New to vaping and site...have questions

[purplepleasure]

Hello!! I am a new member to this site but have been reading posts for a little over a month. I have a few questions.
I started vaping about a month ago. I still crave real cigarettes!!! I smoke real cigarettes as well as vaping. Although, I am down from a pack a day to 1/4 pack a day. Is this normal??? I've read some posts where people quit smoking real ones as soon as they started vaping. I smoke Marlboro ultra lights and I vape 18 mg nicotine. Is this a high enough level of nicotine?
Also, when I vape it makes me cough. Almost like the throat hit is too much. I vape prefilled cartomizers and diy carts. I have ordered prefilled carts from V4L and ejuice from another site. The ejuice really makes me cough. I can't remember the site that I ordered it from. My ecig is from V4L, manual. I have also tried the non-manual ecig as well.
Am I doing something wrong!!???

Thanks so much for any responses!!

 

[devnull71]

I've seen many people on this site who don't quit cigarettes immediately. Nothing wrong with tapering off, and going from a pack a day down to 5 a day is fantastic! As for the coughing, are you directly inhaling the vapor into your lungs? I find that when I inhale it directly, it's pretty harsh and can get me coughing. Normally I do a long, slow drag, pulling the vapor into my mouth first, and then inhale it.

 

[Zal42]

You need to vape something with more nicotine. 18mg is commonly used, but most use 24mg. Try 24mg and see how you like that. Some people have to go even higher. Everyone's different.

The coughing may just be because your lungs are starting to heal. If the throat hit is too much, try 100% vg, or milder flavors. I have found that some flavors themselves give a lot of TH, and some are very, very mild.

Upping the nic level will also make the TH stronger, btw.

 

[Delilah718]

Hi purplepleasure -- I think that your cough might be an indication that you are getting too much throat hit from 18mg, and/or that you are not taking drags from your ecigs in the recommended manner.

I smoked Virginia Slim Lights Menthol, and when I first tried a 4081 cigarette style ecig with a menthol cartomizer at 12mg, I too coughed. With an e-cig, you do not inhale in the same way as a regular cigarette. It is recommended that you take a few "Primer" puffs (that you do not inhale), and then take a three to 5 second puff -- but puff in a slow, even manner.

The other thing might be the 18mg strength -- I started with 12mg, and as a light smoker, I think that was stronger than what I was used too -- and I quickly became used to it, but I have ordered 8mg strength with my next e-juice order.

So try not to take that big puff that hits your throat hard, go with slower, even puffs -- draw in the vapor slowly and evenly for about 5 seconds if you want a big drag and see how it goes.

 

[Rosa]

I agree with both of the above posters. There's no correlation between what you used to smoke and what level nicotine mg's you'll need.

Here's some quick tips:

* long, slow drags -- easy inhales, not sucking like on a straw -- even let some air enter the drag too.
* drink a lot more water or juice -- vaping dehydrates
* vape for 10 minutes before you have a cigarette, if it makes the craving go away that's great, if not then have a cigarette.
* try a blend of 70%pg and 30%vg on your next juice order, it'll make lots more vapor and be a bit easier on your throat

Good luck!

 

[Bootsand]

Welcome to the site! I know your lungs need to adjust as well to the different sort of 'smoke' that it's receiving. It can take some time.

As for the cravings, I can only speak for myself here, but I craved cigarettes myself for a couple months after I began, but I think it was more mental than anything. My girlfriend still smokes, and that was a mind bender to be sure. There's also more to a cigarette than just the nicotine. They're crazy chemical nicotine boosters in their tobacco to enhance addiction and a few more aspects that are hard to kick.

Bottom line... you're doing fine, keep at it, there's a lot to learn as every vaper is different, but the switch is worth it like nothing else.

Glad you could make it to the forum

 

[markfm]

What's been said is good -- bump the nic to 24, especially if you find that it is for certain special points (first waking up, etc.), though there's nothing wrong with using 24 all the time if that is what works for you.

Slow inhale vs. the cig smoking sharp inhale.

Drink lots of water -- all vaping dries you out, due to what's in the liquid.

Increase in VG is good, some are sensitive to PG, and PG does contribute to the "throat hit" aspect of vaping. Standard bulk juice may be up to 100% PG, while many of the liquid specialty shops sell various mixes. Many new vapers like 80% PG, 20% VG, while some will use higher VG %.

 

[markfm]

What's been said is good -- bump the nic to 24, especially if you find that it is for certain special points (first waking up, etc.), though there's nothing wrong with using 24 all the time if that is what works for you.

Slow inhale vs. the cig smoking sharp inhale.

Drink lots of water -- all vaping dries you out, due to what's in the liquid.

Increase in VG is good, some are sensitive to PG, and PG does contribute to the "throat hit" aspect of vaping. Standard bulk juice may be up to 100% PG, while many of the liquid specialty shops sell various mixes. Many new vapers like 80% PG, 20% VG, while some will use higher VG %.

 

[swedishfish]

Hello!! I am a new member to this site but have been reading posts for a little over a month. I have a few questions.
I started vaping about a month ago. I still crave real cigarettes!!! I smoke real cigarettes as well as vaping. Although, I am down from a pack a day to 1/4 pack a day. Is this normal??? I've read some posts where people quit smoking real ones as soon as they started vaping. I smoke Marlboro ultra lights and I vape 18 mg nicotine. Is this a high enough level of nicotine?
Also, when I vape it makes me cough. Almost like the throat hit is too much. I vape prefilled cartomizers and diy carts. I have ordered prefilled carts from V4L and ejuice from another site. The ejuice really makes me cough. I can't remember the site that I ordered it from. My ecig is from V4L, manual. I have also tried the non-manual ecig as well.
Am I doing something wrong!!???

Thanks so much for any responses!!

If your still craving cigs I'd say it isn't high enough nicotine. V4L makes up to 36 mg. Get a bottle of 36 and you could even mix it with your 18 mg. I think they're juice is a bit harsh, but you could cut the tobacco flavor with a coffee flavor to smooth it out a bit too. Try that for the times you're really craving a cig.


It could be other things in analogs besides the nicotine that you may be craving. I don't know much about it, but I've read of people also using gum or snus. Everyone doesn't quit immediately. I wouldn't worry so much about it.

Down to 1/4 of a pack is great! Don't expect too much too soon.

 

[searcher]

It works both ways. I quit on day one with my 510 and 24mg. I let my brother borrow a kit in Dec 2009 and he cut back from 3 pad to 8 to 10 cigs a day. He finally quit analogs 7 months later in July. I started with 24mg and cut back to 18mg. He tried 24mg, it was too strong so he used 18 and now 12mg. The coughing is probably throat hit and will moderate as you get used to ecigs, just adjust your draw and you should be alright.

 

[purplepleasure]

Thank you all so much!!! That helps a lot. Also, I don't feel like such a failure knowing that it is normal to still crave cigarettes.

With the advice of VG/PG, where are the best places to get good flavor and different PG/VG level ejuice? I have used V4L and another site that I didn't really care for, which is probably why I can't remember the name.

 

[DC2]

Here is a poll that might interest you...
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/polls/80124-how-long-did-take-you-stop-smoking.html

 

[markfm]

TastyVapor, freedomsmokeUSA, are a couple of popular juice locations where you can get different VG %.
KickBassVapor, SouthernAmbrosia are a couple of newer, smaller, vendors who also do variable PG/VG, I believe.
vapor4life I believe now explicitly has a VG line -- check their ECF Supplier forum area. I'm pretty sure NHaler also has some higher VG juice available.

 

[Rosco]

Everyone seems so very different. I quit smoking on day 2 of vaping.....on 36mg nicotine. Perhaps it's because I smoked Kool's for 40+ years, but I've read where so many people have a hard time with stronger nic. I sure as heck didn't, and I think just one of the reasons I was able to quit so easy was exactly because I started with 36mg. I doubt I am alone doing this too.

Granted, some could not handle that. OK..go with what you can handle that takes that craving away for a cigarette, but I doubt you are going to know until you try stronger nicotine. You get these that like to tell a new vaporer what,how,and when to do it.
Just do it yourself, you don't need anyone else's permission. There isn't anyone that can tell you what it takes to kill that craving except you.
Maybe it's just me but I doubt it. I'd rather learn for myself, and not ask 100 questions on if or should I get this or try that. That works for some it seems, but it does not work for me.

You make that decision for yourself - and good luck.

 

[dormouse]

What ejuice makes you cough? What PG/VG and flavor?

If it's 100% PG - yes that lets through the greatest amount of harshness of the nicotine.
I like 70pg/30vg and sometimes 80pg/20vg for more TH, and sometimes 50/50 for a dessert flavor

18mg nicotine should be enough (or possibly more than your ultralights give you) - I was a lights smoker (1.5-2 pad) and 16-18mg worked for me. Some ultralights smokers can start on 10-12mg.

Some flavors are harsher than others. And in general cartos give a bigger hit than carts.

And do you have auto or manual batteries? IMO autos make you drag too much and give inconsistent hits. You can have much better control of your hit with manuals. press, 1/2-1 second later start dragging....,release before your drag ends... finish dragging out already made vapor, then inhale (that way the last stuff you drag is not the hottest stuff and you have great control over the size of your drag)

And don't drag a carto hard like cigarette - slow and easy

BTW - it is nothing like tobacco but Backwoods Brew Vanilla Bean is a nice vape in a cartomizer - sort of a cool TH - very pleasing, not harsh. Took me a couple of months to get over vaping tobaccos though. For the first 2 months I could not vape a foody/fruity flavor alone - it made me feel like I ate and made me crave analog.

 

[xox]

I received my starter kit in June 10. I also smoked M Ultra lights. I played around with vaping, got distracted, disinterested, whatever, then resumed regular smoking. Recommitted myself to vaping last month and have been analog free for about 3 weeks or so. I started with 18mg, went up to 24, and now I go back and forth, having a few cartos always ready. I'm waiting for my order of 12mg. I plan to slowly wean. I'm loving experimenting with flavors!

 

[unsure]

There been some good advice already posted just remember everyone is different. I quit as soon as I got my 1st PV and its been 2 years now without a cig. The 1st year and a half I lowered my nic juice to 0mg. Ater months of that I quit vaping for 3months and I was doing fine till life kick me hard (as life can do) and I wanted to smoke again. I was smart enough to keep my best mod and 24mg tobacco juice and I fought the urge. You will have go thru what we all did and learn what works for you the best.....and believe me that will change a lot. lol I dont know anyone that has save money vaping over smoking but the health benefits are obviously worth it. If I can make one suggestion to save money from buying one PV and then another is if vaping has stop you from smoking then get a top end self-juicer mod. Not cheap but you will save $$ in the long run. I own the REO and I wont be buying anything else again. You might like some other one but its an investment in ease.....good luck!

 

[plyallstar]

It's different for everyone. When i started using e cigs, i was still smoking 3-4 normal cigs a day. But i quickly stopped and switched to electronic completely. If you still crave analogy cigs, you can try vaping 24mg or even 32 mg strength e juice.

 

[Ric Pennington]

I was having the trouble till I stepped up to 36mg, but that is harsh for some people.

 

[purplepleasure]

Thanks everyone so much for your responses!! It helped tremendously!!