So how long does it last?

[Opinionated]

Thanks. Well I’ve made it through 4 days so I’m gonna just try. If I should fail, this could be a plan B.
I just want done with smokes. I guess as of now I’m willing to suffer now and get it over with! Sounds pathetic huh?!!

It a just important to stress as little as possible about the switch while switching..

As you know stress leads to desire for a smoke, so it's best to avoid stress, and that includes stressing about whether or not you will quit vaping someday, how long your gonna use nicotine..

It's important that you just switch, without worry about anything but making that as comfortable as possible..

When you withdraw its not just nicotine your withdrawing from.. MUCH more to cigarettes than that it's why they prescribe nicotine to help you QUIT smoking... it helps you through the withdrawals but is not the only cause of withdrawals.

Once the withdrawal phase is over then you can wean off nicotine and think about the future...

 

[Jwaterski]

Scattered thoughts, can't concentrate, been about 5 years now I guess, I'll let you know when it finally clears up! Of course I had those same problems before I quit smoking so, maybe not related? What was I talking about again? Oh yea, green.

 

[Gratch]

I would deffo just go with the vape and not patches as well. Dont want you getting all twitchy on us now

 

[Billy B]

Definitely up the nicotine levels. 18mg is what I used in the first months after 30 a day smoking.

Mood wise - you're also recovering from surgery? An anaesthetic would explain a lot of your symptoms - so give yourself a break on how you are feeling.

My first week was really bad, but then it got easier.

Just wait til you wake up one morning, reach for your vape, then later in the day realise you hadn't even thought about needing a cigarette

Yea it’s been strange. Between the anesthesia then the pain meds I was out of it. Everyone tells me I’m way too hard on myself.
So ya know if I slip up and smoke it’s not the end of the world I suppose. I admit I’m very impatient, want instant results , instant gratification. My wife just told me so what if I slip a few times after 30+ years of smoking?
And I know she’s right. But I just know when I cave it’s usually all the way in, so it makes me nervous to even leave that as a possibility. I know, I’m complicated.

 

[Fredman1]

As someone above said, we're all different. You'll have to find out how you're wired and do what suits you. Best way to do that is read all you can here on older threads. There is a mountain of info that will interest you and help you find your way.
I found the more I immersed myself in vaping, the more I learnt about how bad smoking actually is, and that I actually have a almost healthy (compared to the smokes) alternative here. Its all about informing yourself, because in the end, we as "smokers" are wired to crave that.
There definately is a way out for everyone, and everyone has their own way....

 

[zoiDman]

Thanks. Well I’ve made it through 4 days so I’m gonna just try. If I should fail, this could be a plan B.
I just want done with smokes. I guess as of now I’m willing to suffer now and get it over with! Sounds pathetic huh?!!

Doesn't Sound pathetic at all.

Just sounds like someone who is Quitting a 30 Year PAD Addiction. Which is perhaps the Hardest Thing you will ever do in You Life.

Notice I said "Do". Because you Can Do It!

So Get Up Right Now, go into the Bathroom and look in the Mirror, and then Yell at the Top of your Lungs... "I'm Not Going to Smoke Anymore. I'm Sick and Tired of Cigarettes. So do your Best. But I'm Not Going to Smoke Again!" Then Go Outside and take a relaxing Walk around the Block.

When I Switched, the Hardest thing was when I was just Sitting at Home doing Nothing. Nothing but thinking about how Hard it was for me to Quit.

Getting some Exercise Really Helped. And Helped me sleep Better also.

You make it Billy. But sometimes you just have to Laugh at the Pain. And Power On Thru.

 

[JCinFLA]

So ya know if I slip up and smoke it’s not the end of the world I suppose. I admit I’m very impatient, want instant results , instant gratification. My wife just told me so what if I slip a few times after 30+ years of smoking?
And I know she’s right. But I just know when I gave it’s usually all the way in, so it makes me nervous to even leave that as a possibility. I know, I’m complicated.

That's another reason I knew dual using was right for me...I could have a certain # per day, or less if I wanted to (which I sometimes did, too). By the time I got down to 2/day and then to 1/day...I didn't even really want them on some days, because I enjoyed vaping so much more than smoking by then.

About maybe "slipping up" and having a smoke now and then, and beating yourself up for it...it sounds like you haven't heard the statement to remember around here: It's not the number of smokes you have that matters. It's the number you aren't having that's important!

 

[93gc40]

Hey, I guess this would be for the veterans who quit smoking with Vaping.

So I’m into my 4th day without a smoke. And even though I’m using th patch and vaping, it is still hard. Most of all I feel down, depressed. As much as I don’t want to light up (esp after 4 days, I consider that a victory of sorts)...yet part of me does!

I’ve been off work so that has been a plus. I had to have minor surgery so I planned awhile back to make a quit attempt while recovering at home.

I am depressed. I feel like my thoughts are just scattered. Can’t focus, concentrate. Can’t even talk right honestly, like what I’m thinking and trying to say aren’t in sync. It’s weird. I’m very agitated.

So people, how long can I expect to feel this way? And I have nicotine!! Crazy. I am convinced its far more than the nicotine addiction that makes quitting so hard. All I wanna do is sleep through it but I know that’s not reality. I sure am praying a lot too!

I appreciate your feedback in advance.

This is why I didn't quit smoking when I started vaping.... after 6 months of vaping I just no longer smoked or wanted to smoke.

IMO vaping side by side with smoking is the way to go..... if vaping is going to work t j e smoke goes away. All by itself.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

 

[Billy B]

Doesn't Sound pathetic at all.

Just sounds like someone who is Quitting a 30 Year PAD Addiction. Which is perhaps the Hardest Thing you will ever do in You Life.

Notice I said "Do". Because you Can Do It!

So Get Up Right Now, go into the Bathroom and look in the Mirror, and then Yell at the Top of your Lungs... "I'm Not Going to Smoke Anymore. I'm Sick and Tired of Cigarettes. So do your Best. But I'm Not Going to Smoke Again!" Then Go Outside and take a relaxing Walk around the Block.

When I Switched, the Hardest thing was when I was just Sitting at Home doing Nothing. Nothing but thinking about how Hard it was for me to Quit.

Getting some Exercise Really Helped. And Helped me sleep Better also.

You make it Billy. But sometimes you just have to Laugh at the Pain. And Power On Thru.

Good stuff. I believe what you say is true. Because I’ve been in bed recovering for about a week. I mean I can walk around and all but...
Recently had another change in my life. Needed to lose weight so since November went from 233 lbs to right now I think 198. So I can’t wait to get back in the gym to work off these negatives thoughts etc and I sure don’t want to gain that weight back! In fact my goal is 185 so....I don’t know if quitting smoking is compatible with this goal, hopefully Vaping keeps from gaining back the weight.

 

[ScottP]

I am going to go against the grain here a bit. I say KEEP the patches for now. Oder some higher nic juice, probably like 12mg minimum. Maybe even get a bottle of 24mg and a bottle of 12mg (same flavor since you only have 1 tank atm). Once they come in, then ditch the patches. Vape the 24mg in the am and after dinner (likely the two worst craving times) vape the 12mg the rest of the day.

If you absolutely have to have 1 or 2 cigs per day for a week or two, that's fine to keep cutting back. Just don't smoke and use the patches.

 

[DeloresRose]

When I started vaping, 4.5 years ago, it was not with the intention to quit. Long story, but I was a 1.5 pad for 35 years. The first day I had my ego kit, I smoked five cigarettes. Floored me, because I’d tried everything else, patch, pills, gum, nasal spray (yikes) and even acupuncture. Nothing had worked.

I started with 24mg and just vaped every time I wanted a smoke, and most times vaping was enough that I could pass in the cigarette.

It was so easy. I think in a week I completely stopped smoking

That said, I fell off the wagon last Christmas but, still vaping too, never got up past half a pack. I’m down to 2-3 a day now.

I know that no one thing works for everyone, but also, if that thing isn’t working for you, mix it up. I know I need to up my nic again for now - I was using 3-6mgs.

I also got some new gear. I needed a DL tank, and also got some other goodies . Mixed some 12 mg juice, and feeling less stressed about the whole thing.

Don’t beat yourself up, just keep on trying different combos until you find what works for you.

 

[zoiDman]

... In fact my goal is 185 so....I don’t know if quitting smoking is compatible with this goal, hopefully Vaping keeps from gaining back the weight.

It is Really going to Surprise you How Much Better you will feel after Quitting Smoking. I will just Blow your Mind.

Here is something I posted awhile back...

Hi Anerol. Welcome to the ECF.

In 2015, I averaged 125 Miles per week on a Bike. And in 2016, I averaged just under 85 Miles per week.

Not bad considering before I Switched to e-Cigarettes, I would get Out of Breath walking up 2 Flights of Stairs.

Fitness

And this is Perhaps the Best Post I have Ever Read on the ECF...

Been A While But I took It To A Whole New Level

Hang in there Billy. Quitting Smoking can be Tough. Doing it while your Laid Up in Bed doesn't make it Any Easier.

But you can Do It!

 

[Billy B]

It is Really going to Surprise you How Much Better you will feel after Quitting Smoking. I will just Blow your Mind.

Here is something I posted awhile back...



Fitness

And this is Perhaps the Best Post I have Ever Read on the ECF...

Been A While But I took It To A Whole New Level

Hang in there Billy. Quitting Smoking can be Tough. Doing it while your Laid Up in Bed doesn't make it Any Easier.

But you can Do It!

Wow that’s an amazing story!

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Sorry it has been so rough on you. I am in agreement with all of the other posters that you can do this. I only want to add to increase your liquid intake as vaping dries out the mucous membranes in our mouths, nose and throat. Not only does it help the vaping experience be more enjoyable but it also helps to flush out the toxins from your body from smoking cigarettes. This will help you in getting through the switching period.

Good Luck

 

[Myk]

Right now I’ve just dug out my old gear from last time I tried. I have an Endura T-22 and I’m using 3 mg liquid. I have 4-5 flavors I got from Quit That Grit.

This weekend I’m going to get new coils to keep the Endura going but I’m also going to get a little more updated mod. In another thread someone recommended the Kroma-A with I think a Zenith tank.

3mg isn't enough for a smoker at any time. You may as well use 0mg. But that said, after 3-7 days you'd be over nicotine withdrawal (but not with the patch, that erratic dosage coupled with the extremely low nicotine is dragging your withdrawal out). I'm not sure how long the other things in tobacco smoke stick around.

I quit with 11mg mostly. I say mostly because I tried 18mg, which made me sick normally, to get over my morning smoke. I vaped like a steam engine (same when I went from cigarettes to pipe, the pipe was constantly going).
The reason I couldn't get over my morning smoke is turns out I have a disease that is helped by smoking (it's Crohn's but you'll run into less resistance treating it like Ulcerative Colitis and smoking if you want to research it, they're related and Crohn's is usually made worse by smoking but mine acts more like Ulcerative Colitis).
Although I did get over that morning smoke in about a week and I cut nicotine in a month or two I didn't really get over it until I was diagnosed and treated, at which time I increased nicotine to 18mg 100% of the time as part of the treatment for 3 years. When my diagnosis was changed to Crohn's and treatment changed so I was actually getting disease control I stopped nicotine. I dropped to 9mg instantly and then to 4mg a week later where I stayed to use up liquids. 0mg was no problem.
Why my life story? To say there may be other things going on and everyone is different.

Some people's systems are such that they get no joy from the clean nicotine in ecigs and they find joy in SNUS or WTA liquids (assuming WTAs are still a thing).

 

[ScottP]

Just remember....

 

[Billy B]

Sorry it has been so rough on you. I am in agreement with all of the other posters that you can do this. I only want to add to increase your liquid intake as vaping dries out the mucous membranes in our mouths, nose and throat. Not only does it help the vaping experience be more enjoyable but it also helps to flush out the toxins from your body from smoking cigarettes. This will help you in getting through the switching period.

Good Luck

I will definitely do that.
Yea it’s been a little rough but maybe I’m just complaining too much. Because I have so so much to be thankful for. I’ve gone 4 days without a smoke. If I mess up, I’ll just quit again.
I lost the majority of the weight I wanted to before I even tried to quit. Yea my ultimate goal is 185. But I was as high as 245 within the last 6 months. So if I just stayed where I am (I’m 6’ 200 +/-) im fine with that.

Cigarettes are just Evil. I’m sure with Vaping, support and the rest, the urges will be less and eventually I hope I never WANT one again!.

 

[Baditude]

So ya know if I slip up and smoke it’s not the end of the world I suppose. I admit I’m very impatient, want instant results , instant gratification. My wife just told me so what if I slip a few times after 30+ years of smoking?

Old, long time habits are hard to break. Breaking the habit of smoking is often said to be the hardest addiction to break. I'm not sure that's completely true considering the current problem of opioid addiction, but I'm sure it still ranks near the top.

We have a saying on this forum. "It's not how many cigarettes you smoked today that is important, it's how many you DIDN'T smoke that is." Every day, every cigarette that you don't smoke is a victory. Maybe you haven't won the war yet, but you earned yourself another victory to end the war.

I quit a 30+ year pack-a-day tobacco habit several years ago. I'd had tried the gum, patch, prescriptions, and even hypnosis. None of that "approved" stuff worked for me. I tried my first cigalike out of curiosity, and although it wasn't "great", I could tell it had a lot of potential. Researching on the internet, I found this forum and learned a lot.

I got a starter kit, and set a quit date. I planned to dual use for a week. I knew I'd have severe cravings, so when I got a cig craving I vaped more. If that wasn't enough, I allowed myself HALF of a cigarette and saved the second half for the next craving. I was able limit myself to 4 total cigs a day initially. The partially smoked cigs tasted terrible, but that helped me to quit. By the end of the week, when that last pack was finished, I began to actually prefer the vape and not the tobacco. I never had to buy another pack. I had won my war on cigarettes!!

My advice: Ditch the patches. Increase your e-liquid nic to at least 12mg. Vape as much as you need to to get over your cravings. Avoid situations that might tempt you to smoke (ie alcohol, smokers). Exercise; if you can't exercise, WALK or bicycle. Don't stay static, occupy your mind and body.

I sincerely believe a variable wattage mod would be to your benefit. Even today, I find changing my wattage settings throughout the day to be very helpful to my body's ever changing needs; even after dropping my nic from 18mg down to 3mg - 6mg. Good Starter Setups for a Beginner Vaper

 

[listopencil]

For me I found that I was more craving the idea of a cigarette than an actual cigarette. Once you start vaping for a while, you will notice how bad a cig tastes if you take a drag again. And the smell is pretty bad. Not the smell of a fresh cig - fresh tobacco actually smells really good. But the smell of smoke and old cigs is pretty nasty. So...what you are craving doesn't really exist anymore. And that's a really hard thing to wrap your head around. I kept an emergency pack in the glove compartment of my car for a long time. I even hit that pack up every once in a long while and it was frustrating to me how crappy the experience was.

I noticed something that was kind of a big deal to me at work just recently. When it was time for my lunch break I went straight to the food. I didn't hurry out to vape first, I sat and enjoyed my lunch then went outside to vape. I have gotten used to a different nicotine delivery style and I have lost the frantic need for it that comes from smoking. It was pretty nice to be able to make that choice to vape when it suited me rather than having my behavior be driven by the addiction. Felt good.

I have found that using a mouth-to-lung set up with a decent nic level and ingredient balance did it for me. The lower the Watts/Volts the higher the nicotine and PG usually. I am currently using unflavored juice at 50 VG / 50 PG at 18 mgs nicotine in my RTA tanks at around 16 Watts. I am also using flavored juice at 66 PG / 33 VG at 18 mgs nicotine in my little stealth vape at 12 Watts. When I used higher Wattage devices at lower nic levels the vape wasn't enough like smoking to satisfy me.

Just keep trying and do the best you can.

 

[Gratch]

Some great info, tips and storys here, Hope you are having a good day Billy!