Nobody is talking about what nicotine really does

[kjjp623]

I smoked analog cigs for 30 years (16 to 46). I quit so many times and always went back and I tried EVERY NRT and non NRT. I did Allen Carr, the shot behind the ears and everything in between, including vaping. I did Chantix in 2007 and it worked and then I went back and then I was finally REALLY ready to quit and 7 months ago I got back on Chantix and quit smoking analog cigs 4 months ago. I stepped down from Chantix about 3 months ago. I quit because I did not want to die young.

It all has been pretty easy and I can only attribute that to the fact that I was REALLY ready to quit. I am absolutely thrilled that I do not smoke! But, here's the catch. Once I got off the Chantix I started to feel somewhat "dulled" like I wasn't depressed but also did not really find "joy" in things and I have always been a very happy person. I also have been gaining weight (which I could afford a little but now I'm getting a little concerned) and for the last month and a half I have had the worst acne but it is more like small cysts as there is nothing in them but they are sore and red and I usually have anywhere from 3 to 6 on my face at any one time and I have NEVER had an acne problem.

Because of all of this I started to research nicotine and found that nicotine prompts your body to release serotonin and dopamine, among other feel good chemicals, and after one has smoked for a very long time your body stops naturally producing the "feel good" chemicals on its' own without the prompting by the nicotine. In addition, I read that nicotine can repress hormones (specifically testosterone) and that when quitting smoking hormones can go crazy trying to balance out. Finally, since I quit smoking I cannot figure out that if I am so happy about being non smoker, then why do I feel like I miss the habit of smoking.

So, the reason I joined ECF is because I have been seriously thinking about taking up vaping (for the last 2 weeks), not for the "replacement value" but to actually vap with nic in it so I can get "back to normal". The thought of an analog cigs makes me want to puke but I actually DO want the nicotine. I figure, what is the problem if I want to vape even though I understand the addiction side of it. I mean, I think we all have addictions to some extent, I would probably shoot anyone that took my coffee away in the morning, LOL, so isn't that an "addiction". Can anyone tell me what is wrong with being addicted to nicotine when administered through vaping? All evidence about smoking being bad for you is the other 4000 chemicals in analogs, not the nicotine.

Someone....please tell me I'm not crazy. I've spent hours reading about ex-smokers or non-smoker wanting to vape and people telling them not to do it since they have gotten pass the horrible withdrawal part of quitting smoking. Does vaping make someone want to smoke analog cigs? I've always seen it go the other way, analog to vape, not vape to analog.

I would love to hear from ANYONE about this. Thanks

 

[BigFatPaulie]

"Someone....please tell me I'm not crazy. I've spent hours reading about ex-smokers or non-smoker wanting to vape and people telling them not to do it since they have gotten pass the horrible withdrawal part of quitting smoking. Does vaping make someone want to smoke analog cigs? I've always seen it go the other way, analog to vape, not vape to analog.

Welcome!
I can only speak for me. I've smoked on and off all my life. Like you, I've quit over and over. I vape because I like it. I like the nicotine, I like the flavor, I like the gadgets, I like the fact that I don't stink and I'm PROUD to say I don't smoke. Forget about what others say. It's all about you. (And no, you are definitely not crazy.)

 

[BOX MOD LYFE]

Now that I vape, I know I will never smoke a cigarette again. I couldn't stand the taste of it again personally. So I think you will be fine to start vaping. I decided to vape because I love to smoke, it's not so much the nicotine, just the physical aspect of it.

 

[bloodyrune]

I have been vaping for almost 3 years soon, started with high nicotine liquids and first 2-3 days i did get craving for a real cigarette but refused to smoke. It probably changes from person to person but after i have passed that line, i never wanted a cigarette again. After 1 year i have lowered the nicotine amount in my liquids and I am only vaping low or 0 nicotine liquids for a year or more. Keeping my last cigarette in my last pack still as a reminder of the achievement.

After 1 month of vaping, i started to get disgusted/annoyed by cigarette smoke because my nose started to work again and i can actually "smell". Now i cant even breath or talk if someone is smoking around me, my nose refuses to smell that and i move away from the area.

I dont believe vaping will encourage people to smoke cigarettes because its totally opposite sides of the scale, smokers cant get the smells because they lose their sense of smell, vapers have strong smell senses because it dont damage like smoking does. But if you keep smoking, even one cigarette after switching to vaping, the success of quitting cigarettes go very low as i have experienced on some of my friends.

And about nicotine, its a stimulant like caffeine and its present in some vegetables etc. we consume like Eggplants (100 ng/g), Tomatoes (7.1 -7.3 ng/g), Potatoes (15 - 45 ng/g) and Cauliflower (16.8 ng/g). Nicotine intake should not encourage you to crave cigarettes but ofc you need to get some additional nicotine in your body when you quit smoking and start vaping. Thats why liquids have different options for nicotine %, so we can suppress and kill the nicotine addiction of the body.

Keep vaping, never smoke! I suggest going down to low nicotine liquids after a year but its a personal choice ofc.

 

[numsquat]

As someone who used smokeless for over 75% of my life, vaping helped quit the smokeless and I've had no urge to smoke analogs. The vaping helped me with the nic "withdraws", started with the 24mg and now use a variety of nic levels (24-12-6) throughout the day. I do plan to continue to reduce my nic levels but honestly do not think I'll ever be nic free. I did quit the chew for about 2.5 years, stopped using Chantix, but never felt "right" during that time. Started smokeless at 11 y/o, I pretty much think that nicotine is part of who I am (on some bizarre chemical level). Once I drop my nic level to where I'm getting that "not right" feeling again, I figure that's just below my bodys needed nic level and I'll adjust accordingly.

 

[EJAB]

Nicotine=Vasoconstriction=Increased Blood Pressure=Increased Work Load of the Heart

 

[Mike Agnew]

After smoking for almost half my life, I don't think I will ever be nic free. I work at a hospital and I have seen research about nicotine being used to treat Alzheimer's disease, from all the research I have done I have determined that in reasonable amounts, nicotine Is no more dangerous than caffeine. Been vaping for 2 years now and I breath better, no more cough, and my sence of taste and smell have returned. Never going back!

 

[93gc40]

I came to this site to learn about vaping, also. When I decided back last June (14) to stop Buying cigarettes. After 30 plus years, of Marlboro Reds. I did not come here expecting to discuss smoking or quiting smoking, except to acknowledge the fact. So I dug out my E-cig and bought some E-juice and a Mini Protank 3. The atomizer I had at the time is unsuitable for Jucie vaping, as the kit was not intended for smoking cessation use. Well the first few bottle were 20mg nic and I was smoking less. Well now it's January 2015, I haven't had a cig since November and am using 12mg juice and planning to step that down, over next couple orders of juice. I can say Vaping helped me quit smoking, with little to no side affects.

 

[MrSparkle]

The Great Nicotine Myth

 

[facedown]

I'll just add my voice to the chorus. Many of us smoked because we liked the nicotine and we liked the process of smoking. Vaping gives you both without the tar, carbon monoxide, etc. of burning tobacco. While it's good to quit doing things that are seriously damaging to you, there's not much point to living without doing things you enjoy.

If you want to try it, go for it!

 

[Paramaniac413]

I was at a friend's house tonight and she offered me a real cigarette - I turned her down. They don't even smell good to me anymore. Even if I never get to 0mg/ml nicotine, I'm still going to be happy with not smoking.

 

[doofy666]

Cigarettes = nicotine delivery method
Vaping = nicotine delivey method

Then its just down to the personal choice as to whether one wants nicotine or not. We choose our own addictions.

My longest period of abstinence from nicotine was over 20 years but then a few years back I started smoking again. I don't like the smell, the taste, and how ash falls on my trousers.

And then I discovered vaping and stopped cigarettes almost at once. I don't mind being a nicotine addict; I did mind being a cigarette addict. We choose our own addictions.

 

[Dougiestyle]

Heck, I didn't even want to quit smoking when I started vaping! Next month will be 4 years smoke-free without any inclination to light up. I have a cigar a couple times a yearon a special occaision, but it's never seemed a catalyst for wanting to go back to smoking.

For your scenario, I'd say vape it up! I always give the beneficial properties of nicotine when explaining the benefits of vaping to anyone who asks. Nicotine, in and of itself, is not as harmful as the sheep herders would have everyone believe. Yes, it's addictive. Yes, it's poisonous. Aside from that, it doesn't cause cancer. It does increase physical metabolism. It does enhance mood. It does improve mental awareness. It is comparable to coffee or caffeine. Nobody's trying to run Folgers and Maxwell House into the ground!

There is a learning curve to finding a satisfying vape for people trying to get off smokes. The inclination is usually there to find a vape that identically matches smoking. It ain't gonna happen. Different process, completely. You have an advantage in not being hooked to the stinkies, so boutique flavors may be more statisfying while allowing you to receive the benefits of nicotine.

I hope your path is smooth and cloudy!

 

[Rickajho]

Vaping does not make you want to smoke cigarettes. If that were true none of us would be here vaping instead of smoking.

I do have to caution you about googling everything - just because you can. It sounds like you have some of your medical related smoking issues versus nicotine intake issues mixed up.

 

[glointhedark]

It will be around 9 years ago sometime this year that my daughter and I quit smoking, cold turkey, because we could not afford the prices cigarettes were going for on our income at the time. Almost 3 years ago, stress and cravings were starting to get the best of us, and we were really tempted to go back to smoking. My daughter had heard somewhere about ecigarettes, and we started looking into vaping. We hemmed and hawed for a couple of months, trying to fight the urges, and then my daughter caved and bought a couple of disposables, just to see if vaping could satisfy us. Much to my surprise (I was very skeptical that anything could replace smoking), it worked, and we have not looked back. We continue to be ex-smokers with no desire to go back to analogs. From our personal experience, vaping does not lead to smoking. It does, however, lead to a very pleasurable experience that allows us to continue to be ex-smokers.

 

[JC Okie]

Go for it. You'll end up wishing these had been around thirty years ago. It's not the nicotine that was killing us....it was all the other chemicals in cigarettes. I smoked for over 40 years. I've been vaping now (no cigarettes....will NEVER smoke again. YUK!) for almost five years, and I absolutely love it. I have lowered my nic as I've gone along, but will always use some nicotine. just like I'll always drink my caffeine. We only get one life. We might as well enjoy it.

 

[meow505]

Vaping experiences, since a year and a half ago. In comparison to seven years of heavy (ninety a day with basically no life, due to major depression) smoking.

1) Great sense of smell and taste.

2) Much more daily stamina.

3) Don't get puffed quite as easily, even back when I had a lack of exercise and poor diet for several months after mostly vaping (the odd analog every so often). Don't smoke at all now, don't miss it either.

4) My breathing is a lot better.

5) Can have regular physicals done without being told I have high blood pressure nowadays.

6) No more irregular or rapid heart rate, according to ECGs I've had.

7) Don't smell really bad anymore.

8) No more muscular pains in my body.

9) No nasty nose polyps! (My CPAP equipment works properly now) = greatly enhanced sleep quality.

10) Doesn't hurt to p!ss anymore.

11) Everyone has commented on my skin and teeth looking much healthier.

12) I take vitamins/supplements every day, and believe they're more effective these days (though can't scientifically prove this).

13) Better libido in general, though best to not try anything until thirty minutes after having a break from vaping.

14) No more slow/hazy/spacey/light-headed feelings anymore.

15) Less frequent headaches, and those I do get are much milder now.

16) Throat not painfully scratchy anymore.

Fun fact:
Some Americans complain about the cost of smoking. I don't think as many would, if they knew that Australians are paying $164.84AUD (Check xe for currency conversion) a carton for LongBeach cigarettes (200) these days. Source - Woolworths' website. Yes, you read that right. I never understood why people still insisted on buying these, instead of rolling and spending half the money a year here.. I did.

Vaping is about $6.50USD these days for 30mL e-liquid bottles from Mt. Baker Vapor. I buy them online, and each 30mL bottle lasts me about a week. So that $35USD carton of American Camels I'd get each week was a rip-off in comparison when I lived in New Mexico. Didn't need to roll when I was there, though loved sometimes buying $22USD large tins of tobacco from Costco that would last me for at least two months. Better quality, too. Australian tobacco often is inferior Indonesian crap, ugh.

Vaping isn't perfect, I use an 80PG/20VG blend and get itchy all over more than I used to. Have to blow my nose a few extra times a day, and worry about my nice setup falling out of my pocket (DNA30 NES mod with Kanger SubTank). Occasionally miss the chemical taste, LOL - there are probably a million alternatives for this. I think I spotted a winner.

Hope this helps.

 

[Nick N]

Haven't smoked since 2002, started vaping because I wanted to (brother in law quit smoking and switched to vaping in June). Currently using 6-9mg non-flavored in drippers and tanks. I only vape when I am not at work (to and from yes, but not breaks and lunches), and I still roll my Wife's cigarettes on a daily basis. Never had had the urge to go back to cigarettes.

I enjoy the technology of the equipment, and the enjoyment I get from the nicotine. I view it as a hobby, not a habit.

 

[LeftofCenter]

I quit using Chantix many years ago. I was fine while using it and then suffered a severe depression after I went off of it. Chantix blocks pleasure receptors in the brain, mine seemed to have been turned off for a prolonged period and I was down right suicidal.

I quit again a few years later using e-cigs. I went through a bit of withdrawal, but adjusted quickly and then cut to zero nicotine and eventually quit vaping completely. NO DEPRESSION! I was perfectly fine.

Yes I did end up smoking again a year later and here I am again, back on the vape. My point though is that the Chantix could still be effecting you, that stuff is altering your brain chemicals, it takes time for them to be put right again.

Whatever your decision, I wish you well.