Ugh...I can't seem to rid myself of the nightly smoke

[maureengill]

I have been vaping since October and have gone from 1 1/2 to 2 packs a day down to a couple cigs a day....but for the life of me I can't get rid of the after 8pm cigs that I crave. Last night I tried snus for the first time and that didn't do it either. I've also tried snuff in the past to no avail. I really don't know what to do at this point....HELP

 

[v1John]

Which ecig do you use, and what is the history of the nic. strength you've been using?

 

[zoiDman]

....but for the life of me I can't get rid of the after 8pm cigs that I crave. ...

Yes you can. You throw out your analogs. Stock up the frig. And go without a smoke tonight. Your going to climb the walls but that's what we all have done to get the monkey off our backs.

The longer you go with smoking a few analogs is just going to prolong the torment of quitting. You don't have to worry about anything else, you just have to go one evening without an analog.

It is going to be hard for the first week but no one said quiting smoking wasn't.

You can do it. So Do It.

 

[Grenage]

It can be tough; last thing at night was the worst, but mornings weren't great.

If you can tell yourself that you don't want a smoke, rather than you can't have a smoke, it might help. I still get the urge, in fact just this post has made me pang for a smoke; you just need to put the thought out of your mind as quickly as possible.

 

[maureengill]

Which ecig do you use, and what is the history of the nic. strength you've been using?

I have a standard 510 and started out using 24mg. I picked up a 36mg niquid that I really haven't used in a while and my daily vape has gone down to 11-16mg nic or a 0mg (usually the 11-16mg). I've been thinking about picking up a vp1 and vp2 mods, but haven't talked myself into it yet. I don't crave during the day or even in the morning anymore like I used to, but I just can't seem to get past the night time nic fit....or cig fit...i can't tell which.

Maureen

 

[poppa]

I pack stonewalls around and use them along with vaping for when I really need the nicotine boost.

Details in the dissovable tobacco section.

 

[Sacredgrooves]

I am with you....still stuck on a few a day. I just got a silver bullet yesterday though and I think the vapor production of this unit will help me take that last step. Good luck!

 

[v1John]

The daily vape should have probably stayed at 11 to 16, and I would be sure to vape enough prior to the time when the cigarette fit strikes (also during that time).

 

[SirVette]

Increase nic. level at end of day. I am at about 20mg. & up it to 24.
Sounds like 16 mg. or more for you.

 

[Stephra]

You also might be suffering from the night-time ritual thing. That was the weirdest part of quitting for me. It was that "one last cig before bed" that befuddled me.

Cigarettes have a very clear beginning and end point. When I was first vaping, I had trouble with it because I always had my pre-bed cig telling me when it was time to go to bed. With vaping, there is no end point. You have to put it down of your own free will. It makes it a lot harder to decide when to cut off, and you don't get that same feeling of "completion".

With the vape, there's no clear signal that it's over like with a cigarette. Perhaps, if you really want to take the plunge and get rid of it, you need to substitute a different bedtime ritual with a clear end point - a cup of Sleepytime Tea, or use that time to refill your carts fresh for the new day. Just pick an activity that has a clear end-point to substitute. It might take the edge off.

As long as you've been vaping, I think what your going through isn't nicotine craving, it's ritual craving. And there's no way to change that except to just... do it. Sure it'll feel weird for awhile, but you'll never get used to it if you don't jump in (or jump out, in this case). You need to embrace the new rhythm, and ignore the old. It gets easier very fast once you make the leap.

 

[opie]

You also might be suffering from the night-time ritual thing. That was the weirdest part of quitting for me. It was that "one last cig before bed" that befuddled me.

Cigarettes have a very clear beginning and end point. When I was first vaping, I had trouble with it because I always had my pre-bed cig telling me when it was time to go to bed. With vaping, there is no end point. You have to put it down of your own free will. It makes it a lot harder to decide when to cut off, and you don't get that same feeling of "completion".

With the vape, there's no clear signal that it's over like with a cigarette. Perhaps, if you really want to take the plunge and get rid of it, you need to substitute a different bedtime ritual with a clear end point - a cup of Sleepytime Tea, or use that time to refill your carts fresh for the new day. Just pick an activity that has a clear end-point to substitute. It might take the edge off.

As long as you've been vaping, I think what your going through isn't nicotine craving, it's ritual craving. And there's no way to change that except to just... do it. Sure it'll feel weird for awhile, but you'll never get used to it if you don't jump in (or jump out, in this case). You need to embrace the new rhythm, and ignore the old. It gets easier very fast once you make the leap.

very very well said!!! and it makes sense too I never thought of that. I like the idea and I think that you are on to something there. was just reading thru and you helped me out. I guess we have to remember that smoking wasnt just a physical thing but a psychological thing as well!!

 

[Raven_Blackblade]

If I might say something that might be benefitial.


This was also a problem with me this second time around vaping. First thing in the morning, and last thing before bed.

I have found that while drinking my vitamin water (and taking 1 vit B complex suppliment, and 2 St John's Wort) and vaping, that I can get over the morning one.

For bedtime, I make sure that the END is when my program for that evening (or movie) is over. Then I put my PV down, and go to bed. Also on weekends when I dont have to work, I will vape as I take my bath. Once the bath is over, and I am dry, I head to bed.

In the beginning I used to take my PV to bed with me. I have found that this makes it seem more continuous. Make sure to leave it in a place that is normal for you. Since we have never smoked in the bedroom, to take it into the bedroom seemed awkward, and never ending. So now I leave it in the computer room, or in the living room.

Perhaps these things will be of some help to you?

 

[sixstring]

Funny, I'm just the opposite. I can't break the morning cig to.. ahem - get things moving.

Now that I'm down to 3-4 cigs a day, the one I most enjoy avoiding is before bed. That one always seemed to make my chest feel heavy and tight the next morning. In fact, I try not to "smoke" several hours before bed to avoid this. It's just so nice to wake up and be able to breathe freely, without that morning cough. Then my dumb-a** smokes to go to the john and get geared up for work. Go figure.

 

[Bluerooster]

I too feel the need for the morning smoke. I'd usually smoke up about 6 or 7 analogs
between wake-up, and arriving at work, just to replenish the nic level.
I still catch myself wanting an analog, while vaping like crazy. Not sure why.
I'll go through a full cart in less than an hour, first thing in the AM.
I dunno why, but that's the way it is.

 

[billo]

Don't feel bad. The bedtime smoke is the worst for me also.

You should try not smoking the entire cigarette. Just smoke 1/3 or 1/2 of it and leave the rest for your morning fix. At the same time, vape some strong nicotine juice.
I'm up to 35 to 45 mg.

Once you realize that you don't have to smoke the whole cigarette and all is still well, you have a chance to skip it entirely. At least occasionally.

 

[HzG8rGrl]

What brand and flavor and mg are you using? The night time niquids.

 

[guava]

I have cut down to about 1 or less than 1 real cig a day, and I think I did that by taking a few puffs in the morning, realizing it doesn't taste so good, then I put it out, but I keep the cig in the ashtray. Later on, after work, I re-light that same cig, have a couple more puffs, realize it really doesn't taste that great, etc. I started doing that with more regular cigs per day, and have cut down A LOT to about 1.

Hope this helps; maybe if you can look at it in a different way (like vaping) a few puffs here and there is enough, just like we know and are now habituated to not having to constantly drag on a battery until it's done. Maybe that 1 nightly cig can last two nights, and then 3, until it becomes untrained. Hope so at least! Best of luck to you.

 

[Vapor Pete]

I found it didnt take long to realize how awsome it was to vape in bed while watching TV before falling asleep rather than getting dressed... put on a big coat... boots... gloves.... a hat.... go outside.... get a cigarette out...oops forgot my lighter... back in....track snow inside.... grab the lighter... head back out... and smoke for 6 minutes. Of course thats only in the winter time. But now its nice just to lay under my ceiling fan with a nice cool breeze and vape away.

-VP

 

[rosesense]

Good ideas from everyone. For me, every time that urge hit I picked up the PV and kept going until the urge passed. I had to use low nic because at night I was at it continuously. I still do that many nights but it is better than the alternative in my mind. It does get easier after you are completely off the cigs but I still get hit with cravings out of the blue with no warning sometimes.

 

[daisyd]

If you smoke outside, maybe taking your vp outside would be close enough to the old ritual. I usualy take my phone and a smoke and check my email. I have done that for so long that I have a kind of internal timer. I know when I'm supposed to be done.