Already a Recovering Smoker - Are eCigs for Me?

[BRDSR]

Hey all,

There was a similar post just posted last night, but I think my issue/questions are sufficiently distinct to warrant a new thread. If not, I do apologize; not trying to make any enemies with my first post!

I smoked about a quarter-pack of Marlboro Reds a day for three years. Of course health was always a concern. During that time I tried to quit a number of times, some more successfully than others, but have been smoke-free since December 18, 2008.

Obviously I don't physically crave cigarettes anymore. But I loved, and still crave, the "smoking experience." Everyone knows what I mean, although I'm sure some people didn't love it all. I loved the taste, the smell, the break, something in my fingers, something in my mouth, and the socializing aspect of it. Looking beyond the serious health problems it creates, smoking was downright therapeutic for me; it was a great stress reliever and I honestly believe my mind worked with more clarity while smoking than while not smoking. I don't think staying smoke free is a daily struggle for me anymore, but at least once a week I fantasize about buying a pack. One ugly turn of life's events, and I might.

So last night I heard a radio commercial for Smoker's Savior and thought the concept sounded too good to be true, so of course I googled it, and you know all the stuff I found. I can't believe I'd never heard of it before!

So are eCigs for me? First, will they aid me in continuing to stay smoke-free? Second, will I enjoy it in a way similar to smoking a cigarette? Lastly, would it potentially be analogous to a recovering alcoholic drinking non-alcoholic beer? (I imagine that would not be a successful way to quit drinking.)

Not really looking for any advice on what product is right for me; I know there's plenty of literature on that in this forum and elsewhere. Thanks.

 

[DC2]

I have smoked on average 5 cigarettes per day for 25 years.

I would never even have thought of quitting because of the benefits I get from smoking.
And they are the same benefits you speak of.

Yes, these are for you.

 

[sbphotog]

If what you are looking for is the smoking experience then I would vape 0 nic liquid.
It is extremely inexpensive to make yourself too. Lots of suppliers here on the forum sell bottles of plain PG and you can buy Loranns flavorings in most grocery stores. With one bottle of PG or VG you have yourself several months worth of 0 nic vaping liquid.

I just wouldn't get yourself hooked on nicotine again....but of course the choice is yours.

 

[tmbrown327]

If it keeps you from picking up a pack of cigarettes, sure, go ahead. There's medical literature out there that says even moderate smoking carries a high risk of problems.

 

[andyclifford]

I can totally relate to your comments on the clarity of thought when smoking, I thought that was just me!!! I'm always busy at work and have always found that the 5 minutes away from my desk round the back of the building with a ciggy always produced the best answers to any problems I am working on. Unfortunately, I never got to the quitting stage before I found the e-cigs.

I also cannot believe that the whole e-cig thing seemed to pass me by. First I heard was a radio advert whilst I was in work. Ran it through Google and read up. Ordered the e-cig that night. That was 4 weeks ago and I have now been smoke free for 3 weeks.

In your case, I would recommend getting the zero nic juices. As you are not craving the nicotine, seems like a back step to get yourself hooked on it again. But I reckon you will completely satisfy your craving for the smoking act with an e-cig.

Hope it all goes well for you.

 

[Elapid]

If the analogs keep on calling out your name, which they constantly did for me when I tried to quit without E-cigs, I would say yes they are defiantly the best help a quitter can get. If you no longer have the urge to smoke what's the point? Most of us are tobacco addicts that have found a healthier way to satisfy our habit.

 

[DC2]

I can totally relate to your comments on the clarity of thought when smoking, I thought that was just me!!! I'm always busy at work and have always found that the 5 minutes away from my desk round the back of the building with a ciggy always produced the best answers to any problems I am working on.

It has always been a fact of life for me as well.

I can sit here staring at my computer for hours and not figure out solutions to the various problems that confront me during each work day. But 10 minutes outside with a smoke break (now a vape break) and I figure out how to do anything the way it should be done.

 

[Riptides]

So are eCigs for me? First, will they aid me in continuing to stay smoke-free?

The only thing that will aid you in staying smoke-free is to not do it at all in my opinion. I've been a 2-1/2 pack a day smoker for almost over 23 years now and have quit for a long periods of time in the past. What caused me to fall off the wagon was being around it and saying I can pick this up now and easily put it down again later. Too bad later ended up being 12-24 months each time.

Second, will I enjoy it in a way similar to smoking a cigarette?

My opinion is no. Vaping is nice, but it isn't as near as enjoyable as actually smoking/using real tobacco.

Lastly, would it potentially be analogous to a recovering alcoholic drinking non-alcoholic beer? (I imagine that would not be a successful way to quit drinking.)

I would think so. I know plenty of drinkers who cut down on their alcohol intake by going to NA beer but that's not really quitting drinking.

If you have broken the nicotine habit it's best to keep it broken. If you are still craving the cigs and are in fear that any moment you may find yourself at the store and buying a pack before you realize what you are doing then maybe e-cigs are for you.

The mind has ways of tricking us when it comes to smoking, one of the strangest things that happened to me was I had been quit for about 5 days when I stopped into a store to grab a coffee one morning, the next thing I know I'm driving down the road with a lit cig before I could even realize what I was doing. I didn't even remember asking for, paying for, opening the pack, and lighting up, then there I am driving and smoking again before work.

 

[martha1014]

If you are not presently smoking and really don't have a desire to smoke anymore I would agree and say don't start vaping. It can get really expensive (especially since you are not buying cigarettes anymore) and once the new wears off it not that much fun. It looks like a cigarette and you just pick it up and vape. But its not that easy. There is work involved in vaping. If you buy 0 nic eliquid it will cost you as much as the 36 mg.
If you vape the nicotine you will become addicted again. No nicotine is better for you than inhaling nicotine. This an alternative to cigarettes.

If you think you would enjoy inhaling the vapor then go for it. Just remember there are atomizers that quit working, batteries to keep charged, cleaning the equipment, using different flavors and other things you wil have to consider.

Good luck on whatever you decide. I had smoked cigarettes for 40 years and would have never quit without ecigs but if I had quit I would not start with anything.

 

[sbphotog]

If you buy 0 nic eliquid it will cost you as much as the 36 mg.

Not if you make your own........................

 

[JoyousOne]

I too find that smoking improved brain function. I quit for 9 months in 08 and I didn't COMPLETE anything during that time. I started smoking again and voila - 17 completed projects in 6 months. I ran into a guy in a smoking area outside of work and he was smoking from this strange device. He told me about vaping - what to buy, where to get it. It took me a month to decide to try it and now I can't wait to get the darn thing. I have read so many great stories here not to try it. The most moving was the woman who smoked for 40 years and never went back thanks to vaping...can't wait to give it a try!

 

[BRDSR]

Thanks for the input...going to keep doing some research and make a decision. 0 nic would definitely seem like the way to go.

Speaking of research, does anyone know of medically reputable sources that identify eCigs as safe...not simply a relatively safe and effective way to quit smoking, but actually safe? I'm headed to the Health forum right now to do some lookin' myself.

 

[DC2]

Speaking of research, does anyone know of medically reputable sources that identify eCigs as safe...not simply a relatively safe and effective way to quit smoking, but actually safe? I'm headed to the Health forum right now to do some lookin' myself.

Nobody on the planet is going to tell you that these are completely safe without tons of research on the long-term effects of inhaling vaporized propylene glycol and flavorings.

Obviously it is not possible at this point to have any long-term results.

But there is plenty of research on the long-term effects of inhaling propylene glycol, and reading all of that research months ago convinced me that it is pretty much safe as far as I am concerned.

So really, in my opinion, that leaves room for concern only with respect to the flavorings.