vaping: more of a smoking replacement than a nic replacement

[Frenchfry1942]

I switched and since I got the nic, no problem. About every 45 minutes, too. I weened down and now am at 3mg. I purposely put it out of my sight and I "sometimes" forget about it. Stress level is probably involved. But, as I lower to 1.5mg and continue to sit it out of my direct line of sight, I will become less attached. I just have to work on it.

I do enjoy the flavors and the tinkering, but that just means finding a hobby.

 

[Fing]

Good to hear so many good review from swtiching nic to vape

 

[nebulis]

For me vaping never was primarily about nicotine replacement. It's smoking replacement.

Amen here, too. I did not know it at the beginning, but reducing nicotine was very easy, after 4 decades of smoking two packs a day. I did not notice anything and liquid consumption did not go up. I am at 2 mg/ml and I am sure I could cut it to zero without any problems. But I could not cut all the behavioural/sensory experiences connected with holding the ecig, making a draw, feeling the vape go down and come out ... that would be very difficult if not impossible.

It is fascinating to see the differences though ...

 

[juskiddin]

"For me vaping was never primarily about nicotine replacement. It's smoking replacement."

This very much resonates with me.

When I began vaping about 6 weeks ago (I'm not quite sure of the timeline) it was merely a means to avoid bothering my upstairs neighbour. I smoked on our patio in our condo complex. Each time I lit up I would worry the smoke was bothering her. Heck, I was the sort who would worry my cig smoke was bothering someone 2 blocks away if I was walking on the street.

One evening I was having a cig on the patio when suddenly an angry voice erupted from above (no, it wasn't God) - "___ing cigarettes!!", followed by a slamming sliding door. My neighbour was more than miffed.

That was it. I decided then and there I'd visit my local vape shop the next day. I purchased an eGo ONE with no plan but to vape it when my neighbour was home.

Quitting the cigs just kind of happened. At first I alternated between cigs and vaping. It was only when I was down to my last couple of cigs I decided to see if I could avoid buying another pack of smokes by just vaping. Almost 5 weeks later and I haven't smoked a cigarette.

I'm quite convinced the sole reason for this is due to vaping. Not just delivering nicotine into my system but the act of drawing, inhaling and seeing the clouds of vapor billowing from my lips. For me it mimics smoking; the hand-to-mouth action and the sensation in my throat.

I began with 18mg of nic and stepped down to 12mg a few wks ago. I plan to continue decreasing the nic....slowly. I may reach 0 nic at some point but I currently have no plan to do so. For me, a plan makes me feel anxious, hemmed in. So I'm going with the flow for now.

I discovered vaping as a reaction to my neighbour's irritation with my smoking. And I discovered I love it! Without the act of vaping I'm certain I'd still be dragging on a cig. Not only do I smell better, I'm spending far less.

I feel as though I'm having my cake and eating it too.

Thanks for your post, Steve. You helped me realize something I'd not thought of.

Cheers!

 

[Grimwald]

I just made a comment like this on a similar thread. It got me thinking along the same lines. I smoked--a lot-- from college age 18 until I started vaping at age 60. So I have been engaged in the "act" of smoking for most of my waking adult life. All of the rituals. I may be able to get down to 0mg (I've gone from 24mg to 5mg in 3 years), but I wonder if I will ever be content to give up the "act" of vaping. Interesting philosophical question. I think I will get out my e-pipe and ponder the implications for a bit.

 

[MaxwellPink]

I have the hand to mouth thing going, so most likely I'll still be vaping at zero nic - if I ever get there. My go to is 12mg, but I have flavors with lower or none because I find the nicotine negatively affects the taste.

But I feel the difference when I vape them. Not an anxiety riddled withdrawel. More like I'm in a fog. Maybe it really is helping my ADHD?

 

[Thrasher]

I never wanted to quit smoking- I just wanted to feel better.

After 4 years I vape 3-6 mg. I notice I can vape for hours on zero mg as long as im getting puff time it seems smoking is more what im after and not just nic

 

[RandyF]

I have always maintained I am more addicted to the act of smoking than the nicotine. If simply replacing the nic was enough the current NRT's would be far more effective. Like someone said in an earlier post, chemicals are added to cigarettes to make the nicotine more addictive, I have seen smoking cigarettes compared to freebasing on more than one occasion.

 

[QuitterDar]

Absolutely, totally, whole-heartedly agree! I quit smoking a year ago - now vaping at 6mg most of the time, sometimes at 3mg and even at 0mg - and loving that I can still "smoke"!!

I was thinking about this today and thought I'd share. Most vapers used vaping as a nicotine replacement so they could quit smoking. Quitting made easier because you're not nic fitting. But not me. I quit smoking and cut my nicotine at least in half on that first day by using nicotine patches--not vaping. After a week on the 14mg patch, I quit those and started vaping. At first I tried an 18 juice. It probably would have been great on day 1 of quitting, but since I'd ratcheted my nicotine down so far already I couldn't vape the 18. I went down to a 6, which is where I am today. I had nearly quit nicotine entirely before I even picked up the vapor pen.

For me vaping never was primarily about nicotine replacement. It's smoking replacement. I like to smoke. I've been doing it a long time, and doggone it I'm good at it. What vaping is to me is an inexpensive, no-stink, low risk way to...sort of keep on smoking. Even if I drop down to a 0 nicotine juice, I think vaping has a long future in my life.

I can probably get an amen from one or two of you on that point.