From what I have read, most people, when they start vaping, get carried away with it. I know I have these last few days, to the point that I am feeling a little green. I am guessing that I have overdone the nicotine. The obvious solution is to have a 0% juice to use for the most part and only have a hit on the low nicotine juice every so often, until I find the right balance. One of my goals of vaping, besides the fact that it seemed interesting, was to level off my nicotine level. I tend to not smoke at all during the day, then smoke six or seven cigarettes at night. I was figuring that by being able to vape wherever I feel like, I could keep a nice steady nicotine level throughout the day. So, my question is this: what has worked for any of you in getting that balance? Will I not be wanting to vape constantly after the novelty wears off and should just stick with my medium or low nicotine juice? Or should I have a zero nicotine juice as my regular vape and maybe take a hit off of the medium stuff only once every couple of hours? Or is this simply an adjustment from going my usual abstinence/spike pattern to a more constant nicotine level?
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It's not so much that we get carried away with it; it's more that absorbing nicotine from vaping is a slower process than smoking, which delivers nicotine very rapidly to your brain. Absorption from vaping is also less effective than absorption from smoking; the molecules in smoke are much smaller, so they go deeply into the lung, and hence, the blood, and then directly to the brain. It doesn't really work that way with vaping; the molecules in vapor are far larger, and are primarily absorbed in the mouth, throat, and nose/sinuses, which means much slower absorption; I think the "latency" period with vaping, I seem to recall reading somewhere, is more like 7-15 minutes. So if you're vaping a fairly high level of nicotine, you can get too much and not realize it till it's too late to do anything about it, and you've probably continued vaping during those 7-15 minutes, despite having already reached a level that ultimately makes you feel ill.
I also had a *sort of* spike pattern, since i smoked outdoors; I would go maybe an hour, then go out and smoke. Now I vape all day. So, I use nicotine only between 6 and 9 mg; 9mg to wake, 8mg thru the day, and 6mg after dinner. This way I can vape all I like, and not make myself ill, even though this is considerably less nicotine than I was getting in hourly "spikes" with cigarettes; the sensation of vaping is similar enough, and it's just enough nicotine, that for the most part, I have no cravings.
Using 0nic all the time, and only using nicotine occasionally, will probably not be very satisfying, as it's a very inefficient way to do it, with vapor. Best to do it more or less continuously, as much as possible, but with a low enough nic level that you don't feel ill from it. Only you can determine what that level is; everyone is different, with differing levels of tolerance, which seem to have little to do with how long or how many you smoked, though I think it might have at least a little to do with the nicotine strength of the cigarettes you smoke(d).
Andria
I also had a *sort of* spike pattern, since i smoked outdoors; I would go maybe an hour, then go out and smoke. Now I vape all day. So, I use nicotine only between 6 and 9 mg; 9mg to wake, 8mg thru the day, and 6mg after dinner. This way I can vape all I like, and not make myself ill, even though this is considerably less nicotine than I was getting in hourly "spikes" with cigarettes; the sensation of vaping is similar enough, and it's just enough nicotine, that for the most part, I have no cravings.
Using 0nic all the time, and only using nicotine occasionally, will probably not be very satisfying, as it's a very inefficient way to do it, with vapor. Best to do it more or less continuously, as much as possible, but with a low enough nic level that you don't feel ill from it. Only you can determine what that level is; everyone is different, with differing levels of tolerance, which seem to have little to do with how long or how many you smoked, though I think it might have at least a little to do with the nicotine strength of the cigarettes you smoke(d).
Andria
I've been vaping for several months now and I still feel like I'm puffing away on it all day long, haven't gotten sick just a head ache though. I thought I would slow down once the novelty wore off but either it hasn't or I basically have replaced one addiction for another. After much thought I figured the accessibility of the PV's has increased my use, therefore increased my addiction for nicotine. At work I would be typing up charts and puff the hours it would take to finish the report , at home I would puff while watching TV and while driving I dont put the thing down. I didn't realize how much attachment smoking had on my cognitive behavior and now I have reprogrammed that behavior with all day vaping. Like any addiction and for that matter behaviors, can be learned and changed. I now force myself to go outside to vape (sometimes), only vape at home at the regular intervals I usually had when smoking analog. I was a heavy 1 pack a day smoker so I use a higher 24mg juice I did move down in nico strength and to my surprise my usage did not change, neither increased or decreased. So after the little test I would suggest being so new to the community move to the next lower strength first, if you find you are vaping more then go back to your original strength and put yourself on a schedule to mimic your smoking habbit. Unfortunately everyone's body is different and what works for me might not work for you. Keep experimenting with it and you will find what works for you. The prices of 5ml bottles makes it much easier and cheaper to try new flavors, strengths and pg/vg ratio's. good luck, Please let me know what works for you and how you came about finding the right mix.
Happy Vaping
Happy Vaping
If you don't want to vape constantly I would suggest getting a high mg of nicotine to get your levels up quicker than the lower mg that you're now vaping. You'll vape less of the higher mg nic. You didn't mention your delivery method or what it is you're using to vape with. An eGo? Vamo? SVD? Are you using clearomizers? Cartomizers? Cartotanks? etc.....
Novelty went out the window about 1 year in when they mod's started to really become popular, mind you had no plan of stopping vaping just hated fighting with the wife about the smoking. That was 3 years ago and it was all home made stuff for the most part at first. Then as the popularity increased and more and more mods appeared it kept grabbing my wallet.
As far as the nicotine issue what are you vaping in terms of mg now? I see you are in cali and there are thousands of shops and each one will tell you that you need this mg which often isn't the case. I was told to start at 8mg (4years ago and quickly had to up to 24mg in the morning and 16-18mg after lunch. My guess is their recommendation is too high for you and going with a lower nic level would be easier on you. Also drink plenty of water as vaping can dehydrate you. Dehydration I find speeds how fast I feel nic sick, so hydrating can also be a plus.
As far as the nicotine issue what are you vaping in terms of mg now? I see you are in cali and there are thousands of shops and each one will tell you that you need this mg which often isn't the case. I was told to start at 8mg (4years ago and quickly had to up to 24mg in the morning and 16-18mg after lunch. My guess is their recommendation is too high for you and going with a lower nic level would be easier on you. Also drink plenty of water as vaping can dehydrate you. Dehydration I find speeds how fast I feel nic sick, so hydrating can also be a plus.
i started with 18mg and by the second day i was overnicked. i had already made the decision to quit analogs and ordered 9mg. It was the next lowest available from my vendor. as you might expect, i vaped alot more. as i got into building coils, the stock kanger coils are wound with 34ga. and soldered contact wires. i used 32ga. on my first builds and the vapor, throat hit and flavor improved. i suspect the nic transfer also increased. i progressed to using 30ga. wire and again everything was better. i am happy vaping 9mg. with 30ga. wire and feel i am getting 12mg. or better delivery. i am fairly sensitive to nic and just had this conclusion after sub-ohming with 28ga. this weekend. i used 0mg. juice after getting nicked on 9mg. for my final testing. read the thread in new members i started called: helios blows me away. my results are near the end of testing multiple builds.
Andria and others pretty much summed it up, so I'll share my experience. Like others, I started on the generally recommended 18mg for a PAD+ smoker. I quickly determined that was too much and dropped down to 12% pretty quick. That was much better for me. Now that I've started to get some experience, as well as some fairly decent gear that really performs, I've started to buy some juices at 6% for those heavy-hitting devices.
As for my habits, I would say that I probably vape more frequently, but less total in any one given session. (Obviously e-cigs don't "go out", so there's not a natural break there.) It's probably pretty close to or less than when I smoked previously. Sometimes, I'll get digging on a juice and I'll just friggin' go to town, though. Interestingly, after about two months now, I don't feel that instant craving in the morning like I used to and sometimes go an hour+ before I get the vape gear out...at least on a pleasant, easy weekend day.
That's my experience. Welcome to ECF!
As for my habits, I would say that I probably vape more frequently, but less total in any one given session. (Obviously e-cigs don't "go out", so there's not a natural break there.) It's probably pretty close to or less than when I smoked previously. Sometimes, I'll get digging on a juice and I'll just friggin' go to town, though. Interestingly, after about two months now, I don't feel that instant craving in the morning like I used to and sometimes go an hour+ before I get the vape gear out...at least on a pleasant, easy weekend day.
That's my experience. Welcome to ECF!
Here's my take. I was not a cigarette smoker before vaping. I smoked cigars on weekends and used my hookah with wet flavored tobacco (sheesha) occasionally. I started at 6mg nicotine on an ego twist and upgraded to a Provari. I use a Genesis style atomizer and I'm pretty proficient at building so the delivery is incredible. I use 12mg/nic. And I vape alot. ALOT. like up to 6-8 mg of juice a day. Honestly I don't feel the nicotine anymore.
Your body will get used to it. I know the feeling your describing. From what I've read regarding vaping vs analogs, nicotine isn't even the issue and supposedly is not addictive. Supposedly.
Too much nicotine and you'll definitely not feel so hot though. I would probably die if I ever put 36mg/nic in my RSST, because that amount of nicotine being delivered that efficiently would bend me over and make me call it "cowboy" And I would because it's just too much.
Maybe a little off topic of your question, but I would honestly just mix 0mg/nic and 6mg/nic juice and see how that suits your fancy. Also make sure your drinking ALOT OF WATER
Your body will get used to it. I know the feeling your describing. From what I've read regarding vaping vs analogs, nicotine isn't even the issue and supposedly is not addictive. Supposedly.
Too much nicotine and you'll definitely not feel so hot though. I would probably die if I ever put 36mg/nic in my RSST, because that amount of nicotine being delivered that efficiently would bend me over and make me call it "cowboy" And I would because it's just too much.
Maybe a little off topic of your question, but I would honestly just mix 0mg/nic and 6mg/nic juice and see how that suits your fancy. Also make sure your drinking ALOT OF WATER
I'm wondering what the downside is, to replace smoking cigarettes with *anything* -- that's kinda the whole point, IMO.
Increased use, yes, probably. Increased nicotine addiction, no, probably not. It's just not absorbed as effectively as smoke is, so it takes a whole lot of puffing to even come close to the nicotine provided by smoke.
Very, very true, but changing learned behavior is usually not an easy matter; witness the pain and suffering of quitting smoking if you don't have something similar to replace it with -- that's not ALL about nicotine, not even mostly about nicotine, or patches/gum/lozenges/pills would be a lot more effective.
Most people resist change, to a greater or lesser degree, and that resistance, even the subconscious, don't-realize-you're-doing-it resistance, also makes it more difficult. I think vaping is so effective because not only does your conscious mind recognize the similarity, I think it's even possible to fool that subconscious wants-what-it-wants-when-it-wants-it -- I've heard that the subconscious doesn't recognize the diff between the truth and a lie -- I think it also doesn't notice much diff between smoking and vaping, so it feels satisfied with vaping-instead-of-smoking.Andria
If you were only smoking 6-7 ciggies at night, odds are you weren't very addicted to the nicotine in the first place, as you didn't desperately need it through the day. When you're really addicted, you NEED it, period. You might be feeling a "little green," with vaping because you are getting too much nicotine when you're not used to getting it--throughout the day, when you didn't normally smoke.
What is the nicotine content of your juice? 6-8% might be more appropriate for you than something higher; 0% might be the best option, as you might only have a psychological addiction to vaping at night. Vaping only when you used to smoke, at night, would be a good choice as well.
In my case, I was seriously addicted. I smoked 1.5 packs a day for 9-10 years, so I needed a lot of nicotine to start off with. I also make my own juice, so the nicotine level is easy to change. I started off on 18 mg back in July, reduced it to 16, then to 14. I switched from ego/protank to mech/rda back in December-January. That combination offered a more intense vape, both in terms of throat hit and flavor. I reduced both flavor content and nicotine, first down to 12, then to 10. I'm very happy atm at 10 mg, but can see reducing the nic further to 6-8%. All through this, I vaped regularly through the day, as this is how I smoked.
First of all........Welcome to ecf. So glad you have found us. If you think your nic is to high, you could go to Walmart and buy some vg (it's with the bandaid stuff) and add a little. It would dilute the nic level and I don't think you would notice a huge difference in the flavor. It would have more vapor and a tad less throat hit because of the vg. Good luck to you.
Maybe I was having a weird day or maybe it was in my head. The stuff you get at Walmart seemed (emphasis on seemed) to cause some weird effects on me while I was at at work. Like an out of body experience, or the room started spinning for a few seconds. It started when I began using that stuff and ended when I stopped.
Not positive about what happened or the cause, but just wanted to put that out there
Actually, I don't mind constantly vaping. I am looking for a way to do it without getting this overkill feeling. I am using an eGo twist. It sounds like, from what folks are saying, that the 0nic would be completely unsatisfying, so I will probably just try to stick with 6mg or so, and happily vape all day! Thanks.
Wow! Thanks for all the advice. I realize that I did not probably offer enough information in my original post (I mentioned that in one of the replies I made to one of you: I am using an eGo twist with a Smok cartomizer (or is it a tank? Not quite sure on the lingo. The juice is from a local B&M, they mix it themselves). Today, day six, I am still loving vaping almost all day long. I have been drinking a ton of water, which definitely helps. I definitely think I prefer the 6mg nicotine. I went back to the higher 18, and it was just not as pleasant, so I loaded it back with the lighter stuff. Thanks again, everyone!
I'm wondering what the downside is, to replace smoking cigarettes with *anything* -- that's kinda the whole point, IMO.
Increased use, yes, probably. Increased nicotine addiction, no, probably not. It's just not absorbed as effectively as smoke is, so it takes a whole lot of puffing to even come close to the nicotine provided by smoke.
Very, very true, but changing learned behavior is usually not an easy matter; witness the pain and suffering of quitting smoking if you don't have something similar to replace it with -- that's not ALL about nicotine, not even mostly about nicotine, or patches/gum/lozenges/pills would be a lot more effective.
Andria
Hey andria, the downside is that im still co-dependent on some sort of chemical and the physical motion of smoking. Though vaping is much more safer it is still does not compare to quitting all inhalants. I do agree with you on the physicality of vaping satisfying the actual physical motions of smoking the conventional cigarette. Your ideas of tricking the subconscious is interesting. It would be neat to see if the placebo effect would work. Changing the nicotine level to 0mg without the user knowing. Good post!!!!!!
I found it definitely advantageous to keep a small tank with high nic tobacco flavor available for an occasional puff, but vape 0 or low nic from a large tank as my main vape.
vaping 0 nic also helps taste you juice better and fine tune your vape.
vaping 0 nic also helps taste you juice better and fine tune your vape.
I keep hearing a lot along these lines, from my parents, and some friends I've told the great news that I've switched completely to vaping rather than smoking: "well, you're still addicted to _____" (nicotine, the physical motion of smoking, whatever). That's true. Nicotine is a part of it, absolutely; even though my dependence is low enough that I mostly stay between 6-8 mg, and never more than 9mg, if it was entirely removed, there would definitely be *physical* symptoms: constipation (nicotine stimulates peristalsis, the motion of the intestines), "spaciness" (inability to focus - nicotine has a coordinating effect on neurotransmitters, much as ritalin does for ADD/ADHD), and perhaps other physical symptoms. But, of all the chemicals in cigarette smoke, nicotine is probably the less offensive, and the least toxic, in these small doses, so it's a great deal like trading hard drugs for bubble gum -- gum may rot your teeth, but it won't kill you.
There's also the fact that brains do change in response to external stimuli. If you were a smoker for a long or moderate time (say, more than 10 yrs), there may be nothing that can be done to change that addicted brain back to any kind of "default", non-addicted state. You've probably heard the phrase, "once an addict, always an addict," and that is absolutely true, at least with a number of substances -- I can never drink alcohol again, without the risk of completely losing my mind -- permanent "black-out drunk." Given the HIGH addiction-potential of all tobacco products, I believe this is almost certainly true of smoking -- if a former smoker ever smokes again, he may be unable to ever quit again, and perhaps even unwilling to try. This is just one reason that vaping is so valuable -- which would you prefer, to vape forever, and never again be tempted to smoke again... or stop vaping at some point, only to find, perhaps years down the road, that you are tempted to smoke again, or worse, do go back to smoking again? Vaping is, in that case, the very essence of Harm Reduction -- yes it may be an addiction in its own right, but given the LETHAL potential (a near certainty) of cigarettes, and the very low risk of harm from e-cigarettes, it just seems very obvious to me that it is and always will be preferable to use e-cigs rather than ever smoke another cigarette in my life, or even to RISK the POSSIBILITY of another cigarette. If your brain has changed to the point that it can't or won't ever change back to a non-addicted state, doesn't it seem like a complete no-brainer to use something as *relatively* harmless as e-cigs to satisfy that permanent addiction? Even if it means using it forever? It certainly does, to me.
I think it would work, to a limited degree, because I think e-cigs do utilize the placebo effect to satisfy our "need to smoke." As for secretly removing the nicotine... as I said, there ARE physical symptoms associated with nicotine withdrawal, and while they may not be immediately evident, I think a nicotine-habituated person would definitely notice within a fairly short time their inability to focus, and certainly their inability to have a BM. It would also be an extremely cruel trick, on the same order as spiking someone's drink with an unfamiliar substance -- or secretly removing all the nutrients in their food -- they'd get full, but their health would suffer dramatically. If you can't go to the bathroom, pretty soon they call it "intestinal obstruction" and it requires surgery.
Andria
You've never heard "BM" as a polite way of saying "bowel movement"? I *was* trying to be polite, since it is a rather delicate subject.
Andria
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