Please help.

[newsmok]

To the board:

This is my first post, and I know that a lot of you are going through what I'm about to do, and was hoping you could shed some light.

Here is my background:

Im 22. I started smoking at 18, closer to 19. I went up and down in the habit. Most recently, the most cigarettes i would want in a day is 5, the most that ive smoked in a day is 4 since july, and the average is 3-3.5 in a day. I dont want to smoke. I simply need the niccotine. I wouldnt mind using snus, dip, whatever to get that niccotine, but the bottom line is I dont want to depend on cigarettes.
I don't need the hand to mouth action of smoking, and I want to quit the need.

My dilema is this, I have a job that needs me to concentrate heavily with high mathematics equations and high stress.

If i quit cold turkey today, will i be normal in a week or 2?

Ill take a week off work- Im planning on doing that regardless. Will I be 100% the same as i was before? As happy? As focused? How long will that take? Is it already too late for me?

Sometimes all i need is a few drags of the cigarette to get that rush of niccotine.

Please clear this up for me, I need to know whats going to happen and what I have to do. Thanks i advance to anyone who is willing to help a guy out!!

Will it be easier because my habit is minimal compared to a lot of people trying to quit? Ive gone 5 days before--i got depressed, bad, and decided to have a couple with a drink that night. Didnt think id be normal.

 

[wv2win]

If you are asking if a personal vaporizer (PV) will help you transition completely off analogs (cigs), it has for about 90% of us. Since you don't smoke much, I would recommend a regular manual (small buttom) 510 kit. Get some blank carts and a 10ml bottle of e-liquid to fill it with of a flavor you think you might like and give it a try. The prefilled carts generally do not taste good. I would suggest starting out with 24mg nicotine strength to be on the safe side and you can always lower the strength if you need to.

Good Luck

 

[banjo]

I was a heavy smoker for well over 55 years, and quit cold the day I received my first PV, and haven't smoked since - and I have suffered no withdrawal symptoms of any sort. In fact it has been a quite easy transition.

 

[phorbin]

This probably won't be the most popular answer....but....you're a relatively light smoker and you haven't been doing for all that long. Long enough to form an addiction? Yes, but remember, the addiction part you'll be over in 4-5 days tops. For heavy smokers who have been at it for decades a lot of the problem with quitting is psychological, as well as physical, and therefore is much harder to quit. If I was in your shoes, I would seriously consider giving up nicotine all together.

However if you're dead set on getting a dose of nicotine now and then who am i to judge? Check out the Joye 510, sounds like it might be a good one for you.

Phorbin

 

[Automaton]

newsmok,

By cold turkey, do you mean not using e-cigarettes or anything? No can answer that question for you, unfortunately.

There are people who smoke heavily for years, wake up one day, and quit. And they never get anything worse than mild discomfort.

There are others, like me, who can't function when they try to quit. I become very depressed and aggitated. I also get physicaly symptoms - sweats and chills, etc. But I smoked heavily - 30 or more a day.

Considering how lightly you smoke, it is more likely you could quit and feel ok within a couple weeks. But, we do have people here who smoked lightly, and couldn't quit without a lot of discomfort.

In essence, we are all unique. And no one can give you that answer.

Now, if we're talking about quitting cigs and going to vaping?

I was a heavy smoker, right?

My transition to e-cigs was almost painless. I had very little cravings. My mood was fine.

Because you're young, you have likely not done any permanent damage to yourself, either physically or mentally. You still have a few more years before your brain begins to "solidify."

I'm 21. And I'm racing that same clock myself.

Calm down. It's never too late. We have 30-year smokers who switch to vaping, then tapered off completely.

If it were me? Give vaping a shot. Get some lower nic juice - try 12mg. And try not to vape more than you smoked. I would suggest direct dripping with a drip tip, since it lasts about the same number of puffs as a cigarette before you have to re-drip. This will let you know when your session is done. A manual 510 kit sounds like something you may want to look into.

The advantage vaping has over smokeless tobacco (like snus), is that there is only nicotine in it. Tobacco actually has several addictive drugs - nicotine is only one of them. So by getting off tobacco, you are cutting down the number of addictive substances you're exposed to.

See how it goes. There's nothing to be scared of. If you need to take it slower, and try vaping, and if you want to taper off, you can.

I did a video about the 510. You may want to watch. I talk a bit about dripping.
YouTube - E-CIGS FOR BROKE PEOPLE! Part 4 - Care and feeding of the 510

EDIT: Here is part one, that explains the basics of e-cigs, if you are a little lost.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiBCshoCnck&feature=fvw

 

[smitti1]

You're going to get all kinds of answers on your questions, but there isn't one set of answers that works for everyone. We'll try not to confuse you too much. You haven't been a heavy enough smoker for damage to be too severe to your lungs. I'd say your odds are very good. I'd get at least 2 juice levels of higher & a lower amount of nic. Like 24 or 18mg and 9 or 12 mg. Your need for nicotine may be different than you might think. That would give you an alternate juice in case on is too much or too little. You can mix later to adjust the one that is not right for you later.

I smoked for 47 yrs, gradually smoking 2-1/2 pad ultra-lights at the end. I ordered a Joye eGo starter set, and haven't had a reg cig since. Don't even miss it. The 24 mg nic juice that I got was way too strong, but the 18 mg was good for me. Currently I'm about 9-12 mg nic. I figured I'd be the one deciding when to lower the nic levels, but instead, my body keeps demanding that I decrease the level. How odd is that!?!? I'm a heavy vaper, and love this whole experience.

Good luck to you. Keep us posted!!!

 

[Bozzlite]

Hello Newsmok. It is hard for me to relate to someone who has only smoked an average of 3 or so cigs a day for three years. I smoked an average of 40 a day for over 42 years.

It seems to me that it would fairly painless for you to just quit cold turkey. Of course, that's easy for me to say, but never the less, I think you would be totally over it in a week or 10 days.

Since you just need that nicotine hit every now and then, I would suggest that you try the nicotine gum. I have seen it on the shelves at Wal-mart. It would give you the nicotine you crave at the moment you need it. Its not cheap, but then neither are cigs or snus or or dip.

 

[newsmok]

Thank you everyone for your help its very much appreciated! Seriously.

Along this tread-i like hearing that iw ould be over it in a week, or 10 days, or 2 weeks, etc. thats sort of what im looking for.

I am a workout junkie-2 hours a day, everyday. Been doing it since i was a kid. The couple ciggarettes a day is just how I survive. I dont really tlak to anyone about it, (It sort of feels like a weakness, doesnt it?) so its hard to go through something with no internal support. Thanks for anwsering.

Do people in my situation, I would consider my situation being a "college smoking addiction" just quit and stop thinking about it? am i just having an unreasonably hard time cause of my intense nature? If you have anything to add- i would appreciate it. I just want to have a clear head, concentrate, and be happy. (sounds like a lot, i know). If i quit on a wendesay, (may get a small surgery on the saturday), take the entire week off of work, am i going to be happy go lucky and OK on that monday ? I know there isnt a real answer, but whats your opinion?

 

[dragginfly]

Hi Newsmok,

Not surprising that most of the replies come with a
recommended vaping alternative to tobacco.

This forum is not a 'quit smoking' group, per se. It is a
forum of people who have switched their nicotine delivery
system. Most are still getting nicotine, but from a more
pure form found in the personal vaping devices.

Do people in my situation.... just quit and stop thinking about it?

Perhaps. Most probably find that difficult to do.

I started smoking in college and smoked for about 10 years before quitting.

I was only able to quit by changing lifestyle (I got married) and thought
about other things.

My my mind was still a bit of a mess for several days. Any time I have
quit (more than once) I felt light headed and squirrely. I would do
and say sometimes goofy things. I found it difficult to concentrate.

am i just having an unreasonably hard time cause of my intense nature?

I am a very laid back personality type. My guess is that an
intense person may experience the withdrawals more intensely
(for lack of a better word).

I just want to have a clear head, concentrate, and be happy. (sounds like a lot, i know).

That's not a lot to ask. You sound normal to me. :~)

During the withdrawal period, happiness may be easier to
come by than the clear head or ability to concentrate.

If i quit on a wendesay, (may get a small surgery on the saturday), take the entire week off of work, am i going to be happy go lucky and OK on that monday ?

The answer to that depends on how you were before you
started using tobacco. Are you naturally a happy go lucky
type person?

If so, I think you should be fine by Monday.

At the low rate you were smoking, you should be over it
in a few days.

The real question to ask yourself is how are you going to
make it through those few days. You need a plan.

I found it easier when I had something else to intently
focus my attention on so I did not have time to think
about getting a cigarette.

I had to stay away from the 'triggers' that made me want one.

Getting a nail to bite on would make those few days seem
more like a few months.

I say go for it! But have a plan.

These are just my opinions based on my experience... since you asked.

Good luck.

One thing is for CERTAIN. You CAN quit.

If you need help getting off of them with more than willpower,
there are excellent smoking alternatives that make the nic
withdrawal much easier to live through (he said as he took
another long drag from his personal nicotine vaporizer).

 

[phorbin]

well if you enjoy smoking but don't like the smoke part, then by all means try vaping. Especially if you're a workout junkie. I'm not a workout junkie myself, but i sure do feel a lot better since i quit. That can only help you.

I don't think you should feel guilty about either. Over 20% of the adult population in the US still smokes. That's a lot of people. Its nothing to be ashamed of no matter how hard anti smoking lobby tries to make you think you should be.

 

[Wilvin]

I would say if you want to quit nicotine all together then go cold turkey like the others have said it should not be too hard for you. Since the act of putting a cig to your mouth is not a factor in your smoking need then vaping might not be the way to go. Snus and dip sorry to say is almost as nasty a habit as smoking. Plus it might make you want nicotine even more. since the tissue layer in your mouth is thin the nicotine will go into the blood quicker. Plus it is a continuous stream of nicotine. A low dose nicotine gum or the lozenges might help your cravings. Plus you can throw it away when you have enough. The only thing is they don't taste that good. Not as bad as dip but not that good either. I had been smoking around 30 or more cigs a day for 18 years. And nothing worked for me until I started vaping. But for you since you have not smoked much and for very long cold turkey would be your best bet. But it is up to you, in what you feel will work the best for you. I heard a long time ago you can not stop any type of addiction until you are ready to. I feel this is true, but only to a point. Being ready is only 50% of it, 20% is having support from others and avoiding enablers, and 30% is figuring out what way works best for you to stop the habit.

 

[hairball]

If I were in your shoes, and smoked no more than 3 cigs a day, then I would go with a 510 kit. Get a couple of different strength juices. I would try to leave, even the ecig, alone for as long as I could. Just knowing you have it to rely on may be the only thing you need to totally quit. For instance, when I first started vaping, I still kept a pack of cigs in the freezer. Just knowing they were there helped me even though I never touched them. I threw them out a month later knowing that I would never go back to smoking. Kinda of silly but it worked for me.

 

[hairball]

Wilvin...going cold turkey, even for a very light smoker, isn't as easy as you think. They still rely on getting that nicotine. Their brain wants it. It can be just as hard as a heavy smoker like myself used to be.

 

[Wilvin]

I did not think it would be easy for him. But it would be a lot easier then if he had been smoking a pack a day for 10 years. Plus it would save him the money of trying several different methods that may or may not work. If you have not tried cold turkey, then that should be your first step. He might be someone that can do it and it will not bother him much. He will not know until he tries. Plus as I said it will not cost him anything to do this. He has a week coming up that is free, that would be the best time to see. He should know after a few days if it will work. I know this is a forum for vaping but if someone has a question about quitting, I think they should try the least expensive method first then if that does not help then explore the other options.

 

[The Fog]

I for one totally get the concentration issue. I am addicted to something in tobacco which helps with my cognitive skills. I have gone from a pack a day to 3-4 cigs a day as soon as I got my first PV two weeks ago, and the ones I still smoke are usually only on my breaks from work to get my head together so I can think.

Here's what I intend to try going forward with my own situation, and maybe this can help the OP in some way.

I find that I stealth vape at work, in the stairwell, etc. instead of doing what I used to do all the time and go outside where I could really be alone for a few minutes and smoke the whole cig, think through whatever I had been working on, get away from it (and people), pace if I feel like it, etc. Just because we're not smoking doesn't mean we don't get smoke breaks. I think this was a really big mistake I made with my last (non-vaping) quit too.

 

[WomanOfHeart]

Just because we're not smoking doesn't mean we don't get smoke breaks. I think this was a really big mistake I made with my last (non-vaping) quit too.

You are 100% correct! Just because you switched to vaping instead of smoking doesn't mean that you can't walk away from your desk and take a break. Whether it's to get something to drink, smoke, vape, or just to put your thoughts together. I will still go outside or out to my car sometimes to vape. I work in a high stress environment and sometimes I just need to walk away from my desk. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it.

 

[bearscreek]

Like someone said, you'll hear all sorts of opinions on this, so here's mine. I would either try a 510 e-cig or check the local tobacco shops for a dissolvable tobacco product called Stonewalls before I'd do any gum or lozenges. The Stonewalls have more of the stuff you'll crave. I got some just to see what they were like and actually found myself wanting only about a half of one at a time. Otherwise, you're such a light smoker that a 510 e-cig with medium juice should work fine.

 

[Desert Willow]

I smoked for 30 years, the last 20 years I rolled my own using pipe tobacco without a filter. I stopped analogs the day after I got my 510 pv. The only reason I smoked an analog the second day was out of habit, I lit one as soon as I got up. Then I thought, jeez, I am an idiot, and put it out. I went thru the house and picked up all the ashtrays, washed them and hid them in a cupboard. I rounded up all my analog cigs and gave them to my neighbor. I have not wanted an analog cig since that morning.

I have been gradually lowering the nic level of the e-juice since then, from 24 down to 12. (Remember I was smoking pipe tobacco without filters, 1-2 packs a day, so I have come a very long way in a matter of 2 months.) I did not start vaping as a method of quitting nic altogether, it has just worked out that way for me.

I know for me, vaping has eliminated the need for tobacco cigs, without adding stress or discomfort. I may quit nic or I may continue to vape... who knows. I am laid back and just take it as it comes. I do know that I will NEVER go back to analog tobacco cigs, and for me, it is good enough.

Quitting is different for all of us. In the end, you are the one to decide which method you are ready to try.

Best of luck and brightest blessings!

 

[Automaton]

am i just having an unreasonably hard time cause of my intense nature?

I think that is a very likely possibility indeed.

Let's take a look at the types of people who smoke.

The rich, the poor, the highly sensitive/intense/intelligent, and the somewhat slow.

These are the largest demographics. The person who is the least likely to smoke, is the middle-class, average-intelligence, normal Joe.

Nicotine is a stimulant. MAOI's (also in cigarettes) are an anti-depressant/anti-anxiety. The effect of this is that it sharpens you while simultaniously soothing whatever internal sensitivity you may be having.

And a lot of people start smoking for exactly that reason, including myself.

It sounds to me like you want to try to quit, without vaping. That is, in my opinion, the wisest decision in your position. Try it first.

You need to find something else that will relax you. Chamomile tea, meditation, there are all kinds of things.

You need to find something that will keep your hands busy. Try learning how to twirl a pen. Prior to being a smoker, I would sit there and flip a pen in my hands like an acrobat for hours, while I was doing whatever I was doing.

Intense personalities can also be sensitive personalities, and they need more activity and a more focused approach to being balanced. This may be what smoking does for you. Find something to replace it.

Learning to relax is an art. For me, it isn't so much that I've managed to "slow down." It's more that I have learned that I don't have to react to everything my brain does. I can let it do whatever it's doing, and not necessarily react to it.

I think quitting for surgery is a good idea. You will probably find that it is too much trouble to smoke in the days that follow. It's a very good opportunity to quit, and you'll probably also be given some pain meds that may help reduce how much withdrawal you go through.

By the time you go back to work, there is a good chance you will feel better. You may occasionally crave, but spend some time thinking about what your mind and body really needs.

If you can't get through it, then maybe consider vaping. Like I and others have said, stick to a simple kit, and only vape when you feel you really need to. Try to ween down over time. Many people who quit vaping find it is easier than quitting smoking.

 

[coralie]

I began smoking at 22. I quit at 32. I quit smoking like I started, very slowly. I tried other ways first, but each time I tried to quit, I just ended up smoking more. About 2-3 years ago, I found the book, The Highly Sensitive Person and as I read it, I realized that what I'd always thought was wrong with me, wasn't *wrong*, but different. It sounds to me like your personality/nature is playing a role in your smoking, and maybe this book would be interesting/useful to you. I am not going to recommend that you vape or don't vape as a way to stop smoking. You're the best judge of that. I will say that switching to vaping was a long process for me, and it was that because of my nature as an hsp. Since quitting cigarettes, I've noticed that I miss the numbing effect of the MAOIs in cigarettes which are not in ecigs. I will not go back to smoking, and I probably will not quit vaping. It keeps my hands busy and gives me a break in situations where I need to leave for a brief while if I'm getting overwhelmed. I am trying to address the high sensitivity that has returned full force since I quit smoking with lots of other things...tea, quiet time, journaling... Anyway, I hope sharing my experience helps in some way, and know that whatever you decide, you're not alone.