Never touched a tobacco product in my life, my experience with vaping.

[ncore]

Hello all, my name is Nick, im 18, and of course; I am new to this forum

Anyway, I have seen a lot of people move from tobacco products to e-cigs for the following reasons:
-Cheaper to operate
-Helps to quit smoking
-Much healthier than smoking

I for one, have NEVER touched a tobacco product in my life. I never even took a single puff of anything really...

Do to some stress reasons, I wanted to feel relaxed, but I never actually wanted to smoke a cigarette. So I looked into getting an e-cig. I did a lot of research and wanted something small and powerful. I first looked into Blu e-cigs, but then decided to go with the more customizable Volt e-cigs from smokelessimage.com. About 3 months ago, I ended up picking up a starter package which included two long black batteries, 5 12mg nic cappuccino cartomizers, and a pcc. I also picked up a 30ml bottle of 12mg nic content cherry to refill my used cappuccino cartomizers.

When I started vaping, for some reason I couldn't taste the vapor too well. It just tasted sort of plain, but I could taste a burnt taste when it was time to refill the cartomizers. But when I let other people try it, they could taste the flavors really well and thought it tasted amazing. I wish I knew what I was missing

But after vaping, I could feel something kick in, and it felt good. I noticed that if I vaped A LOT without eating, I would get REALLY dizzy and feel almost drunk, and then I would get a bad stomach and/or headache. And if I ate and then vaped a lot, well... I just felt really dizzy and I liked it... Sometimes I would just lay down and listen to music while vaping for 35+ minutes straight and the vape would just sort of 'enhance' the music. I can't quite describe it.

But after 3 months of vaping with e-liquid with a 16mg nicotine content, I don't know if I am even addicted. Like I said, I never touched a tobacco product in my life, and even going without vaping for days I don't feel some deep 'craving' that I hear that people addicted to smoking have.

Since then I have gotten both my brother and father electronic cigarette kits and they love them! I bought 2 30mg bottles of different flavor nic-quids and split them up into 10ml bottles to share with the family.

Overall, I think vaping was a good thing to start and so far, I have yet to experience anything negative with the exception of a few times I got the e-liquid in my mouth.

But a couple of questions I have are:
-Why can I not taste the vape as much as everyone else? I have very good oral hygiene and I taste food just fine...
-How come I don't feel 'addicted'. What does an addiction feel like?
-Do you think it was a bad move to start vaping without having a nicotine addiction or ever trying a tobacco product.

Your feedback is much appreciated,
Cheers!

 

[wonner]

...
-Do you think it was a bad move to start vaping without having a nicotine addiction or ever trying a tobacco product...

Yes, but...

Welcome to the forum!

 

[klynnn]

Yes I think it was a bad move. I have spent a lifetime trying to get off cigarettes. Why anyone who doesn't smoke would subject themselves to alienation from society, job problems because of smoking, health ins skyrocketing and an expense that never ends is beyond my capabilities to understand. I smoked 48 years and I am done with it, vaping is for those who get smart and try a different road.

 

[OBE1]

Okay... I don't think starting any type of nicotine dependence is a good thing.

Your taste will be different than others... You may not taste certain juices as well as others.... Just like some people won't taste food the same way as you do.

Addiction is not a feeling as much as a dependence upon a substance. Most of us here know without our ecigs we will end up smoking cigarettes again and we are substituting vapor as a healthier way to deliver the chemical in which we are addicted to.

My advice to you is that if you can go days or more without the need to use the ecig then stop all together before you end up addicted to nicotine. The intention of ecigs is not to get you a buzz which is what you are describing. Your use of vaping is exactly what all of us don't want to see.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

That is because nicotine is not addictive in and of itself. The other 4000 chemicals that are in cigarettes and that are produced when cigarettes are lit do.

Smokers use ecigs to help to keep those cravings away from them while still getting the nicotine. to start a habit ...just because it is 'cool' does show your youth. Nicotine is a vascular restictor so you could end up doing some damage to your body. Maybe, maybe not. All things come with risks so don't kid yourself. Be glad you were never bound by the ball and chain of a cigarette addiction.

Why don't you try out for sports or something constructive? You would serve yourself much more than chasing a 'buzz' when really all it is doing is poisoning your body. You are giving yourself too much nic and that is why you are feeling dizzy. Not cool.

 

[LisaR]

Hi, Nick. I'm sorry if this isn't going to be what you want to hear, but I really do have your best interests at heart. To answer your questions (IMHO):

-I have no idea why you can't taste the vape. Sorry, I'm no help on that.
-You do not even want to know what an addiction feels like. If you don't feel "addicted", then just stop. Stop now. Because eventually you will become addicted to nicotine.
-Yes, I think it was a bad move to start vaping without having a nicotine addiction. There is absolutely no sense in getting an addiction you don't need.

I think most people on here would agree. As much as most of us love vaping, we started because we were already addicted to cigarettes and nicotine. Vaping is almost certainly healthier than smoking cigarettes, but that doesn't mean it is entirely without risks. I know you are enjoying the nicotine, but that is because it is a drug. Most of us got started smoking, and addicted to it because, well, nicotine is addictive! Please stop now, while you can.

If your brother and father were formerly smokers, and you helped them switch over to vaping, then that's good news. If they were not, they should all stop, as well.

Really, I know this response sounds naggy, but I do mean well. I was a little younger than you when I started smoking, and I really, really wish I had never even tried it. I love my e-cigarettes, but that's because I spent 30 years trying to break the chains of a cigarette addiction, and couldn't do it.

Best of luck to you,
Lisa

 

[MD_Boater]

I agree with all of the above. Give any eLiquid that you have with nic in it away. Then buy 0mg nic, and USE IT. Trust us. Do not play "chicken" with addiction or dependency. They have a nasty way of sneaking up on you.

 

[Jimi D.]

Being addicted to nicotine is not a good feeling. The withdrawals are far worse than alcohol, and other things. I've been clean and sober for over 6 years now. Still to this day I can't get off the nicotine. It takes time for the nicotine addiction to develop. But when it hits you, you'll know it. It's your choice of what you want to do.

 

[LisaR]

That is because nicotine is not addictive in and of itself. The other 4000 chemicals that are in cigarettes and that are produced when cigarettes are lit do.

Smokers use ecigs to help to keep those cravings away from them while still getting the nicotine. to start a habit ...just because it is 'cool' does show your youth. Nicotine is a vascular restictor so you could end up doing some damage to your body. Maybe, maybe not. All things come with risks so don't kid yourself. Be glad you were never bound by the ball and chain of a cigarette addiction.

Why don't you try out for sports or something constructive? You would serve yourself much more than chasing a 'buzz' when really all it is doing is poisoning your body. You are giving yourself too much nic and that is why you are feeling dizzy. Not cool.

I don't agree that nicotine is not addictive in and of itself. I think that people's resistance to its addictiveness varies, and yes, the other 4000 chemicals can enhance (or even be greater than) the addictiveness of nicotine. But nicotine IS addictive.

Totally agree with everything else in your response, though!

 

[Rickajho]

But a couple of questions I have are:
-Why can I not taste the vape as much as everyone else? I have very good oral hygiene and I taste food just fine...

Everyone is built differently when it comes to the taste buds on the tongue that detect things like sweet, hot, sour etc. That's one of the reasons why picking liquids you enjoy is a highly personalized affair. It would be interesting to see what happens when you find a flavor you love - and give it to your circle to try - based on observations so far.

How you inhale effects what you taste as well. Taking hard, tight draws - like sucking on a straw - can make the flavor components in vapor largely bypass your tongue altogether.

-How come I don't feel 'addicted'. What does an addiction feel like?

Because you probably aren't. Addiction to cigarettes is a very complex chemical matter, including small amounts of MAOI's (antidepressants) that are created when burning processed tobacco. There are about 4,000 different chemicals produced in tobacco smoke. In vaping that total is down to about... a half dozen. Addiction to smoking isn't just about the nicotine.

-Do you think it was a bad move to start vaping without having a nicotine addiction or ever trying a tobacco product.

Well, from this side of the fence as an ex 2 PAD smoker, if I had never started smoking I don't think I could see the appeal of vaping. In the great scheme of things nicotine from vaping is a pretty mild stimulant vaped at a reasonable concentration. Under any circumstances it's better you tried vaping than smoking. You most likely can just stop it any time if you care to. Having said all that I don't think vaping just for the sake of vaping is probably the best idea for anyone. But if you are of legal age to buy vape gear where you live I'm not about to tell you to not do it either.

 

[SimianSteam]

No insult meant to the OP, but this is exactly what the Anti-tobacco advocates are talking about when they say that eCigs can be used as a gateway. I haven't seen this very often at all, but I worry that threads like this can be used as ammunition...

 

[AegisPrime]

But a couple of questions I have are:
-Why can I not taste the vape as much as everyone else? I have very good oral hygiene and I taste food just fine...
-How come I don't feel 'addicted'. What does an addiction feel like?
-Do you think it was a bad move to start vaping without having a nicotine addiction or ever trying a tobacco product.

Can't really say why you're not tasting the vape so I'll leave that for others to speculate on.

Re: addiction - I'll quote myself from a previous post on ECF:

I recognise the addictive effect nicotine has on me - if I'm getting low on e-liquid I get stressed about it because I don't want to run out. If I can't vape for whatever reason and I want to I'll get distracted and irritable. Thus far I haven't had to, but I've no doubt that if my vapemail doesn't arrive on time I'll probably pick up some cigarettes to tide me over until it does - I don't want to but I probably will.

I'm on a pretty low income at the moment and there's been times in the past when I've had to choose between eating and smoking - and every time I've picked smoking - if that's not an addiction, I don't know what is.

Some of us here don't mind being addicted to nicotine, some have given it up altogether or are cutting down in order to cut their dependency on it - I don't think there's a single one of us here that wants to be addicted though. And even those that are content with their addiction (including myself) are here because they wanted an alternative to something that was poisoning them.

Only you can say whether you think vaping nicotine is a bad move or not - the fact that you're even asking us says to me that you think it is. Part of being an adult is taking responsibility for your own choices and not looking to others for (dis)approval.

 

[AmandaD]

You asked, so I will give you my opinion. As an ex pack a day smoker for almost 40 years, I can assure you that nicotine is highly addictive. However, so it the smoking habit. Both are reasons most of us are on this forum. You're 18 - why even chance something that might cause an addiction? It makes absolutely no sense to me, but then again I'm the mother of a 16-year old, and I would be horrified if she picked up even a 0 nic vape. Why? Because at my age vaping is by the far the lesser of two evils. At her age - and yours - you have many, many years ahead of you. While I consider vaping much safer for me, I would never say that vaping is safe for a young person who has never even smoked. My 02c worth!

 

[Racehorse]

No insult meant to the OP, but this is exactly what the Anti-tobacco advocates are talking about when they say that eCigs can be used as a gateway. I haven't seen this very often at all, but I worry that threads like this can be used as ammunition...

Know what ya mean, but we can't cover all the bases, people need to be able to speak freely though.

I work in canine rescue, and we had some people in the org that felt that we should keep some of the (horrific) neglect and abuse that we encountered on the low-down, lest PETA see it.......an use it for ammunition.

(Well, that is kinda hard to do esp. when you are prosecuting somebody who did horrible things to an animal.

And contrary to what a lot of people think, many of us in animal rescue are not pro-PETA, because of the way they often manipulate information.

But count me among those who believe that information is power.......and fortunately or unfortunately, some of the information is not what you want on the front page, but speaking to truth is more important. I can't in good conscience not raise awareness of why canines need certain neglect laws just because the wrong org. might see it.

I read so many other topics that don't put "some" vaping stuff in a kind light :
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/508074-shop-i-wont-go.html

 

[Silent Knight]

Welcome to ECF.

That said - I have to join the chorus of those who say throw away the nicotine solutions. As a 35-year cig smoker who recently switched to vaping, I wouldn't wish a nic dependency on anyone...especially if your purpose is to simply ease stress. I do a lot of mountain biking and trail riding...and find that helps infinitely better to relieve stress (for me, at least). The exercise and fresh air does wonders.

Trust me - you don't want to go down that nicotine dependency road. Aside from the health factors - it's a neverending cost.

 

[fajuvo]

Throw the e cigs in the trash man or give them to a smoker not trying to make u waste money but cigarettes are so addicting (nicotine), that's why I vape if it didn't give me my addiction feel i wouldn't be vaping at all in no way does it look cool looks like someone sucking on a flute or does it feel cool.. cigarettes (Nicotine) helps with stress for them who are addicted feeding an addiction always helps with stress, for someone not addicted (yet, you keep vaping u will be), I would think it wouldn't calm you or do anything for you but give you a short buzz

 

[zoiDman]

...

-Do you think it was a bad move to start vaping without having a nicotine addiction or ever trying a tobacco product.

Your feedback is much appreciated,
Cheers!

I think people who Do Not have Monkeys on their backs should Not Buy Monkeys.

 

[WarHawk-AVG]

Just imagine...if he vaped for 20 years...I don't think he would have the leather lungs of cigarette smokers AND the years of beating upon his immune system with the very high levels of carbon monoxide.

As smokers we can tell you if we had the ability to go back in time and kick our younger selfs .... for picking up the first one we would...we have dealt with the problems associated with smoking, and honestly between smoking cigs vs vaping...vaping is by far the best route to take.

I hate to say it that way but if you are going to take on a very bad habit...vaping is one that I believe is the least harmful to you, but getting addicted and developing a bad habit...not a road any of us will ever recommend someone take.

Because hey...the damage from cigarette smoking well http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/general-e-liquid-discussion/465485-its-not-nicotine.html

 

[ShariR]

Just something to think about. Do you know that more and more employers are testing people for nicotine? If you show positive for nicotine you may find yourself not getting a job, fired from a job, not getting health insurance or paying 2x as much for health insurance. Is it worth it for a casual hobby and/or a slight buzz???

Give the ecig to a smoker who needs to quit smoking. That should give you a good feeling buzz.

 

[Uma]

Everyone is built differently when it comes to the taste buds on the tongue that detect things like sweet, hot, sour etc. That's one of the reasons why picking liquids you enjoy is a highly personalized affair. It would be interesting to see what happens when you find a flavor you love - and give it to your circle to try - based on observations so far.

How you inhale effects what you taste as well. Taking hard, tight draws - like sucking on a straw - can make the flavor components in vapor largely bypass your tongue altogether.


Because you probably aren't. Addiction to cigarettes is a very complex chemical matter, including small amounts of MAOI's (antidepressants) that are created when burning processed tobacco. There are about 4,000 different chemicals produced in tobacco smoke. In vaping that total is down to about... a half dozen. Addiction to smoking isn't just about the nicotine.


Well, from this side of the fence as an ex 2 PAD smoker, if I had never started smoking I don't think I could see the appeal of vaping. In the great scheme of things nicotine from vaping is a pretty mild stimulant vaped at a reasonable concentration. Under any circumstances it's better you tried vaping than smoking. You most likely can just stop it any time if you care to. Having said all that I don't think vaping just for the sake of vaping is probably the best idea for anyone. But if you are of legal age to buy vape gear where you live I'm not about to tell you to not do it either.

^^ this ^^
Also, the less nicotine you use, the more the flavor shines. Try various Flavors, various mg strengths, and try for mostly PG mixes. PG provides flavor, VG provides vapor. Most of us like both.

Nicotine is a dependency, not an addiction. Most of us were indeed addicted to smoking real cigs, like Rick said, but once we are comfortable with vaping it is pretty easy to slowly wean ourselves off nicotine if wanted. That is impossible to do with real cigs to date.
However, after years of timely smoking, the hand to mouth habit is still one more step to overcome on our way towards a habit free life. Vaping allows us to work on one issue at a time, in a relaxed stress free manner. (Barring political nonsense)

Nature gave us all inborn instincts for survival. Some are active Hunters. Others are the Gatherers. The Gatherers have a tendency to have a hand to mouth habit inborn. Nail biters, end of hair chewers, cupboard & refrigerator attraction. They are always drinking or snacking or chewing on pencils let's say. These Gatherers have a difficult time not gathering! In the wild, they would be the part of the clan picking (& tasting) the berries, nuts, fruits, roots, leaves... constantly doing something with their hands & taste buds. In civilization, they are the ones constantly snacking on the fruit loops, nut bowl, carrots, gummy bears, apples, coffee, soda, tea, ... and smoking.
This is why smoking suppresses the appetite no doubt. It's more of a satisfies the soul kind of deal if you ask me though.
Hunters who tried in during boredom, don't usually become as addicted to it all. They're the ones who can go for long bouts without wanting one at all. Others discovered their focus improved, or something, so they perhaps enjoy it a little more often. But that doesn't mean you won't get addicted.
This is long, sorry, but it helps to know the basic nature, plus your own particular personality quirks. Nobody else knows for you. Most of us hate the dizzy though, & to be honest, very seldom experience it. It's not why we vape. If we want a dizzy feeling, we just spin around in circles. Whoopy.

How will you know if you are addicted? The first sign to look for is when you look more forward to coming home for a vape than a hug from your loved ones or a muffin in the toaster or a nice hot shower or to watch your favorite show. The vape will be your priority. This realization means, it's time to take a step back & take control of your life back. It's your responsibility. It's your responsibility to listen to your loved ones who alert you to your new "love". I was like Agies, I would go without eating before going without smokes. No doubt about it! Although I would get testy, irritable, upset, if I can't vape, (due to the hand & mouth habit I've always had), I would be able to vape nic free just fine. I would buy VG or PG and vape just fine. I would lose focus, my memory would crumble further, I wouldn't be as content, but I wouldn't go crazy panic mad. The nicotine is a dependency, like caffein is. But, that's me.

Vaping helps most of us forget about smoking, wean off nicotine, etc.. so, if you one day find yourself addicted, at least you've found the right product to help you UN- addict yourself haha.

Oh, and foragers. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/277071/hunting-and-gathering-culture