 

[Grimwald]

I was a very heavy 40 year chain smoker and I started at 24mg for about two months. I too started getting the headless chicken syndrome so I started buying different strengths of my favorites. I did cut some with straight VG (from CVS or Walmart-really cheap) and a drop or two of distilled water. With some bottles of 0mg, 6mg, 12mg etc., I was able to test different levels. I did 12-15mg for a couple of weeks, then dropped to 9mg. Now after 6 months I'm down to 7-8mg. My goal is to stay somewhere between headless chicken and OMG I need a smoke.

 

[Nocujo]

I smoked Marlboro Red for 23 years. I started vaping with 18mg. It was perfect. I did try 24mg as well but it was too strong.

Thanks, that's a good comparison, I guess I shot too high LOL

 

[Nocujo]

I too smoked the red cowboy killers for 28 years a pack a day , i started with 18 nic. not enough had to go to 24 mg nic.

That's what I asumed too but @ 24 mg, I was really getting jittery-I still wonder in the back of my mind if there was something amiss with the nic. levels in my juice

 

[Nocujo]

I was a very heavy 40 year chain smoker and I started at 24mg for about two months. I too started getting the headless chicken syndrome so I started buying different strengths of my favorites. I did cut some with straight VG (from CVS or Walmart-really cheap) and a drop or two of distilled water. With some bottles of 0mg, 6mg, 12mg etc., I was able to test different levels. I did 12-15mg for a couple of weeks, then dropped to 9mg. Now after 6 months I'm down to 7-8mg. My goal is to stay somewhere between headless chicken and OMG I need a smoke.

LOL, I hear ya

 

[Nocujo]

I started at 18 and 24mg since, by reading a LOT on ECF, I wasn't sure which would work the best for me. I pretty much stayed at 24mg for about a month. When the 24mg started feeling harsh, I dropped down to 18mg. I knew that my nic needs would become less so I was prepared with 15 and 12mg waiting in the wings. Now I'm ordering just 12mg and my next order will be lower.

You really don't know what will work for you until you actually are trying the different nic mg's. Be prepared with several levels and go from there. Keep some of the higher ones around for when you get those times where you need something stronger. Like when you're out at a bar or under stress. I only smoked a pack a day but I may have been drawing more deeply or holding it in longer.... Who knows why a stronger nic worked for me? I never got nic sick either. We are individuals with individual ways of smoking and now vaping.

I even smoked and vaped for a while and just let vaping take over. It took about a month for that to happen. .

Oh, I still have a bottle of 24mg in my stash just in case.

Well, thanks for your experiences,,,I'm just headed to the phar. to get some VG- you're right, I'll be in heaven when I find the right combination
Good luck finding your nic that works for you. . It's great when that happens. Pretty soon you will be a pro at vaping.

HaHa^^^^^my post got stuck in yours....anyway thx again

 

[Up1tree]

24mg was just to harsh for me. 18mg was good until I ran into some bad nic and peppered flavored bakery was not so good. So I settled at 12mg. Yeah I vaped like I had a pacifier, but I was much happier. Down side is if you're at work a lot like me. You may start excusing yourself to the restroom frequently... Oh well Everyone need a break.

 

[cappss99]

I started with 18mg 3yrs ago and I'm still at 18mg. I have been thinking about going down some but I am really satisfied with it so
I figured why mess with it . I can go all day without vaping not even thinking about it when I'm busy doing things but at night or in the morning I have to have my vape. Right now I'm vaping vanilla cupcake from maddcatt vapors yummmm.