Just tried my first e-cigarette

[Prophet 451]

And I think I may be a convert. The cig lasted less than a day (crappy cheap disposable) but it gave me a nice solid smoke flavour and a nice throat hit similar to Marlboro Reds (my preferred pre-rolled). I've now ordered myself a proper starter kit and bottles of dark tobacco flavour and cherry flavour. My SO is happy because, while not harmless, e-cigs are considerably less damaging to my health.

So I'd just like to thank all the people on DU who encouraged me to give it a try, you were so right.

[pipoman]

1. I hope you didn't exhale. ..A danger to society and all that. .

[RoccoR5955]

25. it's water vapor...

If water vapor is a danger to society, well than we are probably on the wrong planet!

[pipoman]

30. It is second hand water vapor then...you are contributing to the black mold

Problem. ...

or maybe I should have used the thingy.

[Liberal Veteran]

84. True, but when the aliens from the movie Signs land, e-cig users are going to kick ass.

"Come at me, bro! I got an e-cig and water is fatal to you aliens!" It'll be like e-cig users are superheroes blowing water vapor at those fuckers!

[pnwmom]

105. It isn't only water vapor. It's water plus whatever other ingredients, including toxins

like formaldehyde and metal particles, are in the vapor.

[pnwmom]

104. It's water vapor plus various other ingredients, some of which are toxic.

Formaldehyde and nano particles of metal have been measured in the vapor, for example.

Until the manufacturers submit safety studies to the FDA, no one can say these things are safe enough for second and third hand exposures -- although they are safer for the smokers themselves.

[Glitterati]

2. Good for you!

Stay with it, because it does work.

It takes some time and adjustment, but you'll give up cancer sticks in no time.

[think]

3. Good move. Hope it works out for you

I don't smoke but have many friends who did and have made the switch. It saves them money and in the long run will probably give them healthier longer lives.

One couple I know well use to spend $400 a month on cigs between them. They now spend about $75 on liquid refills per month for the both of them. But they do say that the ecigs are just as addicting so there is always that....

[Mariana]

4. One thing to be aware of

is that your taste may change pretty quickly, especially if you stop smoking altogether. I wouldn't recommend buying a whole bunch of liquid in the flavors you like now. In a few of weeks they might not please you anymore.

Congratulations!

[Prophet 451]

9. The place I ordered from does sample bottles cheap

So I just ordered half-a-dozen 5ml sample bottles in various flavours and I'll see which ones I like. And thank you.

[meow2u3]

5. I'd get the ones you can refill

I tried the disposable and didn't like the way I hacked. When I tried a refillable, also known as "egos" or "hookah pens" with a refillable clear tank, I was sold.

But watch out. Vaping can, and often will, easily become a hobby.

I'd go here to find out more about e-cigs. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/forum.php

[Prophet 451]

7. That's the ones I've gone for

I've ordered a starter kit with two clearomisers so I can keep a couple of flavours on teh go at a time. As for it becomign a hobby, it's can't possibly be more expensive than wargaming!

Thanks for the link!

[meow2u3]

10. I got glass tanks and a device you can charge your cell phone from, too

Here's what it looks like. It's the one on the left.


I also picked up glass clearomizers that allow you to vape flavors like orange, amaretto, cinammon, and other acidic flavors and those that contain essential oils. Those flavors can crack your plastic clearomizers.

[1StrongBlackMan]

26. What's the cost for those? eom.

[pangaia]

6. Great that you are tryting to quit smoking.

May I take the liberty of another possible solution.. acupuncture.

When I was receiving accupuncture years ago for chronic back pain, my doctor, a 70 something Chinese who was also a tai chi master, had many, many patients whom he 'cured' of the addiction to smoking.
It may not work for everyone but...

BTW, he also fixed my back...
Good luck with your efforts. And BRAVO!

[Prophet 451]

8. I'm not actually trying to quit smoking

Just shift to a slightly less damaging form.

[meow2u3]

11. You probably won't want to smoke while vaping

You might smoke far less at first, but if you're anything like me, you won't want a cigarette eventually. I've been smoke-free for four months, thanks to e-cigs.

[Prophet 451]

38. And if that happens, that's fine

I just enjoy the sensation of smoking.

[Mariana]

12. If you do switch to using only the e-cigs

then you will have quit smoking, by definition. Vapor isn't smoke, and vaping isn't smoking.

[homegirl]

22. The cost

Yesterday I spent the entire afternoon taking a dear friend to a lung specialist to get the news that she has a 2 x 2 x 3 centimeter mass on her lung, plus numerous scattered spots on the lung. She is still smoking! There is a price to pay, maybe less dangerous comforts you but never forget the price.

[Prophet 451]

39. It's a price I don't care about n/t

[Logical]

23. Why not quit? Too addicted to nicotine? nt

[Prophet 451]

40. Partly

Partly, it's the nicotine. I've been a heavy smoker for 25 years. Partly, it's because I enjoy the sensation of smoking. Partly, it's because my own doctor has pointed out that it would be a bad idea to add the stress of quitting to my already fragile mental state.

[Logical]

63. Good points. I agree that this will be much safer for you. Good luck! n-t

[PatrynXX]

13. well

less tabbaco thats for sure but alot more nicotine be easier to smoke weed

[Prophet 451]

14. Not a good idea for me

I'm severely mentally ill (MDD, GAD, visions and voices) so smoking anything that messes with my perceptions is a really bad idea.

[Half-Century Man]

20. You might want to consider asking a doctor

You might be missing out on some help. Can be printed on PDF to show your medical practitioner.

http://www.theweedblog.com/top-5-mental-conditions-treated-with-marijuana/

[Prophet 451]

41. I'm British

so medical pot is a non-starter here. Also, I never really enjoyed pot when I did smoke it years ago.

[Half-Century Man]

75. I have family members who are manic depressive.

And due to location, medical marijuana is also a no go.
A lot of good is wasted due to the stupid.

[Prophet 451]

100. Couldn't agree more

There's a lot of stupid around teh subject of pot generally. I think it should be legalised and regulated to be an adult pleasure.

[Mariana]

16. How do you figure it's more nicotine?

Most likely, if the switch is successful, Prophet 451 will gradually reduce nicotine level until it's at zero.

[Oilwellian]

44. You use far less nicotine

I find when I vape, I take two or three hits and then put it down. When you smoke a cigarette, you're smoking on average for 5-10 minutes. The math is obvious. I also think it helped me wean off of nicotine completely in just a few short months.

[MrMickeysMom]

15. Warning from a licensed respiratory therapist, if I may...

E-cigs and the whole vapor thing is certainly an alternative, but since your motivation is to do this as a result of something healthier, realize that electronic cigarettes are not regulated at all.

This concerns me, as the flavoring (not the water aerosol), when not regulated may allow your airways to be triggered by something harmful. How ridiculous that this is not regulated. You won't really know until enough exposure IF it was bad for you to begin with.

Like you said, you're looking for something less harmful. So, if you really want that, you'll just stick with the water and not the flavoring.

Also, I see where a lot of middle school kids are in to "vaping" … To that, I have to wonder what kind of a gateway this form of smoking is to the real thing that is not good for any of us.

MMM

[Ino]

31. I told my doctor I had quit smoking 3 weeks earlier...

and he said, "Congratulations! Now you just have to fight the cravings for the rest. of. your. life." I left his office, stopped at a convenience store, and bought some cigarettes. It was another 20 years before I quit again. (I do NOT have cravings any more, so he was WRONG.)

I told another doctor that if I was craving something sweet, I was having a half-cup peaches in lite syrup, and she said, "Oh canned fruits are so high in sugar. They are not really good for you." Never mind that I was choosing the peaches over half a bag of cookies. She made it sound like such a poor choice that I might as well forget it. And I did. And gained another 10 lbs.

So, you know, all these well-meaning dire warnings how a step in the right direction is not really good... all this concern that "yeah you're trying to make a healthier choice, BUT..." do you KNOW how discouraging that is to someone who is struggling to do better?

I swear, I think doctors WANT you to fail... or they just NEED to point out that no matter what a positive thing you've done, it doesn't matter because you could do better.

[Ilsa]

34. Some people can't resist the opportunity to criticize,

even indirectly. I guess they feel more superior that way.

[MrMickeysMom]

115. FFS...

If your need to infer that makes you feel superior, well there you go...

[MrMickeysMom]

35. I think docs are poorly trained in promoting health, and more trained in disease treatment...

(translation, pharmaceutic treatment, not understanding all the components of disease management).

Had you come to someone trained with those two things you mentioned, they should have known how to positively reinforce you. I do this quite often when helping those doctors assess the degree a person's lung disease.

You are right.

[Prophet 451]

43. I think that's largely true

Our doctors here (UK) are somewhat better at health promotion because it saves the NHS money but in general, it seems something that many doctors either don't deal with well or don't have expertise in.

[Prophet 451]

42. Couple of things

Firstly, I don't actually give much of a shit about my health (I am severely mentally ill if that explains it), the healthier option is to alleviate my SO's worries somewhat.

Secondly, I make sure to buy my liquid from a reputable, established supplier so I didn't have to worry about the flavourings being dodgy.

Thirdly, I'm all in favour of proper regulation. There should be age regulation to ensure that vaping is an adult pleasure for adults only, same as with cigarettes or booze. There should be some kind of standards laid down to ensure product safety (as much as a nicotine delivery system can be safe).

Finally, I seriously doubt many teens will go from vaping to full-blown smokes. From observation, the teens tend to pick flavours that don't actually taste anything like real cigarette smoke so going from vaping a bubblegum flavour (for example) to smoking a Marlboro would be like going from hard lemonade to a rough bourbon straight up. I could be wrong, of course, but we'll have to wait and see.

[Mariana]

53. Lots of people who truly enjoyed smoking

find that, once they've got used to it and have chosen a few great flavors, they like vaping more than they ever liked smoking. That's why there are so many people who continue to vape even after they're completely off the nicotine. They do it because they enjoy it.

I hope that turns out to be true for you, that you like vaping better than smoking.

[Prophet 451]

54. That might well be the case

I'm completely open to that. I'm keeping the roll-ups on stand-by for the moment but it may well happen that I use them less and less.

[fizzgig]

83. i haven't thrown out the last of mine

but they've just been hanging around in the car since last week.

[MrMickeysMom]

55. I guess we'll both have to wait and see...

I'm not in charge of your health (directly) if you don't take care of it. Others will make a good argument that by not taking care of yourself, you cost shift the the care to others who pay under the current system.

I see that candy cigarettes (which they still make) allowed the feeling of being cool to those who choked on their first real cigarette, so I'm pretty sure that vaping a bubblegum flavor will transfer the same way, but we'll have to look for that data later on.

[Prophet 451]

101. They still make those?

I'm British and candy ciggys have been banned here for years. My healthcare is covered by the NHS which I contributed to by way of tobacco taxes for years.

[MrMickeysMom]

114. Pittsburgh….

… has this old fashioned, family run store in the Strip District that sells all the old candy. When I ventured there last time, there they were!

I got them for a funny gift (which went over big, as my recipient had just quit smoking).

[Egnever]

60. An interesting observation

And one I would like to reinforce.

I have been vaping now for a year and a half. I stopped smoking real cigarettes the day I started vaping. I got lucky and hit a juice I loved right away and it was dead easy to stop.

After the first three weeks cigarettes started to smell pretty foul. Having said that on several occasions in the last year and a half i have been around friends who smoked and have more for the social aspect of smoking than any other reason bummed a cigarette from them and smoked with them. Every single time I have regretted it. Every single time. They taste horrible to me now they hurt my throat they make my heart race and generally make me feel nauseous.

I cant imagine making the leap now from vaping to smoking, more so if I had never smoked. The thought of going from the delicious caramel chocolate blend I use now with a hint of bourbon to nasty tasting smokes holds absolutely no attraction for me. I smoked for 30 years and at this point wonder how I ever enjoyed regular cigarettes.

I want to give you a little heads up if you read this. You can get very inexpensive hardware, batteries, tanks, mods etc from this site http://www.fasttech.com/category/1411/electronic-cigarettes . It sometimes takes a while to get them but if you can be patient you will save a ton of cash. I just put in an order with them a week or so ago and for $112 i am getting four different mods plus a couple of accessories.

I know the temptation at the start is to go for a tobacco flavor but in my experience none of them are really close and as your sense of taste starts to return they dont taste very good anyway. I think you have to get over the idea it has to taste like a cigarette to be satisfying but once you do Vaping can be really nice. Banana nut bread, key lime pie, pina colada and hundreds of other flavors just delicious.

Lastly there a re a ton of different options for Ecigs. In my experience right now I cant recommend highly enough the protanks. They have a replaceable coil that run a couple bucks each but they are the easiest to use with the highest performance i have found. You can certainly do better as far as performance goes but the ones that do better tend to be quite fiddly.

Best of luck with your switch. Also remember ecigs tend to dry you out so remember to drink lots of water.

[Prophet 451]

102. I'm British

Ordered mine from a company called Vape Escape and got the kind with replacable coils as well. They do cheap sampler bottles of flavours so I've ordered half-a-dozen of those along with a tobacco flavour and I'll see which ones I like.

Thanks for the good wishes.

[pnwmom]

107. Independent researchers have also measured formaldehyde, nano-particles of metal,

and other non-water ingredients in the vapor.

[PeaceNikki]

17. Did everyone in your vicinity have asthma attacks and die?

[Oilwellian]

18. Congrats!

The hubster and I are seven months smoke free thanks to vaping and we don't give cigarettes a second thought. What do you plan to do with all of the money you save?

[Prophet 451]

45. Indulge my wargaming hobby!

I play Warhammer (basically, toy soldiers that I collect and paint with very complicated rules) and vaping should free up some money to buy that Baneblade (huge tank) I've been tempted by.

[Oilwellian]

48. We've saved enough for a trip to California

and $2000 cash to spend. We were averaging $400 a month on cigarettes.

[riqster]

19. My wife hasn't had a real cig since before Christmas.

And is down to 11 mg on her fancy e-cig. Eventually she will quit entirely.

Go with the good ones: the cheapies will totally hose your throat.

[1StrongBlackMan]

28. I guess that's where I want wrong ...

I bought one of those cheaper(?) ones ... it was bigger around than a cigarette (and hard) so it didn't feel right. Then, when I puffed, I couldn't balance the "force of the draw" with the sensation ... I felt like I wasn't getting enough (though I could see the vapor as I exhaled) and coughing because I drew too hard.

I said screw it ... but I'm open to giving it another shot.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

36. I had the same issue

I wasted lots of money on smaller ecigs, and I just wasn't getting the hit that I'm used to with a cigarette. I finally got something called a Provari. It's not cheap (about $200), but it gives you a big, full hit. I haven't stopped smoking yet, but I have cut down by more than half, and I'm beginning to enjoy the ecig more than the cigarettes.

[boston bean]

56. I use a smok ego winder battery with a kanger clearomizer.

It has different voltages, so you can adjust the burn of the oil to taste you like. Never get a dry hit, lots of vape. Better than an ecig that looks like a cigarette. Battery lasts a long time. Clearomizer has a big tank, that fills from the bottom, with a coil versus a wick. These features makes it easier to use.

http://www.smoktech.com/

http://www.litecigusa.net/kanger_clearomizers_s/237.htm

The above links are just where I found what I use on the net. I don't order from there. I go to a near by e cig store.

[Mariana]

57. It takes practice, that's a fact.

Honestly, you very quickly get used to it not "feeling" the same as a cigarette. You'll find that you hold it differently than you normally hold a cigarette. There are other things.

The trick is to find a rig and liquid that you really like without going broke trying a bunch of crappy ones. The brick and mortar stores that let you try the different models and liquids before you buy are a good place to start, if there's such a place near you.

[LadyHawkAZ]

76. My current setup is a bit pricey

but it's the best I've tried so far in a reasonable price range- the iTaste VV battery and iClear30 tank.

If you're just getting started I'd recommend what boston bean just said above- one of the eGo batteries, which are fairly inexpensive, and either the Kanger Evod or ProTank, or the iClear30. Kanger tanks have a leakage problem if they're not kept filled above half, but they deliver a good hit and the ProTanks are durable little things.

A lot of vape shops now have tester bars for their flavors, poke around a few shops and test a few brands out.

Disposables are garbage, their main selling point is that they look a little like an analog smoke to people who are just starting the transition. They taste awful and as you noted, the draw always sucks.

Good luck!

[totodeinhere]

21. Instead of going through all that, why not just quite tobacco altogether?

Millions have done it. So can you.

[Logical]

24. Too hard for them I assume. n-t

[pipoman]

32. Why all the snark?

[Logical]

65. No snark, same reason I can't lose 20 pounds. Too hard to stop eating too much. n-t

[Pterodactyl]

27. As I understand it, the electronic cigarettes contain no tobacco.

So, switching to e-cigs is quitting.

[Mariana]

61. I swear some would rather see people continue to smoke

than to have them quit in a way that they can continue to enjoy the sensations of smoking. Never mind that almost everyone who switches to e-cigs gradually reduces their nicotine intake to zero. Not good enough. They want smokers to quit, but only if they're miserable while they quit.

That takes some serious hate. It's fucking sick.

[riqster]

72. You're still getting the nicotine.

But without all the other carcinogenic chemicals in the smoke. From where I sit, it's a big win to have my wife off the real cigs.

[Mariana]

73. There are people who would rather she kept on smoking

than quit using e-cigs. Fortunately, in my experience, they are few and far between. Most people understand that vaping is much better than smoking for everyone involved.

[riqster]

86. Progress is a good thing.

She'll get off nicotine eventually.

[Prophet 451]

46. Two things

1) E-cigs contain no tobacco.
2) I don't want to. I actively enjoy smoking.
3) My own doctor has told me that, with my already fragile mental state, the stress of quitting would likely add more problems.

[totodeinhere]

59. But they do contain nicotine which is the active ingredient in tobacco that causes

addition. E-cigarettes are battery-powered cartridges filled with liquid nicotine that creates an inhalable vapor when heated.

For this reason many jurisdictions such as the City of Los Angeles have moved to ban them.

[Egnever]

64. Nonsense

They do contain nicotine but there are many other ingredients in cigarettes that also cause addiction along with horrible chemicals that cause cancer.

As a vaper I noticed the difference very quickly between the nicotine addiction and the cigarette addiction. With the Cigarettes if I ran out it became a panic situation fairly quickly. I would get irritable very quickly without the cigarettes, With the vaping I sometimes go hours without even thinking about it. Add to that the fact that i have reduced the nicotine over the last year from 24mg down to 6 and I am close to removing the nicotine completely. All with 0 discomfort or irritability.

Banning them is reactionary stupidity.

Do the science, test them, regulate them accordingly but outright banning is just plain dumb.

[totodeinhere]

85. The health effects of e-cigarettes have not been adequately studied yet. Some countries, including

Australia, Canada, Israel and Mexico have banned electronic cigarettes outright. As I mentioned in another comment, several jurisdictions in this country have either banned them outright or are regulating them. Nicotine is a very strong drug with many undesirable side effects such as causing high blood pressure and increased heart rates. It also has an adverse effect on the brain and interferes with the body's efficient use of estrogen. No, getting a nicotine fix with e-cigs is not a good idea.

[Egnever]

87. "No, getting a nicotine fix with e-cigs is not a good idea".

so says someone who readily admits there is no evidence of that whatsoever.

[Mariana]

88. How come these people never throw fits

about nicotine patches and gum, which are readily available off the shelf for any adult that wants them? If it's really all about the nicotine, we'd see that, wouldn't we?

[Egnever]

89. One would think so

My only guess is they have a connection to Big tobacco? Cause vaping is a serious threat to them.

[totodeinhere]

94. Using nicotine patches and gum in consultation with a physician is one thing,

but self medicating oneself with untested e-cigs is quite another thing. And by the way, I am not "these people." I am someone who is concerned about the harmful effects of nicotine.

[beevul]

96. Kinda like medicating oneself...

Kinda like medicating oneself with untested pot, right?


Let me guess. "That's different."

[totodeinhere]

98. Actually there are plenty of studies about the health benefits of pot.

But having said that I would support laws prohibiting the use of pot in public places just as many jurisdictions are moving to have a similar policy toward e-cigs. Nowhere in my comments have I advocated making the possession of e-cigs illegal BTW.

[beevul]

120. How many on the effects of non-combusted nicotine in typical dosages?

How many on the effects of non-combusted nicotine in typical dosages?

Far too few to draw a positive conclusion from, but plenty enough to jerk our knees and restrict restrict restrict, right?

"Nowhere in my comments have I advocated making the possession of e-cigs illegal BTW."

You sure don't sound as if you oppose such things either.

What makes your position different than the "you can have it, you just can't use it anywhere" crowd of folks that you find where just about any contentious issue is concerned? The ones that won't come right out and say "ban it"...the ones that play cute with soft cuddly inoffensive terminology...you know the sort I mean.

What makes your position any different than theirs?

I grow tired of people that seek to ban possession and/or use of this thing or that thing well beyond the point of reason...simply because they don't like that action or thing, and they'll build themselves as big a case as they can to prop up their biases.

I'm not saying you're one of those sort of folks, but I'm not seeing a lot of difference really.

[Mariana]

97. What physician?

You can buy the patches and the gum (in pleasant fruit flavors!) right off the shelf with no prescription needed. You can use as many as you wish, whenever you wish. How is that not harmful and dangerous?

Also, some physicians are recommending e-cigs to their patients who smoke.

[totodeinhere]

99. Yes you can get such products OTC. But nevertheless it is always

advisable to consult a physician when using such products. OTC doesn't meant that such products should be taken with impunity without professional medical advice.

As far as physicians recommending e-cigs goes, actually the medical community has not reached a consensus over this issue by any means. However some studies have shown that e-cigs contain "benzene, toluene, heavy metals such as nickel and arsenic, and other chemicals in addition to nicotine."

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/02/24/city-council-panel-eyes-tougher-limits-on-e-cigarette-use-in-public/

[totodeinhere]

92. No, you are twisting my words. I said that e-cigs have not been adequately studied yet

but ingesting nicotine has been shown to be harmful to the body. There is no question about that. Just Google "the harmful effects of nicotine" and see how many hits you get.

The reason I brought up the fact that e-cigs have not been adequately studied yet is to raise another red flag about their use. Myself, I would not want to use anything that hasn't been studied enough yet to know if it might be harmful or not. Until we know based upon peer reviewed scientific studies of e-cigs that it is not harmful then I would not want to use them.

And after all, as a progressive I have always believed in science. It's the right wing that often rejects science. I will rely upon scientific information about e-cigs and nicotine rather than anecdotes from users.

I also find it notable that when I comment about the possible harmful effects of e-cigs I get snarky responses back. I wish we could have a civil discussion about this without all of the snark.

[Demit]

113. Ingesting nicotine is NOT always harmful to the body. Google 'beneficial effects of nicotine'

for links to reports and studies about nicotine.

A few things nicotine has been shown to have an effect on:

lower incidence of Alzheimer's
cognitive abilities
growth of new blood vessels
increase in the release of dopamine and serotonin

[totodeinhere]

116. That doesn't change the fact that there are many known harmful effects. n/t

[Demit]

121. Oh, yes? Do tell. What are the harmful effects of nicotine?

Not the harmful effects of the act of smoking, but the harmful effects of the alkaloid by itself.

While you’re looking those up, so that you may give me an informed reply, keep in mind what they say in toxicology: “The dose makes the poison." Enough of anything, delivered fast enough, is deadly. Including food or water.

[totodeinhere]

122. I already addressed that upthread. Why are you asking me to repeat myself?

And why the snarky attitude?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4710651

[Demit]

123. You already addressed that? What are you, a lecturer giving a class?

The 'snarky attitude' is me asking for facts, not assertions. Give me cites.

[ReverendDeuce]

91. LOL'ing at Democrats being swayed by big tobacco about the safety of their number one threat... n/t

n/t

[Mustellus]

29. Nicotine is the addictive substance.....

And the drug pushers are still trying to sell it.

"Healthier"? Its nicotine that releases the blast of fats from your liver. That's why you don't need to eat breakfast. They clog your arteries and lead to stroke, heart attack, and coronary thrombosis...

Did you know that Gin was invented to get the 'harmful' substances out of wine, and cure all the winos?

Same scam, different century.

I quit 13 years ago, and you can too. Your choice, but when you are ready to learn about your addiction from people with nothing to sell.. see Whyquit.com

[CFLDem]

33. Thank you for that guilt trip.

I feel much better now.

[Oilwellian]

37. Do you realize...

many of us who vape, have zero nicotine in their liquid? I was able to wean myself off of nicotine within a few short months, with no withdrawal symptoms.

[Prophet 451]

50. And in due course, I may well go the same way

It's the physical sensation of smoking that I enjoy and I suspect I could get that without the nicotine so I may well find myself tapering off the nicotine in time and just vaping cinnamon flavoured vapour.

[Oilwellian]

70. That's why I continue to vape

I enjoyed smoking but knew I was pushing my luck and heading toward lugging an oxygen tank everywhere I went if I didn't quit. I thought it was very easy to get off of the nicotine and had no withdrawal symptoms. I started at the top with 36 ml of nicotine and tapered down to the next number with each subsequent order of liquid. My last purchase a month ago was a big fat zero ml of nicotine and I don't notice any difference. Nicotine is addictive but I also think the greater addiction is the motions we go through when smoking. I can't quite give that up...yet.

[fizzgig]

79. "the greater addiction is the motions we go through"

the ritual and routine of smoking are big things for me and being able to continue with that has made getting off the cigs a lot easier than i imagine it would be otherwise.

[Mariana]

62. Don't you know that's not good enough?

You're supposed to quit, but it only counts if you suffer while you quit.

[Egnever]

66. No these folks are just on some weird crusade

I dont understand it at all.

I have done the same as you I have gone from a start of 24 down to 6 mg I could likely go to 0 tomorrow and do just fine and maybe I will. I am not in a hurry though it is quite clear to me that I can and will reach 0.

[Prophet 451]

47. Thank you for telling me things I have heard literally hundreds of times

Do you think we smokers are unaware of this stuff? That you are such a beam of light that we'll suddenly say "my Lord, he's right, I should quit smoking!"?

I don't want to quit. I enjoy smoking. I'm moving to e-cigs so that I continue to have the sensation of smoking in a somewhat safer form. If, in due course, I gradually taper off my nicotine dosage and just vape flavoured water, that's fine. But it won't be because a random person on a message board decided I needed to hear the boilerplate anti-smoking sermon.

[Tom Ripley]

51. Thanks for the information, Cotton Mather.

What is wrong with pleasure?

[Tom Ripley]

49. Great news...you'll never go back...

take it from a 30 year smoker who has been vaping exclusively for 15 months.
I don't miss the real things at all.

[Prophet 451]

52. Hopefully, I shall go the same way

I'm keeping the roll-ups around for now, just in case. But hopefully, I'll come to knock those on the head and switch to vaping exclusively.

[ZombieHorde]

58. Some of my coworkers were talking about their favorite flavors.

There are some crazy ones. I think one was cheesecake.

[Oilwellian]

67. My husband likes Pina Colada and Watermelon

Too sweet for my liking. I like a Coffee and Vanilla mix. I'll also add a touch of tobacco flavor just for the psychological aspect of it.

[Egnever]

68. There are so many different flavors it is just nuts

Theres even captain crunch crunch berry!

Just about any flavor you can think of hell theres bacon and pizza flavors as well.

[Mariana]

69. This week my favorite flavor is blueberry.

Last week it was amaretto. Next week it may be caramel coffee, or butter pecan, or cantaloupe.

[LadyHawkAZ]

77. I picked up a Cinnamon Red Hots flavor the other day

I may go back to the shop and buy out their entire stock of Cinnamon Red Hots.

[Prophet 451]

106. I ordered half-a-dozen sample bottles

As well as the tobacco flavour, I ordered half-a-dozen small samplers in various flavours and I'll see which ones I like.

[Beringia]

71. Good

[fizzgig]

74. today is day eight for me

we're using the highest level of nicotine right now and will eventually taper down, but right now i'm just getting used to the no cig thing.

i'm already noticing small changes, like not coughing up so much nasty crap in the morning and smells are getting even stronger (my sense of smell has always been strong).

vaping allows me to get the nicotine while still going through the ritual and routine of smoking. a lot of people in my life smoke and i'm able to be around them without wanting a cig. it's also something i can do inside, which is great on cruddy days like today.

ignore the haters here, there are always going to be miserable assholes looking to piss on your parade. the lounge has been wonderfully supportive of me this last week, none of the bullshit you see here.

good luck to you

[Egnever]

80. Awesome!

that sense of smell thing can be a bit daunting at times though

Some of the stuff I started smelling again I could do without.

Well done on the week without analogs. You made it this far you will never go back. It gets to the point really quickly where you wonder how you ever smoked regular cigs in the first place.

[fizzgig]

82. yeah, i could go without some of those smells

my mouth feels a lot cleaner now and i'm loving that. i get everything i need from vaping, i see no reason to turn back.

[LadyHawkAZ]

78. Give it three days of just the e-cig

and those analogs will lose their appeal real quick. I'm a lot like you, I loved my cigarettes but was getting to where I couldn't breathe. Good luck with the e-cig!

[Egnever]

81. I was the same

Loved smoking but the health issues were starting to become pretty clear.

I still love the idea of smoking cigs but now the reality of them is just god awful.

[roguevalley]

90. good luck, honey. Half my family died of cancer from cigs. I wish you well

[Throd]

93. Ignore the haters, enjoy your vapors.

[War Horse]

95. Good for you

I easily cut my consumption of analogs by 25 % once I got on e-cigs. With a bit of will power it was cut further down to 50 %. The goal is to quit, but I'm doing so gradually. Like others have said, it's a good idea to order some different flavours.

I've tried gum and Snus and other stuff in the past, but nothing has been nearly as effective as e-cigs.

To those who say that we don't know about the health effects of e-cigs yet, you are 100 % correct. But ask anyone who has made the switch from analogs to e-cigs if their health has improved. The answer will be a resounding "yes, immensely".

There will always be those who say "why don't you just quit? Are you that addicted?"
Hell yes, I'm addicted. That's why I "don't just quit".

I'm reminded of a guy from my previous gym. He stormed into the locker room and exclaimed: "I smell cigarettes! I smell cigarettes!"

I calmly said: "Well, the window is open". And sure enough, there was a small group of smokers outside...

[demtenjeep]

103. I started Wed.

it is a great alternative!

[Warpy]

108. I hope it works out well for you

A lot of people have managed to taper down and eventually quit the nicotine juice while still taking the occasional drag of flavored vapor for old time's sake with the morning coffee and on the computer. If you can't quit, it's a lot less harmful than sucking concentrated smoke into your lungs. It won't turn into brown goo on all surfaces or stink up the curtains and your clothing, either.

Just be forewarned that the smoke flavor will turn on you after the first two or three weeks when your taste buds reactivate. Just be prepared to switch to the cherry full time when it happens.

Nicotine will still do some damage to your lungs and cardiovascular system, but the damage will be far less than smoking does.

[Prophet 451]

109. I ordered a bunch of sampler bottles...

...just in case that happens. If the smoke flavour doesn't work, I have cinnamon, cherry and a bunch of other flavours on the way.

[Cha]

110. And, no nasty smoke right? I don't know that much

about them but I remember reading on here about them being smokeless and I thought that would be a big attraction.

I don't smoke but am always trying to get away from it when they're smoking their cigs upwind from me down by the Ocean.

[Prophet 451]

111. Nope, no smoke

The device delivers a mixture of nicotine, flavouring and water that we breathe in. The water vaour we breathe out again and it can be flavoured and smell of pretty much anything. I've ordered cherry, cinnamon, mint and vanilla floavours as well as tobacco flavoured.

[Cha]

112. Yummm

Glad it's better for your health.. I can see why a loved one would be stoked.

[Demo_Chris]

117. I am smoke free thanks to vaping.

[edbermac]

118. I can't wait until they come out with e-joints.

[Prophet 451]

119. You know that's coming

In fact, since hash oil has been around for years and e-cigs can be filled with pretty much anything, I wouldn't be surprised if some are already huffing vaporised cannabis oil.