Trying really hard to not buy cigarettes

[fitzinthewindow]

I've been vaping for approximately 2 1/2 weeks and the first week or so was absolutely great... then some things have occurred that have caused me to doubt this "healthier" alternative.

I smoked for about 15 years, about a pack a day for the majority of that time. Smoked all kinds of cigarettes in different strengths. When I started vaping they shop recommended a 9mg liquid since the device I started with would allow me take in far more vapor than a typical beginner might. I quickly moved down to 6 mg to allow for morevaping and on average the mls I vape on a daily basis ranges from 3-5 mls.

Onto the issues.... first, a few days ago I started to get severely dizzy. It would feel almost as if I was on a stopping elevator and I would get really light headed. Over the next day or so it was less severe but still occurring. I am drinking a ton of water, I assure you.

Another issue I am having is my hands and feet get severely cold, almost like ice which is rather annoying. Drinking the water almost seems to make this issue worse.

And now, last night I am getting leg, rib and arm/wrist cramps. Again, I am drinking ample amounts of water which is an apparent solution to this issue as well. Additionally my chest feels tight and feel like my breathing has become shallower. My sinuses are terrible and my head is always tingly.

I had none of these issues when smoking analogs and now I am just wanting to say screw it and go buy a pack

Just hang in there. Trust me, I've only been vaping for 3 1/2 months after 50 years of Marlboros. My first 6 weeks or so was really weird, and what it was was my body going thru changes--getting rid of the toxins. I continued to have an occasional cigarette--oh, 3 or 4 a week--but then gradually they tasted soooo bad that I just haven't had the desire for one for over a month. NONE> See my thread on vaping and my doctor visit. I'm convinced I'm doing the right thing.

 

[morningdew]

Add on to other post...has the op person who started thread considered changing e juice manufacturer...symptoms could plausibly be down to poor quality nicotine?

 

[MMcQ]

Chiming in with what blend VG/PG is your juice? Higher VG juices cause me to get "heavy lung" type feelings. That stuff is much thicker than all PG blends I have had.

 

[Crow79]

Definitely could be an allergy to a high pg liquid.

I'm very selective of what brands I use. I never vape generic liquids found at most corner stores or upstart brick and mortar vape shops. Some liquids have highly toxic chemicals in them, which is where half the ammo for the anti vaping movement cones from.

Other than that... Try lowering your wattage a bit. When I used Kanthal, i found with 0.5 ohm coils, I usually vape around 15-20w max. Anything higher got too hot for me, and I would get dry hits, burnt wick, etc. And previous replies are correct... Very few people ever need to go above 6mg nicotine (I use 3mg) once they start sub ohming. It's just more efficient, and your juice isn't overpowered by that sharp bitter nicotine flavour. Problem is, it's easy to overdo it when you don't taste the nicotine.

I have since switched to stainless wire and run temp control. Will never go back to straight wattage.

 

[OlderNDirt]

A visit with a doctor is never a bad idea.

As a 40+ year smoker, the last 20 of which was fairly restrictive (no smoking in the house or car), I developed a habit of lighting up and hitting it hard for 5 minutes or so. Even normally, once lit one tends to take a number of successive hits before snuffing it out. So I did the same when I started vaping and that was not with the level of gear with which you are starting out. I found for me, instead of taking 15 hits of the vape in 5 minutes, it was much better and satisfying to take those 15 hits spread out over an hour or more. That is taking a hit every 4 minutes or so, which is still hitting it pretty regularly. I soon found I was still satisfied lowering that to 10 or less an hour. You might try slowing it down if you are vaping just like you smoked.

Just a thought. Good luck! Don't give up! You'll get it dialed in.

 

[vapenoob22]

Yeah, I wish the shop had informed me that 9 was too high... I have even MORE 9 mg liquid coming in that I ordered awhile back that just took forever to ship from the clean vape. All of my liquid is 70vg/30pg except for one that is 60vg/40pg. I really do just like the act of vaping and for the first week or so I was fine vaping at that strength...

So then I went to the 6 and I vape about the same but it seems to be affecting me differently idfk. Vaping is complicated.

 

[vapenoob22]

So, If I get higher ohm coils for my tank (Aspire Atlantis 2), will I be able to safely salvage all of this liquid I have haha with a sacrifice of clouds ((

 

[kmk]

Relax a little. Cut the nic a little. And for gawd's sake, drink a mountain dew.

 

[EBates]

Something I do is add distilled water or everclear, 5-6 drops to a tank of juice. It thins out my high VG juice and lowers the nicotine a little. Might be worth a try.

 

[Crow79]

There's more than one way to cut the nic in your liquid. Easiest way is to buy a 0mg bottle of the same flavour and just mix it straight together. Another way is to go to a naturopathic pharmacy and get some organic plant based VG.

 

[sparkky1]

Yeah, I wish the shop had informed me that 9 was too high... I have even MORE 9 mg liquid coming in that I ordered awhile back that just took forever to ship from the clean vape. All of my liquid is 70vg/30pg except for one that is 60vg/40pg. I really do just like the act of vaping and for the first week or so I was fine vaping at that strength...

So then I went to the 6 and I vape about the same but it seems to be affecting me differently idfk. Vaping is complicated.

Ask the shop owner if he will trade you out a bottle of your 9 mg, maybe offer to buy an additional different flavor in 6 with the trade .............

 

[OlderNDirt]

+1 on buying a bottle of the same flavor with lower or 0 nic and mixing for desired level. You have 9 and want 6, buy a bottle of 3 and mix 50/50. You can continue to adjust the resulting 6 if you need to.

 

[subwayaznm]

You can do this; just one day at a time before you know it it won't be a thought.
Keep on Vaping

 

[crxess]

Yeah, I wish the shop had informed me that 9 was too high... I have even MORE 9 mg liquid coming in that I ordered awhile back that just took forever to ship from the clean vape. All of my liquid is 70vg/30pg except for one that is 60vg/40pg. I really do just like the act of vaping and for the first week or so I was fine vaping at that strength...

So then I went to the 6 and I vape about the same but it seems to be affecting me differently idfk. Vaping is complicated.

Learning curve. soon you will be telling others what to do to fix issues.

Fix the Flavors you like. Keep the empty bottles you have(almost have)
Purchase the same in -0mg-
With 9mg:
50(0)/50(9)= 4.5mg
A little nip and tuck and you can use all of it.

I probably wasted $ on 100 different Flavors/Strength as I started. Forced myself to Vape some and just gave up and trashed others. My personal experience was an average of 1 in 10 I liked.
Now I DIY and can tune to my desire.

 

[ScandaLeX]

I actually very rarely drank water at all haha, I was more of a Mountain Dew kind of guy. When I started vaping I made the switch to nothing but water and drink about 60-80 ounces of it a day now...

I feel like I wrote this post but I still don't drink enough water.
But Mountain Dew.............whoa....On my way to grab one now!!!!

 

[Angel1964]

I sub ohm 18-20 mg and it doesn't bother me at all. I have been trying to use up my 24mg pg that I started with. I mix it with 18 mg VG. I wanted less nic but I wrongly ordered the 18 mg instead of 3 or 6. I was actually worried that I wouldn't get enough nicotine lol. I am probably Vaping 5 or 6 ml a day. I have been Vaping a year but only quit smoking 4 weeks ago. Everyone's tolerance to the nic, the pg and the VG is different. It might take awhile to figure out what is best for you and what will keep you off the cigs. And don't forget, your body will go through some "healing" when you quit and that too is different for everyone. Stay positive and good luck!

 

[Elvensilvan]

Realistically though, given how much and how long I've smoked, how often do you hear about people going to 3mg nearly immediately? Isn't that almost the last rung on the ladder to being completely nicotine free lol?

I myself had recently jumped from cigarettes to vaping, almost a pack a day for 25 years ... but I have had 3mg nic from day 1, and down to 0 in just 2 weeks (with the occasional nic puff using another atomizer), and totally 0 for more than a week now.

 

[WharfRat1976]

I've been vaping for approximately 2 1/2 weeks and the first week or so was absolutely great... then some things have occurred that have caused me to doubt this "healthier" alternative.

I smoked for about 15 years, about a pack a day for the majority of that time. Smoked all kinds of cigarettes in different strengths. When I started vaping they shop recommended a 9mg liquid since the device I started with would allow me take in far more vapor than a typical beginner might. I quickly moved down to 6 mg to allow for morevaping and on average the mls I vape on a daily basis ranges from 3-5 mls.

Onto the issues.... first, a few days ago I started to get severely dizzy. It would feel almost as if I was on a stopping elevator and I would get really light headed. Over the next day or so it was less severe but still occurring. I am drinking a ton of water, I assure you.

Another issue I am having is my hands and feet get severely cold, almost like ice which is rather annoying. Drinking the water almost seems to make this issue worse.

And now, last night I am getting leg, rib and arm/wrist cramps. Again, I am drinking ample amounts of water which is an apparent solution to this issue as well. Additionally my chest feels tight and feel like my breathing has become shallower. My sinuses are terrible and my head is always tingly.

I had none of these issues when smoking analogs and now I am just wanting to say screw it and go buy a pack

EAT THESE!

 

[edyle]

I sub ohm 18-20 mg and it doesn't bother me at all. I have been trying to use up my 24mg pg that I started with. I mix it with 18 mg VG. I wanted less nic but I wrongly ordered the 18 mg instead of 3 or 6. I was actually worried that I wouldn't get enough nicotine lol. I am probably Vaping 5 or 6 ml a day. I have been Vaping a year but only quit smoking 4 weeks ago. Everyone's tolerance to the nic, the pg and the VG is different. It might take awhile to figure out what is best for you and what will keep you off the cigs. And don't forget, your body will go through some "healing" when you quit and that too is different for everyone. Stay positive and good luck!

Do you know what wattage you vape at?

5 or 6 ml of 18-20mg/ml sounds like the normal ballpark.

 

[edyle]

Yeah, I wish the shop had informed me that 9 was too high... I have even MORE 9 mg liquid coming in that I ordered awhile back that just took forever to ship from the clean vape. All of my liquid is 70vg/30pg except for one that is 60vg/40pg. I really do just like the act of vaping and for the first week or so I was fine vaping at that strength...

So then I went to the 6 and I vape about the same but it seems to be affecting me differently idfk. Vaping is complicated.

The two numbers to look are:

1: 100 wattmilligrams
2: 100 total millgrams per day

If you vape 9mg liquid, you want to aim for something like 10 watts. 100 watts would definitely be too high.