Is It Just Me Or Did Others Have This Trouble

[Saintscruiser]

I've been vaping for over 10 days. I'm using the drip method after cartridges are low. I've had a couple of really bad times, whether physically or mentally (probably more mentally), of massive cravings. Last night, I 'felt' like I could have put 10 analogs in my mouth at one time. My nerves were shot over this. Husband gave me a half of Xanax to calm me down. I stuck with vaping and after about 30 minutes or so, the Xanax kicked in and I was better. I kept vaping my brains out and nothing helped except the Xanax. What I think triggered it was we were watching Burn Notice and the mom smokes non-stop. It looked great to me. What is the deal???? I smoked low tar and nicotine analogs, and am using 26 mg's liquid. That did nothing. Any insight?? Thanks in advance!

 

[Art-n-Cate]

Bless your heart, can I relate! Smoked over two packs a day - Capri 120s - and quit the day I bought my 510. As far as Xanax is concerned, honey a world without Xanax is like the Earth w/o oxygen! Can't make it without it! Ha ha
When I quit, had been taking Chantix for over a month but never even smoked one less analog; in fact, because it gave me such horrific nightmares, I'd wake up and smoke two or three. I still take it but only one a day vs two and Xanax every day ( less than .5mg -which my doctor says is completely safe for me). Usually I dissolve it under my tongue so it works faster.
You will get through this - you can do it. I was the poster child for smoking and if I can do it, you can, too! Hope this helps.

 

[Saintscruiser]

I am on disability and live in pain. I'm not whining, just stating a fact. Not looking for sympathy, please. After 15 years, you do adjust! I truly felt I was entitled to analogs because it was my last vice (my pacifier), and I was a bit glad I had only one, well, besides chocolate, food, and other yummies. I am on a great deal of medication daily, including the xanax for my occasional meltdown, which does happen. I know my doc would agree for me using it for not smoking. He doesn't know, yet, as I don't go back and see him until the 1st of next month. I have this plan to take an e-toke when he walks into the room. Can't wait to see his face.

So, what you're saying, Art n Cate, is that this could be normal for me, since I was a 2 PADer and smoked 40 years. This will get better. I just see where folks get their e-kit and poof...no more analogs, not that I gave in and smoked one. That makes me feel so much better about myself....that I'm not the only one. I really thought it was me doing something incorrectly or THE one that couldn't stick with e-cigs. THANK YOU so much for the encouragement! I don't feel like the freak now.

 

[zbasspro]

You worry too darn much! I'm in the same boat with disability and pain, right there with you. As long as you are prescribed Xanax then take it for now if it helps.

 

[Hoosier]

I must be missing something.

Why does switching to vaping have to be with the "All or Nothing" approach?

I vaped when I could and smoked when I had to. One day I woke up and discovered I didn't smoke the day before. We didn't start smoking with the All-or-Nothing approach, why should that be the mind set for switching?

Maybe some folks like stress and DT? I'll pass, but to each their own.

 

[RollTheBones]

I must be missing something.

Why does switching to vaping have to be with the "All or Nothing" approach?

I vaped when I could and smoked when I had to. One day I woke up and discovered I didn't smoke the day before. We didn't start smoking with the All-or-Nothing approach, why should that be the mind set for switching?

Maybe some folks like stress and DT? I'll pass, but to each their own.

I have found this to be the case too, regular cigs for me have been cut down to 1 or 2 and sometimes none a day. Compared to a pack and a half and twice that on weekends, I consider it a victory.

 

[SimpleSins]

I must be missing something.

Why does switching to vaping have to be with the "All or Nothing" approach?

I vaped when I could and smoked when I had to. One day I woke up and discovered I didn't smoke the day before. We didn't start smoking with the All-or-Nothing approach, why should that be the mind set for switching?

Maybe some folks like stress and DT? I'll pass, but to each their own.

Hi Hoosier. I want to thank you for posting this, along with the other 'non-newbie' members. While I agree that quitting cigarettes completely is something to celebrate, I know that as someone who still has the twitch, and succumbs to, a real cigarette, it is important for people to hear that not everybody quits immediately. I was ready to put vaping in the same category as Wellbutrin, Chantix, gum, and patches...stuff that worked for the other guy but obviously not for me since I still wanted my cigarette and I obviously was just weak because I couldn't quit yet.

I have found a lot of motivation to continue vaping in the posts of those people who didn't quit immediately but did eventually over a period of weeks or even months. So dear veteran users, as one of the weak-willed, addicted-to-something-other-than-just-nicotine masses, thank you for the continued support and cheer-leading you do for those that haven't yet been able to break the chains.

 

[vapour Dwarf]

whether you smoke the odd analog or not at least if you are substituting some of your smokes for vapes it has got to be better than constantly smoking the analogs. When i looked for advice to stop smoking all the professionals told me i had to stop from day one and start using their vile nicotine replacment therapies even though inside i didn't want to quit since vaping i havn't had a single analog but i wont beat myself up about it if i do. Take small steps it doesn't have to be all or nothing what ever feels comfortable for you.

 

[SnowDragon]

Perhaps you should buy a pack of Camel non-filters and when you have a craving just fire one of those bad boys up...that will kill any desires to have a cigarette. I've taken a hit or two off a cigarette over the last couple of weeks and I think it has kept me vaping. It's good to remind yourself what cigarettes taste like once you stop smoking and all the chemicals that are included.

Good luck, hang in there and if you want a cigarette, have one and move on. Part of the craving is the fact that you are denying yourself, the same happens to people on diets which results in weight gain instead of loss. If you don't place harsh restrictions on yourself, you will achieve the long term results that you want.

 

[durtman]

I agree with the posters above. If you want a cigarette, smoke one.

When I first started vaping I quit the smokes that day and thought wow, can't be this easy to just not smoke. A week or so later I wanted a smoke, so I went and bought a pack... camel lights, same I'd been smoking for the last 15 years. They just taste horrible. I can't get through a whole smoke anymore and have moved on. What helped me in my first few weeks was trying out different flavors and avoiding tobacco flavors altogether.

My old buddy who has smoked for 40 years or so quit straight up the day he got his PV, on 12mg juice no less! He has the early stages of emphysema and struggled to get off the smokes for a good while now. He told me all the time the first couple weeks "I still want a cigarette right now, well... I think I want one, until I light and take a draw on the nasty thing." He hardly uses his PV now and is nearly Nic free.

 

[CaptJay]

I agree with Hoosier and durtman - dont put yourself through hell if one cig could solve your issues - you might even find its a huge let down and that is massive psychologically.
I occaisionally want one - and I have one (although I dont actually have any int he house atm lol) and I can never get through it (i did manage to last week though). After I alwaya feel ill - sick, dizzy mouth like old socks - ugh. Its not like I remember smoking at all; its kind of weird. Also I always strongly crave my PV after these little experiments lol.

YOu might find some help on the smokeless tobacco forums - if you havent read them I suggest you go take a look Other Alternatives to Smoking - E-Cigarette Forum and also Nicotine - E-Cigarette Forum may you help you more understand just how nic affects your body and mind (in ways you may not have been aware of, I know I wasn't).

 

[Bahnzo]

Maybe you need to up your nicotine level? What level of juice are you using?

 

[lmrasch]

As a noob, these posts are so encouraging....a totally new mindset, go ahead and have one if you really want, but just keep up the vaping....I am working with these new tools and struggling less with all the anxiety of it. I've had 3 cigs today, it's my 4th day vaping, that's about 27 less than I normally have...my lungs are doing the happy dance, and I'm not going out of my mind with anxiety, constant thoughts of wanting a cig....Thanks to all of you veterans for your encouraging words and for us noobs, let's keep on vaping and we'll all soon be able to shout "Freedom!"

 

[DonnaDo]

Wow! Why didn't I think of that a month ago when I was jonesing to the point of panic for a cigarette. I called a friend, came here to the chat room....I even went to the store at 11:30 p.m. The clerk must have seen the distress in my face. I entered and stood quietly by the cash register. He asked, "lady are you alright?" My response, you can sell me a pack of cigarettes or some nicotine gum; I don't care which." He asked me which flavor gum I would prefer. I bought the gum; came home, chomped on a piece and vaped my brains out; took a bath and went back to bed. It was over.

My biggest fear is buying a pack of cigs (I have none in the house.) In the past when the cigs came back into the house, the quit was all over. I think that it is a matter of your mindset. I agree, we didn't start smoking a pack a day or more; why would we stop that way?

I must be missing something.

Why does switching to vaping have to be with the "All or Nothing" approach?

I vaped when I could and smoked when I had to. One day I woke up and discovered I didn't smoke the day before. We didn't start smoking with the All-or-Nothing approach, why should that be the mind set for switching?

Maybe some folks like stress and DT? I'll pass, but to each their own.

 

[AKWolf]

Perhaps having several devices with different flavors/strengths laying around may relieve some tension...

 

[stalnakerz]

I have to TOTALLY agree with Hoosier.

I've been totally without cigarettes for over 2 weeks now (maybe 3, didn't mark the last cigarette I smoked) but vaping for 2 months. I started out vaping when I wanted, smoking when I wanted and after a week, found that I wanted to vape more than I wanted to smoke.

Just let the process flow naturally and don't try to force it too much. One day you'll look at an unopened pack of cigarettes and just put them in the cabinet for emergencies and carry on.

 

[FyreDragon]

I have to agree with the above advice. If you feel the need to fall back on an analog here and there to get you through, don't beat yourself up over it. When I first switched, I was trying to figure out how to get those darned Blu's I started with to consistantly provide enough vapor to keep me sufficiently out of withdrawal. I had to fall back on a few analogs to get me through that rough patch. Now I have a 510 mega and it more than satisfies. Haven't had an analog since and I'm not really missing them.

 

[Nighthawk]

Exactly. Smoke one if you need to, then move on. You haven't 'failed' anything. I might suggest you get one bottle of higher nic for those desperate urge times. Sometimes it really does help to just light one and see what it tastes like now. You will be surprised and wonder wth you were doing all those years. It's not a pass/fail test. It's a whole change in your entire life we're talking about here, and that takes a little time. Your brain runs out of whatever chemical it's addicted to in smokes and sends you into a panic to get it at all costs. That is normal. Knowing it's normal, gives you power over it. You really will be free. It may just take a smidge longer than you'd hoped for is all. Don't sweat it. You have already Won!

 

[Ironlion]

reading the comments of the first two posters in this thread, it sounds to me like the primary issue might not be the use of cigarettes, but rather the use of Xanax that they are finding it difficult to reduce.

 

[bearscreek]

Sorry I haven't read all the responses here, but I can tell you that, first of all, I got an e-cig to use while I work on the computer to try and cut down on the mess and the smell and had no intentions of quitting smoking. I noticed immediately, though, that I really liked the e-cig and started using it all the time, but I still smoked 2-3 cigarettes a day for a couple of months. I wasn't worrying about it. There is obviously something in cigs that isn't in your e-cig and it just takes a while to adjust. Don't worry if you still smoke a couple here and there for a bit. I still have a half a pack right here where I am most of the day, and if I wanted one, I'd light it, but I don't want it. Occasionally, I'll say I'm going to try one and see, but I never do. The funny thing is that I know I'm still constantly craving "something" that I'm not getting, but I still don't light the cigarette - and it's not because I've told myself I can't, because I can if I want to. Just give things time and don't stress.

EDIT: By the way, Saints, is that a real dog or a stuffed animal? That's the cutest little thing I've seen in a long time.