Need to quit the ECig

[InTheCity]

I've been vaping for close to 18 months and I've decided its time to call it a day. I'm feeling overall very healthy, except I suffer from a lot of Heartburn (or at least, stomach upsets) that I suspect has been caused by over-vaping. The condition certainly causes me a lot of pain when I 'over vape' and I have no control over my vaping, it's like I must have the device in hand near 24/7.

I fear that I've become almost more addicted to Nicotine since starting this device, I vape like a maniac and feel frequently like I'm getting a killer buzz from this stuff.

I'm just curious at this point, if anybody who's managed to quit analogs, has also managed to quit their ecig. And whether or not that experience was particularly difficult compared with previous attempts to quit.

Thanks.

 

[Zelphie]

Just curious, how much nicotine where you using?

 

[TypeOholic]

This is a good post that asks some good questions. Free bump for you.

I just recently started vaping in order to quit cigarettes. I got my first kit on 10/20/10 and started off with 24 MG nic. I have already cut down to 12 and 18 MG nic. I use a 12 MG nic in the morning when I wake up then 18 MG throughout the day. If I know I will be vaping heavily I switch back to 12 MG. I plan to stay at this level for a while before going lower again. Mostly because I have a lot of 12 and 18 MG juice right now. But, I will eventually want to quit completely or at least go to 0 nic juice. So, I am interested in what others have to say.

 

[Vapenstein]

Prilosec is your friend.

 

[rons29445]

Have you tried going down to a 0mg juice during the day or evening?

I know what you mean about the upset stomach. It may be from the juice.

I start off some days with 24mg or 18mg, then down to 12mg for most of the day, then 0mg for the evening to bedtime.

Switch it up some.

 

[grandmato5]

Yes, there stories here on ECF of people that have gone from smoking to vaping to 0 nic to giving up vaping. Some with relatively little trouble. Other's that have tried have had a great deal of difficulty giving it up. From reading the experiences of other it would seem as the most common sucess stories come from those that reduce the nic level they are using over time until they find themselves vaping at a 0 nic level and then continue vaping for a while and finally give that up.

 

[Brego]

I've been vaping for close to 18 months and I've decided its time to call it a day. I'm feeling overall very healthy, except I suffer from a lot of Heartburn (or at least, stomach upsets) that I suspect has been caused by over-vaping. The condition certainly causes me a lot of pain when I 'over vape' and I have no control over my vaping, it's like I must have the device in hand near 24/7.

I fear that I've become almost more addicted to Nicotine since starting this device, I vape like a maniac and feel frequently like I'm getting a killer buzz from this stuff.

I'm just curious at this point, if anybody who's managed to quit analogs, has also managed to quit their ecig. And whether or not that experience was particularly difficult compared with previous attempts to quit.

Thanks.

Although not stated, I am going to assume you were a smoker. What kind of a smoker were you? A normal smoker, or did you chain-smoke? Reading through the forum I have noticed quite a few people who freely admit they are chain-vaping like you are but I am willing to bet they were not chain-smokers. Why does that happen? Nicotine level too low? For me, I vape far less than I ever smoked. As a smoker I realized we were trained to consume nicotine in cigarettes-worth units at a time and I appreciate vaping freeing me from that.

Undoubtedly your heartburn is caused by vaping. Anything consumed 24/7 will do that.

I don't know what to tell you because I don't understand why people become chain-vapers in the first place.

 

[StormFinch]

Although not stated, I am going to assume you were a smoker. What kind of a smoker were you? A normal smoker, or did you chain-smoke? Reading through the forum I have noticed quite a few people who freely admit they are chain-vaping like you are but I am willing to bet they were not chain-smokers. Why does that happen? Nicotine level too low? For me, I vape far less than I ever smoked. As a smoker I realized we were trained to consume nicotine in cigarettes-worth units at a time and I appreciate vaping freeing me from that.

Undoubtedly your heartburn is caused by vaping. Anything consumed 24/7 will do that.

I don't know what to tell you because I don't understand why people become chain-vapers in the first place.

There are at least a few reasons why some people chain vape. Chain smoking wasn't an option due to the physical and financial effects, but those are less of a worry with vaping. I think you'll find that chain vapers are for the most part either new to vaping, or were confirmed smokers who never actually planned to quit. Some vapers are also admittedly addicted to the hand to mouth pacifier effect as much as the nicotine, if not more so.

It's pretty common to see new vapers report that they are chain vaping, but other vapers that have been at it awhile will then reassure them that eventually it will taper off. I think the effort to quit smoking, the "new toy" perception, and the fact that is tastes so much better than any analog comes into play here. On the other hand, the confirmed smokers liked smoking, and some need the nicotine in various ways to function. Vaping became a way to get away from the health problems they were developing, or a way to save money. They don't care that they now chain vape because they feel so much better and are still getting their nicotine. Financially they may not be much better off because they're now also collecting e-cig models and juice flavors, but hey, they're happy.

 

[InTheCity]

Prilosec is your friend.

Prilosec is not your friend. Having all the proton pumps in your stomach completely stopped, so you no longer break down essential nutrients like Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin B12 is a bad thing.

Prilosec is a poor excuse to continue doing something unhealthy, like over eating or over vaping and not addressing the real issues, like poor diet and lack of exercise.

 

[InTheCity]

I like the idea of tapering off, and I've gotten down from 36mg to 11mg and have stayed this way for a good while.
Might be time to lower the dose further and then as you say, keep lowering.

I don't know what else to say, but pulling the plug seems like a hassle.

 

[Vapenstein]

Okay Dr. InTheCity, thank you for that diagnosis. Acid reflux is an issue that affects millions of people, and short of surgery the reduction in acid production caused by taking omeprazole is delivery from very unpleasant symptoms for a lot of people. Don't tell me I have poor diet or need more exercise. You know absolutely nothing about me or my lifestyle, other than the fact that I vape.

 

[InTheCity]

Just curious, how much nicotine where you using?

I'm vaping a 15ml bottle about every 3 days.

 

[closetsmokr]

I am not trying to be snarky, but how would vaping cause "stomach" issues? Is it possible that the two are not related,but heartburn or reflux onset caused by other factors? There are many times when I like to "blame" my Multiple Sclerosis for things, but I am often wrong. Some things are age related, some are due to natural changes your body goes through, some are caused by stress, etc, etc. I guess if you used a dif flavor with lower nic and no pg and that didn't help, but quitting completely cleared it up, then you could theorize that the cause was vaping. Each person is slightly different, so what helps one may harm another. Just some thoughts I had after reading these posts...

 

[owutaqt]

Not taking anything for constant heartburn is just as bad, it can cause esophageal cancer and other things. Talk to your doctor and do you have an Ego that you are using a cone with? I cannot use a cone or I get baad heartburn. Don't know why.

 

[NurseCin]

Okay Dr. InTheCity, thank you for that diagnosis. Acid reflux is an issue that affects millions of people, and short of surgery the reduction in acid production caused by taking omeprazole is delivery from very unpleasant symptoms for a lot of people. Don't tell me I have poor diet or need more exercise. You know absolutely nothing about me or my lifestyle, other than the fact that I vape.

I agree with you there! It's amazing how judgmental people are. That's all I'm gonna say about that

 

[Vchick]

Just a note here....if you're vaping liquid with VG in it, it does contain sugar on it's own, not considering any additional sweetner added to a mixed flavor (check the label on pure VG). I was vaping 100VG and developed alot of heartburn, stomach issues, etc. I've gone down to a 80pg/20vg mix and have found that most of this has disappeared for me. While I know we're vaping the vapor, the sugar played a big factor for me HTH

 

[JollyRogers]

Start with a plan. I started with 24mg. Went to 18mg and just switched to 11mg nicotine. Will continue till I get to 0 nicotine then will start rationing myself to less and less, till finally I will be off it. Hopefully. But I don't vape 5ml a day! I am vaping 2-2.5 ml a day, and here recently that has gone down a little also. My only issue if I over vape is possible sore throat/mouth or a lot of flem, like just getting over a cold...

 

[kristin]

I've been vaping 16 months and my e-cig rarely leaves my hand. I use 10mg liquid. I'm definitely more about the hand/mouth thing.

Maybe it's not the need for nicotine which causes your over-vaping. Maybe it's other things in the tobacco you're missing. Try Swedish snus. It's health risks are the same or better than e-cigarettes and could help give you what you are missing. I suggest using a low mg liquid if you suppliment with snus, though.

You could also try 8mg liquid for a while, It may be the hand/mouth action you need and not the nicotine. You could also try VG instead of PG liquid.

But the key is to figure out WHY you smoked in the first place. What are your triggers? What is your body needing - the action or the nicotine?

You can only figure it out by experimenting by lowering nicotine doses and trying other alternatives. But my guess is that you are over vaping and getting too much nicotine because you are over compensating for the lack of other tobacco alkaloids.

 

[InTheCity]

Okay Dr. InTheCity, thank you for that diagnosis. Acid reflux is an issue that affects millions of people, and short of surgery the reduction in acid production caused by taking omeprazole is delivery from very unpleasant symptoms for a lot of people. Don't tell me I have poor diet or need more exercise. You know absolutely nothing about me or my lifestyle, other than the fact that I vape.

Just because you exist outside of the stereotypical priolsec abuser scenario, doesn't make my observations any less true in most situations. I take Kapidex to control my acid, but would seriously rather not and hate that its only a mask for the condition and not an actual remedy.

Sorry if I offended you though.

 

[InTheCity]

I am not trying to be snarky, but how would vaping cause "stomach" issues? Is it possible that the two are not related,but heartburn or reflux onset caused by other factors? There are many times when I like to "blame" my Multiple Sclerosis for things, but I am often wrong. Some things are age related, some are due to natural changes your body goes through, some are caused by stress, etc, etc. I guess if you used a dif flavor with lower nic and no pg and that didn't help, but quitting completely cleared it up, then you could theorize that the cause was vaping. Each person is slightly different, so what helps one may harm another. Just some thoughts I had after reading these posts...

There are numerous threads here and on medical boards that say nicotine causes the stomach to produce more acid.
On top of that PG causes your body to produce lactic acid, which can in turn make your body too acidic.

While the E-cig is a great device, it's no miracle cure. At least not for me.