I've been lurking for awhile. Finally decided to register and introduce myself. :)

[clever_innuendo]

Hey, everybody! *waves*

They decided back in October to ban smoking at my community college starting this semester, so since then, I'd been researching this site to find a good kit for my needs. Y'all have been invaluable!

Finally got myself an eGo-T with a 1000 mah battery on Thursday from my local Austin-area shop (could have gotten it cheaper online, but decided to support my local shop, since it's the only one for miles). Loving it so far. Actually upgraded to an LR atty today because I wanted more vapor/flavor. Now it's even better!

On Thursday, I was a PAD smoker for nearly 10 years (yeah, I'm only 22, but I started when I was 12 or 13), and as of yesterday, I was down to two analogs. Today, my goal is to have NONE. Doing great so far. Getting a better flavor than basic tobacco has really helped. Sore throat went away yesterday too. I'm still dealing with a bit of anxiety though. I reach over to grab a cig, and there aren't any. lol. Anyone have any strategies for dealing with that when it happens? (By the way, I'm using 80/20 PG/VG in 36mg nicotine...double mocha flavor today. Yum!) Also dealing with typical quitting-smoking symptoms, like pretty bad insomnia and mental "fog". Other than that, I'm transitioning rather smoothly.

Already noticing a difference in how I feel, too. I deliver pizzas for a giant corporate chain place, so I have to climb lots of stairs to second and third floor apartments. Sometimes I'd be so winded, I'd have to wait a minute before knocking on the door so I could actually talk to the customer. Now I don't feel like I'm going to die every time I climb stairs.

So, any advice on the anxiety/insomnia thing or tips and tricks for me eGo would be much appreciated.

 

[dearme]

Welcome to ECF and congratulations on starting vaping.

 

[dordas23]

Welcome, clever! I'm afraid the insomnia and brain-fog will just have to be endured for a while. I promise, they will pass. It sounds like you've made a great start.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Congrats on switching. My drink lots of water as vaping causes dehydration. If you have sleep problems buy a lower nic level juice for the evenings- regular daytime nic vape was keeping me awake.

Edit: I vape 20 mg during the day and 10 mg in the evening.

 

[Keeno]

Congratulations on taking the big "leap"....enjoy your stay...

 

[DeLuca]

Welcome clever_innuendo! Nice name, avatar, and story hahaha!
I too have the eGo 1000 mah battery, I have the tank system though (eGo-T).

With my transition from analogs the only symptom I had was a soar throat, which went away like yours, so I can't really help you there, but using an electronic cigarette is definitely a good thing for your overall health. Maybe 36mg is too high, I usually vape at 18-24 max. When I started I ordered the 36mg, and felt sick for a while, until I lowered the mg. That *might* be the problem, but I'm not certain.

The nic level is calculated per milliliter (ml).
36mg means, 36mg per ml (about 20 drops). Which your standard analog contains 1-1.5mg. And 20 drops is not equivalent to a pack of 20 cigarettes. So your body is taking in a more nicotine when your vaping with your liquid. Again, this is just a suggestion

Welcome aboard.

 

[Del Boy]

Hey 'clever innuendo' well done for so far.

As someone said above you'll just have to weather the early storms (insomnia/foggy moments). They wont be around more than a week or two at most. The biggest deal is that you have gone from a 20 a day to 2 ???? Brilliant.

For times when i struggled with it all (early on) i just chugged and chugged away till i had enough nic in my system to calm me.
Tip - don't be complacent. It seems fairly easy to quit with the help of an e cig. But you are still only a few analogs away from being right back where you started.

You're doing great though....well done.

 

[Lisa66]

Welcome, clever innuendo! I agree with vapoor eyes er - possibly get yourself some juice in a lower nic level for the few hours before you go to bed.... it helped me with the sleeplessness.

 

[Headabovewater]

Congratulations! I'm new too. Wishing you the best of luck!

 

[kabonk]

I didn't have any anxiety over not having cigarettes because I had a pack an 1/2 of Marlboro mediums in my freezer for the first 5 months of vaping I never smoked them I just need to know they were there.

 

[clever_innuendo]

Thanks, guys!

Yeah, might need to lower the nic level. I just figured I'd start with the highest I could get and see how that did for me, then adjust as needed. Easier to dilute and all that. I dealt with pretty bad insomnia last time I tried to quit smoking cold turkey. So a lower "evening level" and some Tylenol PM would probably do the trick.

@ Del Boy: Yeah, I'm pretty impressed with how quickly I cut down. In my earlier quit attempts, I'd have been having a panic attack, bawling my eyes out, and hyperventilating by now. Haha. I just feel pretty chill with this. Haven't smoked at all today. Didn't even bother buying any more when the last pack ran out. After a couple of days, I started noticing how "dirty" analogs taste in comparison. Nasty aftertaste in my mouth. Ick. Now I notice how bad my apartment reeks of cigarettes. I used to never smoke inside, but we've had a pretty nasty winter here in Austin (lots of rain and stuff), so I got lazy and started smoking inside. Think I'll be going on a scrubbing/Febreeze spree on my next off day.

 

[dcinky]

Congrats on taking the BIG step to quitting..*clap*
I smoked for over 30 years. I have COPD and HAD to quit. My daughter researched e-cigarettes and talked me into trying them. Both her and I have quit. Smoked my last analog about 4pm Nov 14th. Haven't touched one since. Haven't even had a craving for one. But I vape Atomic Fireball flavor. Yummy...
Stay with it ..I tell you its worth it.

 

[EmmaJo]

Welcome clever_innuendo! Sounds like you will be putting the cigs down in no time.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Re: insomnia try taking a Gravol moments before you're ready to crash- no drugs only chalk but should help you get to sleep- recommended by my Dr.
Good Luck.

 

[clever_innuendo]

@ dcinky

Well, that's impressive for you too. Glad you quit before your disease got worse!

It's good that I'm quitting while I'm young, still in my early twenties. I hear that after a few years, my lungs can completely return to normal, as if I'd never smoked. Not sure if that's true or how long it takes.

When I got the kit, I split it with my roomie, who also goes to school with me. From the first day, he didn't even want to smoke anymore. He had a nearly full pack and didn't know what to do with them. I told him to give them to a homeless person, so he did. The lady he gave them to was pretty happy about that.

 

[krissyyy]

Hey Clever!

Congrats on your deciding to switch! I'm new here too. I went from almost a pack to day down to zero on Saturday and haven't looked back!

I did notice that I was having a lot of trouble sleeping too the first 2 nights, and cutting from 24mg to 16mg about 2 hours before I went to sleep helped for me. I slept like a baby last night. Haha.

Good Luck!

 

[Del Boy]

Well done all of you.

Clever - it is amazing how, once you stop smoking, you realise just how much it smells on everything. I had almost forgotten the 'gungky' taste in my mouth every single morning of my life. It just simply doesnt happen now.

I think you are right and your lungs will fully recover to 'as new' condition after about 10 years. The improvements in the first year, the first month, even the first week should make you feel soooooo good. Good enough to not want to smoke again.
Please keep posting. I'd like to see how you progress (selfish i know but .....hey).

 

[clever_innuendo]

Yeah, I can smell everything now. Of course, the downside is now I have to smell all the nasty smells of life too. lol. I have to go to some pretty grotty places for work, so if I thought I smelled that "drug lab" smell before, I'll sure smell it now!

I actually think I just hit the 24-hour mark without an analog! Can't remember what time it was when I smoked yesterday, but it was at some point in the late afternoon. It's now 4PM my time. *pats self on back* And since this is way cheaper than smoking, I can now afford to go see a movie this weekend. Well, after I stock up on Febreeze, that is. Haha.

Also, what about steeping? Is that really necessary? I got a large 30ml bottle of tobacco flavor for free with my kit, but I've been buying little 3ml bottles of other flavors to try lately, and I don't really want to wait a week before I actually taste them.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Try the flavors on an atomizer and if they don't taste good try steeping them. Testing on an atty saves possibly ruining a carto.

Yeah, I can smell everything now. Of course, the downside is now I have to smell all the nasty smells of life too. lol. I have to go to some pretty grotty places for work, so if I thought I smelled that "drug lab" smell before, I'll sure smell it now!

I actually think I just hit the 24-hour mark without an analog! Can't remember what time it was when I smoked yesterday, but it was at some point in the late afternoon. It's now 4PM my time. *pats self on back* And since this is way cheaper than smoking, I can now afford to go see a movie this weekend. Well, after I stock up on Febreeze, that is. Haha.

Also, what about steeping? Is that really necessary? I got a large 30ml bottle of tobacco flavor for free with my kit, but I've been buying little 3ml bottles of other flavors to try lately, and I don't really want to wait a week before I actually taste them.

 

[Shamruck]

I didn't have any anxiety over not having cigarettes because I had a pack an 1/2 of Marlboro mediums in my freezer for the first 5 months of vaping I never smoked them I just need to know they were there.

+1

I still had half a pack of pall mall menthol in my freezer when my very first kit arrived. Since I was vapeing nicotine and I feel I had prepared myself for the transition mentally I really cant say I experienced any symptoms of withdrawl, it was actually as benign as switching to Zest from Irish Spring Congrats on your switch though, welcome to ECF and welcome to VAPEING!

Shamruck