Super Noob With Questions

[Karanya]

SheilaLynn and Karanya: Do either of you but snus in bulk, or just get a few cans at a time to just "try them"?

I buy fairly large amounts - 10 or 15 cans at a time - but I get a big variety because I'm still trying things out. My next orders will probably include some "variety pack" type boxes from Northerner and Getsnus.

I imagine I'll switch to mostly rolls once I've nailed down my favorites.

--K

[deeanne59]

I would be honored to walk down this road together with you Wiz. My main problem with cutting down to 0 mg. juice isn't necessarily the TH...that's part of it, but when my body's nicotine level drops down below a certain level...I start having problems. Nervousness, hyper, can't concentrate, irritable, shakes...all kinds of problems. The other night I was having a nicotine nightmare. Like I told Sagedil, I felt like a person dying of thirst, and could only get a sip of water at a time. It was like a horrible tease. Now, this was AFTER using an 8mg. snus, and while vaping 24mg. juice on my 510 Prodigy, alternated with 36mg. juice in my VK cartomizer!

It was like I was hungry for it and wasn't getting enough. It was so bad that I actually had an analog (boo, hiss) to calm it down. I think it took ALL of those shots of nic to finally get my level right. It was like my body was screaming for it.


Thanks Karanya... I am leaning in that dierction myself. Get some sample packs, start keeping track of the ones I like, then stock up on my favs.

[The Wiz]

Deeanne....I am a nicotine expert by no means....But your testimonial takes nicotine addiction to an all new level. I get a little jumpy in the morning when I get up....but I am able to keep the beast at bay durring the course of the day.24mg and a snus at the same time would keep me totally satisfied. I wish I had an answer on how to better curb your urges....but at least we both know that analogs are not the way to go. You may need to go more in the direction of TB with a rotation of e-cigs,snus and snuff....Hell..Shoot him a PM and see how he balances everything daily....He would certainly understand your need for nicotine!! The Wiz!

[deeanne59]

Wiz..I have been Pming him daily, and we have been communicating about it. I am going into this with alot of his recommendations. I AM trying his route of multiple methods in my routine for nicotine.

That is the first bad bout I have had with the nicotine. I think having little sleep and lot of stress contributed to it.Plus the fact that I couldn't get that new VK to work, was needing nic, and the 8mg. snus not being enough alone. The stress helped drive me to the analog(ONE ONLY), and then I also used my Prodigy to level it off. I haven't had another bout since, but it was terrible. I probably will never go through that again...but I know that I can't vape 0 nic unless I get it from snus and snuff first. If I had the money to stockpile everything (snus,snuff,Stonewalls, and e-liquid), I would be comfortable and happy, but I am making due the best way that I can. And it helps to have friends like you, Bob, Sheila, Karanya, sagedil, and so many others to help me through this.

I might be able to usr the Thunder Wintergreen and Thunder Frost, along with others and snuff, then vape 0 mg. menthol. I have been vaping menthol off and on, and it DOES have a good TH.

By the way Wiz...I don't know if you have been on ECF recently, but I wanted to pass the good news the Governator has vetoed SB400 in California...so it is PARTY time- our first win!

[sagedil]

deeanne59,

I am just curious. You have ADHD by chance???

[deeanne59]

Nope...OCD, according to the doctor.Why?

[The Wiz]

Deeanne....Good for us on that important victory!!! Stress can certainly add to your craving for nicotine. That may be a good place to begin on reduction....if you are able to get some relief from it that is! Just keep in mind that anything you do for your nic-fix is far better for you than smoking! I agree also that good friends are important to our good health!! The Wiz!

[sagedil]

Because scientists have discovered this past 10 years that nicotine is basically as effective as Ritalin in treating ADHD.

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/adhd/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100144227

In a 2004 Psychopharmacology article, Dr. Newhouse and Alexandra Potter, Ph.D., reported that the high smoking rate among adolescents and adults with ADHD could be explained by their discovery that nicotine improves aspects of their mental functioning. Potter is recruiting people for two ADHD trials — one involving nicotine and the other a drug called mecamylamine, which blocks certain nicotinic receptors.

http://www.trdrp.org/research/PageGr...?grant_id=3960

http://www.uvm.edu/~psych/news/archi...r_nicotine.pdf

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00573248

http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-medi...nicotine-next/

[deeanne59]

Yes, Wiz...good friends make all the difference in the world.

Sagedil, I have always been a nervous person. If I am sitting, I will bounce my foot, etc. The doctor only diagnosed me with OCD about 3 years ago, right after both of my parents died.

[MojoQuestor]

Because scientists have discovered this past 10 years that nicotine is basically as effective as Ritalin in treating ADHD.

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/adhd/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100144227

In a 2004 Psychopharmacology article, Dr. Newhouse and Alexandra Potter, Ph.D., reported that the high smoking rate among adolescents and adults with ADHD could be explained by their discovery that nicotine improves aspects of their mental functioning. Potter is recruiting people for two ADHD trials — one involving nicotine and the other a drug called mecamylamine, which blocks certain nicotinic receptors.

http://www.trdrp.org/research/PageGr...?grant_id=3960

http://www.uvm.edu/~psych/news/archi...r_nicotine.pdf

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00573248

http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-medi...nicotine-next/

One of my earliest snuson memories is a thread where you mention this. At the time, snuson was just one of many sites from google flybys.

Deeanne, I've not been officially diagnosed, but I have OCD too. It first manifested when I was eight, from what I can recall. I didn't know it had a name then, but I've been living with it a lotta years.

It surely varies in intensity from person to person. It's also entirely possible that, had I been born ten or fifteen years later, I would have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD in school.

I guess what I'm saying is that I agree with what Sage seems to be saying, that it's a real need for some people. It helps, or at least addresses, something. What you say about the body crying out for something--I totally get that. I'm just not sure it's nicotine; I think maybe the nicotine is the best we can do.

[deeanne59]

Thank you for those words, MojoQuestor. All I know is that with my nicotine (when I was smoking)...it calmed me, it soothed me, it kept me "at peace" as it were. I didn't consider it a "bad habit" I grew up with it, my whole family used it. My mother smoked the whole time she was pregnant with me. It felt like a friend.

Now society tells you it is evil, nasty, a bad habit...so after a while, you start to belive it and start condemning yourself for being a failure. With vaping, I thought I could have my best friend, but be healthier about it. But, as SheilaLynn said in a previous post, they found out the nicotine in our e-liquids is WAY lower in absorption that a cigarette. So, I haven't been getting my "required" dose of nic. I have been vaping for a little over 3 months- and I think the deficit built up and finally blew the other night.

That is one of the reasons I couldn't quit smoking before. So, I am trying to do the only thing I know to do...try to build it up with tobacco alternatives to keep the level going. If that includes doing it all (vaping, snus, snuff, Stonewalls, etc), then I will have to do it.

[sagedil]

The reason I mentioned the ADHD is that IS the reason I use nicotine. I was a speed addict 20 years ago. If you gave me Ritalin today for my ADHD, I would be abusing it with 48 hours. I simply can't take amphetamines.

I quit snus about 2 years ago when I was dating a woman with a hear condition. I went about 5 weeks without nicotine, and I was utterly useless. My work suffered VERY badly. My head was fuzzy, I couldn't concentrate. HAd nothing to do with withdrawals, I do those fine, have a hard/bad 3 days, and then am largely OK. It was specifically the absence of nicotine to control and soothe my head.

That all lifted within minutes of my GF breaking up with me, and me running home to get snus. Was almost frightening how literally it felt as if a curtain was suddenly being lifted up again.

So I will always use nicotine, too necessary for me. So my next choice is how to use nicotine in as healthy as way possible, and snus is that answer. It also is just a much better nicotine delivery system.

I promise, the snus will win out. And soon, you will be giggling uncontrollably when you realize how lucky you were to dind snus and us. Just give it time. You know what you need to try next, trust us when we say it will work for you. I have been here now 2 years, I have seen so many going through similar to you. Snus works in the end.

[deeanne59]

I will trust you sagedil, and everyone here...but I will hold your hand quite a bit. This is new to me, and along with the newness now comes the fear that it will fail like the vaping alone did. Plus the fear of sickness and uncharted territory for me. This is something now that has to be put into my internal "programming", my "routine" that is foreign.

As I said before to the Wiz, it is nice to have friends like him, you, SheilaLynn, and everyone else here...to help me through this.

[MojoQuestor]

I will trust you sagedil, and everyone here...but I will hold your hand quite a bit. This is new to me, and along with the newness now comes the fear that it will fail like the vaping alone did. Plus the fear of sickness and uncharted territory for me. This is something now that has to be put into my internal "programming", my "routine" that is foreign.

As I said before to the Wiz, it is nice to have friends like him, you, SheilaLynn, and everyone else here...to help me through this.

It's very strange to sit here and actually not *want* a cigarette. I haven't "officially" quit, I guess I could smoke one if I wanted one. But I'd just sit there wishing for a snus. Plus my lungs would hurt, and my room would stink, and I'd hate me. 24 years of smoking, mostly about two packs of Marlboros every day, and I haven't had a cig all month. Haven't had more than four in a day since the middle of August or so.

The snus is really doing it. It isn't the stuff I do instead of cigarettes. It's the stuff I do. I like snus. Hell, I love snus.

I did buy some snuff to mess around with, but I've decided to mostly leave that alone. The snus is sufficient.

[deeanne59]

i can understand that Mojo...mine isn't "wanting a cigarette" per se, it is needing the nicotine. I just knew that the cigarette is what gave it to me for 32+ years. As I said, my whole family did. My great-grandfather used plug chewing tobacco, my great-grandmother dipped snuff, all of my aunts and uncles smoked, both sets of grandparents smoked, and my parents smoked. that is all I have ever known. Even my great-great grandparents...who came from Ireland, used tobacco (my great-great grandmother smoked a Meirshamm pipe)!

I have been told(not by professionals) that my problem is probably genetic, since it has been in my family so long. I don't know if that is true, but I know I am like sagedil....I HAVE TO HAVE nicotine in some form or fashion. Cutting off cold turkey is out of the question. With your and sagedils' help, and all the rest of my friends...I will find my way, my comfort, I will again be able to be at peace with myself and my friend- and not feel bad about it.