Still smoking support and chat thread

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Karen N Daytona

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I'm not doing so hot at replacing smoking with vaping. I'm back up to 1/2 PAD, which is still less than what I was. I'm not getting mad at myself, just disappointed. I permit myself to hit the analogs too often, and I intend to work on that.

I rewicked and recoiled my RSST yesterday, and it's performing great. Adding the cotton behind the coil cleaned up the burnt taste and gave it some more juice to eat.

My Octopus decided to wig out, ranging from 6 ohms to nada on the MVP, so I put the microcoil I built yesterday on it. 1.5 ohms, and amazing vapor and flavor with cotton wicking. I wrapped a second microcoil tonight, and I think I'll throw it on the deck.

I think I've found that microcoils are actually easier to put together than spaced ones!


Karen....please go see the doc. We all care (very much) and worry about you when you're not around.

Karen, I am thinking you should be seen by a doctor too. Especially since it is so soon after your last hospital adventure. Now that you have your SS approved, you should keep yourself healthy long enough to enjoy a little of your big win. Go, take care of yourself. It will be covered. Just bring a copy of your SS award with you so you get seen quicker and without as much wait and drama. With paper comes speed and treatment. Breauaucrats (I know that is spelled wrong) love paper!

Please, sweetie, go.

Yes, this. ^^^

I love you guys!( and girls!) I will go to the hospital if I get any worse, I just can't put my finger on where it comes from. I seem to be holding up. I am able to eat a bit and drink a ton of water Salt bothers me so I am trying to stay away from it same with heavy sugars and carbs. Had a bowl of strawberry, apple and small handful of cheerios with unsweetened almond milk for dinner (it's one of the things I can eat don't laugh) Had salad for lunch and a replacement breakfast drink for breakfast (diabetic one) I hate to eat food in the morning.

I agree that paper is good for the hospital, but no doctor wants to deal with it. I called a few around here that are known to be good doctors. I won't be getting Medicaid if the figures I saw online are correct. Remember, I made a lot of money from 1994-2001, and normal $30,000 + a year after that till 2010. well that put me above poverty line according to the guidelines. They went back two years, so, I am still unsure exactly how much but it should be over the guideline amount according to the info I read. It would be more advantageous to be under the guideline but, I am grateful for whatever I get.

I hope I made sense! LOL
 

ShariR

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The dates SS are going to be using to figure your payment and start date, etc. should have been given to your atty by now, I would think. Call them and find this out. This is important info for you to be able to plan what you need to do income wise. I think your atty has all those dates. SS follows very standard procedures and guidelines.

I love you guys!( and girls!) I will go to the hospital if I get any worse, I just can't put my finger on where it comes from. I seem to be holding up. I am able to eat a bit and drink a ton of water Salt bothers me so I am trying to stay away from it same with heavy sugars and carbs. Had a bowl of strawberry, apple and small handful of cheerios with unsweetened almond milk for dinner (it's one of the things I can eat don't laugh) Had salad for lunch and a replacement breakfast drink for breakfast (diabetic one) I hate to eat food in the morning.

I agree that paper is good for the hospital, but no doctor wants to deal with it. I called a few around here that are known to be good doctors. I won't be getting Medicaid if the figures I saw online are correct. Remember, I made a lot of money from 1994-2001, and normal $30,000 + a year after that till 2010. well that put me above poverty line according to the guidelines. They went back two years, so, I am still unsure exactly how much but it should be over the guideline amount according to the info I read. It would be more advantageous to be under the guideline but, I am grateful for whatever I get.

I hope I made sense! LOL
 

Karen N Daytona

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The dates SS are going to be using to figure your payment and start date, etc. should have been given to your atty by now, I would think. Call them and find this out. This is important info for you to be able to plan what you need to do income wise. I think your atty has all those dates. SS follows very standard procedures and guidelines.

I know they are going back to January 2012, That is the date of wheelchair script written, was using one prior but not officially. It wasn't documented prior to that. The Atty does not get a financial record other than a date.

Of interest, I had set up a SS account online a few months ago and check it regularly for info. Prior to yesterday there was never any info, said you are not currently receiving benefits. It also tells you what your benefits will be when you retire or become disabled. If I clicked on that link prior to yesterday, I could not get that info since I had applied for benefits, As of yesterday, there are figures there. So, maybe I am a step closer and can rely on what I saw. It said if I became disabled today. So that figure could be off since I was disabled two years already according to SSI.
 

Topdogie01

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I really wish I could sleep right now. Have been using 16mg liquid all day and im wide awake. I normally use 30-36mg liquid. Had 1 cig with girlfriend just because I could, and 16mg doesn't hit the spot. Waiting on my orders to be shipped. I have tracking, waiting on them to be picked up.
 

etherealink

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You are going gangbusters, Alisa. Good for you. Down to 6mg, that is great. Are you finding that you are vaping more or losing flavor?

I am pretty much down to 12mg in anticipation of getting a Russian 91% around Mother's Day (hopefully sooner, but group buy so no control over it). I do find myself vaping more and I have periods of wanting more/missing something. And periods of flavor loss, but I am not sure if that is just the flavors I am vaping or the nic drop. Can not tell.

I can tell the difference when I do vape some of my NLV Gold at 24mg. Big difference. They are out of stock so I am vaping it only sporadically so it lasts. I can go days without it now. Never thought I would get there.

I seem to only really like Ahlusion, NLV Gold, ThePlumeRoom as juice vendors right now. I guess something about their base or their flavors are hitting the spot for me. At least now I have choices besides just the NLV Gold.

Oh, and the Vaper's Tongue is gone, after about 3.5 days. Knew it would pass. Glad it was not a week this time.

Shari, congrats on the downgrade and all I can say about mute flavors is diy! My wife and I are making a large purchase to that effect very soon... samples all around!
 

etherealink

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I'm not missing flavor at all, it seems in fact that I'm able to taste a lot more of the complexities in juices now. I decided to drop down on this last purchase of juice, and I had traded some juice with someone who sent me some 6mg Five Pawns Grandmaster. I was floating between that and the rest of my 12ml juices and was noticing that I would get heart palps and shaky with the 12, especially when dripping and now that I'm vaping higher wattages. So I joined up with Craft Vapery at 6 mg, just got my selections and they're very flavorful.

One thing I do notice is that the flavors do seem to go "flat" much sooner so I have to switch around more. I don't seem to be vaping any more than normal because I pretty much vape all the time when I'm not at work. :p

I've also re-coiled and wicked all my clearos with cotton, and when I have some money I have a Taifun GT and a Kayfun Lite in my Fasttech cart. I think I will get some Kanthal but I still like the convenience of pre-wrapped coils so I'm going to order some more of those.

Cotton does tend to go flat quick yes, I'll put up pics of the dragon re-wick (courtesy of Rip Trippers and iTeo, I think) as its easy as pie when I so it later today.
 

etherealink

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Read up on that Taifun GT from FT. I have been reading about the lot of them and for some reason that one is off my list. I do not remember why. Check the threads to make sure there is not a problem. I do remember that a couple of the clones of Kayfuns, etc. have had some machining problems and I read about one that had non stainless steel screws so they were rusting bad. It is here on ECF so a search should pull up what ones to watch out for. I just do not want you to get burned.

I am hoping to get some time to sit down with my Igo-L and just rewick it. Did find cotton at CVS. Got the Gizmo coiler thingy. All waiting for me to get time and a quiet corner to start practicing. May be a bit. It is exciting though.

Igo-l...check. Cotton...check. Close enough for mail in a week...check. I should just wrap a coil and send it out to you, or a couple lol
 

etherealink

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I'm not doing so hot at replacing smoking with vaping. I'm back up to 1/2 PAD, which is still less than what I was. I'm not getting mad at myself, just disappointed. I permit myself to hit the analogs too often, and I intend to work on that.

I rewicked and recoiled my RSST yesterday, and it's performing great. Adding the cotton behind the coil cleaned up the burnt taste and gave it some more juice to eat.

My Octopus decided to wig out, ranging from 6 ohms to nada on the MVP, so I put the microcoil I built yesterday on it. 1.5 ohms, and amazing vapor and flavor with cotton wicking. I wrapped a second microcoil tonight, and I think I'll throw it on the deck.

I think I've found that microcoils are actually easier to put together than spaced ones!


Karen....please go see the doc. We all care (very much) and worry about you when you're not around.

Very much, even nano coils!

And yes Karen, see a Doc!
 

etherealink

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Jim,

What worked for me in the beginning and the switch over was upping my nic from 18mg to 24mg. But I was using 510 attys and dripping and an occasional evod. I do not think you could go that high on an RBA. Do you have any attys or other toppers you could have available for those cravings times? May help.

Another trick I would do is to vape for 5 or so minutes before having that cigarette. I would vape my brains out for that time. Just almost always, by the time I vaped for a bit, the deep need for the cigarette would pass.

Maybe put aside a particular favorite flavor (with higher nic) aside for just those ciggie moments. Something that may satisfy you.

Just a few thoughts on what worked for me. I also spent a couple of times sitting and vaping with my Spinner in my left hand and a Marlboro in my right hand (unlit). I never lit the cigarette. :)

You will find what works for you with time. It seems to be different for everyone. And what may work for a bit may stop working. This is a work in progress. And a moving target. Just do not let it bother you. Sometimes it is better to have the few cigarettes than stress yourself out over it.

Actually I did and still do several things just like this. I have a very long drip tip (almost 4") and used it like a cigarette when I needed the feeling in my hand. It also fit pretty well on my dripper so I could use it when I needed that heavy shot of 24mg nicotine to get over the hump (a lot in the first day or so) and I kept a totally different flavor in an ego around my neck just as a "pass the time/ maintenance" vape.

If you smoked full flavors there is a flavor I almost hate to mention as you will get addicted... Swagger by Pink Spot Vapors. Think brown sugar and molasses cures smooth tobacco.

To date, my dr and receptionist (very cute, BTW, good incentive) are very interested in ecigs and want more info on them. The dr is on ECF and Casaa and my cute receptionist has called me twice... after hours. Luckily my wife knows why lol.
 
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etherealink

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I love you guys!( and girls!) I will go to the hospital if I get any worse, I just can't put my finger on where it comes from. I seem to be holding up. I am able to eat a bit and drink a ton of water Salt bothers me so I am trying to stay away from it same with heavy sugars and carbs. Had a bowl of strawberry, apple and small handful of cheerios with unsweetened almond milk for dinner (it's one of the things I can eat don't laugh) Had salad for lunch and a replacement breakfast drink for breakfast (diabetic one) I hate to eat food in the morning.

I agree that paper is good for the hospital, but no doctor wants to deal with it. I called a few around here that are known to be good doctors. I won't be getting Medicaid if the figures I saw online are correct. Remember, I made a lot of money from 1994-2001, and normal $30,000 + a year after that till 2010. well that put me above poverty line according to the guidelines. They went back two years, so, I am still unsure exactly how much but it should be over the guideline amount according to the info I read. It would be more advantageous to be under the guideline but, I am grateful for whatever I get.

I hope I made sense! LOL

If it helps, I cleared 32k last year and still qualified for food stamps... be optimistic.
 

etherealink

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I know they are going back to January 2012, That is the date of wheelchair script written, was using one prior but not officially. It wasn't documented prior to that. The Atty does not get a financial record other than a date.

Of interest, I had set up a SS account online a few months ago and check it regularly for info. Prior to yesterday there was never any info, said you are not currently receiving benefits. It also tells you what your benefits will be when you retire or become disabled. If I clicked on that link prior to yesterday, I could not get that info since I had applied for benefits, As of yesterday, there are figures there. So, maybe I am a step closer and can rely on what I saw. It said if I became disabled today. So that figure could be off since I was disabled two years already according to SSI.

God I hate to like this post...

It is a step somewhere though. And since the government is retroactive its a good step, best of luck and keep us posted.
 

etherealink

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I really wish I could sleep right now. Have been using 16mg liquid all day and im wide awake. I normally use 30-36mg liquid. Had 1 cig with girlfriend just because I could, and 16mg doesn't hit the spot. Waiting on my orders to be shipped. I have tracking, waiting on them to be picked up.

OK, since I'm in that mood and I can how far from the middle of the country are you and what's your general flavor preference?
 

Erised

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Of interest, I had set up a SS account online a few months ago and check it regularly for info. Prior to yesterday there was never any info, said you are not currently receiving benefits. It also tells you what your benefits will be when you retire or become disabled. If I clicked on that link prior to yesterday, I could not get that info since I had applied for benefits, As of yesterday, there are figures there. So, maybe I am a step closer and can rely on what I saw. It said if I became disabled today. So that figure could be off since I was disabled two years already according to SSI.

Wow, I can't believe they would block that once you applied for disability. Well, I can believe it -- it's just that doing so is so shady on their part. They are supposed to follow an exact formula for calculating payments, so I'm not sure what their purpose is in blocking it ... did it give you any info as to why when you clicked on it? And here I didn't think my trust in the government could go much lower.
 

Erised

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Good Morning ...

Sick-mom.jpg
 

Erised

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OK, since I'm in that mood and I can how far from the middle of the country are you and what's your general flavor preference?

I am one thousand, five hundred, and eighty-eight miles from the middle of the country (if we're measuring just in the continuous states). General flavor - Kona Coffee.

Can I have some more coffee now?
 

JJ1977

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OK, since I'm in that mood and I can how far from the middle of the country are you and what's your general flavor preference?

:lol: im almost at the bottom tip of florida im not counting that would require me to think and i just woke up so dont make my brain work this early in the morning again plz and ty lol
 

Topdogie01

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OK, since I'm in that mood and I can how far from the middle of the country are you and what's your general flavor preference?

Uhm. Im not sure where redneck hell, il is. Im in Danville, il. Dead center of state north/south, few miles from indiana State line. So far I have liked deserts, most fruits, bakery, and drinks. No cinnamon unless its like powdered cinnamon flavor, no banana. Pretty much anything else ill try
 

mountainbikermark

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I'm not doing so hot at replacing smoking with vaping. I'm back up to 1/2 PAD, which is still less than what I was. I'm not getting mad at myself, just disappointed. I permit myself to hit the analogs too often, and I intend to work on that.

I rewicked and recoiled my RSST yesterday, and it's performing great. Adding the cotton behind the coil cleaned up the burnt taste and gave it some more juice to eat.

My Octopus decided to wig out, ranging from 6 ohms to nada on the MVP, so I put the microcoil I built yesterday on it. 1.5 ohms, and amazing vapor and flavor with cotton wicking. I wrapped a second microcoil tonight, and I think I'll throw it on the deck.

I think I've found that microcoils are actually easier to put together than spaced ones!


Karen....please go see the doc. We all care (very much) and worry about you when you're not around.
You'll get there as and when you get there. Now is a time to find out why you go back. What triggers the desire? What keeps it from passing quickly ? How can those thoughts that race through the mind during moments of weakness can be replaced with correct thinking? What would constitute correct thinking? Basically change the subject in your head when you get a desire to smoke and keep changing the subject until the thoughts work. Each person will have their own road, both physically and mentally and that's a great thing because at some point you'll get a chance to pay it forward.


Jim,

What worked for me in the beginning and the switch over was upping my nic from 18mg to 24mg. But I was using 510 attys and dripping and an occasional evod. I do not think you could go that high on an RBA. Do you have any attys or other toppers you could have available for those cravings times? May help.

Another trick I would do is to vape for 5 or so minutes before having that cigarette. I would vape my brains out for that time. Just almost always, by the time I vaped for a bit, the deep need for the cigarette would pass.

Maybe put aside a particular favorite flavor (with higher nic) aside for just those ciggie moments. Something that may satisfy you.

Just a few thoughts on what worked for me. I also spent a couple of times sitting and vaping with my Spinner in my left hand and a Marlboro in my right hand (unlit). I never lit the cigarette. :)

You will find what works for you with time. It seems to be different for everyone. And what may work for a bit may stop working. This is a work in progress. And a moving target. Just do not let it bother you. Sometimes it is better to have the few cigarettes than stress yourself out over it.
Agreed, it took a little time but I find certain flavors work at certain times as I've bloviated in other posts. It's a really cool adventure that inadvertently led to me becoming smoke free (day 7 today, officially the last day I'm going to bother to count because in my mind after today I'm a former smoker, end of conversation) after cutting down bit by bit without even really trying because I found something I liked better.
I've still got a tank full of 18mg Cherrywood I vape before bed every now and then if my mind won't shut down but overall I'm down to 12mg as a rule. I've already started ordering repeat flavors in 6mg and as the old runs out I'll drop.
Knowing I no longer "needed" to go outside in the cold and wet to smoke was a huge deal for me. I could choose to smoke inside but chose not to, accepting being miserable and wet to smoke was my deal and wouldn't subject the family to second hand smoke no matter how bad the weather because of my habit. Once I was able to choose not to go outside it was a sense of freedom . I wasn't making the choice to smoke or not, was making the choice to subject myself to the environment that would lead to a smoke.
Ugh, trying out everything with new wicks! It was fun but my taste buds are taking the day off now. I went back and made new wicks this morning using less cotton, tried everything out, suddenly (like a light switch turning off literally in 1 puff) everything was like inhaling water vapor. No taste, no throat hit, no nothing. I've got a slight metallic taste in my mouth and nothing more. Gonna try drinking a second cup of coffee and eat some whole wheat and all natural peanut butter crackers. That black coffee and crackers combination is taste bud heaven to me. I don't know why but it just is.



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Uncle

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Just as an FYI:

OK - All "Verified Members" into Mech/RBA should really be checking out the Co-Op planning thread, looks like a very affordable sweet deal being run there - Just tell them "Uncle" sent Ya' . . . ;)


@ "Karen" . . .
I know "You" might not have heard this enough already by some very caring people . . .;)
But just in case "You" haven't - given all "You" have been going though physically/mentally/emotionally recently . . .
IMO - Both Personally & Professionally - GO SEE A DOCTOR NOW ! ! !
(Even if it is an ER . . . Just Sayin' . . . :facepalm: )
 
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FinallyQuit

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Got my WTA in today :banana: and loaded up both devices. 24mg 555 on the Vamo and 18mg Dark Honey Tobacco on the iTazte. Ahhhhhh. . .

I did smoke this morning because the opportunity arose. This afternoon I will not need or want to. And if I do, so what, it will pass. In the interest of showing DD1 that she's not the only one who's a slave to compulsion, I told her I've been slipping back into smoking due to relaxing my guard and too much stress. She was SO disappointed in me. I responded "not as disappointed as I am, but you can understand why this happened to me." She didn't have much to say after that.
 
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