hardwired
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Posts posted by hardwired
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Just made it officially seven days with no analogs...THX FOR YOUR HELP! Been experimenting like a mad fiend with various models and juices. Seems the menthol gives me the most satisfaction, so I'll probably stick with it.
I know everyone is different, but I was curious what your average ejuice usage is? I went through a 10ml bottle in a week (24mg)...just moved down to 18mg. See if the level of juice used increases over the next week
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scott
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Excellent add. My advice,FWIW, go decent nic for a little bit, get real comfy with vaping and then start. There have been studies indicating you don't get as much nic through vaping as you do a cig so not sure that should be an issue. Regardless, after another week or two, start cutting down. Easy peasy. I would say after 8-16 weeks, you should be at zero. I will look things up if I can, but I'm 50% sure, its smoking that kills the arteries, not nicotine. Have to find out for sure (if the data is there). As far as headaches and such go, there is a thread on side effects. I'm not saying you should ignore anything, but there are side effects.
That's what I'm going to do, move back up from 11 to 18mg and test out different flaves...in hopes of gradually moving down to 0 nic at some point. Thx again, dude!
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HW, you've gotten so much good advice I have nothing to add (!). I'm so happy with our community; I've never experienced such good vibes anywhere on the planet. VT is a special place, glad you found your way here. Good luck and ask all your questions. I expect someone here will solve any issue you have.
Very cool of you, Dave...it does feel like everyone here can relate and is eager to offer help & suggestions. Believe me...I've got plenty of damn questions, lol. Hope I don't become too much of a pita
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You've gotten some great replies on nic levels and such, but I wanted to share an observation on when to replace the cart/filler. I use a 510 atty on a DS905, and when I can only add a couple of drops to re-wet the filler it's a good indication that I need to replace it. I think after a while, the filler gets a "crust" on it from the heat of the atty and it doesn't absorb as well. That and it just becomes saturated with juice that doesn't get pulled into the atty.
As for the VG juice, I've found that I need a little higher level of nicotine in VG to get the same throat hit. It probably has something to do with the fact that VG vaporizes easier, or more efficiently than PG. Not sure, but a little higher nic level gives me what I'm looking for.
Thx, Lee! I'll have to test drive the higher nic VG (from 11 to 18mg) and see if it does the trick. I've tried both cart filler and DD...and for me...direct drip has won out so far. Less hassle until I get the hang of it. Really appreciate the advice. I am going to try the pyramid teabag method someone suggested, too.
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Good to meet a fellow home agent/entrepreneur/ or whatever you happen to be. It took me a looooooonnnnng time to get used to working from home, but now that I've adjusted to it I really count myself as a "lucky few".
I'm with you on the pass through comment. I've avoided buying any cheap Chinese pass throughs b/c I'm holding my breath for the Vapor Talk store getting the VP TP back in stock (hint hint). As a DIY electronics hobbyist it's very easy to spot quality components, and the VP TP totally screams "top quality, top shelf components".
C'mon Chris, I've still got some money left from my tax return burning a hole in my pocket!
Hey Brandon...been running my own business for several years & feel lucky, blessed and all the rest, for sure! Able to be home with the kids (2 & 4) which is awesome.
Because I started with the 510 kit, which came with the two batteries...I needed to invest more. Being overwhelmed by all the choices is an understatement, lol. In the end I ordered up the Joye USB passthrough and wanted to test out the E-9 atty and cartomizers for myself. Is there a major difference in quality between the Joye & VP TP?Also, have some Rath juice coming...saw some great reviews on that, as well. Thx, man!
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Hey Hardwired,
Glad to read that you've recovered as well as you have from your stroke. It sounds like you've learned a very valuable lesson about health, so don't feel too bad about your past. We all tend to learn the hard way, it seems.
In searching for answers to all these questions, each of us find many conflicting things about whats known and whats not known about nicotine, tobacco, and the e-cig. The more you look on the internet, the more confusing it gets. If the report or document came from a supplier of a product in any industry involved with nicotine, it will be worded to slant the opinion to benefit that product. Any decent skeptic knows this already. If the report or document came from an independent scientific review, it most times was funded by a manufacturer or supplier of a product, and it can also be so filled with scientific jargon that it's hard to understand it fully. One thing your never going to find is a honest statement that reads, "You will be safe if you use/don't use this product/chemical/food/car/hand cream/ad nausium"...
I've read a lot of crap about nicotine. I've smoked for almost 30 years. I work in a hospital that specializes in substance abuse. I've been a nurse for 25 years. I know a gazillion doctors, pharmacists, counselors, lab technicians, respiratory therapists, and patients. Every person, EXCLUDING THE DOCTORS, that I talk to has a very different opinion about smoking and vaping. Every one of those opinions are based not only on their professional experience, but also on their personal experience. However, every one of the doctors I speak to about the e-cig has just one question. "Does that silly little thing keep you from smoking cigarettes? If yes, then use it, because tobacco is KILLING you!"
When I ask a physician about nicotine, they ALL say the EXACT SAME THING!!!!!!!!!!!!! nicotine doesn't kill.
In your comment, Hardwired, you wrote, "Is my addiction to nicotine, and the process of delivering it to my bloodstream by vapor inhalation, any less harmful to my neurological state? Unfortunately, no one can say with any real certainty. No long term data has been collected with respect to this. The hypothesis was presented in this thread about the stimulative effect nicotine as a vasoconstrictor has on the body's arteries...which honestly scares me."
I know that you went through a very serious event when you had your stroke, and I understand how comments about vasoconstriction can sound scary. Most people, after going through things like what you went through, want to educate themselves about their illness and try to learn as much as they can. I applaud this! I respect very much your wanting to know more. It's what all health care professionals want to see. So please know that by no means do I wish to make it seem as if what you know about stroke or smoking is wrong. But the comment you wrote, that I just quoted, is what moved me to write this reply.
OK look, your not going to get a complete, healthy understanding of what vasoconstriction REALLY means to YOUR health by just googling it. One needs to really study anatomy and physiology to a pretty advanced degree in order to be able to fully contemplate how it may effect you personally. Lol, I'm not saying that your incapable of grasping it, bud. I'm just saying that it's really technically advanced crap that involves not just A&P, but pharmacology, cardiology, and a whole bunch of other ologies as well. So lets just keep things simple, OK?
You said nobody can say with certainty how this stuff will effect you. But your wrong. Your doctor can tell you. Your doctor has all the ologies down pat. He/she is a living, breathing, walking, talking google machine!! Your doctor is your go-to guy. With regards to certainty, nobody can predict the future. You could stop using nicotine today, jog 15 miles a day, eat carrots and celery exclusively for the rest of your life and still drop dead of a heart attack 10 years from now. The next time your at work, ask everyone if milk is good for you or bad for you. I'll bet you don't get a clear answer. Hell, I grew up before the invention of bottled water. Does that mean my life span has been shortened? Am I supposed to think that tap water can hurt me? My dog drinks from the toilet, and he seems OK.
There have been COUNTLESS studies done on nicotine for years!! Science knows GOBS of crap about nicotine. Nicotine is sold over the counter in all 50 states. It can be found in a patch form, a pill form, a gum, a lozenge, inhalers(both oral and nasal), and in tobacco. Tobacco, however is the only form that has been linked to over 400,000 deaths a year. Nicotine is EXTREMELY hard to overdose on, if not impossible, as long as you use it in the manner in which it was intended to be used. If nicotine had a chance of killing you, you would need a prescription for it. Hell, Chantix has a higher chance to be more harmful than nicotine by itself. Thats why you need a doctor to prescribe it. The electronic cigarette, in the opinion of most doctors, is nothing more than another alternative form of nicotine replacement therapy. It's the same as the gum or the patch. If your doctor has suggested to you that you should use a NRT, then your doctor should have no problem with you using an e-cig. But don't take my word for it. Ask your doctor. Get on the phone right now and call his clinic. Tell the lady that you have a question for the doctor and that you want him to call you back. He'll call ya.
I have some other posts that you might like to read about nicotine. Just click on my profile and check out some of the topics I've posted about it. We're all here to help in any way we can. You really have found a great place to connect with other vapers.....
In the weeks to come your gonna start to feel great. As far as your fear of vasoconstriction goes, I'll leave you with this. The 400 nasty chemicals found in tobacco has wreaked havoc on your cardiovascular system. Nothing even comes close to harming you in the way that smoking has. As I'm sure your aware, stroke can happen for many different reasons, including hereditary reasons, so why YOU had a stroke, only your doctor can tell you. But probably the one best thing that YOU can personally do to lesson the chance of it happening again is to stop using tobacco. If that silly little thing keeps you from smoking analogs, then us it, cause damn......
Simple, huh?
Hey Speakeasy - appreciate the words of wisdom & advice..thx. I feel a certain kindredness after reading a lot of people's posts here. As for my doctor...he prescribed Chantix. Didn't work for me. The aspect of vaping was never mentioned as an alternative. I visit him once every 3 months for blood times and a check-up. I honestly never thought to call him before I made the decision to start vaping (lack of foresight, for sure). I certainly wasn't trying to sound like an expert or even a pundit on the subject. And I'm not trying to rain on the parade here, either. I was just laying it out there...my situation and concerns...seeing what others opinions were. Thx again for sharing yours
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...had to bump this, thanks to FTJoe for posting the link to this thread.
Reading this was like tapping into a discussion I believe all newbies to vaping should be a part of. I had a mini-stroke 3 years ago at the age of 38. Lost my swallowing function for a few days and mobility for a few weeks. Made a 99% recovery since then. I was hospitalized and in-patient PT for a week and unable to smoke but went back to the damn things after being released. I've since been on a warfarin (blood thinner) & aspirin regimen, daily. The right ventricle leading to my brain is abnormally narrow and had clotted to the point of stroke. My stroke was mild in comparison to other types, but still serious. The concept of quitting smoking was presented to me by my doctors, not as an option, but a necessity in order to avoid further damage. Yet, I continued to smoke. Chantix was prescribed. I still smoked. The patch, gum...yadda. Couldn't stay away from cigarettes. It took a psychological toll. How weak in spirit am I? How selfish to continue to harm myself while helping my wife to raise 2 small kids, etc.
Vaping has helped me quit. Haven't touched an analog in 4 days and can't see myself ever again. But the question for me and my health remains. Is my addiction to nicotine, and the process of delivering it to my bloodstream by vapor inhalation, any less harmful to my neurological state? Unfortunately, no one can say with any real certainty. No long term data has been collected with respect to this. The hypothesis was presented in this thread about the stimulative effect nicotine as a vasoconstrictor has on the body's arteries...which honestly scares me. I've been getting headaches after vaping...even using vg juice. I've been vaping more than I smoked, which is common, I'm told...but I'm concerned about the level of nicotine I'm taking in.
Again, great discussion here...felt compelled to add to it. For what it's worth
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...GREAT advice, thx, man!!
I, too, am planning on reducing the nic level, while vaping more than I ever smoked. That's what everyone told me would happen before I started anyway, that I'd vape way more than I used to smoke. I work from home, so the pass through will be my main battery supply. I'm hoping it gives me more vapor production (should right?). So much to learn and have fun experimenting with...but no analogs in 4 days! This has succeeded where all other methods failed.
So happy to have found this site
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Everyone talks about the learning curve. While the goal is no cigs, I always say don't let yourself get frustrated so much you stop trying, grab a cancer stick if you need to while you experiment. No failure in that, only failure is giving up trying, but it should be as painless as possible making the switch. IMHO
Why would you want to go low nic menthol? Sounds like bumping to 24 started doing the trick!!
I need to cut my nicotine intake down, due to some medical issues...so trying to find a good balance of satisfying the oral thing while weening my nic dosage.
On a side note...I still managed to put the wrong end in my mouth a couple times (that's what she said) and looked for a lighter w/o thinking on occasion
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Awesome comments, thx! I'm finding that when experimenting today...I'm getting the most nicotine satisfaction and throat hit by direct dripping the menthol/24mg. I was juicing the cart fiber with 18mg tobacco flavor and 11mg VG liquid...but not getting the right combo of vapor/flavor & nicotine. I'll test the tea bag method next and order some low nic menthol PG juice in hopes that it will satisfy. I realize this is a "process", lol. Really appreciate the help, again
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Honestly, I've used the search box but can't seem to find the answers I need w/o going through tons of threads. This has probably been covered many times but I need the knowledge
When do you know it's time to replace your cart (I use a Joye 510)? I was direct dripping but went back to soaking the fiber in the cart. Just got some VG juice from Johnson Creek...very mild on flavor (mercado & wisconsin frost) and not a great throat hit, so I'll probably stick to PG. I'm finding that I usually need to re-wet the cart fiber after 2 thorough draws. Sound about right? Also, been getting a lot of the juice on my hands and table surface when removing and replacing the cart. I have paper towels handy & have been washing my hands more often but can anyone tell me of dangers when skin is exposed to the liquid?
Thx again
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Really appreciate the feedback! I'm kind of an impatient person by nature, so I have a tendency to look past the basics at times. I'm slowly shifting away from "analog" thinking with this...understanding that there's maintenance involved compared to just lighting up and butting it in an ash tray
Thx again! -
thx guys! Ok, ok...so maybe I didn't read up on everything, haha. Vaping with this for almost a week...haven't cleaned the atty once. I'm doing that now. Saw the vid on using the funnel mod & it did seem more convenient that having to remove the cart each time to drip...but I suppose I am putting the cart before the horse
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I've read a ton of stuff here and watched a lot of vids on the subject...but I still am not sure if I'm correctly vaping. I have the Joye 510 & I've started direct dripping w/o a cart...using the funnel method (rubberized pen grip & metal point nib in place of a cart). Should I still be using the cart fiber batting to soak the juice?
The 510 leaks like a bastard...even after 3 drops. I'm also starting to get a acrid burning taste on occasional hits...even after new juice is dripped in. The learning curve is kicking my ***
thx!
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thx guys...only have the 24mg till the Red Oak stuff arrives in a couple days... I'll try and cut back until then. I'll add a post about the VG juice, as well.
scott
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I'm a newbie...started vaping last thursday - today has been my first full day w/o an analog. I didn't care for the Marlboro juice and generic tobacco carts which came with my 510. Got a hold of some menthol, coffee & a few other flaves in 24mg. Love the flavor of the coffee, mixed with menthol (sounds weird but tasty to me) however, I've been getting massive headaches after about 2 rounds of direct dripping. I was a Marlboro Light smoker (pack a day)...are the headaches maybe brought on by the strength of the 24mg liquid? I've read about folks also having issues with PG juice, as well. I just ordered the Red Oak VG juice from Johnson Creek in the 11mg to sample. I figured it may be easier to vape that stuff with more regularity.
Just wondering if anyone has had similar experiences to share.
Thanks in advance!
scott
How Much Juice Do You Use On Average?
in General Vaping Discussion
Posted
very cool, thx everyone! Are there some ejuices that are famous for awesome flavor? I'd really like to try a good nuttyish tobacco, or as close as it gets.gif)