Early e-cig experiences

[sosjander]

Greetings Everyone

Back in early November, I mentioned that I would be ordering a couple of e-cig starter packs, along with spare batteries, atomizers, loads of cartridges and stuff like liquid, and that I'd be back to report on my findings as soon as possible. Well, last month turned out to be really busy but, that's all over now, and I'm finally here at last to tell you my story....

I purchased two e-cigs; one "super" (RN4081) and one "mini" (DES901) and when they arrived naturally the first thing to do was to charge-up the batteries. This I did (the longest 8 hour wait ever), and I put my 5 sealed packs of analogs (100 ciggies) away in a cupboard.

I loaded-up both the "super" and the "mini" with tobacco flavour 18mg carts and started to vape, first with the "super". Not much vapour I'm afraid but once the atomizer warmed-up a little, things improved hugely. It was much the same with the "mini". So I spent the whole day (Mon Nov 3) vaping away and not going anywhere near the cupboard where the analogs were. Incidentally, my "normal" smoking habit was around 20 ciggies a day of which half were consumed in the first four hours and then tailing-off so that by evening it was pretty much down to one every 1½ hours or so. To say that I was a "morning smoker" is an understatement.

I found that the so-called tobacco flavour carts tasted more like prune flavoured bubblegum (if there is such a thing). Anyway, next day I decided to give the other flavours a try. First up was menthol (which I found to be a bit bland). Then came Strawberry (which tasted more like strawberries and cream) and finally Vanilla (yes, I liked that one). By that evening I was beginning to miss the taste of a real ciggy and, remember, I still had 5 packs of the things tucked-up in the cupboard. I thought I'd have one, just the one, just to see what it tasted like. You know, I swear I could hear them saying "let me out, let me out" from within. I didn't even know that ciggies could speak English.

So I had one and I felt three emotions; "Relief" (the real taste of a ciggy), "Disgust" (the foul smell) and "Guilt" (you fool, you nearly went two whole days without an analog). Big mistake.

I also quickly realized that you could not dangle a ½oz (around 15g) e-cig in your month that easily although I must say at the time of writing I've nearly perfected the art.

To cut a long story short, by mid-November was I not only back up to 20 a day but I was also vaping in between smoking the analogs. Now, tell me, just how dumb is that?

So, I did a deal with myself. Cut right down to one analog an hour and vape away when necessary, and then go to two hours, then three etc etc. You now what? It worked - or should I say - It's working. Nowadays, I'm now on no more than five a day, but usually it's nearer three or four and I must confess to allowing myself that first one of the day with a nice cup of tea. In time, I'll hopefully give up completely but let's get the Christmas and New Year celebrations out of the way first and try after that (Yeah, I know, a lame excuse but, ho-hum)......

So, to summarize, here's a short list of what I believe are the Pros and Cons (Vape over Smoke).

PROS
1. You can vape anywhere in the house, even in bed watching TV. No nasty smells and certainly no fire risk.
2. The nasties that are hidden inside a real ciggy. I'm highly suspicious of what the exact ingredients are in the tobacco, the paper, the filter etc etc.
3. This one will fully apply to me once I give up completely. No more walking halfway down the street after leaving home and suddenly thinking "Did I stub that ciggy out properly?"
4. No more smelly rooms, clothes and ashtrays.
5. Vaping is so much more cheaper. No more queing-up at the kiosk, as the cost of a pack continues to rise. here in the UK 20 cigs cost anything from, say, £4.80 up to towards £6 (US $7 - $9, give or take). Now, it's been a while since I last went across "the pond" but I recall ciggies being less expensive in the States and I guess they've crept up in price there too.
6. You get to try out different flavours with e-cigs. If anyone comes up with a hot chilli flavour that rips-up the back of the throat and burns the lips then they'll have a friend for life. I adore hot food (especially my own homemade hot curries)

CONS
1. If anyone thinks that they're gonna get close to the taste of their regular brand of analog ciggy with the tobacco flavoured e-cig carts then they are going to be very disappointed. It's prunes, prunes and more prunes pretty much. However, you do get used to the taste for sure.
2. Erm, there aren't any other cons.....

For the "absolute newbies" who are almost ready to place their first order I would also say the following.....

1. Buy at least two starter-kits which will each include (amongst other things), a battery, an atomizer and a charger. Also, purchase spare batteries and atomizers. It pays to have a stock of these.

2. Time your order. In other words, when you expect to receive the parcel from your chosen supplier, make sure that you don't have many analog ciggies lying around your home. Don't make the same mistake as me with those 5 packs screaming the place down.

3. Buy different flavours of carts and liquid, it's fun to experiment. As people's smoking habits differ, it's the same with vaping.

And finally...

4. Once you've started on the vaping road, carry on reading this excellent forum. The wonderful, friendly folk here are literally a goldmine of information and advice - and they've certainly helped me. Not only is it extremely informative, it's also downright humorous.

Thanks for reading, and good luck to you all.
Happy Vaping

sosjander

[RegularGuy]

SOSJANDER -
Thanks so much for posting your experience with e-smoking. I'm awaiting my first purchase and I'm very curious as to how many people still keep smoking analogs after they start vaping. As disgusting as analog smoking is, I wonder if I'm going to sometimes miss the taste and smell after I start vaping?? In reality it is disgusting, I'll admit it. But as a most (or ALL) of us were regular smokers at one time, there are times when you love the taste and smell. Like when it's been hours and hours and you are craving a cig real bad and you finally light one up - it's like a sigh of relief.

In reality it's the nicotine we crave, not the smell and nasty chemicals in the real smoke. But it seems we have to re-train our brains to separate the 2 evils when switching to vaping (Nicotine = The Great Feeling we get, not the nasty smoke) I often wonder how hard it will be to separate the association we have with analog smoke and the great feeling we get from its nicotine.

I guess I'll find out soon...

[PTJD]

I'm the same way, can't seem to break away from the analogs, I do no longer take the analogs in the car anymore so the car is smelling better. I figure I have cut down a half a pack a day, but am still drawn to Analogs while at home.

[TropicalBob]

What veteran e-smokers have learned over the year this forum has been active is that e-smoking does not replicate tobacco smoking. It just doesn't. It looks a lot like smoking, but it's a very different practice. That's one reason e-devices are called "alternatives" to cigarettes.

The vapor certainly doesn't taste like tobacco smoke. But many find they like the taste from flavored e-liquids even more. Call it an acquired taste.

And the vapor lacks a few things, we've learned, that contribute to the "satisfaction" smokers swear by with real cigs. No carbon monoxide, for instance, because no combustion is taking place. No harmine, an important chemical that prolongs the pleasurable impact of your brain's release of serotonin and dopamine. Nicotine triggers the release of those "feel good" chemicals, but with e-smoking, the pleasure does not last. As a consequence, we suck and suck and suck on e-devices, trying to recapture the good feeling that is so fleeting.

There is excitement when quitting smoking. That excitement will sustain a smoker for a few days, or perhaps weeks. But there will come a time when the allure of a tobacco cig can break anyone without the will to stay off them. Only you can decide how e-smoking will serve you: Quitting completely, cutting way down, vaping in places where smoking is not allowed.

Good luck with your ultimate decision.

[ladykara]

great post, had a giggle about the cigs talking to you... Got a 20 pack in the cupboard at the moment, by the 4th day its just a slight whimper from them now.

[sosjander]

SOSJANDER -
In reality it's the nicotine we crave, not the smell and nasty chemicals in the real smoke. But it seems we have to re-train our brains to separate the 2 evils when switching to vaping (Nicotine = The Great Feeling we get, not the nasty smoke) I often wonder how hard it will be to separate the association we have with analog smoke and the great feeling we get from its nicotine.

I guess I'll find out soon...

Hi Regular

You hit the nail right on the head. It is indeed the re-training as we move from the old to the new.

My main problem was (and I guess, still is) pulling an analog out of the packet, flicking the lighter and then - in time - stubbing out the ciggy. Going though those old routines, so to say. Now whenever I need a puff, I look at the e-cig and I look at the packet (yards away hopefully). 95% of the time the e-cig wins.

Good luck with your initial purchase and, if you can, please consider buying two starter-packs or at the very least, spare batteries.

All the best

sosjander

[Frankie]

I have an opened but almost unused 40-pack on the med cabinet in the bathroom (natural humidor). Wanted to keep it there forever, but now, afraid that they would start speaking Slovak, too, I will give the doublepack to the first beggar I meet. Nasty little rascals, who would think they can talk like that..

NOW THE BIG QUESTION if I may: Is quitting with e-cig just the same as without e, meaning that even a single analog means you are sort of lost and, if anything, you have to start everything all over? I thought of waiting a couple of months and lighting an analog just to compare the taste and see the e is much better... Now I am afraid to try that.

TropicalBob: Do you have some pitfalls to share? So that the absolutely non-veteran e-quitters would know what to look out for? I promised myself not to get back to tobacco smoke. I would like to keep that promise. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[sosjander]

I'm the same way, can't seem to break away from the analogs, I do no longer take the analogs in the car anymore so the car is smelling better. I figure I have cut down a half a pack a day, but am still drawn to Analogs while at home.

Hi PTDJ

I'm the same. No longer do I need to take the analogs out with me when going to (for example) the local grocery store for an hour or so - as long as I've got one of my e-cigs with me. Strangely enough, I've never needed to have a quick puff from it when away from home. Just knowing that it's there nearby is comfort enough.

Ain't it strange?

sosjander

[PTJD]

As TB said for me its a way to cut down when in my car or a temp replacement when I travel. I fly a lot and in the past I would worry about connecting flights as I used to go outside the airport to have a quick one and then fight back through the security lines or I would be checking to see if a connecting airport had a smoking area.
Now it does not matter as much, when I was in Chicago (ORD) last week I could not smoke anywhere and it was going to be a long walk outside but I just vaped and all worked out.
But when I was in Dulles (IAD) a few weeks ago they had a smoking room so I went for the analog and vaped on the flight.
In the past I would actually try to route myself via "smoke friendly" airports but now its not an issue, just take the most direct route.

[sosjander]

great post, had a giggle about the cigs talking to you... Got a 20 pack in the cupboard at the moment, by the 4th day its just a slight whimper from them now.

Hi ladykara

It's true, they gang-up in numbers. The less there are, the quieter they become

Seriously, it's nice to know that I can now make a whole pack of 20 last almost the week - something that was unimaginable just a couple of months ago.

Good luck

sosjander