Quitting Smoking Flashpoints

[bennytuk]

Hi All,

Day 11 of vaping. Fourth full day of not smoking, and I'm finding everything particularly hard today.

I've been doing SO well - only had 1.5 cigs all weekend, have drank alcohol at home without having a cigarette, and yesterday even went to the pub with (smoking) friends and didn't give in.

But today I just feel like I want to either cry or scratch someone's eyes out. I have anxiety anyway and am a bit panicky, and am really unfocussed.

I've also got indigestion and this silly breathing / burping thing (see here Strange "Breathlessness" - Seeking Reassurance! | Page 2 | E-Cigarette Forum ) that I'm sure is my brain / body's way of trying to scare me off vaping and back onto the cigs.

Two days ago I thought I'd nailed it, now I'm far less sure.

What are other people's experiences of these ups and downs? Any particular points in time when it's particularly tough? I'm trying to give up for my infant son, so sitting in a different room because I just can't deal with his noise is making me feel very miserable :-(

 

[johnkong]

I've went thru cycles of vaping and smoking, a couple of times. I've noticed when I got away from the baccy and menthol flavors it seems to help a lot. Another trick I learned in this forum is, it's not a bad idea to have two different flavors, one for the mornings (and hard times) and an all day vape. Tell us what set up do you have, flavor juice, pg/vg ratio, ect, if you would like. When you have a support group it can be even easier...

 

[Isabelle49]

Try to do something you like, maybe reading the forums, look up info you are interested. Vape. Can you take a short walk and take your Vape with you? I'm having reflux with less smoking. That sucks. Drink water to dilute the acids in your stomach. Hope this helps.

You can always go outside and have a few cig puffs. I do that, then put the cig out after two or three puffs and resume vaping. Tricks the brain.

You are doing great. I was 50 year smoker, 2 packs/day for the past 12 years. Down to about 3 to 4 packs a week. I consider that a success and plan to progress to none soon.

 

[xtwosm0kesx]

Its quite common to hit a few walls early in the transition period.

I had particularly strong cravings (but not insurmountable) around the 2 week and 2.5-3 month mark(reported by many).

You're likely feeling this way because your body is trying to deal with the fact that it is no longer receiving a VERY complicated chemical cocktail (including MAOIS) that can have direct effects on your brain chemistry/bodily functions and is 'rebooting' from the effects of no longer being poisoned on multiple levels.

This too shall pass, stay strong for your child, best of luck!

 

[bennytuk]

I've went thru cycles of vaping and smoking, a couple of times. I've noticed when I got away from the baccy and menthol flavors it seems to help a lot. Another trick I learned in this forum is, it's not a bad idea to have two different flavors, one for the mornings (and hard times) and an all day vape. Tell us what set up do you have, flavor juice, pg/vg ratio, ect, if you would like. When you have a support group it can be even easier...

I have lots of juice, anything over 12mg seems a bit much for me. I've got loads of tobacco juices, I usually use heavy VG but currently using one that's higher PG, still experimenting. Also have several fruity ones as ADVs. Using a iStick 20w plus Nautilus Minis.

 

[NoFumus]

I'm sorry to hear you're having difficulty. Still, you're doing really great. If I remember correctly, you're vaping 12 mg. As @johnkong suggestion, keeping a tank of higher nic might help.

Hang in there. It will get easier.

 

[K_Tech]

I've posted this before. My first two weeks, I had a constant white-knuckled death grip on my mod. All I can say is it DOES get easier every single day. Hang in there, be strong, you're doing the right thing!

 

[Isabelle49]

Benny, is the higher nic to harsh on your throat? If so, when you are on your last straw, you could just mouth Vape the higher nic and hold in your mouth for a few seconds. The majority of nic from vaping is absorbed by tissues in the mouth and throat, not the lungs. And, consider that you are only absorbing a very small fraction of the nicotine in the Vape. Very different from cigarettes, since the additives in them enhance absorption.

 

[Grimwald]

My worst period was that 2-3 month point. That's when I went to war with my taste buds...ornery critters, those buds. I really missed the taste of cigarette tobacco and hated every flavor I was vaping. I did finally find a couple of liquids to get me thru until I finally settled on unflavored.

I did have some serious cravings for the first 6 months caused by triggers like morning coffee, after meals, etc. They do go away with time.

 

[Ou2mame]

I was pretty stressed out about everything around me for the first 2 weeks of switching but it went away. It's your body saying give me chemicals! It's not just the nicotine it's the other 5000 chemicals you're addicted to as well

 

[Ronald3638]

What worked for me was going to 36 MG/ML for a week then backing off each week. When I got down to 24 MG/ML I stayed there for several months then started reducing again. It took 2-1/2 years for me to get down to 3 MG/ML.

I don't subohm except with temperature controlled MOD's so the very high NIC was what I needed but if you subohm you would have to start with much lower NIC, I'll let those who subohm advise you what levels to use.

Like Ou2mame said it's the other chemicals that your body mostly craves but it does get better.

Hang in there, you can do it.

 

[bennytuk]

Well...I'm sorry to say I just went outside and smoked two analogs :-(

I'm not that annoyed with myself. When I bought my PV 11 days ago my intention was never to quit completely any time soon, but I had hoped that I was going to be one of those people who gave up accidentally. The journey continues.

So what was it like? Well, they tasted horrible, far less pleasant than vape, and they didn't exactly kill a craving, as such.

However: My anxiety level has gone down from 9/10 to 6/10, and the breathlessness / burping thing seems to have abated. In a way it's a good thing to find this out, because it indicates that this symptom was either caused by my anxiety or my withdrawal from one of the other things in analogs (MAOIs I suspect).

So where do I go from here? I'm not entirely sure. I have a very stressful weekend coming up (visiting my father - a long story, but perhaps my biggest anxiety trigger of all). Wondering whether to just allow myself one or two cigs a day for a bit, on the basis that it's better than the 30 I would have smoked under normal circumstances. I just don't know. What I do know is that this is still something that's going to be really hard. It's a shame that I had 5 such great days that lulled me into a false sense of security...

 

[djsvapour]

Benny, man.

If I could tell you the stuff I went through getting into e-cigs and off tobacco, I'd need to write pages on here.

Just dual fuel as long as you need. You will get there if you want to. I got off the smokes, and all the other prescription drugs eventually. It was smoking that was causing all my problems, and with that out the way... I got my life back. I could list maybe 7 or 8 things 'wrong' with me 3 years ago (physical and mental)... they have all gone now. Give e-cigs a chance... just keep running down the road... one day, you'll take off and fly smoke free. I promise you.

 

[gandymarsh]

Don't beat yourself up for falling off the wagon once in awhile. I had some strong cravings at times after getting off tobacco but I vaped my way through them. I also raised my nic level and vaped til I got nic sick. Everyone is different so don't compare yourself to me or anyone else.

As stated above, it does get better.

 

[Chrissie]

@bennytuk , as others have said, don't beat yourself up - you are doing so well

I duel fuelled for a long time before giving up the last 2 a day. So glad I eventually did it, but I knew I had to take it at my own pace.

 

[Isabelle49]

Benny, take it easy on yourself. There is no reason to stress yourself out even more when you are in a stressful situation.
You are doing great!!!

 

[xtwosm0kesx]

Well...I'm sorry to say I just went outside and smoked two analogs :-(

I'm not that annoyed with myself. When I bought my PV 11 days ago my intention was never to quit completely any time soon, but I had hoped that I was going to be one of those people who gave up accidentally. The journey continues.

So what was it like? Well, they tasted horrible, far less pleasant than vape, and they didn't exactly kill a craving, as such.

However: My anxiety level has gone down from 9/10 to 6/10, and the breathlessness / burping thing seems to have abated. In a way it's a good thing to find this out, because it indicates that this symptom was either caused by my anxiety or my withdrawal from one of the other things in analogs (MAOIs I suspect).

So where do I go from here? I'm not entirely sure. I have a very stressful weekend coming up (visiting my father - a long story, but perhaps my biggest anxiety trigger of all). Wondering whether to just allow myself one or two cigs a day for a bit, on the basis that it's better than the 30 I would have smoked under normal circumstances. I just don't know. What I do know is that this is still something that's going to be really hard. It's a shame that I had 5 such great days that lulled me into a false sense of security...

Absolutely NO shame in having a smoke if you really needed one.

We all have to find our own path off the stinkies, and always remember ANY reduction in regular cigs smoked is a positive net health gain, no matter how small, it all adds up.

Its only been 5 days and think how much worse those cigs tasted, if you string together another 5-10 days (or longer) they'll taste even worse, as your taste buds recover, and eventually your positive mental associations (not to mention chemical withdrawals) with/from cigs should also be reduced.

Don't be afraid to take it slow, but i will say, and most here will agree, after enough time you'll actually dread the thought of smoking a cig.

Best of luck!

 

[jada1082]

I had a few times where I was like man I just want a regular real cigarette! I pushed through. I went through a taste phase were all the juice I had tasted burnt. And wasn't leaving me satisfied. Didn't help that my husband who started vaping with me, gave up and went back to smokes.
Your not alone. And just keep taking each min as it comes.
Your doing awesome already!

 

[NancyR]

It isn't about what you smoke but about what you don't. So don't sweat it if you need to have a couple here or there, many people dual use for over a year, and a few long time vapers still dual use, so you are not alone.

You may find it handy to keep a bottle of higher level nic juice on hand. You said you currently have 12 so maybe a bottle of 18 mg to help during those times, or even a disposable like an njoy king to hit every now and then if it is too bad and you don't want to smoke.

 

[kaahn]

@bennytuk There is a Rule of Three's. 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months. Around those times I hear times get tough for some. I, luckily, haven't had any of those cravings. Just keep your head high and do the best you can! Good luck!