The Key to stop smoking is Not the E-cigarette

[Petrodus]

Thanks to all that replied so far. When researching everyone's comments are of value (more than some may realize). Your replies have been read by many and appreciated. Some will increase levels and stop puffing all day in frustration simply because they saw followed this thread. OK to increase levels. Actually, they aren't increasing but just matching their comfort level when they were smoking cigarettes. High was a term I used in the 60's when talking about another subject.

I didn't go into much detail about my product knowledge in the original post because that information was not relative to the subject of nicotine levels and personal comfort levels.

I did a lot of research before buying my first PV, watched all the YouTubes. and talked on the phone with some who are long time members of this forum before deciding who to order from. I knew all about direct dripping (for example) before the mailman delivered my first PV. My first order included my flavor of choice in all levels the offered. 0, 9mg. 18mg, 24mg, and 36mg. I ordered the 510 and the 801 (the eGo wasn't available at the time). I was prepared to find my nicotine comfort level immediately and I had a couple of good PVs. After 45 years of smoking 2-3 packs a day I was done with cigarettes and ready to start to enjoy vaping.

The vast majority of those I come in contact with are not interested in joining forums. The just want the "short story", recommendations and suggestions. Then they will take it from there and start vaping and move on sharing the information with others. As we all know if given the needed information switching to vaping is a snap.

Those that know me know my research is not tied to any money trails and all is gathered to help others stop smoking and start enjoying the healthy Vaping experience.

By the way...I really enjoy Vaping and have NO intentions of stopping. I plan on (slowly over time) reducing my nicotine intake hoping my comfort level will follow. If that doesn't happen, I will continue with my present comfort level with absolutely no guilt. I'm addicted to caffeine also. I love my coffee...and often!

Thanks again for the comments received and hopefully more will follow.

 

[chimney55]

Nic level is important, but I learned that flavor is important also today. When I first got my e-cigs, I wanted to try all of the neat flavors out there and distance myself from analogs. I ordered fruit, candy, and "pastry" flavors and avoided all "tobacco flavors". But there was something missing. I wasn't getting something that I was getting from the flavors that I had. I cut down on real cigarettes by half but I couldn't get down lower than that. Then I tried a "tobacco" flavor that I was convinced that had sent to me "by accident". And I'm loving it! The analog craving has gone down tremendously!! I just order 30 more ml of that flavor in a higher nic level (18mg.) If I'd vape all day, I could probably get by with the 12mg that I have. I just don't want to keep up the "hand to mouth" constantly. I don't want to chain vape--but want to be able to set the PV down once in a while.

 

[DonnaLee]

Equipment and higher nic made the big difference for me. I tried the small one that looks like a cigarette with 18mg nic. I usually got only 3-4 puffs before I felt I needed to change the cartridge and within an hour had 2 dead batteries and a pile of carts. to refill. That got old real fast. Not wanting to admit the model I had was the problem, I bought more batteries. I still found times using 5 batteries, I had nothing to "smoke" and would bum a cigarette from my husband. I also got tired of refilling several times a day.

I didn't want to give up and started reading the forums almost daily. Seeing sales here for the Rivas, I decided to try a different type and couldn't be happier. I also went up to 24 mg. juice. I have cut the amount of cigarettes per day to a couple. I don't think I would need those but having a husband that smokes (outside), I just join him out of habit. He is also using a Riva now as he likes the savings in cigarettes. He has kept track of how much less it costs him at the tobacco shop every week and pays me what we've saved. Even after purchasing 3 Riva kits, a couple spare batts. and atomizers and a decent amount of juice, the total spent to keep us both going vaping and smoking is half of what just cigarettes were costing us.

I thought the larger batteries would use up juice too quickly but it has been the opposite. A filled cartridge seems to be more fully used , about 2/3 before I'm not satisfied with it. My first model didn't vape well as soon as the top was dry and being a "messy" refiller, I wasted alot!

I enjoy all the different opinions here and definitely this is one of the most polite forums I have ever read.

 

[The Fool]

Hi Petrodus, Welcome to the forum from a fellow Missourian! I was a 40 year smoker, 2 1/2 packs a day. I started using the e-cigarette before I found this forum, so I am very much like the people you are dealing with. I agree totally with the idea that 0-18mg juices are too mild to satisfy a heavy smoker. I too went from 18mg to 24mg, which is where I remain today, 10 months since my last cigarette. The only thought that I have is that for many of us, vaping is initially hard on the throat. Many talk about having a sore throat for the first couple of weeks. I'm wondering if it might not be important to start lower and build up gradually?

 

[Vapenstein]

My experience is that 24mg satisfies me in the morning and after meals, and that 18mg is sufficient the rest of the day. I was a heavy smoker. I think it really depends on how you vape. I have a bad habit of keeping it near at hand all day.

 

[WomanOfHeart]

I tend to be a bit of a chain vaper, so I go between 18mg and 24mg. It depends on if I'm vaping a lot or if my vaping is more restricted, such as being at work or other places where I can't vape at my leisure.

 

[Petrodus]

vaping is initially hard on the throat.

Nice to hear from a fellow Missourian, I never experienced any throat irritation. Might have been caused by the flavor or most likely inhaling to much...Vaping can be just down right relaxing. I love to Vape, however, I don't inhale with every puff. Vaping like I used to when I smoked cigars many years ago. Since I am doing some fact gathering and research...If some one knows the common denominator for throat irritation and many agree with the reason(s)...I would be all ears.

 

[MichaelOz]

Interesting point of view, however the title of this thread is misleading, and in context actually not true.

To be clear, lets define what an e-cig is, or PV. Like a computer, a PV consists of smaller parts which make up the whole unit.

1. A battery or battery + housing
2. An atomizer or cartridge
3. An optional cartridge
4. The liquid

1. Batteries effect your vaping experience in 3 ways. 1. Flavor 2. Comfort 3. Cost
2. An atomizer has the following influence 1. Satisfaction 2. Comfort 3. Cost
3. Cartridges vary greatly from user to user, most veterans have learnt to avoid cartridges or mod them.
4. Liquid in terms of 1. Cost 2. Comfort 3. Nicotine delivery

Its kind of hard to say one component is more important than the other, because 3 of the components in a PV are mandatory. So ultimately all components are equally as important, because without even 1, you just won't be able to vape, plain and simple.

I do agree with the message that juice is important to your vaping experience. Juice can really make or break the deal, however I also highly value the impact of the cartomizer / atomizer.

My first 510 wasn't bad, but it was not practical for me to be charging the batteries non stop.
My Ego was great battery wise, but not practical for me anyways because I wanted a more cost effective solution battery wise.
I'm a firm believer that in models that support replaceable batteries like the Provape, Prodigy or Screwdriver. I believe these devices bring down the costs involved in vaping. Juice impacts short term and long term vaping. Having the right PV affects you in the long term, and I think this is just as important as the juice you put into the PV.

It was after all the PV that was my focus when I started vaping and juice as a secondary decision. Once you get more into vaping, you definately need to move on from crappy juice though, or else you won't enjoy your vaping experience.

When I can afford it, I'll get Vaperite organics, at the moment I'm waiting for my first FlavorArt delivery. I've realised that I can't stand Dekang juice, and have nothing good to say about it.

 

[The Fool]

Do a search on this site. There have been entire threads devoted to the fact that some experience a sore throat for the first couple of weeks and then it goes away. Don't know if this has to do with nic level or perhaps it is the body adjusting to the PG. The reason I think it has to do with nic level is because I have been told that the higher the nic level, the stronger the throat hit. Another interesting thing that seems to happen in the first few months of vaping is that the flavor will drop out (i.e. can't taste) and this will pass in a couple of days.

The entire world of vaping is still so new that much of what we know at this point is on an anecdotal level. I will be glad when more research is done.

 

[ImYourSalt]

Nice post.

When I first started. I ordered 18mg. It wasn't until months later I began using 24 and 36mg that got me off the smokes.

I just wasn't comfortable with those high numbers. Especially when compare to 6 or 12mg. 18 seems like a lot.

But I still think e cigs are the key. I mean it doesn't matter how good the juice is if I can't VAPE it

 

[SimpleSins]

I don't think there is a single "key" to stop smoking, as for everyone it is going to be something different. When I started vaping, I used 18 mg nic because it seemed to be the consensus that is where a 2 pack/day smoker should start. However, I also got a variety of levels, and quickly realized that I didn't need it, and in less than a month was down to 6-8 mg (and would probably have gone to 0 but I didn't want to waste the juice). In less than two months vaping, I am not pretty much exclusively vaping 0 (although I do have a 6 mg nic bottle that I dilute down to 2 mg with the same flavor in a 0 nic- waste not/want not).

For me, the nicotine was obviously a secondary consideration. It was the nature and consistency of the vapor, the hand-mouth 'activity' of smoking that is behind my addiction. If it was as simple as merely the nicotine, then patches and gum would be effective; they're obviously not, because the crucial component is the delivery mechanism.

 

[AttyPops]

The Key to stop smoking is <snip>

....whatever works for you. There is no "one best juice" nor "one best e-cig" for everyone. It's a combination of what works, and enough time and effort to find out.

 

[markmcs]

I think part of the equation is not TRYING to quit smoking using PV's. I quit accidentally. I wasn't trying to quit--just trying to save some money. I firmly believe that my success was greatly influenced by my lack of anxiety (I was always in a panic when I ever even THOUGHT about quitting smoking). I continued to smoke cigarettes while I vaped. Immediately my smoking went down from about 20/day to 2/day. Stayed there for a few months. Then one day I noticed I hadn't had a cigarette in days. THAT is when I really tried to quit, but I had already cut down so far and gone over so many learning hurdles that it was lots easier at that point. The mantra on ECF is "don't count how many you smoked, count how many you didn't smoke." That mind-set made such a huge difference in my experience, one that was more important than which type of PV or which strength of juice.

I tell people to try it like a toy--play with it and have fun with it and see what happens.

Just sayin...

I want to thank you for your post, BCB!! Although I am very happy with my Riva, my nic level and the juices I use, I still struggle with the analogs.

I, too, have a "Panic Attack" at the thought of quitting smoking completely...and since I really have no excuse for lighting up, I kick myself for doing it!!!

As you so beautifully put it, I need to change my mind set, not my equipment. Treat it like a toy.... Have fun with it and see what happens...Count the ones I didn't smoke... This is really good stuff!!! I've only been vaping for 2 months after 30 years of analogs, so I need to go with the flow and give myself a break, and I thank you again for helping me to see that.

 

[hittman]

I would have to agree with some of the others here that the choice of pv is fairly important. I started with a standard 510 kit and quickly became sick of charging batteries all of the time. I think each person needs to try to choose a pv that best fits them as far as looks,operation, and maintenance. I started with 18mg liquid, quickly discovered that it was no where near strong enough to curb my cravings. I ended up using different liquids between 24-36mg. I successfully quit smoking completely for a few months and felt myself sinking into depression. It was then that with some help from some of the members here that I discovered that the liquids that we use does have nicotine in it but does not have the whole tobacco alkaloids that tobacco does. It was those alkaloids missing that I was missing. Trust me, I was getting plenty of nicotine. For many people vaping only keeps them happy but there are others like myself that need the alkaloids to function properly. If you ever have some time on your hands, Dvaps blogs and the " are we getting it" thread make for interesting reading.

 

[Petrodus]

MichaelOz] Interesting point of view, however the title of this thread is misleading

I realized the title would questioned but in the original post I did mention that a quality PV would make the vaping experience enjoyable.

It is understood a discussion on the drug is not only awkward to many but to most including myself, impossible to define by charts so we just share our experiences to help all understand more.

When someone switches to a PV they bring their nicotine comfort level with them. At this crossroads they are on their own. Like any drug I think their should be a high level of awareness when in discussion with someone who recently (with in the last 2 months) switched to a PV. When I hear someone say they switched to a PV 2 months ago and reduced their smoking from 2 packs a day to 10 cigarettes…this rings a bell with me that their “might” be issues not discussed including choice of nicotine levels. Many feel guilty that they still smoke cigarettes while others quit smoking the same day they got their PV and wonder why. One might say...We are not all the same. True. We all don't make the same choices either.

Nicotine is a drug and reducing intake lower than present comfort levels does have an effect. One sign be constant frustrated puffing. It is a lonely experience not really understanding what is causing this or that. Open discussions like this are of benefit to many just because it is a sharing of information and letting others hear what they might be experiencing is not uncommon and what other members have tried and learned.

Based on the "counter" (832 views) tells me more than a few have found this topic to be of interest. I have no way to gauge the relevance as a number. As a researcher, any time 50 check in for information is a high number. Great discussion group

Food for thought

 

[BadThad]

I prefer a lower strength nic (12 mg/mL) so I can vape more often. I was able to quit right away by vaping a LOT instead of using the higher strengths. I also found that a 510 mega just didn't cut it for me, not enough vapor and not long enough battery life. Once I bought a Phidias (juice box) with an 18650 battery my smoking was over. I can vape for almost 3 days on a single charge and it holds 3 mL of liquid....enough for 1+ day.....huge plumes of vapor everytime I hit it! No fuss, no worries, no more analogs!

 

[NCC]

Once I bought a Phidias (juice box) with an 18650 battery my smoking was over. I can vape for almost 3 days on a single charge and it holds 3 mL of liquid....enough for 1+ day.....huge plumes of vapor everytime I hit it! No fuss, no worries, no more analogs!

I saw the recent closeout sale on the Phidias Woodimus when it was nearly over (last night). There were only a few left, and I nearly bought one. But, my sole juicebox purchase, the Carlos Juicebox, left a sour taste in my mouth (figuratively speaking). I never did get the blasted thing to work ... but had been swayed to buy it by all of the glowing owner's remarks. It was s a good chunk of change I plunked down on something which is now gathering dust. The Phidias sure is a beauty, though I'd hate to have it be just an attractive dust gatherer.

 

[Petrodus]

It appears that the thread is winding down. I would like to leave a closing message for those who are having any issues with cravings cigarettes. The PV and its various components play a roll as well as having a flavor that you enjoy. However, (in my opinion) the cravings for a cigarette will Vanish if you choose a liquid with a level of nicotine that matches your present nicotine comfort level.

If you’re craving a cigarette or find yourself endless puffing it might be your nicotine level is too low. Remember, when you switched to an E-cigarette (PV) you brought your nicotine comfort level with you. Your choice of Medium 18mg (for example) was your choice and really that should have only been considered an experiment your part.

Do not feel any guilt about increasing the nicotine level even if it is to 36mg. Your nicotine comfort level is what it is. There is no need to puff hard all day long or experience cravings for a cigarette. Those that quit smoking the same day they got their PV and say (like I did) they never even craved a cigarette again are telling the truth. My first order included liquids with 4 levels of nicotine. I quickly found my comfort level.

If you are experiencing issues with craving cigarettes and decided to try higher levels of nicotine and it works for you (or not). Please come back and hit the reply button and share your experience for the benefit of others.

Thanks to all which have contributed so far to this discussion. All comments were sincerely appreciated.

 

[BadThad]

I saw the recent closeout sale on the Phidias Woodimus when it was nearly over (last night). There were only a few left, and I nearly bought one. But, my sole juicebox purchase, the Carlos Juicebox, left a sour taste in my mouth (figuratively speaking). I never did get the blasted thing to work ... but had been swayed to buy it by all of the glowing owner's remarks. It was s a good chunk of change I plunked down on something which is now gathering dust. The Phidias sure is a beauty, though I'd hate to have it be just an attractive dust gatherer.

Sell your Carlos and use the money to buy a Phidias. Then again, if you're off analogs with your current PV's just stick with what works for you.

 

[reeveh]

I think it is definitely different for evey person. I smoked at least a pack of Marlboro lights a day. Couldn't go more than an hour without a cigarette. I swithced to the NJOY mini and haven't had a cigarette since. I go through a little less than a 1.8% cart a day. I have some minor cravings for a real cigarette, but I think it is only for the smoke and flavor.