New and trying to Prepare for Vaping

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djsvapour

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Those little guys will help cut back on real cigs but won't be enough to help you quit entirely. You'll have to move on to the egos at the minimum possibly something a little larger to quit finally. I'm one of those people whose withdrawal symptoms would never let up even after weeks and would turn into depression that only smoking a cigarette would break. I was convinced it would be impossible for me for me to stop. I'm now 6 months free from real cigs and have lowered my nicotine level in my e juice from 48mg down to 6mg with out ever suffering once. Even in the past year vaping has improved so much that it finally completely eclipses cigarettes.

Wonderful. I am deeply moved. :)

Thank you for this.
 

Ann48

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Thank you so much everyone for your quick replies! I was too afraid to use it yesterday...so I just kept reading here and preparing. If I can think of this as the preparing phase rather than I failed (yesterday) that's a lot more positive. I know my personality though...and I have to be careful not to "prepare" too long :).

You're right....I know it's coming. I am going to have to try something else because the analogs are causing me more and more problems. I mean first thing this morning with the horrible cough and shortness of breath - that's REALLY scarey. Sometimes the coughing wakes me at night! This is getting ridiculous, especially when I have to get up and go to work every day. I know that doesn't get better - I watched my mom and her struggles. She ended up as she got older and as analogs robbed her of her life...smoking continually when she was awake because she could do nothing else! 3-4 packs a day sometimes! She told me one time she slept a lot through the day because it got her away from smoking. Had I known about vaping..or if they would have been available, I would have helped her try them.

Adria said to think of it as switching brands. I've started doing that surprisingly! I remember when I switched from menthol to regular years ago and told myself its that or nothing....I made it work! I remember telling people I switched, but smoking those tasted like hanging my head over a burn barrel compared to menthol. So it's partially a mind set for me...not giving myself the option of staying as it is because of the problems it's causing. I thought back then menthol caused my problems...so I switched.

Buggainok - I'm approaching 60, which in itself is a wake up call. I started smoking with my entire family (I was the baby) when I was 15-16 ish. The quality of my life is going downhill, which it may anyway - but I don't want to speed it up with the analogs. I work around people who tend to care about the addiction aspect. I don't care about that because I believe there are healthy addictions :). And I'm hoping this is a healthier alternative to reg cigs.

Thank you all again. I hope this works for me.
 

Ann48

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Spazmelda, I'm about 40ish miles from Lancaster where I see there are two shops? Just didn't know if they are good ones to go to. I'm in southeastern OH.

Been reading on forum about VG/PG and possible issues people have with that. Is that the vaping stuff - vapor? How do you find out your nicotine level? I smoke Now 100s, about 1 pack to 1 1/2 day. They used to say lowest in tar/nicotine on the pack until they weren't allowed to do that anymore. I am trying to find how much nicotine Blu disposables have in them...and if there is VG/PG in them - even if there is, I don't even know what it is yet. Oh boy. Lots of questions!
 

snork

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Please try to have fun with vaping. Let what happens happen and smile about it. It's a new and exciting adventure, and rest assured the chances of feeling *worse* are extremely remote.
As I approach my three year anniversary there is still not a day goes by that I don't thank God for the gifts vaping has given me.
 

Spazmelda

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I'm not familiar with either of the vape shops in Lancaster. If you could make the trip to Columbus, you could visit a great shop called altsmoke. That might be a bit far for you though. Did anyone post this website: Ohio E-Cigarette Vendors. That will allow you to search for a vape shop close by. It's probably not comprehensive as new vape shops are opening up left and right all over the place.

The pg and VG are essentially the "vape stuff". The liquids we use are made of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, nicotine, and flavorings. You can get liquids with just pg or just VG, but a mix is more common. VG is a bit of a thicker liquid and gives a more smooth vape. Pg is thinner and tends to let the nicotine give more of a throat hit. These two liquids allow the nicotine to dissolve, and produce the vapor when they are heated with a coil of wire. Some people can be sensitive to pg. It's not super common, but it does happen occasionally.

You are probably going to want to start around 12-18 mg/ml of nicotine. It may take some experimenting to find the level that is right. Finding the right liquid is one of the most important things that determine the success of vaping. Both the right nicotine level and a flavor you like are important. Going to a shop can help you find a flavor you like. They usually have tasting bars where you can sample the flavors. Otherwise, you can order sample packs at many online vendors.
 

djsvapour

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I am trying to find how much nicotine Blu disposables have in them...

That's not too hard.

Blu will say they do 400 puffs. They might, but it matters little whether they do 100 or 1,000.

What matters is the nicotine yield. A cartomizer will provide somewhere around half a pack of cigarettes in nicotine. (yes, that been proven, scientifically).

So, if they do 400 puffs, that's 40 for every cigarette. Try one, you might like it. :)
 

Joe P.

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Spazmelda, I'm about 40ish miles from Lancaster where I see there are two shops? Just didn't know if they are good ones to go to. I'm in southeastern OH.

Been reading on forum about VG/PG and possible issues people have with that. Is that the vaping stuff - vapor? How do you find out your nicotine level? I smoke Now 100s, about 1 pack to 1 1/2 day. They used to say lowest in tar/nicotine on the pack until they weren't allowed to do that anymore. I am trying to find how much nicotine Blu disposables have in them...and if there is VG/PG in them - even if there is, I don't even know what it is yet. Oh boy. Lots of questions!

I am trying to find how much nicotine Blu disposables have in them (Not enough) :(
Disposables can be good to see how body reacts to eCigs.
I tried to get the Blu's and quite happy I did not at this point. I would suggest an eGo style with a tank. EVOD 2 kits are out. When you no longer like the tank and want glass there are many options. Go slow and play with your toys well, before you end up like many and have many toys you do not use. Write down your questions for yourself. Answer them from as many sources as possible. There are many sites that list vaping for dummies approaches which can be very useful. If I was to start over with no mistakes, something for work that fits well in pocket (smaller eGo battery with tank), something for home and car with higher juice and battery capacity. Devices I have with smaller capacities can run out at very bad times. Spare or backup's very important. It is very easy to buy / borrow cigarettes from others in a pinch very hard to borrow / buy vaping stuff in a pinch. In time things do become easier.
 

Vicegrips

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Feb 22, 2014
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Good day, Ann48!

I'm in my late 50s, living in Ohio near Wooster, and have not smoked tobacco since I switched over to vaping. I failed to stop smoking multiple times trying to use patches, gum, and so on.

You can vape any way that works for you. Many vapers draw into the mouth, and from there into the lung if they choose. Exhale through the nose to get the scent of the vapor. Or just exhale after your mouth draw like cigar smokers do. You may find that a longer, slower draw than when smoking a tobacco cigarette works. Experiment! By vaping, you've eliminated around 99% of the nasty crud from burning tobacco, so it's all good!

You can keep smoking regular cigarettes as you vape. Most of us quickly decided that vaping tastes much better, and drop the tobacco, but not everyone. I encourage you not to stress about it. If you decide to replace only have the cigarettes you smoke in a day with vaping, you've cut the harm in half. Surely a good thing!

If you're in a bind for how this stuff works, ask here. If you're near Wooster and want to see some more vaping gear and ask questions, give a holler. The wife and I can meet you and yours at a nearby restaurant for a show and tell! Or I've got skype and a webcam if you need a quick "how-to" on filling up the eGo.

Safe travels!
Jim
 

-mj01-

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Ann,

I've smoked for the better of 25 years. About 3-4 years ago, I gave the e-cig a try. One of my friends turned me onto it. I bought a starter kit and at the time (the way he showed me), there was "too much work" involved (long story short). At that time, I didn't end up quitting and never really got started "vaping".

Anyway, fast forward to about two months ago. I woke up one morning and simply decided I wanted to quit (smoking). I bought a blu "starter kit" from one of the local convenience stores and did nothing other than charged the batteries. The next day, after charging everything up the day before, I smoked twice in the morning (my last two cigarettes) and started using the blu's after. I didn't know if they'd be able to "hit the spot" or not, so I didn't pressure myself into committing to the "total quit" but I was open to the idea, providing I did not "tweak".

I stayed on the blu's for about 1.5 months. To my surprise, the tobacco flavor of the blu's gave me the fix and "total experience" I needed.

Last week, either my batteries on the blus were not taking on a full charge or I got a "bad" pack of cartomizers and I found myself tweaking. I ended up going to a local shop and upgrading - moving away from blu and onto an "eGo-like" device.

I'm now into month three of not smoking. I enjoy vaping though to be fair, I've claimed I absolutely LOVED smoking in the past so take that for what it is worth.

My point - you need not declare you're quitting smoking - just try your new gear and stay open to the possibility of quitting. That way, there's no real pressure on you and if you happen to "slip", you won't deem it a failure.

Best of luck to you! Hope my post helps.
 

abpigdoc

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Hi Ann, I'm approaching that very age, and picked up this ecig alternative quickly. I tried those disposable ones in the beginning and thought that there could be something to it. It wasn't long before my supply ran out, and I had been using the analogs in-between. Really, for the satisfaction, I wasn't getting a lot of value. Now a year later, I'm doing it again, and the products are MUCH BETTER! I got an eGo CC and some juice about 3 weeks ago, and even began mixing juice. You know, this is way better. Following the threads here has taught me so much about the posibilities--and burned through my free time that I haven't smoked tobacco for 2 weeks, and breathing even now better for it. Remember that if you're pulling on that eGo, you're getting better. Good luck (with the both of us!).
 
Hi Ann
I am new to the forum but quit cigs 4 months ago. I started at first using sky cigs. I really liked them but at £10 for a pack of 5 cartridges( which lasted me a few days), the cost was nearly as much as smoking.
In feb I decided to move onto an ego starter kit from liberty flights and I loved it. I love being able to puff away knowing my health is improving and I am saving money.
I have found now that the ego system can't keep up with me and as such I have just ordered an MVP 2.0 with iclear 30s clearomiser. I have also ordered some suicide bunny juices.
I never thought I would get so excited about vaping but I absolutely love it and have never looked back. I really hope you succeed but if not don't feel bad just try again.
Best wishes to you if you need any help get in touch
Love Donna
P.s I used to smoke 20 cigs a day and found 18 Mg ejuice suited me at first
 
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I was able to stop smoking using Blu rechargables. However, there was a big time financial price to pay. I probably spent 300+ in a month and a half, even after I realized I could refill them myself.

The Njoy's were nice, especially for that "I want a real cigarette" moment. The Zooms are very similar, but they seem to last a lot longer. Njoy's cash out so quick.

Consider moving to a more personal device. These guys on here are super knowledgable and will help you. Since I've moved away from Blu's and Zooms, etc, I have NO cravings at all. None. Give that a try.

-- Joe
 

Merryhellion

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Welcome, Anne =) I was a 33 year clove/marlboro/pall mall/etc smoker, when I walked into a shop and bought an ego type setup. A week later I could taste things better, things like how bad my mouth had tasted to me all that time, even though I was so used to it tasting bad I didn't notice anymore. It has been 3 months and 5 days since then; I count the time fully, because I put every cigarette I lit out as soon as I tasted how bad it was on the first puff. Mind you, it really helps to find a liquid that tastes good to you when you vape. That makes it easier to let go of the cigarettes and become happy with the vapor itself.

This was a terrible winter where I live. A couple weeks after buying my first vaping gear, I was well enough (lungs cleared up, sinuses more healthy) to be out every day riding my beloved horse on the snow covered trails, much of the time in sub-zero weather. As long as I was warm enough, my lungs were ok with it. Food tastes really good now. I am looking forward to a spring which I hazard to guess will be far less allergy filled, one where I can smell the roses, not just look at them and try to remember how they smell. As the spring thaw progresses in fits and starts, my respiratory problems with the molds that ensue are less and less every day, rather than more and more as usual. Vaping has not only saved my life in theory, it has given me a life I am happier with all the time, that I never had while I was a smoker.

You will find that the enthusiasm of folks here for their vaping, is a real win. No need to worry about whether your sister is there to help you; folks on this chat board are eager to help. Don't let how complex the toys for vaping can be, put you off. There are very simple things that will help you stop smoking without giving up the nicotine. I hope you really give this a try, and that it works for you. It would be really cool to have you around to say "remember when we had just found vapor?" with....:D
 
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nctiquer

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Your move to ecigs will save your life! I smoked for 40 years myself..... 20 of those years I rolled my own (no filter). It took me 6 months to get off real tobacco, but now I look back and wonder why I didn't do it sooner! I can breath now!

Hike it to a Vape store and spend some time watching and listening. Take some good advice from members here and make the move.
 

tazzle

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You can absolutely do this! I started with an eGo kit at the beginning of the year, and still use my eGos, along with some new stuff. I smoked for 30+ years, two packs a day for many of those years, and I was able to make the switch without pain. Even my "ghost habit" is vanishing, as I no longer automatically look around for ashtray, pack and lighter, or walk around patting my pockets checking for a pack of cigarettes. I don't miss the habit at all, because vaping gives me everything that was comforting and soothing about smoking, without all the serious negatives (which I won't list, because we all know them so very well, and you said you would rather hear positives).

For me, the positives are:

- better health (of course!) because I'm breathing clearly, have more energy and zero congestion or wheezing;

- ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ FLAVORS ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥, because I'm crazy about the unlimited possibilities of vaping flavors, and that's where I go kind of nuts;

- the fact that this physically gives me the the same sort of ritual of holding and puffing, which for me was perhaps the most addictive thing of all. Even when I was able to quit for a while in the past, I always missed the process of smoking, and this gives me that comfort (but better, of course, since I don't get the nasty stuff).

- I'm not eating more, which was definitely not the case when I quit in the past. I'm actually eating less, because I don't really feel the need for sweet things as much as I did, since I have all my lovely sweet, fruit, and bakery juices.

- Finally, I've been pretty spendy with this, and it still isn't more than I spent on cigarettes, and now I'm in a space where I can start spending less after buying a lot of eliquids and flavor concentrates and bases for making my own liquids (fun!), and pretty much settling on a setup that feels great for me right now (iTaste VV v3 + Protank Minis, mostly).

As for inhaling mouth versus lungs, I usually just do mouth or mouth/nose but sometimes full inhale. I vape a lot, so I don't use very high nicotine (I began with 12 milligrams per milliliter, which is fairly low, and now mostly make my own at just 3 mg). It usually takes a bit of trying things out to find your right nicotine level, and then adjusting from there as you go along.

I just love vaping, and would never, never, never go back, and it all started with an ego kit and a couple bottles of e-liquid, and me just sort of thinking hmmmm, maybe?, pretty much as you are right now. Welcome to the wonderful new world; there are many kind guides here to help you explore!
 

Ann48

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You all are so nice to come on here and help me through this. Reading your posts is helping me get more comfortable with trying. I did look on the bottles my sis sent, and they are 18 mg - she isn't total vaping, but later in the evening and early morning that's what she does to this point. It was so sweet of her to send me a kit because she and I have talked about quitting for years. She used disposables for travelling here for visits on plane - they live something like 2500 mi away! Then heard that many people in her area are quitting with this eGo thing she sent me. Here is what she sent:
Vaping.jpg

It looks like the liquid has PG (not VG) and water, etc. 18mg I think would be a little stout for me. And we find our nicotine level of cigs somewhere online? It used to be on my pack until the big guys got involved and took all that off our cig packs.

Jim, it looks like you are like 2 hours away from me. Maybe we could meet in Lancaster.

I hope I get to remembering all your names when I comment. Columbus isn't too far, especially if I am looking for a good way to help myself and change the direction cigs are taking me.

nctiquer, your comment "I can breath now" is so encouraging!! Coughing 24/7 was not really where I wanted to be at this stage in life. In fact I told myself I would quit at 55 yrs old...and I'm past that now.

Did any of you come on this board while researching, and smoking a reg cig while reading? I feel stupid, but its the way I'm able to face taking this step. And when you say "at your own pace...no pressure..." it feels better. And then when I see that many of you had no intention of quitting, but liked vaping so well you did it...that's where I want to be.
 

2naphish

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started vaping in august. haven't touched a cigarette since.. your health should be your primary concern. stop the damage and begin the healing as soon as possible. don't wait til your feet are to the fire like i did. 40+ years 1.5 PAD Marlboro man here. 1 lung surgery to save my life 18 years ago. here is what i suggest for new vapers... Kanger Evod Starter Kit . then all you need is juice that you like. then stick with it. i am pretty certain you want this ( and you do have to want it), the only people that i have tried to help that went back to smoking used every excuse in the world to go back to smoking. out of juice, didn't like that taste after a bit, didn't have time to fill up before they left the house ETC ETC.... that said, everyone (6 people)other than those 2 people are still vaping and still completely off cigs. feeling much better and enjoying their lives with hope for the future. my point is..you have to want these things for yourself and your loved ones...then it is easier than you ever imagined... best of luck <*}}}>{
 
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