I am so glad I didn't put "quitting vaping" at the top of my list of things to worry about, ever, as I was transitioning to vaping, because I think if I had tried to stack that up, I would have met with pure failure. The only way I could see vaping working for me was to make it as pleasant, satisfying, and easy to do as smoking cigarettes was, and that included learning everything about it I could so that if I could vape, I could continue vaping.
The longer I vape, the more I appreciate it for what it is. It's not perfectly harmless, but my body's respiratory system was making it quite clear to me that combustion and tar was what was killing me, not everything else. I look at: "Well, my body tolerated MUCH more nicotine along with more harmful things," at 3 ppd for a LONG time before it finally began putting up some distress signals.
I have faith that I am tough as dirt, (physically) and I also CHOOSE to have faith that vaped nicotine isn't going to harm me all that much. I CHOOSE to have that faith (although I do believe it is backed up by studies, as well) because frankly, what one believes (mentally) can have a much larger effect on health outcomes than what is really studied.
I have lived through many events I should not have lived through. My body's taken FAR worse abuse than "merely" vaping. I have full faith that my health will continue to improve, up until I have a heart attack (it's pretty deep on both sides of my family) but I don't expect it to come for a LONG time, if ever. And it's my opinion that believing in my body and its regenerative properties gets them going FASTER. The placebo effect is REAL and USEFUL (even WITH double blinding, the placebo effect is real). I choose to harness it when I can. Because the "placebo effect" is often believed to be a "bad" thing, but if one is able to believe something with enough intensity, it can actually be harnessed to good use. I think anyone in a study who got good results with the placebo effect should NOT be told they were the control group, and sent home with a lifetime supply of sugar pills.
This is also why homeopathy can "work" in the sense that people "get" results from water. Probably PURER water than their tap water, actually, and their brain and body happily go about repairing what was messed up. Placebo is awesome, and has zero side effects! I also have Alzheimer's in my family and ADHD and believe nicotine is better for me than no nicotine.
If I have to quit vaping, it will be after my (first if survivable) heart attack. Until then, I plan to vape nicotine because I also have EVERY faith that I would return to smoking... Some day. I really can't afford to lose more lung function. My heart (based on every measurable test I have had done) seems to be doing Just Fine.
So, that's my take on it for now, of course everyone should do what they feel is best. But I didn't spend all this time, energy and money on vaping to just up and quit 6 months down the line. I consider myself set to VAPE... for a lengthy period. I may lower my nic at some point, but not until one year.
Anna