When the e-cig brought tears to my eyes

[cass]

I'm glad you are finding such a difference, I know it made a huge difference to my breathing. I may not been up your smoking levels pack and a half a day was my poison (although they were strong) and I've managed to cut the out altogether.

I was surprised how easy I found to eliminate cigs completely. When I moved to using a 36mg liquid, they just faded away.

Good luck to you

My shipment came today with the high juice. I think it's 18??? Even though I smoke a ton, I worry that too high would be too much. And frankly, after reading on this forum, I realize I don't know as much about cigs as I thought, so I may be off.
I've been puffing the high tonight and it's good. No weird OD side affects. I'm still scared of the 36 and will try this for a while. I gotta tell you, this whole e-cig thing has caught even me off guard. It's happened so fast. I usually have all these pre planned attacks, but here I am without scheduling my smoking...and have cut down so much. Yesterday, I thought I must be smoking too much because it seems too easy to not smoke, but then I realized, that's the beauty of the e-cig. It eliminates so much of the struggling. I just didn't care as much about how much I wasn't smoking. So it's easier to not smoke. Don't know how else to explain it.

[cass]

Good for you!! I know you don't want to say it was the ecigs, but we all know how hard it would be to cut down without em From what I've been reading, it sounds like a good idea to have the backup atomisers and such, to keep the vaping going strong.

And yes, I'm sure that your story can help encourage many newcomers. Maybe you can be the poster child for ecigarettes!

I think I am back up atomizer prepared. My brain must know what's a-comin'
Lady next door is having an estate sale and my husband was telling me about these big beautiful ashtrays she's selling and without thinking I say, "But I don't smoke."
Of course, we both know I still am, but it just came out. He looked so confused and said. "You're really doing this, aren't you?"
Yep.
He just started laughing and reminded me that I AM the cigarette poster child and all the great speeches I gave in my defense. They still stand, I told him. I absolutely have the right to smoke. I just don't want to anymore.
Night-time is the hardest (does anyone find that to be true???) All day, I vape away. And now...at night, I keep reaching for the ashtray. Habit. Habit. Habit.

[cass]

Yes its bloody brilliant isn't it? I have mild asthma so when I used to smoke I always had much less lung capcity and sometimes I struglled to breath at all. Now my lungs are so clear its amazing. Keep that feeling in mind as an extra incentive to get off the normal cigs forever. Well done you. Good luck.

That's what I keep reminding myself. Fresh air! That was such a great moment. I'm really hoping to blow the doc away at the next appointment. A bit ago, I realized that I only have one pack left in my carton. I cannot remember a time that I had less than three packs and wasn't running out for my next three cartons. As you all know, the smoker's motto is "be prepared!" Do we have water? No! Food? No? Well, what do you have, soldier? I have a spare pack in the glove box, sir! Half pack in my front pocket, sir! Full pack in my bra, sir! And flint and knowledge to build a fire, sir! And, what, soldier will you do if you break down in the middle of nowhere, soldier? I will smoke until someone realizes I am missing, sir! And what of food, soldier, and water? I will eat the cigarette's, sir, and swallow my spit! Good man!

So, anyway, I thought about that LAST pack all day today and heard myself say (yes, I talk to myself!), "That's the last one, you know?"
"Yep, I know."
"Tomorrow night you'll wish you'd bought just one more pack."
"Yep."
"But you're not going to."
"Nope. I'll live. I have the nicotine. Everything else is in my head. Besides, I really want a groovy non-smoking ticker at the end of my cig line."
"That is incentive, isn't it."
"Oh, yeah..."
Or something like that.

But, then....when I went in the cupboard, I JUST NOW found ANOTHER single pack of cigarettes. D*mn it!
I really just can't wait to use the term "I used to be--"
I'm bartering between smoking 'em up quick and getting it over with or making them last as long as possible.
Probably, I won't have a plan...will just do what I've been doing...then they'll be gone. And while I haven't made a direct decision to do so, I just don't have that familiar panick to by more. It's like I'm just "okay" with it.

Thanks for the encouragement! I'll let you know how it goes.

If no one hears from me after tomorrow, there's a good chance I panicked and chewed off my own limbs in psychological withdrawal

[cass]

Cass, I am so pleased for you I started e-smoking in June and have gradually cut down on real cigs. I know some people are just able to switch immediately, but the process for everyone is different. I never really intended to give up, but today is my fourth day without any cigarettes at all, and I am really pleased with myself I like you always absolutely loved my cigarettes but now they just don't seem as interesting (don't know if that is the right word) as before. Congratulations on your achievement so far and I wish you continued success, and happy vaping!!

That's exactly the right word. Interesting. I never thought I'd see the day. But there's this recent "who cares" attitude. Hubby and I went out the other night and normally I would have taken 2 full packs. I just didn't care though. Grabbed a half empty one off the table and stuffed them in my pocket. Uninteresting is exactly the right word. It's like smoking just isn't as significant as it once was. It's a beautiful thing!

[cass]

i know the people who like to control our lives dont like them be called this.. but they are this and i dont mind saying so.. they are an extremely effective nicotine replacement device..

Trog, I guess being new to all of this, I don't see what the big deal is about calling it nicotine replacement. That's exactly what I'd consider it. Granted it's not marketed that way, but what else do you call a device that gives you nicotine that replaces another form of nicotine???
I understand that there must be a mighty nicotine replacement dome somewhere where non-smokers test smokers and bless off on such things, but why do they get the power?
If thousands of heroine addicts discovered that eating pickles at exactly 3am eliminated their urge to shoot up during the day, would we really have to wait for the "dome people" to give it the okay? Sorry, but if I were a hypo, I'd jump ahead and listen to the pickle people. I'll do what I have to do for me. We don't need someone to give the ok to tell us something works. We're living it.
I'll be the first to say, I know nothing of such things. But as far as I'm concerned e-cigs are another form of NRT. It's probably best if we spend millions and millions doing tests that the smoking public can already attest to though.

[cass]

Experiment with flavors and strengths and types of devices. This is the single best way to get off tobacco cigarettes, and all tests so far show we're not harming ourselves with inhalations of vapor. Set new goals for yourself. Listen to your body, and respond to its messages. Breathe better with fewer cigs? Then smoke fewer cigs. Hope you make it all the way. I'm not a totally happy ex-smoker, but have been off real cigs for 15 months now and know that returning to them would be tantamount to pulling the trigger of a gun to my head.

TropicalBob, you have the tone of a dear friend of mine who has such a way with words. You are so right and I appreciate your post.
Today (woohoo) I got my first three flavors. I was suprised. They're pretty dang good! I was playing a video game with my son and he said he could smell something TOO sweet in his room. I tried to convince him that it was the smell of a mother's love Since he's fifteen and in this weird wrestling mode, I had to headlock him and force him to agree (he won).
Seriously, though, I was surprised that the flavors gave such an aroma. Too sweet for him, so I'll have to stick with tobacco when I'm kicking his butt at Mortal Combat (i wish). But I think the flaves will work well at work. They give a nice subtle variety. Tried a different strength too.
Part of the appeal with e-cigs is that they are "busy work." I don't know about anyone else, but it helps me to have something to be obsessed with. Charging batteries. Topping up. Cleaning atomizers. Setting up my work pack for the next day. All of these things, for me, are good distractions.
It's going unexpectedly well!

[cass]

I think a major part of my addiction, beyond the nicotine, is the process/ritual itself...

Yeah, that's huge for me. It's embarrassing to admit that my arm itself has a habit of its own. I don't even think about it and it reaches out. That amongst many has to be broken (the habit, not the arm).

[cass]

...especially of a morning when I'd stupidly light a smoke to stop myself coughing! Like some of the other guys have mentioned, my morning cough went away straight away and within a week or so once I'd gotten rid of all the tar rubbish felt a million times better.

Isn't that the weirdest thing, the way we take a drag to stop coughing??? Seems like such and oxymoron. I have a feeling that this is my last couple of smoke days. I'm worried that I'll stop doing as much...as I wait the negative out. But I really do have a ton of pos people around me (you all included) so I also don't feel worried. I'm basing possible future feeling on past experience, which is insane.
I'm excited to get there (think it will be tomorrow night (the real cigs will be gone) and Wednesday.
I, too, want to feel a million times better! It's TOO exciting!

[cass]

That was a lovely story, you've cut down alot WELL DONE!!! When I quit I found I could do much more exerciese and no more wheezy chest in the morning!

Funny you bring up exercise. I've been eyeballing my treadmill. I want to jump on it and see if I notice a difference.

Now I have to convince my sister, brother and friend Matt take up the ecig but they think its stupid.

I have only two people unwilling to give it a shot. My husband FINALLY took a real vape tonight. He coughed too much afterward and grimaced. Says he'd prefer going cold turkey. I guess he doesn't realize how painful it is for ME when he quits that way. My closest friend won't try a single vape either. Says she's scared of it. She tried the whole, "At least I know what I'm smoking in a cigarette," to which I answered, "Really? Tell me all the ingredients."
I understand the fear of the unknown. I guess, for me, my fear of the KNOWN is bigger.
I'm personally so grateful for the e-cig and this community!

[jules]

Hi Cass,
I'm so happy for you.Your story brought a lump to my throat.Tobacco smoking is horrid,I've tried to stop many,many times.I've managed to quit for 5 months using nrt lozenges.Tried hypnosis,patches,gum,cold turkey,you name it,I've tried it.
I've smoked 20 a day for 34 years,roll ups for the last 10 or so years.I started e-smoking 5 days ago and have not smoked a single fag since.This is by far the easiest method I've ever tried,and if I get past 5 months it will be my record.
You are doing fantastically well in your quit,and from the amount you were smoking,if you can do it then anyone can.
Keep us posted.
julie