Hi Luke, some dual use is totally normal for some folks as they switch to vaping. I dual used for several years on and off, culminating in a return to smoking, and then returning to vaping only, due to health issues and incipient COPD which was certainly a huge motivator for me.
I would say continue vaping, I'm not sure how much nicotine you are using, since you are using nic shots in a 100 ml base.... Do you know what percentage of nicotine your nic shots are and how much volume of nicotine per nic shot. That would be the only way to figure it out that I know of....
As far as dual use, there are things you can do, including upping your nicotine, especially during times when you want to smoke if not all the time (some folks will reserve a separate setup for a higher nic setup). If you haven't you could try WTA (whole tobacco alkaloid juice) two makers here include Umbavape and Aroma E-juice I don't know if they would ship to your location or not). They contain alkaloids from the tobacco plant that aren't found in nicotine, substances that aren't found in nicotine alone, and provide some of the anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effect found in tobacco. They don't work for everyone but I found them immensely helpful while transitioning and I still keep a tank around for high pressure moments.
With that said, there is a certain amount of willingness to "suffer" through detox with enough determination to be successful in transitioning, and there really isn't any going around this process. The longer you dual use, the longer you will be in that state of "ongoing detox" and for myself, I reached a point where the occasional cigarette was not worth prolonging it (for me) and then I just had to pretty much suffer for a while. For some ex-smokers, that is a part of detox, unfortunately, but it does get easier and I rarely even think about cigarettes now (well, less and less anyway).
I quit with a smoker in the house, so I had to be extra determined . Reminding myself of my goals, of the fact that cigarettes were going to be available... anytime... .anywhere, also helped.. I did not go into vaping this time determined to dual use forever, although my motivations were bigger this time as well. So, if you can avoid having cigarettes around you, that may help during the transition, but it's not ultimately necessary.
Most of all, I did what this forum suggested. I kept vaping no matter what, I vaped right before and right after any cigarettes I smoked, to reinforce being a vaper. I fell off the wagon catastrophically a few times under stress (think, more than 15 cigarettes one day) but this actually helped me, as I felt awful the next morning and it really reinforced what I was feeling in my lungs and body.
Best of luck, staying busy distracted and learning more about vaping (DIY, RTAs, etc) also helped keep my energies focused on vaping, not smoking.
Most of all, you need to find (and consistently remind yourself) what your motivations are for vaping, and why you are doing this. They are slightly different for everyone...
I chose to cut out my hardest cigarette of the day first. I knew that if I was smoking first thing in the morning, I would be doing so all day long. So, I drew that "time" out further and further, eventually reaching my first cigarette free day. I was entirely SHOCKED, actually.
But, if you want to do this, you can. You need to evaluate whether you need more nicotine, a higher strength tank, for hard moments, but most of all, you must, at some point, put down the cigarettes. If you are only smoking a couple, I might suggest just shooting for a cigarette free DAY, just one, and if you meet with success you will have shown yourself it is possible to do this. You can tell yourself all day long that you will dual use.... tomorrow. And you can, if you need to, but that first cigarette free day can be huge.
I wish you all the luck in the world, and I'm sure you can get there.
Anna
