It's been a long time since I've been here, maybe ready to quit?

[stacydc83]

Hi everyone. I haven't posted in these forums in years now, but here I am. I was just reading back on my old posts from 2014, about how proud I was that I'd quit smoking, and had started vaping. I think I am ready to quit vaping now. Do I want to? No. See, long story short.. back in November, I had covid. Covid pneumonia. It's now the middle of February, and I'm still having all kinds of lung issues. Shortness of breathe, heart races when I do any kinds of exercises. And I've tried so much to heal myself, and nothing seems to be working. My thought process is the next step is to stop vaping. But how do you do that? Quitting smoking was hard enough. And now I feel like quitting vaping would be so much harder. With smoking, I had to stop what I was doing, to go outside and smoke, or find a time convenient to do it. I vape pretty much all day, with what I'm doing. On the couch, watching tv. Vape next to me. playing a game? Vape. It's part of every thing I do. I don't even know if vaping has slowed down my recovery, but its the only logical "next step". I just simply don't want to. And it has me all up in my feelings, and doubting everything. All I do know is I want to be better. to be able to breathe normally again, not have an inhaler, to be able to take long walks again without my chest hurting, to be able to exercise again like I used to.
Anyone been able to do this successfully? To fully be off nicotine and now have the strong desire to vape anymore? I've already lowered my nicotine, instead of buying two 3 nicotines bottles at a time, I've been buying a 0 and 3, and mixing them, but I don't think its done anything for me, maybe just vaping more.
Anyway, thank you for any help.

 

[stacydc83]

Thank you all for the useful replies! I think I'll give the not inhaling a try, definitely worth a shot! Btw, I am so glad to see this forum still alive and well, after 8 years! And thank you for your support! I was reading back on my posts from a long time ago, and its funny how I preferred cigarette flavors, now all I vape is a watermelon flavor.

 

[rosesense]

How about not inhaling? Lots of folks do that and I am sure some of them will be along shortly to talk about it.
@bnrkwest @JCinFLA

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

I went to not inhaling about 2 years ago. I just got tired of putting stuff into my lungs and decided they needed a big break from everything except air. duh lol
The way I did it was every time I picked up my vape I told myself 'do not inhale'. It took a conscience effort but soon became automatic. Did I slip up?...you bet I did. And as soon as I did it I just said oops gotta do better. Don't beat yourself up if you have slip ups...it happens with anything new to you. Just keep trying and before you know it you will be feeling better. If you do slip up it sounds like to me your lungs will let you know about it. Just get better and let us know how you are doing. We are all here to support you all the way.....

SAS

 

[Territoo]

Also try tapering down more gradually. Instead of mixing the 3mg and the 0mg 50/50, try a 1 part zero nicotine to 3 parts 3mg nicotine ratio.

 

[JCinFLA]

@stacydc83 - I'll send you a PM later with some ideas and hints about switching to not inhaling the vapor down to your lungs, but still getting the nic from the vapor.

 

[Bliss Doubt]

It's just that I've known two people who tried to reduce the nic level of their vapes, and ended up back on cigarettes. They both reported they walked in somewhere and bought cigarettes as if in a trance. Tobacco is a powerful demon. Vaping is that white oak stake.

 

[bnrkwest]

I hardly inhale anymore and if I do it’s very shallow. Decided years back to give my lungs a break I enjoy vaping just for flavors, so not inhaling is no biggy for me. I am also finding I like things simple and have really been enjoying non leaking pods lately. LOL I am stocked to the gills, but a simple pod is just so easy

 

[ShowMeTwice]

@stacydc83, I'm sorry to hear about the post covid issues you're experiencing.

You don't have to quit vaping if you don't want to. Try vaping without inhaling. Take a hit into your mouth and exhale through your nose. Don't inhale the vapor into your lungs. I don't always inhale with my vapes.

You are possibly vaping more because of lowering your nic. Have you considered trying Snus for your nic fix? Something like General Snus Mint?

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

Shortness of breathe, heart races when I do any kinds of exercises

Have you been checked for diabetes? I was recently diagnosed with T2D and in doing some "research" on the net I found these are 2 possible symptoms of diabetes (can't remember if T1 or T2 though). Doesn't hurt to get that checked out.

I too am going back and forth in my head about quitting because about half the vapers on the internet who talk about diabetes vs. vaping say that it affects their blood sugar. I'm not as conflicted as you are but I'm sort of stressed out about the diagnosis and it's making it hard to think straight. No clue what I'm going to do.

But as for your issues, what have doctors told you?

As for you quitting, maybe your first step is to try to control the amount/frequency you vape since that seems to be a big issue for you. It won't be easy but will likely be an easier step than just quitting altogether.

And rose has a good idea, try to not inhale. You still get nicotine if you don't inhale. Remembering to not inhale will be the tough part since it's second nature now, but if you're serious enough you can eventually condition yourself to not inhale if that is really what you want. But if you're a DL vaper, this could be tough as you will have to first get used to MTL. Can't DL and not inhale

Some people take baby steps to quit an addiction, some go cold turkey. You'll have to see which is the best for you. But cutting down is not a failure.

I've been buying a 0 and 3, and mixing them, but I don't think its done anything for me, maybe just vaping more.

May very well be. If your body isn't getting enough nic, you could be inclined to vape more.

 

[Jwaterski]

It’s going to be a decision you have to make, but I agree you should talk with your doctor and see if you can determine the cause, quit vaping or not, it would be best if you know what the root of the problem is. Apologies to Territoo, but I have doubts a doctor is going to get you there, but you still have to try.
Next, maybe going against the grain here, but if you really struggle with giving up the vape, I would boost the nic way up there 12 to 16, and reduce how often you need to vape.

 

[Bliss Doubt]

Hi everyone. I haven't posted in these forums in years now, but here I am. I was just reading back on my old posts from 2014, about how proud I was that I'd quit smoking, and had started vaping. I think I am ready to quit vaping now. Do I want to? No. See, long story short.. back in November, I had covid. Covid pneumonia. It's now the middle of February, and I'm still having all kinds of lung issues. Shortness of breathe, heart races when I do any kinds of exercises. And I've tried so much to heal myself, and nothing seems to be working. My thought process is the next step is to stop vaping. But how do you do that? Quitting smoking was hard enough. And now I feel like quitting vaping would be so much harder. With smoking, I had to stop what I was doing, to go outside and smoke, or find a time convenient to do it. I vape pretty much all day, with what I'm doing. On the couch, watching tv. Vape next to me. playing a game? Vape. It's part of every thing I do. I don't even know if vaping has slowed down my recovery, but its the only logical "next step". I just simply don't want to. And it has me all up in my feelings, and doubting everything. All I do know is I want to be better. to be able to breathe normally again, not have an inhaler, to be able to take long walks again without my chest hurting, to be able to exercise again like I used to.
Anyone been able to do this successfully? To fully be off nicotine and now have the strong desire to vape anymore? I've already lowered my nicotine, instead of buying two 3 nicotines bottles at a time, I've been buying a 0 and 3, and mixing them, but I don't think its done anything for me, maybe just vaping more.
Anyway, thank you for any help.

It's a part of everything I do too. I agree with those who have advised that you try vaping without inhaling. You get used to it. I kind of drifted in that direction naturally. I can feel the vapor bang against my throat, but at the top of my throat, and the roof of my mouth, then I release it from my mouth and nose. You absorb the nic in those tissues and stay stoked.

If you were to stop vaping, would the cigarette bogey creep up on you...

I hope you'll find what works.

 

[smacuser]

My brother quit smoking when I turned him on to vaping. I told him to look for a flavor on FSUSA and he chose Zen Watermelon. He, then, started lowering his nic to where he found it more of a hassle to vape than he was actually enjoying it and soon quit both for good. I might be following in his footpath soon.

 

[Fidola13]

Id be concerned too esp if there are family history of heart conditions or other health issues i may have.

there was a segment on the nightly news on this very subject. the increase its the possibility of long term heart issues with people who had Covid. Even if it was a mild infection doesn’t seem to matter.

I just did a quick google and all kinds of articles are posting about this increased risk.

Here’s just one article that appeared …. I have a fib and SVTs both heart rhythm problems thankfully I haven’t been infected.

COVID-19 infections increase risk of heart conditions up to a year later | Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Good Luck to you whatever you decide.

 

[Flora Yuan]

Thank you all for the useful replies! I think I'll give the not inhaling a try, definitely worth a shot! Btw, I am so glad to see this forum still alive and well, after 8 years! And thank you for your support! I was reading back on my posts from a long time ago, and its funny how I preferred cigarette flavors, now all I vape is a watermelon flavor.

Just go ahead. It's really a good way, not inhale. After you get used to it, try your best to reduce the nic gradually. I believe you can do it! Anyway, keep updating, let us know your progress, you are not alone

 

[Bliss Doubt]

You don't have to apologize to me. I know that most doctors don't know crap about vaping. The ones that think they do, don't know anything but what the ANTZ tell them.

The good news is that I hear all the time of doctors who tell their vaping patients they approve of it for staying off cigarettes, and one hospital physician was spotted with a vape sticking out of his pocket.

Doctors have been the victims of tobacco as much as anybody else. What they can say publicly vs. what they can say privately applies there as much as anywhere in this era of censorship.

 

[MLEJ]

Thanks again for all the helpful replies and encourgement. I am trying to inhale into my mouth and not my lungs. I'm not sure I'm doing it right yet/getting the hang of it. I know there have been several times where I inhale and take it into my lungs, but I am trying! Just trying to figure out how it feels when its NOT going into my lungs, and into my mouth only. If I could get that down, I'd be good. I've also decided, this weekend, I'm finally going to change what I vape with. I'm currently using a MVP 5, and a Zeus tank. I've never even looked at the pods system, never had an interest or need to, but I've heard its much easier to not inhale with. And who knows, maybe it'll break my habit of constantly vaping. thats one of my biggest things, like I'm on my laptop right now, and I just always reach for it, maybe having a pod I'll break that habit and in the right direction. Just gotta get the inhalation correct!

Friendly suggestion: Look into Innokin's Coolfire Z80/Zenith 2 Kit. From what you've said, it might be a good set-up for you now.

because I'm looking for a good price on cigalikes to ship to a rehab center where they want the inmates to try vaping, if they want to, because they're not allowed to smoke after 8pm.

Friendly suggestions:
SmokeTip.com has some of the best cigalike batteries & good cartomizers, w/ reasonable prices.
ApolloECigs.com has the best refillable clearomizers, imo.
So great of you to be helping folks that way!!! You're really a lovely soul!

 

[mattiem]

Thanks again for all the helpful replies and encourgement. I am trying to inhale into my mouth and not my lungs. I'm not sure I'm doing it right yet/getting the hang of it. I know there have been several times where I inhale and take it into my lungs, but I am trying! Just trying to figure out how it feels when its NOT going into my lungs, and into my mouth only. If I could get that down, I'd be good. I've also decided, this weekend, I'm finally going to change what I vape with. I'm currently using a MVP 5, and a Zeus tank. I've never even looked at the pods system, never had an interest or need to, but I've heard its much easier to not inhale with. And who knows, maybe it'll break my habit of constantly vaping. thats one of my biggest things, like I'm on my laptop right now, and I just always reach for it, maybe having a pod I'll break that habit and in the right direction. Just gotta get the inhalation correct!

I decided I had put my lungs through way to much during the 45+ years I smoked. When I switched to vaping I decided to give my lungs a break. I kinda suck on the vape much like one would suck on a straw. By doing it this way all the vapor is in my mouth. I hold it there for a few seconds before letting it out of nose and mouth. Some still goes into my lungs but it is just a tiny fraction of it.

Instead of lowering the nic level you may want to consider increasing it. This may help you cut down on the amount you vape. In my humble opinion it is not the nicotine causing health issues even with smoking so I don't feel the need to lower the amount of it. I have been vaping for just over 10 years now and have settled on 12mg nic. I make my own e-liquid. I go very easy on the amount of flavoring. I make my favorite menthol 220mls at a time. Of that 220ml only 10mls of it is flavoring. If we ever discover damage from vaping I suspect it is going to be caused by the amount of flavoring added to store bought e-liquid.

 

[Bliss Doubt]

Friendly suggestions:
SmokeTip.com has some of the best cigalike batteries & good cartomizers, w/ reasonable prices.
ApolloECigs.com has the best refillable clearomizers, imo.
So great of you to be helping folks that way!!! You're really a lovely soul!

Thank you MLEJ, for the friendly suggestions. This very helpful.

I'm avoiding anything refillable, and I know I could be wrong about this, but the attraction to cigalikes for frustrated people is that you pull one from the pack, use it up, and pull out another. That's what some newbies have said to me in the past anyway. The users can find their own refinements down the line.

Smoketip.com actually looks like the thing that's going to work because there are the various nic levels. The thing bugging me about other disposables was that I saw them only in 24 mg or 45 mg (!!!). I think I like these Smoketip starter kits at 16 mg, battery, 5 cartridges and a charger. I think most newbie vapers do best at 18 mg, but 16 will have to do, and I can send some in regular, some menthol.

It's not that I'm such a lovely soul. I'm a bit obsessive compulsive, and I can't stand the thought of someone failing or escaping a year long rehab program because of the grim reality of being unable to smoke at night while mulling over the day's routines, counseling sessions, discussions, breakthrough moments. Night time is when our demons come for us.

The doc who agrees the residents need something at night seems to me to be the lovely, compassionate soul in this situation.

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

People have very mixed experiences with vapeyaya. I personally had to do a chargeback as they never shipped and would never respond to communications from me inquiring about my order. I'm not the only one. I gave them a month because I really wanted my order but a month is where I draw the line with no communication.