A scary lung x-ray got me here

[bodrell]

So for a volunteer gig I had to have a chest x-ray to rule out TB. (I've had an allergic reaction to the TB skin test so can't take it again.) I got a call from the clinic saying the radiologist had some concerns about my results and to come in for more views. As a 40-50 smokes a day (roll my own) 37-year-long smoker, I was terrified! After getting the further x-rays and while waiting for results, I was writing my obit in my head and planning who should get my dogs after my impending death.


Luckily and yay, the follow-up x-rays showed nothing worrisome and the abnormality on the first one was probably “artifactual” - a smudge on the film. But this little scare prompted me to try quitting again for the eleventy-hundreth time. It's been years since I last tried because I've been scared of failing yet again, I'm pretty hard-core. But I would like to quit, and I've read about e-cigs.


So I googled e-cigs and found this forum. My local tobacco shop carries them so this morning I bought a “Tsunami” disposable e-cig, full flavor, and you know what...it's not too bad! Seriously I don't know why the FDA is so cagey about them...I've tried quitting with all the other nic replacements in the past and at one point was doing $30 a day in nicotine gum, at which point I decided that was stupid and unsustainable so I started smoking again.


Reading the stickies and posts here is giving me hope...at the very least, if I can reduce harm and stinkieness by not smoking in the house and smoking fewer analogs that can only be a good thing!

 

[luceblueboy]

Congrats! It's such as blessing to see new users on here sharing their story. We're here to encourage and point you in the right direction so please don't hesitate to ask questions.

 

[5vz]

Happy to hear the xray came out good after all. That must have been very intense!

I tried the gum, hated it. Did the math, looked at the people paying all that money for awful gum and kept smoking until I decided to give e-cigs a whorl. While I haven't saved a dime, I have enjoyed the journey. Be forewarned, it is a hobby f you let it be.

Great first post, thank you for sharing your story with us. Go love on your dogs some more just b/c you can. Odd that your post says you joined in March 2010, and just posted. Must be a glitch in the system.

I hope you enjoy your new way to quit those stinkies, it is the only way I could go, hard core smoker here too. Nothing else helped. Best wishes.

 

[player30]

Welcome to ECF! There is a welath of knowledge here, and many who will point you in there favorite direction--so many options! I think you can find a starter kit that will fit you pretty easy. And there are thousands of juices, and most you won't care for, but you will find some you really like. It is best to start with a higher nicotine level (24mg) to help with any cravings that could appear out of nowhere! Also get some 18mg in case 24 is just too much. An Ego type ecig is a great jumping off point. They have a great battery life & should last you all day. Many suppliers on ECF sell them.

Best wishes!

 

[dlsw]

Hard core ex here, as well. Thanks for sharing your story; it is intense. Congrats for making a great choice!

 

[dotma]

When you go to get a kit that is not disposable, please read threads in this forum about what are the best ecigs to buy and not through google. Dont want you to end up with something that doesnt work well!

 

[bodrell]

Thanks guys, I have been reading up here on "real" e-cigs as opposed to the disposable ones, just a ton of info to take in here! The one I got today is 18mg and I could probably use a stronger hit....I am reading stickies and checking the site for product info. Definitely nothing like a questionable lung x-ray to get a smoker's attention for sure. I'm glad that my dogs get to put up with me for a while yet.

5vz - not a typo, I apparently signed up in 2010 then promptly forgot that I had, until trying to register again with the same email, yesterday. Duh.

 

[Beans]

Welcome to the forum bodrell, I'm so happy to hear that it was only a smudge and nothing serious...Phew......You dodged that bullet.

You also happened to find the best forum to learn about PV's and get help of all kinds. Take time and try to absorbe the overwhelming amounts of info here and make sure to ask all the questions that come up. Were always happy to help.

I will say that after numerous failed attempts to quit, e cigs are a life saver to me. I was a 1 1/2-2 ppd smoker for 27 years and could have never quit without them, but here I am today smoke free for over a year..

Welcome to the forum!

 

[DietSalem]

Welcome to ECF and vaping. Those disposables are not very good in my opinion. I couldn't get off of the analogs with them. It required a nice high powered mod to get me to quit. There are great mods out there, depending on your price range, that can be as good as you're willing to let them.

 

[Hoosier]

While you are filling your head past capacity with the information packed everywhere on ECF, don't forget to say Howdy to a few folks and get your post count up to 5 or more. That way you will be able to post on the Location Specific that is closest to yourself.

Getting to know others around you who have made their own journeys into vaping, talking with them, and even getting to a meetup, club, or gathering can be much more helpful than trying to put the vaping jargon into context yourself.

(I would have attempted to direct you better, but Midwest in the US covers quite a range of locations. Hoosiers consider themselves midwestern, but to someone from Iowa we may be considered near-eastern or somesuch.)

 

[dshark]

Welcome...!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bodrell]

LOL Hoosier, I'm in SE Michigan and this makes post number three so I am getting there!
I'm already figuring out that it will be cheaper and more enjoyable to use something better than a disposable...but this is day one and apart from not being quite strong enough, the disposable is cool and I am reaching for it for a hit instead of rolling a "real one" already.

I've hand-rolled my smokes since 1977 cowboy-style so the ritual is a BIG part of it. In past quits I've used straws as a substitute - because I can handle and chew and brandish them about, sorta like a "real" cigarette.

 

[DietSalem]

It may suck at first, but eventually your vaping rituals become more fun than rolling ever was. For me, that is especially true with dripping.

 

[Hoosier]

Heh, I rolled plenty of my own smokes. The cigarettes I switched from were only available as a pouch of tobacco when I first got to liking them. When they came out with packs of pre-rolled, well, heck, that makes driving and smoking easier. (I really hated hitting those chuckholes and spilling my stuff before I got it sealed.)

I see the Ganders have had a couple of meets already, so at least there is an active community there.

Us Hoosiers are still working on getting the ball rolling. We have a club like startup meeting coming up later this month to see if we can get a group of just folks who like to vape going. We did manage to have a meetup, thanks Sharpi, earlier with a few vendors showing up, but I'd like to see something even less formal. I got quite a bit out of the meetup as I could see and touch things I had only seen on the internet and it was more enlightening than I thought it could be.

So, you can roll them cowboy style, but can you light them cowboy style?

 

[bodrell]

I don't know about lighting them cowboy style (what's that?) but when I drove a semi I developed a callous on my elbow from rolling while I drove and I can still roll one in about seven seconds while driving LOL.

I don't like "ready-made" smokes much, these days I do Bali Shag...euro/Turkish blends are what I smoke.

 

[Hoosier]

I bow to you because I could never get it down as low as 7 seconds unless I had both hands and could actually look at what I was doing. (I could make excuses for my shattered thumb joint, but I'm good enough with it that I doubt anyone could ever tell it doesn't work.)

Never rowed a box with more than 8 gears either and the one with 8 was in an orchard and I never got above 3rd.

Turkish blends, I'm with you there, but it has been awhile since I've smoked any tobacco. I like a rich, full, flavor even with my vapor.

 

[bodrell]

I started smoking when I lved in Europe way back when, so got used to rolling...yes I have been timed and I used to drive 18 speeds with overdrive and can roll at any speed without looking LOL! Mind you my joints are all intact.

Feel free to send me a private message telling me what you use for vaping (anyone) because I am getting seriously overwhelmed with all the info on this site!

 

[MrBeo]

Welcome to the ECF and THANKS for the story and happy all turned out well! From rolling to dripping is the way to go...

 

[Bradder]

The wait can be traumatic - even if for a short time. Good but scary story - happy that it turned out well. Welcome to the forums - live long and vaper.

 

[bishyrigged]

I've personally noticed from my experience and others around me that for the ecig to be successful, it is IMPERATIVE to not smoke analogs in conjunction. I tell people to think of it like changing brands or something. Once your addiction switches over to the ecig you're all clear. The key is finding the right nicotine level and the right flavor you like so that you will want to keep doing it. Mine is chocolate peppermint currently at 18mg, but before I had gotten pregnant I had worked my way on up to 24 mg. Now I only do 24 mg if I drink, and I end up switching flavors to raspberry when I drink because for some reason that just tastes better to me lol. My fiance needs 36 when he drinks, and he usually doesn't care what flavor so long as it tastes good to him. He usually bounces between lemon, double mint (spearmint), or whatever one of us throws his way lol.