Stop Smoking

I’m 36 and started smoking at age 12. I was over a pack a day for most of those years. I switched to vaping about 7 years ago. I have been going through about 1.5 - 2 pods a day (1.9ml 2.4%)… I believe this is equal to about 70+ mg of nicotine per day though my math could be off.

My lungs hurt, my heart palpitates, I can’t climb a flight of stairs without being out of breath. Sometimes I think I am about to have a heart attack yet for some reason I can’t stop puffing that vape, even in the midst of a panic attack caused by heart palpitations.

Switching from combustibles to vape was a big step for me. I was proud/happy to not smell like smoke but I didn’t realize just how much more nicotine I would end up consuming. Switching to vape was not too difficult and after a few years I could honestly say I didn’t want a regular cigarette anymore. I did however become horribly addicted to the vape.

The past few years I have given a lot of thought to quitting but I keep putting it off. It’s a sad and depressing cycle of hating myself for how much damage I am doing to my health, while constantly puffing away on the vape.

It doesn’t help that I have unlimited access to free vapes.

4 days ago I made the decision to quit and I am feeling really motivated. I took a sleeping pill to get me through the first 24 hours, which I think was a good strategy. On day 2 I bought some ‘step 2’ nicotine patches. These patches are 14mg slow release over 24 hours. Instructions say to keep the patch on overnight but I have been taking them off, and waiting as long as I can in the morning to put a new one on.

The patch reduces the severity of the cravings. The cravings still occur, but they are manageable. I have noticed that the cravings come in clusters. I’ll get a real strong craving, that lasts for about two minutes. That initial wave of fear and anxiety tapers off but then comes back 5 minutes later. This happens 4 or 5 times over the course of a half hour or so, then a few hours go by without any craving at all. Day 3 was easier than day 2, day 4 has been easier than day 3.

I am determined to see this through to the end. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I plan to go another 3 weeks or so, then switch to the 7mg patch.

It’s amazing how significant the impact has been on my lungs. I feel like I have twice the lung capacity compared with how I felt yesterday. My heartbeat is normal, my breathing is normal. It’s weird how quick and significant the changes have been. I really like how it feels to not have a constant nicotine poisoning. This feeling is very much worth the short bursts of crippling withdrawal, and I know it will get easier.

Not sure if anyone will read this, but I’ll try to update in a week or two. I’m also happy to answer any questions.