I have been vaping for 2 years tommorrow, July 23, 2009. It came in a strange way. To those who have heard this story... sorry, but I just startedd blogging here at ECF and think it is a story worth retelling.
I was in a severe auto accident on Feb. 12, 2007. A person who did not speak one word of English and did not know the roads in Philadelphia, went through a light that was red. He thought that there was just 1 other road at that light, so he could go fast, get through.. no problem. What he did not know was that there was a 3rd small street and the light turned green for it. This was the light I was across the street at an angle where this man was comming really fast, about 45 mph. At the green light I took my foot off the break and started to "Roll." About 5 feet of rolling, I had not hit the gas yet, a large White Van hit my passenger side head on. My air bags deployed. I went into what I would call "Shock." I got out of my car and sat on the ground for a moment to regain my composure. By then, a nice lady came up to me and asked me if I was ok. I did not know what had happened until she told me about the guy going through the red light. We both looked around because the White Van was not there. She said that it just kept on going straight, as if to "Get away with this."
Police were there within a few minutes since this are is a favorite "Hang Out" for them. I then noticed that 1/2 way down the street the Van was going that the White Van that hit me was stopped there and Police were also talking to them.
What had happened was that they got a flat tire. Sometimes the "Higher Power" does look out for the helpless! The Police asked me if I wanted an ambulance to go to the hospital. Although my lower back was in tremendous pain, I had my dog at home and since I was only 1 block away from my home, I did not take an ambulance.
Years later, I sued them, won and sued my own insurance company for that guy being underinsured and won.
But what I lost was the young man's back I had that I never knew was there. That is how you know you don't have back trouble, you don't feel anything. If you feel something, it is pain and that may never go away or may need operations to fix.
For years I treated until I finally chose to do the Doctor exams necessary to have a back operation.
I had been a 1 pack a day smoker for 30 years. The last 5 I rolled my own. Not to save money, even though at the time it was way cheaper than buying packs of cigs, but because I loved the smell of "Raw" tobacco.
As the time drew near for what I thought would be back surgery, I started thinking about lying on my stomach for an operation. Due to heavy "Flem" (nice way to put what I mean), I could not lie on my stomach for more than a few minutes without my nose getting clogged. My feeling was that if I was on a table asleep for hours in an operation, maybe something bad would happen with my breathing. I knew that cigs had a lot to do with the "Flem" and was starting to explore other alternatives to smoking. In July of 2009, I listened to the "Howard Stern" radio program on "Sirius Satelite" radio. One of the guys who works for him is "Sal." Sal started talking about an electronic cig he had and how much he loved it and used it in his office at work. I was waiting for him to say where he got it since I had never heard of this before. Finally he said, "I got this from NJoy.com." I went immediately to the Site. I thought that it was the only "Game in Town." At that time, there were not that many companies like there are today.
I ordered $300 worth of stuff and waited for them to come. In the meantime, I was watching "Howard TV" (Yes I am a "Stern" addict since 1981). Sal did a show called "Show in the Hall." There he actually displayed himself vaping and I was amazed as to how real it looked. I was "Stoked" and had this great feeling like I was not only going to quit cigs, but have something that I could do that would make my back operation a success!
The day came. A couple of weeks later. Yes kids, at that time, there was not the 1 day service we have come to expect. And I thought that was the only Company so I waited patiently.
The day it came, my best fried, Eric was there. I put together the bat with the fake red light end and put on the atty and then fiddled a bit with the cart. Finally, it was time. I put it to my mouth. To my surprise, some juice got into my mouth. Just a little vapor came out. I was a bit afraid that I would get sick having e-liquid in my mouth, but something happened that made me forget about that.....
I had no desire to have a cigarette. That little puff with juice in the mouth totally satisfied me, More than cigs. I loved the flavor and from that minute on... I have not looked back.
I joined this Forum about 1 month later in August of 2009.
What I have become today is the person who has not smoked cigs for 2 years, never got that back operation as the Doctor's ruled it out. I see a "Deep Tissue Massage" person named Joe who I have seen since 2007 once a week who keeps my back in "Toe."
So, the lesson here is this: you think it is this.... but it winds up being.... that. The key to life is: "Hang in there and eventually... it does get better."
I was in a severe auto accident on Feb. 12, 2007. A person who did not speak one word of English and did not know the roads in Philadelphia, went through a light that was red. He thought that there was just 1 other road at that light, so he could go fast, get through.. no problem. What he did not know was that there was a 3rd small street and the light turned green for it. This was the light I was across the street at an angle where this man was comming really fast, about 45 mph. At the green light I took my foot off the break and started to "Roll." About 5 feet of rolling, I had not hit the gas yet, a large White Van hit my passenger side head on. My air bags deployed. I went into what I would call "Shock." I got out of my car and sat on the ground for a moment to regain my composure. By then, a nice lady came up to me and asked me if I was ok. I did not know what had happened until she told me about the guy going through the red light. We both looked around because the White Van was not there. She said that it just kept on going straight, as if to "Get away with this."
Police were there within a few minutes since this are is a favorite "Hang Out" for them. I then noticed that 1/2 way down the street the Van was going that the White Van that hit me was stopped there and Police were also talking to them.
What had happened was that they got a flat tire. Sometimes the "Higher Power" does look out for the helpless! The Police asked me if I wanted an ambulance to go to the hospital. Although my lower back was in tremendous pain, I had my dog at home and since I was only 1 block away from my home, I did not take an ambulance.
Years later, I sued them, won and sued my own insurance company for that guy being underinsured and won.
But what I lost was the young man's back I had that I never knew was there. That is how you know you don't have back trouble, you don't feel anything. If you feel something, it is pain and that may never go away or may need operations to fix.
For years I treated until I finally chose to do the Doctor exams necessary to have a back operation.
I had been a 1 pack a day smoker for 30 years. The last 5 I rolled my own. Not to save money, even though at the time it was way cheaper than buying packs of cigs, but because I loved the smell of "Raw" tobacco.
As the time drew near for what I thought would be back surgery, I started thinking about lying on my stomach for an operation. Due to heavy "Flem" (nice way to put what I mean), I could not lie on my stomach for more than a few minutes without my nose getting clogged. My feeling was that if I was on a table asleep for hours in an operation, maybe something bad would happen with my breathing. I knew that cigs had a lot to do with the "Flem" and was starting to explore other alternatives to smoking. In July of 2009, I listened to the "Howard Stern" radio program on "Sirius Satelite" radio. One of the guys who works for him is "Sal." Sal started talking about an electronic cig he had and how much he loved it and used it in his office at work. I was waiting for him to say where he got it since I had never heard of this before. Finally he said, "I got this from NJoy.com." I went immediately to the Site. I thought that it was the only "Game in Town." At that time, there were not that many companies like there are today.
I ordered $300 worth of stuff and waited for them to come. In the meantime, I was watching "Howard TV" (Yes I am a "Stern" addict since 1981). Sal did a show called "Show in the Hall." There he actually displayed himself vaping and I was amazed as to how real it looked. I was "Stoked" and had this great feeling like I was not only going to quit cigs, but have something that I could do that would make my back operation a success!
The day came. A couple of weeks later. Yes kids, at that time, there was not the 1 day service we have come to expect. And I thought that was the only Company so I waited patiently.
The day it came, my best fried, Eric was there. I put together the bat with the fake red light end and put on the atty and then fiddled a bit with the cart. Finally, it was time. I put it to my mouth. To my surprise, some juice got into my mouth. Just a little vapor came out. I was a bit afraid that I would get sick having e-liquid in my mouth, but something happened that made me forget about that.....
I had no desire to have a cigarette. That little puff with juice in the mouth totally satisfied me, More than cigs. I loved the flavor and from that minute on... I have not looked back.
I joined this Forum about 1 month later in August of 2009.
What I have become today is the person who has not smoked cigs for 2 years, never got that back operation as the Doctor's ruled it out. I see a "Deep Tissue Massage" person named Joe who I have seen since 2007 once a week who keeps my back in "Toe."
So, the lesson here is this: you think it is this.... but it winds up being.... that. The key to life is: "Hang in there and eventually... it does get better."
