Hi everyone, I'm also new to the forum, and I also quit smoking after 20 years and had a horrible time. However, my reasons were as much professional as personal. I have a PhD in dentistry, worked for a time in Manchester's' (UK) Institute for population health, and now lecture in Ireland in health policy. I hated the idea that I would be in my mid thirties and still would not have kicked the habit, as my colleagues wondered why an earth I would do such a thing to my own body, when advising other people to stop.
We tell patients everyday that they should give up smoking. It is seen as a kind of personal deficiency. The person who smokes is weak, stuck to an addiction and does not have the personal capabilities to wake up to their own misfortune. So I decided to quit, not wanting to be part of that 'out crowd' anymore, as my own health deteriorated.
It was not fun, and I thought the e-cig was a great idea, and I still think it is. But as the poster suggests, it is not an easy ride - with or without e-cigs. I had panic attacks, anxiety, dizziness, constant flushes and even a mild seizure. My own dive towards 18mg juice was most definitely the wrong move! Because there is so little evidence out there, nobody really knows exactly how sensitive people are to PG - the doses are high in vaping compared to other medical uses, how people will react to the flavouring chemicals, or how smoking levels should equate to vaping levels. For example, I smoked 20-30 a day, and 18mg juice made me quite ill.
The key is finding what is right for you and I would suggest starting with a low nic - probably 3 or 6mg, and at least a 50/50 mix to test your tolerance to how new chemicals will react with your body. When quitting tobacco you are removing over 1000 chemicals from your bloodstream and your body will react. It would be lovely to reach for a high nic vape pen to ease the cravings and other side effects, but that is a false economy. You will inevitably experience side effects from quitting smoking, and while vaping is clearly (in my view) the most effective NSA out there, there is the temptation to dive in too quickly and too fast.
Start low (nic level) and be patient. When quitting, your body is trying to adapt to a whole new regime of chemical balance - thousands are slowly leaving the system, and vaping introduces some new ones. Vaping is not a cure, it is a very effective alternative and I believe it is extremely helpful, but only when taken in measure. Don't start trying to blow clouds when you first start, approach it like you would any other lifestyle alternative. Watch, observe and try and use your best judgement and not let your cravings get the better of you.
I hope this has helped. After 4 months I now have found my balance with a couple of mods that I vape happily on at 3mg or 6mg levels. Good luck!
Here are a couple of studies that may be useful
http://www.oralhealthgroup.com/feat...nic-cigarettes-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
Nick