Vaping to stop smoking. Has it worked for you?

[MagentaRocks]

I have smoked on and off for years, mostly on. I do well with stopping and then I end up smoking socially and it starts all over again. I hate smoking, I hate the smell and the cost, and of course for health reasons.

I have used champix in the past and it works but then the social thing crops up again and it is all over. I thought I could get a vape and use that while I cut down and eventually stop. Then when I am in a social situation I will be used to the vape and will have that instead.

I don’t like the look of the big ones but I have seen a nice slim one. Has vaping worked for you and is it best to use nicotine juice or nicotine free juice?

Thanks

These positive stories are really helping my mind set and it's so silly because I've done it before.
I can't explain how much happier and healthier I felt.

I have a type of ptsd and health anxiety due to a medical emergency situation and a big op. When I gave up smoking just after that using my vape my anxiety levels really reduced even though I thought they would be worse to start with.

I realise now as I'm writing that the daily battle in my head is not helping me at all and I really need to stamp on it.

Keep them coming guys

Sorry for butting in, but the vape juice dh bought says 1.2%, does anyone know what that would be in mg? Is it really low nicotine

Not really low,no. It's in the middle so to speak. 0% is the lowest,then 3%,then 6% etc.

So if someone offered you a cigarette you would be able to say no
Yes,definitely

If you run out of juice/battery, etc. you would be able to resist cigs

Yes,but would never run out of either. Always have freshly charged batteries and plenty of juice.

Worked for me, I've been stopped over 6 months. Tried a cigarette after a few drinks at the weekend and only managed two draws before nearly vomiting - the taste was absolutely vile and reaffirmed that I won't smoke cigarettes again (hopefully!)

Yep, worked for me but with several caveats! Firstly found out was pregnant, so immediately ran screaming to the doctors and they said vaping was fine as far as they were concerned (usual stuff about no empirical evidence to suggest it’s bad yet) and compared to smoking it’s way better. Grumpily vaped for 9 months. Post baby was back on one or two cigarettes a week (mental & emotional addiction at play 100%) then the odd night out with booze & 20 fags consecutively. But still vaping. Then it was wintery & cold & wet outside so I was more reluctant. Plus my woolens & coats were all clean and didn’t want them to stink, and then I hated the taste & the smell more than ever, so went months just on vaping. Now no urge for proper fags. Started on elite e-cigarettes (expensive but has deals and a good transition) then Logic Pro, and now a basic vape pen but not a big cloudy one. £5 refill every three days, several back ups charged ready. Problem is as another poster mentioned, the craving is almost subliminally constant because it doesn’t deliver the same hit or ritual so there’s no real beginning or end to a ‘smoke’ I’m just puffing all the time. Next I am reducing the nicotine amount slowly plus alternating with a 0 nicotine liquid and a Nicorette patch to beat all sides of the addiction. If only I could beat my 15 year old self with a brick when buying that first pack

Yep, quit a 30 a day habit
The first 24hrs I picked a day when I was off work and the vape was attached to my face constantly
After 24hrs I thought well I can't start smoking again now. That was it
Have I smoked since? Yes, the odd one on a night out, but it doesn't set off a craving. Very strange, I can have a drag and then leave it and not smoke for months

Yes 100%. I smoked heavily for 14 years. Decided to try vape and never went back. I stoped vape and went to gum then nothing when I was pregnant. Now if I feel the urge I go back to vaping. Not smoked a cigarette in 7 years.

I smoked A LOT. I moved to vaping, reduced the % nicotine in the juice over about 6 months down to 0% I then had a couple of juice leaks in my handbag so thought "Sod this for a game of soldiers" and gave up vaping too. Been a non smoker for about 4 years now. Don't miss it and don't think about it anymore.

I’m pregnant at the moment so not currently vaping. However I started vaping about 3 years ago and quit smoking soon after. I’d recommend spending a bit of money on a decent kit and quality juices. The people in vape shops are usually really helpful and will let you try different juices. The good thing about vaping is you can gradually reduce the nicotine content down to 0% if you choose to. When we started trying for a baby I went down to zero nicotine, and when I found out I was pregnant I found it really easy to just put my e cig away and not vape anymore. Although I do fully intend to return to vaping after the baby arrives, as I really enjoy it.

If you do vape, use the big ones, they are sooooo much better than the cheap ones that look like fags. My dh did this (his words to get a decent one - which unfortunately means large), he capes for a few years and then gave that up earlier this year too.

No, I only use my vape if I can’t go outside to smoke, I still however manage to smoke the same number of fags.

Yes but I still vape. Down to 3mg though and I think I do it more out of habit than anything. Still have the extremely occasional cigarette when I have had a few drinks but never crave one and this is only if someone offers one.

Yes, I stopped smoking on 1st April 2016 using a vape and haven’t had a fag since. I think a lot of my success was down to getting one of the big ones because you can use a lot lower strength of nicotine straight away (I started vaping on 6mg and was down to 3mg juice in a matter of weeks) and still get a “throat hit”. On the little cheap stick things it can’t make such good use of the nicotine (because the power isn’t there) so you end up needing 18mg juice to get any reasonable satisfaction from it.

@Greensleeves that’s 12mg, so not really low at all.

The lowest you can practically vape apart from nicotine free is 3mg, which would be 0.3%.

Yep. About 5 years ago now, vape pens weren't as fancy as they are now. I had this skinny vape pen which you put liquid into the top of. I tried patches, gum, everything before the pen.
You need to have willpower as well of course, but it really did work for me. I only vaped for a couple of months, then stopped that too. Haven't had one since and I was smoking 20 a day for 10 years. Still can't believe I did it!

I still vape, but go my whole ten hour shift at work without bothering. And i’ve never felt compelled to go and buy any fags when I’ve run out of battery or juice, I tend to just plan properly so I don’t run out of things.

I hated the tobacco flavoured juices, i’m loyal to my vanilla/cake flavoured juices, don’t like fruit/bubblegum/naff flavoured ones.

DH stopped smoking two months ago using a vape. He is on 3mg and sometimes 0 nicotine. He smoked for over 20 years and he hates the smell of cigarettes now.

Transition from ciggies to vape was easy. I ended up going cold turkey off the vape and it was hell. So much worse than cold turkey on cigarettes. Stopped and started several times since, getting pissed is always my downfall then I find I'm drinking just for an excuse to smoke! Now I'm pregnant so not smoking and don't intend to start again afterwards. I can never just have one. It has to be all or nothing!

If you’re after a beginner kit - I can not recommend the Uwell Caliburn enough. It’s so easy to use and cheap too. I’d start with 12mg (1.2) Eliquid. I’ve vaped for years, and the new pod systems are great. It’s a MTL system (mouth to Lung) as opposed to DTL (Direct to lung). If you’re starting, you really want MTL as it’s the closest to smoking. DTL is when you inhale it directly into your lungs and blow out big clouds. This is generally on low nicotine, but you’ll end up buying more expensive kit and spending a fortune on liquid.
Look for either 12mg nicotine or 20mg nic salts. Nice salts are thought to be better, but 12mg regular will do you just fine.
Go smoke free is a fab website. There are a few vaping groups on FB you can join too. Good luck!

I've been smoke free for 3years plus now. Having said that, I wouldn't be without my vape. I don't think I could go back to cigarettes though, they smell vile to me know. I still think it's preferable to vape

Yep! Apart from about 2 fags a year when someone is smoking something delicious in a pub I haven't smoked in 4 years. I am however addicted to vaping, though only on 3mg oil now.

Yes, I switched to vaping 7 years ago. I haven't had the urge to smoke a cigarette at all. I'll admit I do get a bit panicky if I can't find my vape though.

I went to a vape shop when I got up. They were really nice and helpful and I have a starter vape with some liquid. They set it up for me and I am just fully charging it now and will then give it a go.

Thanks for all the positive stories. I has really helped me make up my mind to go for it - here’s to a smoke free future!

You can’t totally do this! Don’t look back!

You might find it makes you cough to begin with, just persevere, take small drags, don’t try to take it back straight away, and gradually it will be fine.

*can totally do this.

Typo fail