Another Newbie

[MisterSpaghetti]

Unlike most people who graduate to snus from cigarettes in order to either become more healthy or quit smoking, I have actually been smoke free for almost two and a half years. I quit on my own, cold turkey. Unfortunately, quitting caused some really unhappy side effects for me.

First, I gained about 30 lbs over the past two and a half years. My diet and exercise regimen hasn't changed all that much (so it would seem) but I would guess that my oral fixation has definitely aided the expansion of my midsection.

Second, when I quit, I began having "memory quirks" that continue today. I'm not as sharp as I was when I was a smoker. Also, my concentration has dulled. Getting projects done is always a task.

Third, I'm more high strung than I ever was.

I know it's stupid to go back to nicotine after I quit successfully but I wanted to see if introducing nicotine back into my bloodstream would help with what I mentioned above. I picked up Camel Snus today and tried it. I don't really feel the nicotine in my system at all like I did with cigarettes. Is that normal? Has anyone else gone back to nicotine after quitting smoking?

If I end up liking snus, the next obstacle would be to tell the wife, would would seriously hurt me if she knew I was picking up the habit.

[sagedil]

Welcome to Snuson MisterSpaghetti

I have a little question for you. Any chance you have ADD of ADHD??

Reason I ask is that is the reason why I do snus is because I have ADHD. Do a quick google search on ADHD and nicotine, and you will find all the studies done this past 7 years that now prove that nicotine is about as affective as Rittalin in treating ADHD.

Your mention of memory quirks makes me ask. I had to quit snus about 15 months ago when i was dating a woman with a herat condition. OMG, I was made completely ineffective without my nicotine. And as am old meth head from 20m years ago, I won't treat my ADHD with amphetamines. Snus allows me to get the nicotine I need without killing myself. really, the same reason you are coming to snus I suspect.

[MisterSpaghetti]

I have a little question for you. Any chance you have ADD of ADHD??

An excellent question and right on the mark. I have not been diagnosed with ADD, but I have always suspected I have it. What you said makes perfect sense.

[sagedil]

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/...ntid=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/


Much more out there on the subject.

But getting back to your first post, I think snus makes MUCH sense for you. It has been studies in Sweden for 30 years, and about the only health implications found is it will double your chances for pancreatic cancer. from about 4 per 100,000 to 8 per 100,000. I will take those odds to get what nicotine does for me.

[MisterSpaghetti]

Thanks for all the info, sagedil!

[sagedil]

What I do here. :wink:

[chossy]

Hi Mr. Spaghetti

Welcome to the forum

[covetousjew]

a very trusted source has told me that two-three portions of level will fix every thing 8)

[beja]

Welcome to SnusOn MisterSpaghetti!

I have never been a cigarette smoker but did enjoy the occasional cigar. I found a wonderful sense of calm and it really slowed down my thoughts. While I've never been officially diagnosed, I have ADHD type tendencies and nicotene slows down my thoughts, calms me and generally keeps me on an even level.

Unfortunately, I can't smoke a whole cigar while at work and set out to find a nicotene delivery method that was safer and more convenient than cigar smoking so that I could do it at work. Dip wasn't really an option as it would be frowned upon in business meetings where I generally need the nicotene effects most.

I read about snus and ordered a few tins to try it out. I was immediately hooked and can't imagine not using it. Like Sage has said before me, it's basically a medication. The effects of snus have been more than I could have imagined. As a bonus, it seems to help with my motion sickness issues (when using snus I can actually read in the car which I have never done in my life), and I am sleeping better than I have in years!

I hope you have a blast trying out new flavors and brands and hanging out here with us.

[CoderGuy]

Hello fellow snusers! I too am a noob. I smoked 2 packs per day for 26 years. In April I discovered electronic cigarettes and completely stopped cigarettes the day I started e-cigs. E-cigs however were not completely satisfying, not to mention a very expensive habit (quality control on the parts is very bad, very high failure rate, shipping, new styles, etc.)

Anyway, there are several snusers on that forum and through them I discovered Camel SNUS. While it was "acceptable" (especially in the morning) I wanted to try real snus. Luckily here in Seattle there are several places selling General. I have gotten hooked on the General Wintergreen White Portion and will get a delivery today from Northerner of a variety of new flavors.

At this point I almost don't even touch my e-cig as snus is so much more satisfying to me. I LOVE snus. I wish I would have known about it years ago!

I always seem to start these things too late, now we have the PACT Act in the works that could stop shipments from outside the US. General has a plant here, hopefully some of the others will open some plants here as well. While I don't relish the idea of paying more (I bought General locally for 7 bucks per can, on Northerner for 3), I will pay more if I need to. I will never go back to regular cigarettes.

CoderGuy

[sagedil]

Welcome to Snuson CoderGuy

[MisterSpaghetti]

It's been a week, and here's my update:

I dove in head first and placed an order with getsnus last week. I was using Camel, but wanted to try real, Swedish snus. I ordered the mixed white portion sampler (General, Skruf, Ettan, Grovsnus, Roda Lacket, Goteborgs No. 2) and got a can of Goteborgs Rape as my Mystery Can.

First, let me say that I was apprehensive about ordering from getsnus after the product I placed into my basket was supposed to be in stock, but was backordered after ordering. To my surprise, the product was back in stock the following day and the day after that I had my snus. Very impressed with getsnus so far.

Coming from using Camel for a few days, the taste was not at all what I expected. The pouches are larger than the smaller Camel pouches and I found that placement in the upper lip was key to not ingesting too much juice. For me, it's been more difficult to use it discreetly and it takes a while to work the pouch to find the optimum placement. Once I figured that out, I put the Camel away and tried my entire order over the next few days. Roda Lacket is definitely my favorite, followed by Goteborg's No 2. I didn't like Ettan at all, but I noticed that it expires next week. Perhaps the heat and age had something to do with the way I reacted to it. It seemed stronger than the rest.

The effects on me were almost immediate. My concentration has definitely improved. Not only that, I find I'm more mellow at work and home and I'm not so easily frustrated. Definitely stark results.

I was so happy, I discussed it with the wife, but not before tracking down all of the medical links on snuf I could find (she's a worry wart and begged me for years to quit smoking). She accepted it, and said that she, too, had seen a positive change in my mood since I started using snus.

This morning, I placed my next order with getsnus:

General vs. Offroad Mint/Wintergreen sampler (4 pack)
Oden's Classic Cinnamon
General 4-pack White sampler

Any suggestions on what to try next?

[lxskllr]

I don't think your Ettan went off. You probably just don't like it. Hold onto it, and keep trying every so often. Swedish snus is a big change from what most Americans are familiar with, and certainly a big difference from Camel. Tastes change, and you may grow to appreciate the Ettan.

As to what to try next. I assume you mean the new order coming in. I won't give a recommendation, because you'll be trying them all anyway ;^) As to future orders, figure out what it is you like and dislike about what you have, and a recommendation can be more finely tuned for you. Honestly, I'd give them all a shot. It's hard to say what you'll like, even based on past experience with different flavors. People have come in here saying that even though they don't like licorice, they like licorice snus. Me? I historically don't like wintergreen, and I still don't like wintergreen snus :^D I did try it though :^)

[justintempler]

MisterSpaghetti,

I'm one of those people that doesn't like Ettan. Snus doesn't really have an expiry date it's more of a best by date. As long as the snus hasn't been sitting in your car for the last six months it should be just fine for even months after the best by date if it has been stored correctly.

Just keep trying different snus until you find out what your likes and dislikes are.

[CoderGuy]

This is interesting. It seems that people either love Ettan or hate it. I have seen a variety of both types of posts. I have it coming today, so I will see which camp I fit into.

I also see the same wide ranging reviews of the Goteborgs Rape. I got Roda Lacket as it seemed to be more evenly reviewed, will see.

CoderGuy