First, I'm back and forth between Ontario, Canada and Southern California.
I joined several months ago after getting an Ego S kit while in California. I was shocked at how I didn't even think of a cigarette. It was a spur of the moment decide to buy it and AFTER the fact, I started to read online. I was going to be going back to Canada in a couple of weeks and discovered that in Canada e-cigs with nic were not 'recommended.' So I went back to analogs. At customs going to Canada, I asked the customs agent about e-cigs and he said it wasn't on their list and unless I said I was bringing it back for resale or large volume, he would not have flagged me for check. I was surprised given that I know stuff is getting seized at the border. In any event, I returned to California a few weeks later and when coming back to Canada I brought back my stuff.
So I'm on day 3 now of serious e-cig usage. I had been smoking 2-3 packs a day. I'm 45 and started at 16. Consumption had dramatically increased maybe 4 years ago with life stress from an average of 33 a day (based on how often I'd purchased cartons - that was how much I smoked for well over a decade). I've not smoked around 90 analogs in these 3 days. I've been using a timer to increase the time between analogs (a min more each one). Some analogs I want more and I find myself looking at the time and there's 20+ min left. Other times, the timer goes off and I add another 30 minutes. The taste and smell of analogs is getting to me now.
I am rotating between a fruity strawberry mango 11 mg and golden blend 24 mg. I'm feeling like I need something in between these 2 levels. I can't chain vape 24 mg and 11 mg just feels like it's not enough.
I realized today that I wasn't vaping properly today and it made a huge difference when I learned how to. Also, chain vaping bursts is really making it easier.
There's a place I'll be getting e-liquids from that has nic levels in 2 mg increments and has 7 ml and 30 ml bottles. I'm getting a few flavors in 7 ml at 20 mg, The plan is to gradually lower the level.
I've tried quitting a dozen times in the past. Twice as long as 6 months. But the brain fog for me is really tough. Plus, I'm normally an upbeat person and even after months quit, I'd feel depressed. Not about not smoking but general depression symptoms.
I'd love to be entirely free of any 'crutches' - smoking and vaping..... I don't know if it is the nicotine that resulted in the brain fog and depression before. If that is the case, it's nice to know there is a safer option than regular cigarettes now.
Another issue I'm contending with is that I've had very low blood pressure and when being off nicotine entirely before - my caffeine consumption also drops - and bp level drops to dangerously low levels. BUT about 6 weeks ago, I had some serious asthma issues and had to use inhaler many times. I saw a nurse practioner who said rhr was at 118 (!) vs normal 56 or so and bp was up. This was likely due to increased inhaler usage. But it was scary. Asthma has been better but I'm feeling anxiety a bit after that so it's part of the impetus for me wanting to quit analogs now.
I've spent these past few days reading up about quitting and e-cigs. Wow, the amount of misinformation on e-cigs is amazing in mainstream smoking cessation groups online. One forum I joined and posted on, I was jumped on for mentioning e-cigs. I was told they are dangerous, I could die from them, they were full of poison, they'd explode on me and on and on. Ironically the worst 2 had quit using Chantix!
Whew... long enough first post
I joined several months ago after getting an Ego S kit while in California. I was shocked at how I didn't even think of a cigarette. It was a spur of the moment decide to buy it and AFTER the fact, I started to read online. I was going to be going back to Canada in a couple of weeks and discovered that in Canada e-cigs with nic were not 'recommended.' So I went back to analogs. At customs going to Canada, I asked the customs agent about e-cigs and he said it wasn't on their list and unless I said I was bringing it back for resale or large volume, he would not have flagged me for check. I was surprised given that I know stuff is getting seized at the border. In any event, I returned to California a few weeks later and when coming back to Canada I brought back my stuff.
So I'm on day 3 now of serious e-cig usage. I had been smoking 2-3 packs a day. I'm 45 and started at 16. Consumption had dramatically increased maybe 4 years ago with life stress from an average of 33 a day (based on how often I'd purchased cartons - that was how much I smoked for well over a decade). I've not smoked around 90 analogs in these 3 days. I've been using a timer to increase the time between analogs (a min more each one). Some analogs I want more and I find myself looking at the time and there's 20+ min left. Other times, the timer goes off and I add another 30 minutes. The taste and smell of analogs is getting to me now.
I am rotating between a fruity strawberry mango 11 mg and golden blend 24 mg. I'm feeling like I need something in between these 2 levels. I can't chain vape 24 mg and 11 mg just feels like it's not enough.
I realized today that I wasn't vaping properly today and it made a huge difference when I learned how to. Also, chain vaping bursts is really making it easier.
There's a place I'll be getting e-liquids from that has nic levels in 2 mg increments and has 7 ml and 30 ml bottles. I'm getting a few flavors in 7 ml at 20 mg, The plan is to gradually lower the level.
I've tried quitting a dozen times in the past. Twice as long as 6 months. But the brain fog for me is really tough. Plus, I'm normally an upbeat person and even after months quit, I'd feel depressed. Not about not smoking but general depression symptoms.
I'd love to be entirely free of any 'crutches' - smoking and vaping..... I don't know if it is the nicotine that resulted in the brain fog and depression before. If that is the case, it's nice to know there is a safer option than regular cigarettes now.
Another issue I'm contending with is that I've had very low blood pressure and when being off nicotine entirely before - my caffeine consumption also drops - and bp level drops to dangerously low levels. BUT about 6 weeks ago, I had some serious asthma issues and had to use inhaler many times. I saw a nurse practioner who said rhr was at 118 (!) vs normal 56 or so and bp was up. This was likely due to increased inhaler usage. But it was scary. Asthma has been better but I'm feeling anxiety a bit after that so it's part of the impetus for me wanting to quit analogs now.
I've spent these past few days reading up about quitting and e-cigs. Wow, the amount of misinformation on e-cigs is amazing in mainstream smoking cessation groups online. One forum I joined and posted on, I was jumped on for mentioning e-cigs. I was told they are dangerous, I could die from them, they were full of poison, they'd explode on me and on and on. Ironically the worst 2 had quit using Chantix!
Whew... long enough first post
