Vaping for 4 months-why do I still crave the analog?!

[zoomie61]

I've been vaping for 4 months now and have gone from 2 packs a day to 3 or 4 real cigs a day. For me this is miraculous but why do I still want the analog? It drives me nuts! In the morning and driving. That's it. Anybody else out there feel the same? I'd be interested to know. I've smoked for 33 years so it's been a long frustrating smelly road until now.....

 

[cjay]

I also still crave an analog. I like you dont know why. I have smoked 2 packs a day for almost 50 years. I haven't been smoking the e-cig that long though. I think we just smoked so long and so much that we are having a hard time breaking the habit. Have you tried the stronger nicotine juice, perhaps that would helpl Good luck!

 

[imawitch]

I understand your craving..

I smoked for 32 years..

dec 2nd of 09 was 1st day of vaping, and my last analog( well kinda, as i slipped and smoked a analog while in france)

most of the time, i dont even have the urge for a analog, but some times i get the strongest urge for a analog..hard to say why..but i want u to know your not alone..

i some times wonder if maybe ther was something elese in the analogs besides the tabbaco that our body's might be craving? i just dont really know..

but keep this in mind, your doing good so far right? u should be commended for your effort! only 3 or 4 cigs a day, after smoking 2 packs a day, thats a real acomplishment in my eyes..

I wish i could help you and give u a good answer, but all i can say is ur not alone, as i still have urges to..

keep fighhting the good fight n bright blessings!

 

[Kattdaddy]

I've been vaping for 4 months now and have gone from 2 packs a day to 3 or 4 real cigs a day. For me this is miraculous but why do I still want the analog? It drives me nuts! In the morning and driving. That's it. Anybody else out there feel the same? I'd be interested to know. I've smoked for 33 years so it's been a long frustrating smelly road until now.....

I smoked analogs for 31 years and I will tell you it is a hard road to follow when walking away. I always liked the smell of cigarettes when I was a kid and even now.. something about it is like hypnotising to me. I have slipped when I only had two atties and they both went out.... I had to wait a week for more equipment to come in and I ended up buying two packs of analogs... By that time they tasted so nasty to me.. I had a heck of a time smoking. I even upchucked a few times they were so bad and I couldn't believe it!!
So, with that said.. I would like to know what brand you smoke.. and while your vaping, what mg/ml of nic you use! Alot of the time, even though most analogs( by pack) are .08 mg percig which makes the pack 16 mg... It is best as a reward for vaping and weining to start at higher levels. I ordered 36mg and 24 mg starting out.. That way I could start at 36 mg.. use some VG to cut that to 30 mg- Then, 24 mg for a while.. and now, I hover around 18 with an occasional 24 mg here and there just to keep me balanced. I plan to lower my nic even further but I don't want to go too quickly at this point.
So, to really kick the habit.. you may need to look at a routine of say a two month window... Start high and just wein yourself little by little with the vaping until you can get your body used to the new delivery method... Analogs also have Ammonia in them which is another catalyst that the body develops a tolerance for and sometimes this is the reason that a lot of folks vape a little higher nic, especially long term smokers ...

I hope this helps and feel free to lean on us when in need...
Tom

 

[68stang]

i am new but have not had an analog since i began vaping. every day i thought i was craving an analog...but i realize I THINK am just craving the nic and action of "smoking" because as soon as i drag my ecig i am ok. I think we just replaced one addiction with another which feels the same. That being said i have less cravings and can go longer when needed now that I am using an ecig!

 

[dgriego]

I do not think there is anything more difficult than quitting smoking. At least for me this is true. My husband laid his down and never looked back and never seemed to have a problem. I have quit numerous times over the years (30), sometimes for a few days, a month, and once for six months. Every time I had what I thought at the time was heart problems, I would feel light headed, my chest would flutter and I felt like I could not breath. Turned out these were panic attacks and stress and when I picked up a smoke they went away.
With vaping I feel a little of this in the morning mostly now. Although vaping is helping me not to smoke I must admit that there is something missing. The complete satisfaction I get from smoking a analog is just not there. For me realizing this is half my battle. I am not going to find a substitute that is healthy and that 100% kills my addiction to smoking. So I am settleing for something that is around 90%.
I tried snuff for the first time this week and that seemed to help. I am only using it at those times when I feel a strong craving for a smoke and the vape just isn't taking it away. I hear that the snus stuff is good also but I tried that a long time ago when the Camel snus came out and I did not like it.
Anyway I and others are feeling it with you! Hang in there!

 

[deitra]

I was a chain smoker so first thing in am my nic wants are way to strong to deal with PV. I chain 3...sounds like I am crocheting...then switch to PV. Both my sons are home from college and they work my nerves all day so I find myself going to an analog one time about 4pm. Then I leave them on their wittle shelf til I wake up again. Saturday is freedom day from both sons so I'm hoping to get rid of the evening/afternoon analog. WOOHOO...Deitra

 

[zoomie61]

Thanks to all of you for replying! Letting go of the analogs sucks in my opinion! Lol. I vape 24mg flu cured, ry-4, and Joye Tobacco most of the time. I've got a 510, 801, NPro, Vapor Kink, and L9 and vape like a chimney. Imawitch, I think you are absolutely right about the "other stuff" in analogs that we're addicted to. If it was just nicotine, vaping should handle it but every morning especially, I feel a craving for something more than the nicotine. A couple of analogs and I'm good to go. Another one in the car on the way to work and I don't smoke for the rest of the day. I freakin LOVE the rush of the morning analogs. There's gotta be more to it than just nicotine. Keep up the replies...it really helps to know we're not alone and the positive affirmations as well. Yeah you're right, 2 packs down to 3 or 4 cigs is something to be proud of. I guess we shouldn't beat ourselves up for the few analogs, but be happy about being "nearly" clean of all the poisons in real cigs. Thanks to all for the support!

 

[zoomie61]

BTW deitra, I totally understand the chaining in the AM... =] That's me.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Zoomie, I was like you. I'm just over 9 months quit/vaping, and still was having a something is missing feeling, despite vaping almost all the time. Nicotine alone wasn't doing it for me.

I decided to try snus packets just a few days ago, and the difference is night and day. It gives me back the whole tobacco alkaloids that I was getting with a cigarette (and are missing in the e-liquid). Snus isn't necessary for everyone, but it sure was for me. I'm using about 3-5 packets a day.

More info. on WTA can be found at http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/nicotine/44958-so-we-getting-we-not-nicotine.html

 

[zoomie61]

oops...I meant Vapor King in my previous response. Ha! (although there's something appealing about the Vapor Kink I must say!) haha

 

[proimage1]

I just started vaping ( Full Time ) Jan 1st ( my New's Resolution ), so I've been 5 days analog free and I'm still in shock I've made it this far. Two times of the day seem to been crazy hard for me. First thing in the morning along with that first cup of coffee and last thing at night just before I brush my teeth and go to bed. I'm pretty sure that's more habit than addiction. I smoked for 40 + years - a pack and a half a day - Marlboro Reds, but would smoke anything if I was out of those. The only time I ever quit was once 25 yrs ago - I made it 30 days and thought I was gonna go insane. I decided back then that cigs were the only thing holding me together.

This past 5 days has honestly been way easier than I can imagine - however, I haven't really run into a pressure filled moment. Of course, I could use any excuse to bail and grab an analog. I told me my wife and kids that this was a one day at a time deal and I wasn't making any guarantees, but so far - so good.

I started out with a cheap kit e-cig I ordered - big mistake because I almost gave up completely - way to much hassle and very little reward - then I ordered a screwdriver and it helped, but still not completely - I started with 36mg - and I've since bumped that up some - not a lot - but some. I ordered the Xhaler over the weekend and hopefully it'll come in today. I need a really hard throat hit right now - each and every time and so far it's a hit and miss situation. I do think from what I read that the 5V system will work better for me.

One thing I have figured out and I'm sure it's true with a lot of us. The habit itself is just as tough to get over as much as the physical addiction. Those two times I mentioned ( first thing in the morning and just before I turn in ) - there's just something missing from the an e-cig - that's the habit part of it. It just seems like I'm supposed to be doing something that I'm not doing.

For the past 5 days, everyone in our house, including myself have had a bad cold - you know that yucky feeling kind. We've all been coughing and just overall feeling bad. I'm not sure if that's helped or hurt as far as not smoking analogs. I don't know if the cough is from the cold or from my body trying to kick out all the crud from 40 yrs of smoking. I can't really tell any change in the way I feel - my appetite hasn't increased, my energy level is the same - everything. But there again, I'm not sure if it's not just from having this stupid cold. We're all getting over the colds and I'm feeling a lot better, so soon enough I should be back to normal and be able to see some sort of changes ( hopefully anyway ).

Anyway, I read through this threads and I'm just amazed at the number of people that have accomplished what they have - some have gone 2 days, some have gone two years. I think everyone that has gone even 1 day should pat themselves on the back, because smoking is the hardest habit to break out of everything I know of. I have heard that the addiction to smoking is harder to break than any other drug - bar none and if that's the case - I don't think anyone should get down on themselves if they do slip.

 

[flexsr]

for me I had to up the nicotine content in the beginning...36mg of strong e liquid was the only thing that really quieted most of the urges...recently i just got the xhaler..the warmer vaper and bigger throat hit of 6v seems to help as well for me...

 

[deitra]

I am seriously thinking of trying the snuff. I remember my grandmother doing it. Snus was a real surprise to me. I actually liked it. Both my sons dip. The snus isn't yucky like the spitty stuff...no offense to any spitters...Anyway when shopping or waiting at docs office or somewhere like that the snus is awsome.

 

[Raven1]

Well, I still have 3 or 4 analogues a day (have reduced it to that amount over 2 months from a three-qtr. pack a day habit). There just isn't anything as satisfying as coffee or tea and a smoke (not even vaping, unfortunately). Haven't tried alcohol yet, but I'm sure I'll be craving cigs if I do. I am just thankful that I've even reduced the amount I smoked by even that much (I had to for health reasons) and I don't get discouraged by not quitting completely yet. Still hope to over time, but it's very difficult after 20 some years of nic sticks to give it up completely. Have quit in the past and it was one of the hardest things I ever did.

Just hang in there and don't beat yourself up about it...you'll get there eventually.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

I am seriously thinking of trying the snuff. I remember my grandmother doing it. Snus was a real surprise to me. I actually liked it. Both my sons dip. The snus isn't yucky like the spitty stuff...no offense to any spitters...Anyway when shopping or waiting at docs office or somewhere like that the snus is awesome.

The mini white packets of snus are great. General mini mint is my favorite I think. I pop one in first thing in the morning, and I'm good to go. Another before lunch, maybe one at 3pm and another at 7pm. Vaping has become more of a habit (loved blowing smoke... now I love blowing vapor). Snus has given me back that relaxed, calm feeling I got when I smoked.

For me, trying to up the nicotine mg just made me agitated. Snus takes all that away, and I'm back down to 12-18mg liquids and not vaping like it is a pacifier anymore.

I think most people don't know exactly what snus is... very inexpensive, easy to use, NOT messy, nobody can tell you have one in your mouth and you don't need to spit when you use it. You are taking in all the good stuff that is missing in e-liquids from a transference to the tissues between your lip/gums.

Way better than grandma's ol' stuff!!

 

[zoomie61]

Hellen,
I'm intrigued by this snus. What brand do you use?

 

[olderthandirt]

Hi zoomie, and others here questioning

Just wanted to add a bit to what Helen has mentioned. Good morning Helen!

Vaping alone does not completely satisfy everybody. Many folks have quit smoking with e-cigs alone but there is a significant number of folks that can't quite pull it off with vaping alone.

For a quick idea of what I'm saying read through DVaps blogs.

The general idea is that there are alkaloids other than nicotine that we get from smoke. The liquid we vape has NONE of these additional alkaloids hence the not quite satisfied feeling so many folks have from vaping alone.

Providing your PV is giving you plenty of vapor, take some time and read through the Nicotine and Smokeless Tobacco forums.

There is a growing number of users that are finding the addition of either Swedish snus or nasal snuff to their vaping is what it takes to completely get off the smokes.

 

[AlexTM]

Like Hellen, I found at first that, most surprisingly, I didn't have a big problem quitting analogs, but then I noticed something was missing. You might want to check this thread about my problem.

I also find that very little snus helps sufficiently to keep those cravings at bay. I am at about two packets a day. Considerably healthier, cheaper and better smelling than analogs, even if I can't say I like the taste.

Loose snus btw is a mess, but a lot cheaper. One can pack it into cut-up tea-bags, and it is no more of a mess than the packages, but still a lot cheaper. Don't try to chew on that package, though, or you are back to the mess.

 

[tarkus]

Hi, In 1 of my attempts to quit smoking I read an article that said some smokers actually had a secondary addition to the smoke itself and these people had a much harder time quitting smoking. I wish I could find the article. I'm still smoking 1-4 analogs a day but that sure is better (and cheaper) than 2 1/2 packs!