Should I go back to vaping?

[alex8039]

I had some good success with e-cigarettes a year ago. I smoked 1.5 packs a day for about 2 years then invested in some mid-level equipment (kgo and some good vapes). I remember the day my last e-ciggie broke I decided to quit all nicotine, I basically gave away my collection of e-liquids and didn't smoke for 3-4 months. Then, after a rough time I relapsed a bit, smoked for a few days, then quit another month. Now, I don't smoke everyday but everytime I go out drinking (Friday/Saturday) I always cave in. When I drink, and see the smoke area in the clubs nothing in the world has that pull on me. It's at the point where willpower is a joke and I need to take alternative action.

This leads me to considering e-ciggies again. In theory, I could keep socializing with smokers while not huffing down the cancer sticks (I chainsmoke hard). Possibly get 0 nicotine, and that might still make it a bit easier. However there are 3 issues I've had:

1. I doubt I can avoid using my e-ciggie only on weekends, when I used it, I puffed on it almost nonstop
2. Even 18-24mg e-liquid didn't entirely remove my cigarette cravings, I still smoked about 2-3 a day to not feel the depression of withdrawal
3. So much I want to be free from this addiction cycle once and for all, is there any way 0 nicotine will do anything at all?

 

[440BB]

Quitting nicotine isn't the priority, as it is a relatively harmless stimulant like caffeine. Quitting smoking is the point, and much of the addiction is to the other chemicals in cigarettes. Using as much nicotine as necessary and vaping as often as necessary is the way, assuming you really want to stop smoking. You succeeded in the past, for the most part, but only you can decide to put smoking in your past, or at least reduce it a great deal.

It's not the nicotine that'll kill you, it's the carcinogens in cigarettes. Hope you're ready to give vaping a try again!

 

[VapinMark]

For me I know that as long as I can remember that I liked smoking, I know I'll need vaping or I may go back. I've caught myself chain vaping on occasion, I'll force myself to put down my device even if only for a few minutes. This seems to work for me and I'll stabilize around 3-5ml a day.

Remember it's an addiction so it could be months or years of no nic and no vaping before your free, and then you may still have moments of weakness.

My father quit smoking cold turkey in 85, in 2000 living in Germany surrounded by smokers he started up again. This told me I might have to actively deal with this addiction for many years if not all my life.

 

[PaulBHC]

I had to try a different attitude. 40+ years of quitting and failing. This time (second time) with vaping I decided that I would vape all I want when I can with no guilt. Last time, 36mg didn't do it. This time I started at 24 for a few months, then 18, 12, and now I bounce between 12 and 9. Almost a year now. Longest I went cold turkey was 6 months, then right back to 2PAD. Every once in a while I have a smoke to remind myself what it was like and it is not what I remember.

 

[GinnyTx]

most of our friends still smoke..we do NOT anymore for six months now.

the vaping did NOT entirely remove all "cravings" it removed the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawl by supplying it via a PV, but then we know that psychological part of addiction is the hardest part to kick because the consequences of smoking had become to great for me so I changed.

that's how it works, you will or you won't...it's a earnest and steadfast commitment that you will not smoke anymore..that's all

good luck

 

[WillyZee]

Should I go back to vaping?

yes you should ... your health deserves it.

 

[DavidOck]

The nic is only part of the experience. The process is also a big part, imo.

As said, nic without combustion by-products is relatively benign, and actually has a variety of beneficial effects. But the "pure" nic is most juice may be too pure for you. There are other alkaloids in tobacco that most juice doesn't have. Look around for WTA flavors, which have some of the rest of those, and it may help in your situation.

 

[RCHagy74]

alex8039:
1. I doubt I can avoid using my e-ciggie only on weekends, when I used it, I puffed on it almost nonstop
2. Even 18-24mg e-liquid didn't entirely remove my cigarette cravings, I still smoked about 2-3 a day to not feel the depression of withdrawal
3. So much I want to be free from this addiction cycle once and for all, is there any way 0 nicotine will do anything at all?

1&2 - The only way I keep myself from puffing non-stop is higher nicotine. When I was using ciga-likes I felt the need to use 54mg nic. When I went to an ego and mech with an Aspire Nautilus I was able to go down to 36mg. Got my REO with a Cyclone addy was able to use that with 18mg and the Nautilus between 36-24mg. The higher the nic for me the less I vape. As soon as I get below 18mg I use between a quarter to double as much e-liquid. It seems for me the more nic, the sooner I get saturated (pickled?) and the cravings do not hit as soon. I saw you are in Australia and have read the government makes it difficult to get supplies. Yet, higher nic and a good PV have helped me immensely (Vapor Shark rDNA 40 with a Russian 91% is my goto now... pricey but worth it for me).
3 - Little I can write for this one... I jabber a lot though so there will be quite a bit Which addiction, dependency or (add your own descriptor) do you want to be free from? I mean seriously, put proper mashed potatoes and giblet gravy within 30 feet of me... well, best not be in my way!
Now, you wrote nic. Which of the two forms of nic addiction seems worse to you? What worked to keep you off/able to cut down on that? What can be done to help get off and keep you off of that? If it is vaping then you are in the place where you will get more help, info, opinion and support than you have hours in the day. There are so many on the boards who have had success going to 0-nic, whether on purpose or it just happened to happen, that you will have quite a bit of aid if that is your goal.
All of us are different though... If I can get down to 12-6mg and vape like I do with 24mg, I will call it a win. For me it is using one dependency to moderate others. Vaping nicotine helps keep my caffeine consumption, eating (mainly candy. I am definitely addicted to candy) and of course cigarettes under control. Even if I cease vaping one day, I know that if I do not have my vape available I will buy some smokes on that one bad stressful day.
OK, enough from me.


RC Hagy

 

[xena222]

I would say try again, start at a lower nic if you are wanting to...but don't let the nic numbers be your decision maker Do what makes you feel the most comfortable not smoking....I have never found that vaping COMPLETELY has annihilated the cravings...but it is there to help me fight it
I still have trouble being around people who are smoking...but not the end of the world feelings I had before I tried to quit with no vaping - you can do it!!

 

[edyle]

I had some good success with e-cigarettes a year ago. I smoked 1.5 packs a day for about 2 years then invested in some mid-level equipment (kgo and some good vapes). I remember the day my last e-ciggie broke I decided to quit all nicotine, I basically gave away my collection of e-liquids and didn't smoke for 3-4 months. Then, after a rough time I relapsed a bit, smoked for a few days, then quit another month. Now, I don't smoke everyday but everytime I go out drinking (Friday/Saturday) I always cave in. When I drink, and see the smoke area in the clubs nothing in the world has that pull on me. It's at the point where willpower is a joke and I need to take alternative action.

This leads me to considering e-ciggies again. In theory, I could keep socializing with smokers while not huffing down the cancer sticks (I chainsmoke hard). Possibly get 0 nicotine, and that might still make it a bit easier. However there are 3 issues I've had:

1. I doubt I can avoid using my e-ciggie only on weekends, when I used it, I puffed on it almost nonstop
2. Even 18-24mg e-liquid didn't entirely remove my cigarette cravings, I still smoked about 2-3 a day to not feel the depression of withdrawal
3. So much I want to be free from this addiction cycle once and for all, is there any way 0 nicotine will do anything at all?

cigalikes might suit you;
instead of using a smoke stick, use a cigalike instead;
the cigalike isn't going to go stale if you dont use it for a few weeks;
the cigalike isn't going to waste if you rest it down in an ashtray while you go to the bathroom to take a leak

 

[Asbestos4004]

You should quit drinking. =]

 

[supertrunker]

Carry your vape with you on Fridays/Saturdays at all times.

T

 

[englishmick]

is there any way 0 nicotine will do anything at all?

Maybe. My wife quit with the help of Chantix. After she finished with the Chantix she picked up an Evod with 0% nic juice and puffed on that when the cravings hit. That's how I discovered Evod's actually. She used it at the times when the craving usually happens like after eating or in the morning or when she got home from work. After a year she still has it in her bag but only uses it 2 or 3 times a day now. She used it a lot early on.

So if you really want to get off nicotine completely that might work for you, especially as you have a history of being able to quit and cut down, which a lot of people can't do. I guess you are less likely to swap compulsive smoking for compulsive vaping if you use 0%. Easier to taper off.

Having said that, if it works great, but if it doesn't then long term nic vaping is a hell of a lot better than smoking.

 

[Papa_Lazarou]

I think you prolly already know the answer. You did, after all, come on to a pro-vaping special interest board to ask, essentially, if vaping was better than smoking (given that abstinence would not work for you, per your post).

Own it, brother: smoking < vaping < complete abstinence. Choose.

I'll shut up now while all the "you should smoke" people chime in

 

[QU1T]

3. So much I want to be free from this addiction cycle once and for all, is there any way 0 nicotine will do anything at all?

Smoker for 20 odd years, went strait to 0mg mate, 3 months later now and I do 1-2 days a week with NO vaping, just toothpicks and black coffee...

 

[Porkleaker]

Quit, s&*t, or get off the pot. Jk, but it's entirely up to you. If you want to vape, then vape away, which is obviously a better idea than going back to smoking. Even if you're using 0mg or some nic.

 

[crxess]

Maybe clubbing is your issue.

 

[LMS62]

^^^^^^^^^^This

 

[alex8039]

Screw it, I'll invest in a high quality mod and let myself enjoy myself one-two nights a week. Maybe if I keep the mod at my close friends house so that I won't be tempted to use it during the week and we usually go out together anyway. I'll use a new flavor a week and it will be a surprise whether it's a winner and this way I can have a much safer way to let loose than giving in to cigarette temptations every few weeks.

 

[Kenneth38]

My suggestion is that you should vape with or without nicotine instead of smoking again. Don't fall into the cycle, you've made so much effort to do it, why quit now?