New to Vaping - My Battle and Determination

[TheOdessa]

Hello everyone. I am a new member to this site, and fairly new to vaping. I've been doing it for about 2 weeks now and just recently been able to kick the tobacco smoke. I've gone to smoking a pack of Black n Milds (sometimes more depending on how stressed I am) to purely vaping. To be completely honest, I've only been tobacco free for 3 days now, but that's 3 days longer than I've gone in the past 3 years. It got to the point where I was coughing up flem and needed to start on an inhaler so I decided I needed to kick the tobacco smoke. In the beginning I've visited the local brick and mortar store (Lizard Juice) but found their liquids to be way too harsh. This discouraged me at first, but I did some researching and found Mount Baker Vapors. Thanks to their Hawk Sauce and Ecto Cooler, I've finally enjoyed vaping enough to stop smoking.

I'm running a Lizard Juice battery (pass through charge battery) with a Kangertech mini protank 2. I've got plenty of wicks on hand and vape about 2 tanks a day.

I'm currently vaping Ecto Cooler and Hawk Sauce at 80%VG/20%PG with 3 flavor shots at 24mg/nicotine. I am having HUGE nicotine craving and cold sweats and I fiend for a Black n Mild, but the shortness of breath isn't worth it.

It sucks because I've read the nicotine content of a black n mild can be anywhere from 100-200 MG PER CIGAR. Smoking a pack a day (5) that's anywhere from 500mg to 1000mg of nicotine a day. I am now vaping roughly 72mg a day (3ml at 24mg per ML). It's rough but it's better then nothing.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and let people know my story.

One thing I've noticed is it's hard to inhale with such a high nicotine content on my juice. I've tried 0mg juice at 80VG/20PG and I can inhale that all day. This stuff I have to take small puffs and let it cool in my mouth. I find myself enjoying large vapes that I hold in my mouth and exhaust through my mouth/nose (similar to traditional cigar smoking. My problem as the Black n Milds I inhaled). I've tried my juice at max VG with 4 flavor shots, but its so bland tasting I needed some PG in it. The max VG helped with inhaling, but I still cough occasionally. I'm hoping to wind down my nicotine craving to a level not so high to minimize throat hit. Black n milds are so smooth and have 0 throat hit.

One cool thing I've noticed about vaping is everywhere I go (bars, parties, family events), vaping is a huge conversation starter.

 

[smgrundy]

Congratulations on fighting the cravings...they do get bad at times, but just keep pushing...it does get better!!!

I'm not sure about the nicotine content being 100-200mg per cigar. Honestly, that sounds quite high to me, but I can't say for sure.

I will say that I had a similar problem when I first quit. I figured since I was just getting off tobacco that higher nicotine was ultimately the only option at first so I chose 24mg strength as well and had the same harshness issues that you seem to be having. I fought though it for a while, again just as you are doing, never thinking that the nicotine content could be the issue. After about 10 different juices from different juice companies (all 24mg and all giving me the same issues), I happened to see a video where the reviewer was vaping a juice for a review and it was a higher nic content than what he was used to. He had the same issues I was having!!!

I dropped to 12mg juice figuring it wasn't going to help because I was still going to crave the nicotine, but it did work, and it worked well. I have friends that started vaping 24mg and still do, with no issues whatsoever, but for me, 12mg was the magic number in the beginning. It took some getting used to, but it worked in the long run.

Now, a few years later, I'm down to 3mg in some juices and 0mg in others and couldn't be happier that I stumbled across that video when I did.

Hang in there. the cravings will always be there in the beginning, as they were for all of us, and you can push past those cravings just the same as we all did....

Congratulations again on quitting, good luck and keep us up to date on your progress!!

 

[tommyk]

Congrats on the decision to quit smoking! Smoking B&M is different than normal cigs. You may want to try vapeing more often to even out the nicotine intake. The B&Ms give you that huge nicotine intake all at once where you will not get that much from 24mg using a pro tank and your battery. You have a few other choices as well, I have seen sites that make 36mg juice, or you can get a different set-up that will produce more vapor. I was a pack a day + smoker and started like you with 24mg juice on an ego twist and a vivi nova. 24 was way too much for me and I dropped that down to 18mg and that worked well for a year on carto/tank. Now I use 12mg on a Russian 91% rebuildable, with a Sigelei 20w mod.

 

[Fir3b1rd]

Hello everyone. I am a new member to this site, and fairly new to vaping. I've been doing it for about 2 weeks now and just recently been able to kick the tobacco smoke. I've gone to smoking a pack of Black n Milds (sometimes more depending on how stressed I am) to purely vaping. To be completely honest, I've only been tobacco free for 3 days now, but that's 3 days longer than I've gone in the past 3 years. It got to the point where I was coughing up flem and needed to start on an inhaler so I decided I needed to kick the tobacco smoke. In the beginning I've visited the local brick and mortar store (Lizard Juice) but found their liquids to be way too harsh. This discouraged me at first, but I did some researching and found Mount Baker Vapors. Thanks to their Hawk Sauce and Ecto Cooler, I've finally enjoyed vaping enough to stop smoking.

I'm running a Lizard Juice battery (pass through charge battery) with a Kangertech mini protank 2. I've got plenty of wicks on hand and vape about 2 tanks a day.

I'm currently vaping Ecto Cooler and Hawk Sauce at 80%VG/20%PG with 3 flavor shots at 24mg/nicotine. I am having HUGE nicotine craving and cold sweats and I fiend for a Black n Mild, but the shortness of breath isn't worth it.

It sucks because I've read the nicotine content of a black n mild can be anywhere from 100-200 MG PER CIGAR. Smoking a pack a day (5) that's anywhere from 500mg to 1000mg of nicotine a day. I am now vaping roughly 72mg a day (3ml at 24mg per ML). It's rough but it's better then nothing.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and let people know my story.

One thing I've noticed is it's hard to inhale with such a high nicotine content on my juice. I've tried 0mg juice at 80VG/20PG and I can inhale that all day. This stuff I have to take small puffs and let it cool in my mouth. I find myself enjoying large vapes that I hold in my mouth and exhaust through my mouth/nose (similar to traditional cigar smoking. My problem as the Black n Milds I inhaled). I've tried my juice at max VG with 4 flavor shots, but its so bland tasting I needed some PG in it. The max VG helped with inhaling, but I still cough occasionally. I'm hoping to wind down my nicotine craving to a level not so high to minimize throat hit. Black n milds are so smooth and have 0 throat hit.

One cool thing I've noticed about vaping is everywhere I go (bars, parties, family events), vaping is a huge conversation starter.

Comgrats on taking that first step! it was the hardest for me, so I know how you feel. I was smoking 2 packs a day and started vaping on a similar set up in October of '13. However, I couldn't put down the tobacco until March of '14.
It took an MVP with variable wattage with an aerotank and 18mg juice for me to quit. With the MVP I paid 30dollars at 101vape.com and the aerotank was 20.
By setting the MVP to it's highest rating of 11watts I was able to get enough nic to satisfy my nic craving long enough for me to stop snapping at people and here a restful sleep. After 2 weeks of no actual tobacco all the DTs started to subside though.
Best of luck to you and Congrats again on taking that first step!!!!

Hello everyone. I am a new member to this site, and fairly new to vaping. I've been doing it for about 2 weeks now and just recently been able to kick the tobacco smoke. I've gone to smoking a pack of Black n Milds (sometimes more depending on how stressed I am) to purely vaping. To be completely honest, I've only been tobacco free for 3 days now, but that's 3 days longer than I've gone in the past 3 years. It got to the point where I was coughing up flem and needed to start on an inhaler so I decided I needed to kick the tobacco smoke. In the beginning I've visited the local brick and mortar store (Lizard Juice) but found their liquids to be way too harsh. This discouraged me at first, but I did some researching and found Mount Baker Vapors. Thanks to their Hawk Sauce and Ecto Cooler, I've finally enjoyed vaping enough to stop smoking.

I'm running a Lizard Juice battery (pass through charge battery) with a Kangertech mini protank 2. I've got plenty of wicks on hand and vape about 2 tanks a day.

I'm currently vaping Ecto Cooler and Hawk Sauce at 80%VG/20%PG with 3 flavor shots at 24mg/nicotine. I am having HUGE nicotine craving and cold sweats and I fiend for a Black n Mild, but the shortness of breath isn't worth it.

It sucks because I've read the nicotine content of a black n mild can be anywhere from 100-200 MG PER CIGAR. Smoking a pack a day (5) that's anywhere from 500mg to 1000mg of nicotine a day. I am now vaping roughly 72mg a day (3ml at 24mg per ML). It's rough but it's better then nothing.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and let people know my story.

One thing I've noticed is it's hard to inhale with such a high nicotine content on my juice. I've tried 0mg juice at 80VG/20PG and I can inhale that all day. This stuff I have to take small puffs and let it cool in my mouth. I find myself enjoying large vapes that I hold in my mouth and exhaust through my mouth/nose (similar to traditional cigar smoking. My problem as the Black n Milds I inhaled). I've tried my juice at max VG with 4 flavor shots, but its so bland tasting I needed some PG in it. The max VG helped with inhaling, but I still cough occasionally. I'm hoping to wind down my nicotine craving to a level not so high to minimize throat hit. Black n milds are so smooth and have 0 throat hit.

One cool thing I've noticed about vaping is everywhere I go (bars, parties, family events), vaping is a huge conversation starter.

Hello everyone. I am a new member to this site, and fairly new to vaping. I've been doing it for about 2 weeks now and just recently been able to kick the tobacco smoke. I've gone to smoking a pack of Black n Milds (sometimes more depending on how stressed I am) to purely vaping. To be completely honest, I've only been tobacco free for 3 days now, but that's 3 days longer than I've gone in the past 3 years. It got to the point where I was coughing up flem and needed to start on an inhaler so I decided I needed to kick the tobacco smoke. In the beginning I've visited the local brick and mortar store (Lizard Juice) but found their liquids to be way too harsh. This discouraged me at first, but I did some researching and found Mount Baker Vapors. Thanks to their Hawk Sauce and Ecto Cooler, I've finally enjoyed vaping enough to stop smoking.

I'm running a Lizard Juice battery (pass through charge battery) with a Kangertech mini protank 2. I've got plenty of wicks on hand and vape about 2 tanks a day.

I'm currently vaping Ecto Cooler and Hawk Sauce at 80%VG/20%PG with 3 flavor shots at 24mg/nicotine. I am having HUGE nicotine craving and cold sweats and I fiend for a Black n Mild, but the shortness of breath isn't worth it.

It sucks because I've read the nicotine content of a black n mild can be anywhere from 100-200 MG PER CIGAR. Smoking a pack a day (5) that's anywhere from 500mg to 1000mg of nicotine a day. I am now vaping roughly 72mg a day (3ml at 24mg per ML). It's rough but it's better then nothing.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and let people know my story.

One thing I've noticed is it's hard to inhale with such a high nicotine content on my juice. I've tried 0mg juice at 80VG/20PG and I can inhale that all day. This stuff I have to take small puffs and let it cool in my mouth. I find myself enjoying large vapes that I hold in my mouth and exhaust through my mouth/nose (similar to traditional cigar smoking. My problem as the Black n Milds I inhaled). I've tried my juice at max VG with 4 flavor shots, but its so bland tasting I needed some PG in it. The max VG helped with inhaling, but I still cough occasionally. I'm hoping to wind down my nicotine craving to a level not so high to minimize throat hit. Black n milds are so smooth and have 0 throat hit.

One cool thing I've noticed about vaping is everywhere I go (bars, parties, family events), vaping is a huge conversation starter.

Hello everyone. I am a new member to this site, and fairly new to vaping. I've been doing it for about 2 weeks now and just recently been able to kick the tobacco smoke. I've gone to smoking a pack of Black n Milds (sometimes more depending on how stressed I am) to purely vaping. To be completely honest, I've only been tobacco free for 3 days now, but that's 3 days longer than I've gone in the past 3 years. It got to the point where I was coughing up flem and needed to start on an inhaler so I decided I needed to kick the tobacco smoke. In the beginning I've visited the local brick and mortar store (Lizard Juice) but found their liquids to be way too harsh. This discouraged me at first, but I did some researching and found Mount Baker Vapors. Thanks to their Hawk Sauce and Ecto Cooler, I've finally enjoyed vaping enough to stop smoking.

I'm running a Lizard Juice battery (pass through charge battery) with a Kangertech mini protank 2. I've got plenty of wicks on hand and vape about 2 tanks a day.

I'm currently vaping Ecto Cooler and Hawk Sauce at 80%VG/20%PG with 3 flavor shots at 24mg/nicotine. I am having HUGE nicotine craving and cold sweats and I fiend for a Black n Mild, but the shortness of breath isn't worth it.

It sucks because I've read the nicotine content of a black n mild can be anywhere from 100-200 MG PER CIGAR. Smoking a pack a day (5) that's anywhere from 500mg to 1000mg of nicotine a day. I am now vaping roughly 72mg a day (3ml at 24mg per ML). It's rough but it's better then nothing.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and let people know my story.

One thing I've noticed is it's hard to inhale with such a high nicotine content on my juice. I've tried 0mg juice at 80VG/20PG and I can inhale that all day. This stuff I have to take small puffs and let it cool in my mouth. I find myself enjoying large vapes that I hold in my mouth and exhaust through my mouth/nose (similar to traditional cigar smoking. My problem as the Black n Milds I inhaled). I've tried my juice at max VG with 4 flavor shots, but its so bland tasting I needed some PG in it. The max VG helped with inhaling, but I still cough occasionally. I'm hoping to wind down my nicotine craving to a level not so high to minimize throat hit. Black n milds are so smooth and have 0 throat hit.

One cool thing I've noticed about vaping is everywhere I go (bars, parties, family events), vaping is a huge conversation starter.

 

[WeeItsnookies]

I'm still having real cig cravings after about a month of vaping but it's manageable. I tried smoking a cig after 3 days of pure vaping and it tasted awful. My sense of smell and taste is starting to come back.

 

[AshMPWrites]

Congratulations on quitting! That's such a huge -- the longer I'm off the analogs, the more I realize what an accomplishment it is. Cigarettes, or in your case, cigars become such a part of our lives, so anyone who can put them down for a health alternative has done an amazing thing, so job well done.

 

[AshMPWrites]

I'm still having real cig cravings after about a month of vaping but it's manageable. I tried smoking a cig after 3 days of pure vaping and it tasted awful. My sense of smell and taste is starting to come back.

I hear ya. My best trick (learned here) is to vape as you would smoke. Basically, and maybe this will help you as much as it helps me: Remember it's not too late to hit the reset button on your experience. Every smoker (ex or current) has a trigger and we associate them with "cravings." For me, it was work -- or getting in the car, or eating, or any number of other things. My first few days were torture ... I was chain vaping chasing who only knows what, and ended up feeling like I needed a "smoke break" where I would have given anything for a smoke. If it was one of my trigger moments, double that feeling...heck, triple it. I found that if I taught myself to vape as I smoked, it got MUCH each. Now when those cravings hit, I turned to my vape rather than a cigarette. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy a nice, long session -- I do -- it just means I reserve it (at least for the moment) until I've overcome the cravings and can just enjoy the experience.

It makes sense though. If you're vaping constantly, your body is running on a set level of nicotine like a trickle-charge battery. When the craving comes, you have nothing to sate it with. That way of thinking was a life saver.

Good luck, you've got this!

 

[BrushyHillGuide]

Congrats on quitting! I quit (1.5 packs/day) over 3 years ago using cartridge based ecigs. Just started vaping recently. I didn't find the change hard but I REALLY wanted to quit. Stick with it! It's SO worth it!

 

[peraspera]

...

I'm currently vaping Ecto Cooler and Hawk Sauce at 80%VG/20%PG with 3 flavor shots at 24mg/nicotine. I am having HUGE nicotine craving and cold sweats and I fiend for a Black n Mild, but the shortness of breath isn't worth it.

It sucks because I've read the nicotine content of a black n mild can be anywhere from 100-200 MG PER CIGAR. Smoking a pack a day (5) that's anywhere from 500mg to 1000mg of nicotine a day. I am now vaping roughly 72mg a day (3ml at 24mg per ML). It's rough but it's better then nothing.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and let people know my story.

One thing I've noticed is it's hard to inhale with such a high nicotine content on my juice. I've tried 0mg juice at 80VG/20PG and I can inhale that all day. This stuff I have to take small puffs and let it cool in my mouth. I find myself enjoying large vapes that I hold in my mouth and exhaust through my mouth/nose (similar to traditional cigar smoking. My problem as the Black n Milds I inhaled). I've tried my juice at max VG with 4 flavor shots, but its so bland tasting I needed some PG in it. The max VG helped with inhaling, but I still cough occasionally. I'm hoping to wind down my nicotine craving to a level not so high to minimize throat hit. Black n milds are so smooth and have 0 throat hit.

One cool thing I've noticed about vaping is everywhere I go (bars, parties, family events), vaping is a huge conversation starter.

You do not need to inhale to absorb nicotine from e-liquid. The particle size of nicotine from vaping is larger than that from smoking and is absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth and nose rather than the lungs.

You might want to pick up an NJOY King Bold disposable at a convenience store. They are silly expensive to use long term and are only the equivalent to about 8–10 cigarettes tops despite NJOY's ridiculous claims. However, they contain 45 mg. of nicotine so trying just one will tell you whether or not a higher nic level will help you with your cravings.

If the NJOY works order some higher nic juice, another battery and juice delivery device to use when cravings hit you. The high nic could well mean it will be too harsh to inhale so just draw the vaper into your mouth, leave it for a few seconds and exhale through your nose. Use your lower nic juice for inhaling to get the throat hit satisfaction if you find it turns out to be something you ultimately find satisfying.

Also, vaping doesn't give you the fast nicotine hit that smoking does. Figure on about twenty minutes for the nicotine from vaping to feel the effects. People often chain vape for awhile to help with cravings.

Smoking delivers nicotine much more slowly than smoking. Trying to figure out what nicotine level you need for vaping compared to what you smoked is often as not an exercise in futility. What your body tells you is the best way to determine an appropriate nic level. Nic cravings mean too little. Getting light-headed, nauseous and/or heart racing means too much. If you get nic sick, quit vaping for a half an hour or so and drink plenty of water.

Some people find dual using works best for them when starting to vape. If your nic cravings are bad that may be a better option than psychologically associating vaping with feelings of deprivation and nic withdrawal. Once people find a vape they find satisfying most will find smoking increasingly icky and cut their smoking down to nothing fairly naturally.

Best of luck to you in finding your vaping happy spot!

 

[daleron]

Welcome

 

[EvlSmrk]

Congratulations on beginning your journey. You won't regret it, but it can be tough from time to time. Just stick to your resolve and desire to be off analogs and you'll be fine. It may help to check out some of the success threads on the site if you need or want some inspiration. Best of luck to you...you won't regret it.

 

[SequoiaTrout]

Congrats and welcome!

•Black and Milds are a particular type of cigar that are short and narrowly shaped.
•They contain pipe tobacco and are smoked from plastic tips.
•They contain more nicotine than a cigarette; thus, if inhaled, Black and Milds could lead to more nicotine exposure.
•They have generally higher nicotine levels (100-200 mg nicotine) than cigarettes.

 

[TheOdessa]

Thanks everyone for the encouraging words! I swear everyone on this forum is so helpful. I never knew this nicotine habit would be so hard to kick.

I appreciate the reply on nicotine is absorbed in the nose and mouth while vaping and the effects can take up to 30 minutes to be felt. Smoking a black n mild was such an instant rush. I think this is why I crave them so much. I find myself chain vaping in my office trying to subside the effects of nicotine withdrawl. I am determined to not go back to the old stuff.

On a side note, I was just in my weekend car today and it STUNK. (Mustang GT). There was ash everyone ( I guess when I smoked I was oblivious to this) and it smells in there (I can smell tobacco funk now). I'm so glad I'm kicking the habit!

It's day four this morning and I'm feeling a little short tempered, like I have a short fuse. I find myself taking deep breaths and telling myself I'm better than this. Ugh I hate you tobacco!!!

 

[LadyRNvap0rs]

I'm glad to have quit not at a 6 mg juices

 

[DemureDuck]

I'm in the same boat. I admit to giving in and having a cigarette 2 days ago, but I'm still super impressed with myself so far. I really enjoy vaping and am using 18 mg nicotine juices at the moment.

 

[TheOdessa]

Well I posted this 10 days ago and I really caught the bug! I love vaping so much and I am so happy to be free of tobacco I kind of went on a newbie shopping spree.

This has turned to a hobby for me rather then a method of stopping smoking. Atleast I stopped smoking?

Loving the Itaste MVP for home vaping and Itaste VV for going out. Vaping at 6.5 watts on 1.8ohm coils tastes delish on MBV Hawk Juice and Ecto Cooler.




I run Protank 2's on my Itastes and Protank 2 Mini on my newbie setup. I have an Aerotank (pictured) but wasn't fond of the "warmer" vape it gave. So I just got Aerotank bases for my Protank 2's and am happy!

 

[GinnyTx]

I see a Mega there Odessa, good stuff huh? tried the new .8ohm coils? oh they rock!

OP congrats being a 30 year 2PAD at the end smoker who still loved it, didn't love the affects though to my health though, you'll get through it!!

I'm with Odessa there, the Kanger V2 or Mega and an Innokin MVP 2.0 is what I vape on about 90% of the time.

The juice will taste better as your senses come back. Congrats.

 

[TheOdessa]

I see a Mega there Odessa, good stuff huh? tried the new .8ohm coils? oh they rock!

OP congrats being a 30 year 2PAD at the end smoker who still loved it, didn't love the affects though to my health though, you'll get through it!!

I'm with Odessa there, the Kanger V2 or Mega and an Innokin MVP 2.0 is what I vape on about 90% of the time.

The juice will taste better as your senses come back. Congrats.

Honestly, I don't like the Mega I bought it with high expectations but it leaks and the dual coils cause the vapor to be warmer. I love cooool vape which is why I love single coils.

I love my protank 2's!! I can't wait to get into rebuilding coils. I bought the stuff to do it and watched a ton of videos.

Im remembering to drink tons of water too.

 

[Pretzel Logic]

The hardest thing about quitting tobacco is making the conscious decision to actually quit... not just a half-hearted attempt at trying to quit.

You can come up with many reason to continue smoking but they are all excuses and none of them can be justified.

Unless you can say " I don't want to smoke" you are not ready to quit.

Once you can say "I don't want to smoke" it's really very simple... Don't Smoke!

 

[TheOdessa]

The hardest thing about quitting tobacco is making the conscious decision to actually quit... not just a half-hearted attempt at trying to quit.

You can come up with many reason to continue smoking but they are all excuses and none of them can be justified.

Unless you can say " I don't want to smoke" you are not ready to quit.

Once you can say "I don't want to smoke" it's really very simple... Don't Smoke!

No offense, but I must say it isn't that easy. I don't know about you, but I've experience nicotine withdrawls and they are the devil. I've wanted to quit so back, but my sanity and life were becoming ruined because I felt like I "needed" that fix.

Vaping has opened a world up to me I never knew existed, while adding a hobby to it as well. I no longer stink, wheeze, worry about a lighter, or have burn holes in stuff. I enjoy vaping - I smoked because I needed that fix.

I am starting to taper my nicotine levels down slowly, hopefully soon to very minimal. It's a process, but I could never got off smokng without vaping.

This is why vaping has become so popular.