New to e-cigs, and I cannot get used to them

[Emily Nicole]

Hi everyone, I'm Emily. I was introduced to this forum through an online friend from another forum.I'm new to e-cigs and I just cannot get used to them so hopefully this place can help.

I currently smoke Marb Smooth 100s or Marb Menthol 100s. It can be as many as a pack a day depending on my work (I travel for work which is a great opportunity to light up a cig) and as few as 3 or 4 cigs a day because I have a 5 month old daughter and don't smoke around her (I quit smoking while pregnant).

My e-cig is a Smoov. My juice has 12mg of nic (skittle and Dr. Pepper flavored).

I probably cannot get used to them because the nic level is so low. 12mg is probably the equivalent of a light cigarette, so I was thinking about trying a 24mg juice next time I am in the area where I bought mine.

My biggest question is how safe are e-cigs around children? I've seen answers saying that they are perfectly safe around children and other answers saying they are not safe. Any ideas?

As I said, I'm a new to e-cigs. I live in NY and with the colder weather coming I would love to switch to an e-cig completely. It was 30 degrees today and I froze my ... off a few times lighting up. I'll probably mostly just browse the forum threads.

Thanks

-Em

 

[RuDawg7890]

Hi Em and welcome! Fairly new to this myself. I'd suggest upping the nicotine level, I'm doing the same. 12 isn't cutting for me. Also, I suggest trying some tobacco flavors. I like the sweet and fruity flavors, like cherry and grape, but I'm finding the tobacco flavors are much more satisfying to alleviate the smoking urge.
I'm no expert, but I can't see how vapor can be harmful to those around us.

 

[Amraann]

I do not believe that vaping around her will harm your daughter at all healthwise.

Of course as she gets older the gear and liquids would have to be kept out of reach. (that would be more of a concern than the vape)

That all being said you will have to decide if your comfortable letting her see you vape as she grows. Completely a personal choice.
IMO it is totally safe to vape in the house with her there.
Also I would try a slightly higher nic level. I use 24-36. Maybe try 18 -24 and see if that helps you.
I have sour skittles flavor liquid too! One of my favs!!

Good luck on your new adventure into vaping!!!

 

[Jwaterski]

Just my own personal choice, I don't vape anywhere I wouldn't smoke. It is probably safe around your kids, but I wouldn't do it myself. And higher nic will help!

 

[Rickajho]

Hey Emily

Can you clarify? I'm not sure what it is here you can't get used to. Are you implying you don't think the nicotine level is strong enough for you?

The alarmists will say anything about e-cigs, whether it's true or not. Basically you are exhaling water vapor and not much of anything else. The myth of "second hand vapor" is... a myth. On CASAA.org you can find the Drexel report that CASAA commissioned which goes into detail about the expelled components in e-cig vapor.

 

[ccubed]

Hi Emily and welcome to ECF. I'm a relative noob on day 55 and the folks here have been very helpful. Though everyone's vaping journey is individual, it seems that getting the right nic level at the beginning is important because we are physically addicted to nic because we smoked tobacco. I was also a menthol smoker, about a pack a day, give or take. I started (and am still using) 18mg juice and the cravings the first month were minimal, but they occurred. After a month, the cravings for an analog seem to have vanished.

Because I was a menthol smoker, I started with a menthol juice mixed with some tobacco flavored juice. The flavor was not identical to what I was smoking, but close enough that it satisfied me.

Your intention to switch to e-cigs is great. I've found vaping to be a satisfactory replacement for smoking and I wish the same for you. Folks here seem to suggest that we keep trying, experimenting and to remember that finding the "right" gear and flavors is a journey.

Regarding your question about vaping being safe around kids (or anyone else, for that matter), I have not read any legitimate study that shows harm being caused by second hand vapor. More studies are being done and will continue to be done so folks can make a more educated choice about the safety of second hand vapor and how to handle that issue.

Hope your vaping journey is a sufficient replacement for smoking and also gives you some enjoyment along the way. Namaste.

 

[ron64]

I stop smoking in April after smoking a pack an half to two packs a day for 40 years. I find that 18 is where I hide the best luck to start with. At this time I stay at 6 or 12 . this changes with differant juices

 

[RedNBlack]

Hey There Emily,
Welcome to the ECF neighborhood....
Found the following quickly from CASAA, sure there are others to come.....
CASAA: New study confirms that chemicals in electronic cigarettes pose minimal health risk

I do not vape in the car with the grandkids.....yet, till I see more.
Do not have a problem vaping while we are out on the deck, or even
in the basement/play room while we are together.

Go ahead and make the switch completely....health wise it will be better for you both...

 

[Chas F.]

Howdy Emily and welcome. As suggested above, go for a higher nic content, I'd try 18 first and if it's not enough just puff a bit more often.

I have an eleven yr old that I vape around...she even comes sniffing around trying to figure out what I'm vaping but she understands it is an alternative to smoking and I try not to glamorize it.

 

[catalinaflyer]

Welcome ECF.

As for vaping around your child, that has to be a personal choice. Most vapers will not have a problem with it but the anti-smoking ANYTHING crowd will have you committed for doing that. The decision has to be yours but as far as so called "second hand" vape, exhale a lung full of Marlboro through a white cloth then a lung full of vapor next to it and that very simple act will show you everything you need to know about second hand vapor.

Now on to the vape not satisfying your analog cravings, my wife is fighting the same battle. She has smoked Marlboro Reds for 20 years at 1/2 to 1 pad and still not able to give them up. We have been trying everything and when I'm home she has no problem but as soon as I leave she buys a pack and puts down her vapor. I just switched her to a 10PG/90VG blend in a Mini Protank 2 with 18mg nicotine and that seems to be working better. She tried 24 and was all the way down to 6 because it was burning her throat but all that time was with a 50PG/50VG blend. After reading literally 1000's of posts on here I began to think the burning sensation might be the PG so I got her a small bottle of the 10PG/90VG and alas, no more burn and she says she gets much more of the analog satisfaction from it. She said it's a "heavier" vapor and feels more like smoking to her. However I left out on this trip Thursday morning and by Saturday she was back to 4 Marlboros a day so I'm at a loss on what else to try.

Try some very small (sampler size) bottles of different PG/VG juices and maybe you'll find the mix that satisfies that one aspect of the craving that your currently missing.

And again, welcome to ECF and stick with it.

 

[SupplyDaddy]

Emily,

I personally don't see an issue with vaping around the child. I would suggest good ventilation if you do worry about the possibility of the slight amount of nicotine that "may" reach her. Of course, blowing the vapor towards her isn't a good idea. 4 children here, two of them teens, two eight year old twins, and none of them have any affects from it from me and the wife.

As for the nic level, go for a higher level like 24mg. that should help. Also, you cannot vape the same way you smoke. Slow draws into the mouth, longer holding in the mouth and breathing out the nose will help you get what nicotine is there.

 

[Baditude]

There is a ton of health information about the safety of e-cigarettes and their vapor to be found at CASAA - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association. CASAA is our advocate to promote accurate information about vaping and help keep them legal in our communities. Check them out, and also consider joining - it's free. Strength is in numbers.

As far as getting used to your e-cigs, much depends upon your happiness with both the gear you have and the e-liquid you use. 12mg nic may not be cutting it for you. 18 - 24 mg may help. Also consider experimenting with other flavors. Since you are/were a menthol smoker, try to find a menthol e-liquid flavor that comes close to your cigarettes. I was a Marlboro Menthol Lite smoker, and I found that Smokeless Image's Ice Menthol was close enough to the Marlboros that I was able to quit within a week of using both vaping and smoking.

 

[Steamix]

Hiya, first ff, get yerself some decent gear. Them funny analog look-a-likes with that caged gfirefly at one end maybe OK for the occasional smoker, but they sure aren't doing the trick for you. Decent starter kit, liquid with a tad more oomph - I'll second previous posts, 18 mg/ml usually does the trick. If not, up it some more.
Research into 'second hand vapor' or 'passive vaping' has shown that the risk for innocent bystanders is negligible as unlike smoke, 98% of the nicotine is absorbed. Whats left in the exhaled vapor is about the same concentration you'd have in the kitchen when boiling potatoes or slicing up tomatoes ( which both contain nicotine - albeit in far lower quantities than tobacco ).
Vaping around your kids, well thats for you to decide, but please do keep your gear and especially your liquids out of reach.
Nicotine is toxic and the doses that hardly register in an analog hardened adult could do considerable harm to a child....