Total N00b

[Desertfremen]

I'm just here to say hello and thank you for this wonderful website and for all the info contained in here.

I've decided to try vaping as my regular smoke of Kools has been totally destroyed with this FSC ick. I never thought the day would come that I would actually think I wouldn't want a pk of ciggies in my purse untill I got a pack of FSCs.

I've not received it yet as I have just ordered and am waiting. (I ordered a Vapor King for those interested. =D )

Again, thank you for all the wonderful info as w/o it I would have spent ages trying to make my way through the tons of links that popped up in google.

I will update and am eagerly awaiting the experience.

Lindsay

 

[pianoguy]

Welcome and best of luck! Indeed, the FSC stuff is like smoking tennis shoes.

 

[Desertfremen]

TY! and yes, that's as good of way to describe it as any. FSCs are super harsh, don't taste the same, and are causing soooooo many problems for me. (headaches, sore throat, muscle cramping, etc.)

I still want nicotine as it's been the only thing I've ever found to prevent my migraines. I'm really hoping that vaping will have this effect as well as allowing me to sing again. I've only been forced to smoke FSCs for a month and in that month I've lost almost all of the clarity in my voice b/c of the increased sinus drainage.

Smoking used to make me feel better, but these FSCs have made me feel the worst I've ever been on a daily basis.

Lindsay

 

[Rhaevyn]

Welcome Desert

Interesting what you say about the FSC cigs. I quit in October and had started getting the FSC variation of my Camel No. 9s. I can't remember if I got any of those side affects but as a smoker I got sick anyway so who knows

You chose a good starting PV. My first was (still is) a Vapor King. It's very easy to start with the cartomizers. A two piece is a good way to get used to vaping vs. smoking. I can almost guarantee you will start choking/coughing the first few hits. It was actually rather funny to me. You'll need time to adjust, it's not like hitting a cig. You'll also have to figure out what flavors and strengths you like.

Watch all the videos you can in the V4L forum. I learned a lot there when I started. Take your time, and remember that search is your friend! (Well, as long as what you are searching for has more than 3 characters) *snicker*

There is a lot to learn and this forum is growing in leaps and bounds. Don't let it overwhelm you. And most important, don't let it discourage you from taking that big step away from analogs!

Good luck and welcome to better health and a fresher smell (in all ways possible).

 

[Vampirecat019]

FSCs are made with a layer(s) of less-porous paper that is bonded with carpet glue. Yes, that's right. Carpet glue. (Ethylene vinyl acetate co polymer emulsion-based adhesives.) And to think... People dare to frown upon vaping. Tsk tsk... They'd rather we smoke 4k+ chemicals, tar, carbon monoxide, and now, carpet glue. But just remember, everything that is GREAT has obnoxious challenges from idiots. Especially when it is new.

PS- I am new to vaping as well. Going on a couple of months or so myself, and I have learned a TON from this forum and from my personal shopping/vaping experience, so if you need any advice, feel free to send me a PM or email.

 

[Connman]

Best of luck getting the singing voice back Lindsay. Just remember to drink lots of water is what I`ve read. Maybe be prepared with some chap stick is another. hope this works for you.
I never thought I would stop smoking and wasn't interested in trying again but 5 days now and could care less to have a cig. These made it easy for me since I rolled my own anyhow I didn`t mind messing with the filling the carts or anything. great step towards a better life. hope you enjoy it as much or more then I have.

More is that possible?8-o

 

[pianoguy]

I had smoked for about 40 years, and never really had any symptoms until we got the FSC's a year ago. During the course of this past year, I developed a regular cough, and mild but persistent congestion. I don't think it's a coincidence. I particularly got a kick out of the "unknown hydrocarbons" mentioned in this article:

Fire safe cigarette - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

At any rate, I'm happy to report that both the cough and congestion went away within my first week of vaping exclusively. I've been very happy with the Vapor King, and I was utterly shocked that I was able to put down the regular cigs on the 4th day I had it. When I first got mine, I ordered cartomizers that weren't quite strong enough, and in the meantime did some reading in the Nicotine section, and wound up getting stronger ones (24's), which did the trick for me - see the "Are we getting it" thread, there are some formulas in there that I found very helpful.

I've had migraines for the past 6 years or so - I'm lucky in that Imitrex works for them. A friend recommended this book to me a couple years back, and it was the best $20 I ever spent - I was able to find the cause of my headaches and get rid of many of them in just a few minutes, and make any I can't get rid of much less intense. It would be impossible to describe the sensation I got when I first found a spot on my shoulder that was causing my headaches all that time:

Trigger Point Therapy Workbook; Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief

My wife asked me today when I had my last headache, and I don't recall having one bad enough to take a pill since I started vaping, and none at all in the past couple of weeks. It could be just coincidence, as we're past the fall season where I usually get a lot of them, but I'm guessing that the absence of carbon monoxide isn't hurting any, either.

This forum has been a fantastic resource and support system - I hope you find it to be the same!

 

[Desertfremen]

Rhaevyn: Yes. At first I though I was just getting the winter blahs (despite my tanning sessions to make sure I'm getting the sun I need) but I know for sure it's the FSCs now. I'll find a few non FSC packs and when I return to smoking them I'm fine, but the second I start smoking the FSCs again it all comes back . I really don't get sick often at all (I maybe get a cold once every 2 or 3 yrs) so this was very noticable especially after a couple of days despite the fact I noticed the taste change right away.

TY for your encouragement. However, I would like to mention for honesty purposes that I still have no intentions of giving up smoking (premium handmade) cigars. Unfortunately, finding a place to smoke them is even harder than cigs so it's not a viable constant nicotine source. Plus for as good as cigars taste they don't give me that menthol throat hit I've come to know and love .

I will continue to read and am preparing myself for something different. Perhaps this FSC thing really is a blessing in disguise. Glad to hear more good things about the VK. I'll definitely be perusing the V4L forum . I'm really hoping this works for me b/c my only hope afterwards is snuff and that is truly hard to find (at least the kind that is meant to be snorted.)

Vampire: Ethylene vinyl acetate?! 8-o Uh, that explains ALOT of things! IIRC fumes from combustion of EVA can cause irritation to exposed mucous membrances. Ugh!

 

[Desertfremen]

Best of luck getting the singing voice back Lindsay. Just remember to drink lots of water is what I`ve read. Maybe be prepared with some chap stick is another. hope this works for you.
I never thought I would stop smoking and wasn't interested in trying again but 5 days now and could care less to have a cig. These made it easy for me since I rolled my own anyhow I didn`t mind messing with the filling the carts or anything. great step towards a better life. hope you enjoy it as much or more then I have.

More is that possible?8-o

Duly noted! TY for tip and hints. I should drink more water, anyways so this oughta really be good for me. I have dry skin as a norm so lip balms/lipsticks have been good friends of mine for years. w00t! I'm soo looking forward to this! I'm still a little shocked though that I'm actually looking forward to being able to say goodbye.

 

[Dillan]

FSC's were the absolute last straw for me too. I almost wonder if it was intentional... the timing of them, and the recent series of price hikes... but I'll avoid the conspiracy theory stuff for now - especially because, even if it was intentional, I'm pretty damn happy with what I've got here. No urges for an analog after the second day with my 510, now all I need is to get some extra attys and cut some blue foam, and I'll be set for quite a while

 

[johnny bobcat]

how can you tell the difference between fsc's and regulars besides the taste?

 

[Dillan]

Are you asking about how you can tell before you buy, or how you can tell other than taste when you're having one?

If it's the former: The letters "FSC" appear on packs right above the barcode.
If it's the latter: For me, it was the hit. It went from pretty smooth (or, well, what I was used to, anyway) to very bitter and harsh. I was choking on them like I was a first time smoker, and that sensation never went away. I'm sorta grateful for that fact now - I _know_ for a fact I won't enjoy it if I ever were to light another analog.

 

[Desertfremen]

My wife asked me today when I had my last headache, and I don't recall having one bad enough to take a pill since I started vaping, and none at all in the past couple of weeks. It could be just coincidence, as we're past the fall season where I usually get a lot of them, but I'm guessing that the absence of carbon monoxide isn't hurting any, either.

This forum has been a fantastic resource and support system - I hope you find it to be the same!

Yay! I'm so excited to try this! TY for the reading material, the book sounds very interesting! I did get a variety of higher nicotine strengths to try b/c I do smoke about 1.5 a day and at my worst it was 3/day when I used to smoke Kool NF (cork tips) which they stopped making a few yrs ago . Avg is prolly about at least a pack a day for the past 17 yrs.

AAh, I'm just gonna have to wait now. I'm prolly not going to get it till after Xmas. Anticipaaaaaaaation....

 

[johnny bobcat]

Are you asking about how you can tell before you buy, or how you can tell other than taste when you're having one?

If it's the former: The letters "FSC" appear on packs right above the barcode.
If it's the latter: For me, it was the hit. It went from pretty smooth (or, well, what I was used to, anyway) to very bitter and harsh. I was choking on them like I was a first time smoker, and that sensation never went away. I'm sorta grateful for that fact now - I _know_ for a fact I won't enjoy it if I ever were to light another analog.

it was the first, thanks for the info, not that it really matters anymore cuz im off analogs, but i never knew until today they were putting carpet glue in the damn things

 

[Desertfremen]

Are you asking about how you can tell before you buy, or how you can tell other than taste when you're having one?

If it's the former: The letters "FSC" appear on packs right above the barcode.
If it's the latter: For me, it was the hit. It went from pretty smooth (or, well, what I was used to, anyway) to very bitter and harsh. I was choking on them like I was a first time smoker, and that sensation never went away. I'm sorta grateful for that fact now - I _know_ for a fact I won't enjoy it if I ever were to light another analog.

2nd all of this about the FSCs. I'm at the point where even if vaping doesn't end up working for me I'm done with cigarettes. It will be worth the 30 min drive to the smoke shop that I know sells the kinda snuff I like. In fact, I have one pack of non-FSC left and 4 FSCs. I think I'm done after this last pack of non-FSCs and will use the snuff till my VK gets here b/c I just can't stand these FSCs anymore. They really make me feel like ____.

 

[Beer Man]

Health and Medical Issues --Other alternatives to smoking has a large following of snuff users. Check it out.

 

[Desertfremen]

--Other alternatives to smoking has a large following of snuff users. Check it out.

Wow I had no idea there where so many kinds of snuff!!!!! TY! =D

 

[Kurt]

TY! and yes, that's as good of way to describe it as any. FSCs are super harsh, don't taste the same, and are causing soooooo many problems for me. (headaches, sore throat, muscle cramping, etc.)

I still want nicotine as it's been the only thing I've ever found to prevent my migraines. I'm really hoping that vaping will have this effect as well as allowing me to sing again. I've only been forced to smoke FSCs for a month and in that month I've lost almost all of the clarity in my voice b/c of the increased sinus drainage.

Smoking used to make me feel better, but these FSCs have made me feel the worst I've ever been on a daily basis.

Lindsay

I hope the nic you get from vaping works for those migraines! Nic is a very good nerve-pain analgesic for nerve damage I got from a rare illness (Guillain-Barre syndrome). Vaping has certainly worked for me in that respect, which was my biggest fear of getting away from analogs.

I believe the FSCs are there for more than just fire-safety. Consider this: if the cig does not burn down significantly between drags, and you are committed to having a whole cig on a break, then you will be ingesting 2-3x the amount of smoke you would have if the cig burned down between drags. I noticed this, and I think this is one reason why I always felt so toxic after a smoke. I think also since you are ingesting more per cig, it increases the addiction. Those clever tobacco companies. They couldn't increase the nic in cigs, due to the FDA, but they still were able to turn one cig into 2 or 3. And that was how I felt after a smoke break once they started with the FSCs, like I had chain smoked three cigs.

As for the migraines, I would not be surprised if you need to vape at the higher end of nic content, since we are only absorbing 10-40% of the nic in the juice. I don't know where you are with nic levels, but I need to be at least at 16 mg in order for the nic to work, often at 24 mg, with a few puffs of 36 mg occasionally. but work it does. Nic seems to help headaches, nerve issues, MS, Parkinson's, ADD, and a whole lot of other maladies. Good luck and let us know how it works for you!

 

[Kurt]

how can you tell the difference between fsc's and regulars besides the taste?

If they burn VERY slow or go out if left unattended, they are fsc's.

 

[Desertfremen]

I hope the nic you get from vaping works for those migraines! Nic is a very good nerve-pain analgesic for nerve damage I got from a rare illness (Guillain-Barre syndrome). Vaping has certainly worked for me in that respect, which was my biggest fear of getting away from analogs.

You understand perfectly where I'm at. I truly am terrified of the migraines and this has been THE reason as to why I've continued this habit despite the ridiculous taxes/prices.

I believe the FSCs are there for more than just fire-safety. Consider this: if the cig does not burn down significantly between drags, and you are committed to having a whole cig on a break, then you will be ingesting 2-3x the amount of smoke you would have if the cig burned down between drags. I noticed this, and I think this is one reason why I always felt so toxic after a smoke. I think also since you are ingesting more per cig, it increases the addiction. Those clever tobacco companies. They couldn't increase the nic in cigs, due to the FDA, but they still were able to turn one cig into 2 or 3. And that was how I felt after a smoke break once they started with the FSCs, like I had chain smoked three cigs.

I hadn't thought of it quite like this but you make a very valid point. It make sense to me too, anyways.

As for the migraines, I would not be surprised if you need to vape at the higher end of nic content, since we are only absorbing 10-40% of the nic in the juice. I don't know where you are with nic levels, but I need to be at least at 16 mg in order for the nic to work, often at 24 mg, with a few puffs of 36 mg occasionally. but work it does. Nic seems to help headaches, nerve issues, MS, Parkinson's, ADD, and a whole lot of other maladies. Good luck and let us know how it works for you!

I did get some higer nic samples I believe. IK for sure as extras I purchased an 18mg and a 36mg. Right now lately I was smokin about 1.5 pks of Kool XL Blues though less recently with the FSCs. However, at my worst I was smokin almost 3 pks a day when I used to smoke Non-filtered Kools before they stopped making them a few yrs ago. IK a cigar that is full but nice and smooth to me usually makes other ppl dizzy and/or sick!
Lindsay