Week one down but.....

[Alliebar]

Today marks a week for me without touching an analog. I vaped for about 3 weeks before I totally quit. For the amount and length of time I smoked, the relative ease of the transition has been amazing - until today. People will think I am crazy, but today of of the blue, I craved an analog so bad - so I vaped, and I vaped, and the worst of the craving passed because of the nic fix, but the craving to perform the old ritual of lighting up did not. I know I am rambling - sorry.

Question. Has anyone gone through a period of sadness/depression when you realize there is no going back? I know if I touch another analog, that will be it - I will be right back at it. When I got home tonight I destroyed the pack I was so proudly not tempted by for the last week. Too dangerous, as I realized I am not out of the woods yet.

Another question. Do you ever find the right combination of what you love, or are you always looking for the next best thing? I have spent probably $500.00 in the last month - a few things that just got me started - things like blu ecigs or anthing that looks like a real cig, but it became obvious it was not going to be strong enough for me to quit. Now my obsession is making sure I have enough batteries, juice, cartomizers, etc. to be sure I am not tempted. The money does not bother me as long as I stay on this path and never touch another analog. Does it settle down after awhile?

I am also leaving the company I have worked at for 24 years tomorrow and starting a new job on Monday so I have some life stress too. Maybe I am just out of sorts all around and it will pass.

 

[ckgjt]

Do you think if you upped your nicotine level you might not crave a regular cigarette as much?

 

[Pappy]

Maybe it's the phase of the moon or something because I'm about 10 or 11 days since my last analog and really haven't craved one . . . until today. It wasn't overwhelming, but 2 or 3 times today I found myself wanting to smoke. I'd like to think it's the "death struggle" of my addiction and, hopefully, it's my addiction's final grasp for life.

If I was using gum or the patch to quit, I would have smoked today. No question whatsoever. Thank God for my PV, because I made it through without lighting up.

Hang in there. Congrats on going a week without one, and keep on vaping.

 

[HelloKitty123]

Alliebar you are not alone!!! Today is my 11th day without a cigarette and I have experienced the very same thing. The only thing that has saved me is PRAYER! That, and like you, throwing out all my cigarettes, and making sure there isn't anything around that will tempt me.

I honestly believe having the right flavor ejuice is a lifesaver too. I was a menthol smoker for close to 21 years, and I crave that specific menthol cigarette flavor that I grew so accustomed to smoking. I don't have a problem with nicotine withdrawal - it's the actual "act" of smoking (it relaxed me), and that flavor!!! Most people say they hate analog cigarette flavor, but I personally LOVED it. So I went in search of an ejuice that would mimic my old cigarettes as closely as possible. FOUND IT! I mix tobacco with koolada for that minty throat hit I crave. Without it, I'm pretty sure I'd still be smoking!

Hope I helped you at least a little bit... Best of luck and keep us updated! Oh, and at the very least, know you're not alone! *hugs*

 

[aurea]

It gets better! And the worst part is you will go through this again. Sounds like you're doing some *really* stressful stuff all at the same time. Bound to make the toughest gal feel out of sorts!

For the vaping yes, buy all of the "stuff" that you need! If it keeps you from smoking it's all good! One little trick that works really well for me is to keep one of my starter eCigs filled with the closest thing to a tobacco flavor in it at 18 nic. When I get that *super* craving I hit that bad boy like my life depends on it.

Before you know it you're going to have a day where you're like, "WOW". I didn't even think about a cigarette yesterday. WOW I went to the smoking area with my eCig while my buddies smoked I wasn't even tempted. It's gonna happen! Hang tough! And of course use ECF, there are a bunch of supportive great folks who have been where you are.

AND good luck at the new job!!!

 

[lettucehead]

It will get better!

Hang in there!!

We're all rooting for you!

 

[moishesmom]

Hi to everyone...I'm going on 11 months now after 50 years of smoking. My house is loaded w/cigs as I did RYO & have no desire to smoke a cig at all. Guess mine was just an oral fixation...bit my nails too (yuk). A few months ago, while talking to my daughter on the phone, I just had a crazy urge & told her I wanted to light one just to see how it taste - I GAGGED & threw it out. Couldn't believe I actually smoked those & loved them the way I did.

Allibar - the money is flowing like water thru my fingers. Since I did RYO it had cost me zip to smoke, especially the last few years as I was buying pipe tobacco by the pound; they started taxing the heck out of reg. cig tobacco. It is a concern but what good is the money if you don't have your health?! Anyways...relax, you've got a great start & a wonderful new job waiting for you & everything IS going your way. Good luck - I know you'll be fine!

 

[HawkeyeFLA]

I was sitting outside today and one of my coworkers was smoking. I actually thought about the whole idea of holding a cigarette and flicking ashes and the like. Thankfully it passed pretty quickly. I vape an 18mg strength juice when I am at work and I got over it quickly, but I think it's the first time I've thought about it. Friday will be 4 weeks for me.

 

[kia2]

It does get better. Right now, you're going through some withdrawal. There is more in tobacco smoke than just nicotine that affects us.

Congratulations on the new job, I'm sure it will go well for you. During a few times when you get particularly anxious, switch to a pre filled carto with a step up (or two) in nicotine, it will help for the moment. Then relax back into a lower nicotine content. It will give you that "instant" soothe that a tobacco cigarette thinks it gave you. Hang in there, you'll be ok.

In answer to your question, I have found what I love, and I didn't have to stray far from what I started with, I just found the supplier that seems to make the better 808 and has a customer service that makes me feel like family instead of just another customer. They keep coming out with new accessories and bling, and even an 808 threaded mid size battery that keeps me from looking at other such batteries elsewhere. So I keep spending the money just because I want the variety without trading to a different supplier that might not be as satisfying to me as the one I've already found and made friends with. Hobby/obsession, take your pick. Personally, I have no desire to stray from what I like so much with all there is to play with, even though they're still 808's. I like the vape, I like the bling, and I've spent way too much (and will spend more in July with new bling coming out).

Bling, no bling, 808 or some other battery that takes your fancy, big bucks or little bucks, it doesn't matter in the end beyond the fact that you have quit smoking. You have already added 10 years to your natural life.

 

[NC_Fog]

Alliebar, First of all don't pressure yourself. As mentioned above get a higher nic juice. It will take your mind off the cigarettes and probably the PV for awhile. Vape your brains out when the urge hits...it works. Also, buying an extra or better PV and accessories also helps keeping you on the straight and narrow. Nothing like a little mailman stalking to keep your interest in vaping. When I started vaping I immediately laid down the cigs and began the road to being smoke free. It been 14mos. now and I couldn't be happier.

Enjoy the journey...

Marty

 

[Dr.Jerryrigger]

I was a week with out smoking and broke down and had half of one today. A really gross one I found in the seat of my car

I've been vaping for about two weeks and this is the third time I've smoked. The first week I really needed some real smoke every three days or so. Then the second week wasn't a problem until today. I've read somewhere on here about an anti-depressant quality of cigarette's smoke that vaping doesn't fill. It's a hell of a thing to quite, and you're not alone.

Keep up the good work! If you break down and smoke once more it's not the end of the game, you shouldn't, but even if you "slip up" you're still doing a lot better than when you only smoked. Just remember you'll get past it, and you'll get past if faster if you don't smoke at all.
Best of luck to you! Keep strong.

 

[WCSR]

For my first two weeks, not a day went by that I don't want a real cigarette...because for 15 years prior not a day went by that I didn't have a real cigarette. It's just part of it, and if you break down from time to time and have one, it's not the end of the world. The thing I've had to do is separate myself from any flavor involving tobacco. That's why I vape Doublemint/Spearmint, Vanilla, Watermellon, Cherry, Root Beer...anything that will not remind me of tobacco. I vape those flavors because they remind me of flavors I enjoyed as a kid...before I started smoking. I also add Koolada additive to them all, so they're nice and icy on these hot summer days.


We just have to change our mindset when we take on vaping and do away with smoking. I've come to really enjoy the thought of myself being an ex-smoker. I feel like I have a whole new lease on life, and anything is possible.


Keep up the good work, and don't let the occasional analog break you down. You're doing good, and should be proud of yourself.

 

[Flizz]

Alliebar and EVERYONE ELSE hang on!! I was the same way. Now it's been 5 weeks and 5 days ago... I have spent hundreds on all the wrong ecigs. Like blu and a few others. I just got a eGo c and love it!!
Hello all...

 

[Yves]

Today marks a week for me without touching an analog. I vaped for about 3 weeks before I totally quit. For the amount and length of time I smoked, the relative ease of the transition has been amazing - until today. People will think I am crazy, but today of of the blue, I craved an analog so bad - so I vaped, and I vaped, and the worst of the craving passed because of the nic fix, but the craving to perform the old ritual of lighting up did not. I know I am rambling - sorry.

Question. Has anyone gone through a period of sadness/depression when you realize there is no going back? I know if I touch another analog, that will be it - I will be right back at it. When I got home tonight I destroyed the pack I was so proudly not tempted by for the last week. Too dangerous, as I realized I am not out of the woods yet.

Another question. Do you ever find the right combination of what you love, or are you always looking for the next best thing? I have spent probably $500.00 in the last month - a few things that just got me started - things like blu ecigs or anthing that looks like a real cig, but it became obvious it was not going to be strong enough for me to quit. Now my obsession is making sure I have enough batteries, juice, cartomizers, etc. to be sure I am not tempted. The money does not bother me as long as I stay on this path and never touch another analog. Does it settle down after awhile?

I am also leaving the company I have worked at for 24 years tomorrow and starting a new job on Monday so I have some life stress too. Maybe I am just out of sorts all around and it will pass.

Smoking and depression... life is hard some days. Life can be very stressful.

I think we all go through this to some degree, Not smoking is like we have lost a good friend. Until we realise that good friend is not really a friend at all and we are strong enough to change the relationship we had with them.

Try and distract yourself with a reward, anything that makes you feel good about yourself.

Every day it gets a little better, The support of friends and the forums have helped me so much.



Hang in there you can do this look how far you have come already

 

[mccrji]

I went through the same thing. On the couple of days that I really, really craved an analog I ran over to 7/11 and got an NJoy since the taste was more of an analog than what I have found in juices. I vaped and vaped and vaped until I got through that hurdle. Keep it up! You'll get through it! You're doing great!

 

[Spazmelda]

I went through what I can only describe as a "sad" spell right at about 10 days without a cigarette. It lasted for a few weeks honestly. For me, it didn't involve craving a cigarette, at least not that I remember. I was just kind of down and moody. My husband kept asking me if I was okay, and telling me I seemed withdrawn and out of it. I didn't feel that I was acting *that* different, but apparently it was different enough for him to suggest that if I had just one cigarette it would be okay.

Since I didn't originally start vaping with the intention of quitting (accidental quitter) I didn't have any moral objection to having one cigarette, and I was tempted to try one and see if it improved my mood, kind of an experiment. But, I ended up not trying one because it just seemed like too much trouble. My last pack was old, and I knew even a fresh cigarette would taste gross after vaping for so long. So, I ended up just taking the wait and see approach, and sure enough the sadness/moodiness passed eventually.

A bit later I did end up getting some snus (General Mint) for those times when I felt especially stressed or out of sorts, or for long car trips. I don't use it very often. In fact in the 6 months or so since I bought my first canister of it I've used less than 2 canisters total. It's nice to have around for those sorts of situations.

So, what am I trying to say here? I don't really know. Except I've seen it mentioned so many times here that about 10 days to 1 month in can be a hard time in the transition, manifesting in different ways. Hang in there. Maybe have a cartomizer of a little bit stronger nicotine for those cravy times. Maybe order some of that WTA or get a canister of snus to try. Or just vape through it. I think if you do end up having an analog it won't be the end of vaping for you. It's likely to taste completely horrid and you won't be as tempted to do it a second time ( that's kind of a dangerous experiment though).

Good luck!

 

[YoureFired]

So you had one cigarette in a week? That's not bad! Think of how far you've come, now that you are affected by a single cigarette.

Brush it off.. and keep up the good work!!

 

[Debadoo]

Hi Alliebar. A week for me too and I didn't even realize it til I saw your post. I did have a horrible fit a couple days ago and I did lite a cig.....if it had been a marlboro I'm sure I'd have smoked the whole thing that day, even though it was nasty. A year ago I had to switch to things called racers. Same size as a cig, 20 per pack etc but brown paper and they cost 15.50 per carton after tax. However, they are not satisfying so I ended up smoking more of them. Well, when I lit it, it was nasty. I took about 4 hits and threw it out, because it still wasn't satisfying. That was the day that all my juice in the cartos tasted so nasty and I wasn't getting any hit from it. There have been days that the craving was worse and I've vaped my brains out, but one of my biggest things is......I never had that "last cig" I know that sounds nuts. But I really want to have just one marlboro (cuz I haven't had one in over a year and if I'm going to have the "last cig" I want it to be a good one). But I don't know anyone who smokes them, I'm not going to buy a pack to do that, and I'm a bit afraid to do that anyhow. I've definitely fought physical cravings, but I think I've fought wanting one last marlboro more than anything. I'm having a really rough time finding something to satisfy. I think I will up the nic on my juice, and I think I'm going to try some fluxos or phoenix cartos, because the ones with the filler stuff just aren't doing it for me. Right now I'm dripping into a boge 510 that I took the filler out of.

 

[Debadoo]

Alliebar you are not alone!!! Today is my 11th day without a cigarette and I have experienced the very same thing. The only thing that has saved me is PRAYER! That, and like you, throwing out all my cigarettes, and making sure there isn't anything around that will tempt me.

I honestly believe having the right flavor ejuice is a lifesaver too. I was a menthol smoker for close to 21 years, and I crave that specific menthol cigarette flavor that I grew so accustomed to smoking. I don't have a problem with nicotine withdrawal - it's the actual "act" of smoking (it relaxed me), and that flavor!!! Most people say they hate analog cigarette flavor, but I personally LOVED it. So I went in search of an ejuice that would mimic my old cigarettes as closely as possible. FOUND IT! I mix tobacco with koolada for that minty throat hit I crave. Without it, I'm pretty sure I'd still be smoking!

Hope I helped you at least a little bit... Best of luck and keep us updated! Oh, and at the very least, know you're not alone! *hugs*

Do you mind if I ask which brand you smoked? MY SIL says the same thing about the flavor. She smoked benson and hedges ultra light deluxe menthols. Also, could you maybe give me links to what you're getting and mixing etc. It might help her. She has tried some disposables, but just can't stay on them very long. I'd really appreciate the info. Thanks

 

[Alliebar]

Ahhhh............. morning sun and reading all these replies has vastly improved my mood and determination. I know it is not the end of the world if I smoke just one, but I am afraid I will still like it. I don't want to find out. Someone made a comment yesterday to the affect that I really have not quit smoking because I am still addicted to nicotine. I just brushed it off at the time to ignorance, but maybe it bothered me, because today I think I would really like to punch that person for trivializing what I have accomplished.
New flavors coming today - something to look forward too. I am also going to be working out of my home starting next week and that makes me very happy too.

It is so good to know I am not alone in this. Thank you to everyone that took the time to encourage me and share your own experiences. I don't think I could do this without this forum!