My brother-in-law introduced me to vaping. I'd read about it in Popular Science a few years earlier, but didn't take it seriously until I tried his e-cig. The model he was using wasn't very good (a mini), but it was good enough to convince me that there was something to this e-cigarette thing after all, and after doing some research (and a little trial and error), I ended up with an eGo and haven't smoked since; it's been over three months since my last analog, and I don't foresee ever going back. Unfortunately, he is back on real tobacco cigarettes now. He says he's vaping too, but when he was at my house the other night, he chain-smoked five or six cigarettes within an hour's time, so I have my doubts about how much he's using his e-cig to control his cigarette cravings. Now I'm not about to judge him and call him a quitter or a failure or a loser, because he was trying to quit smoking long before I even considered it. I appreciate his desire to stop, and I understand his cravings for the "real thing" (even though I no longer crave them at all). The purpose of this post is to suggest a possible obstacle to certain people who try to quit smoking using e-cigarettes, and that is the idea that they're only going to vape long enough to get off the analogs, and then give the whole thing up. That was his intention, and his wife's desire for him. I think this, for certain types of personalities, is a big mistake. I believe, based on things he's said and behavior that I've observed, that he's afraid of - and depressed by - the prospect of a habit-free life. He hasn't given himself permission to vape indefinitely, and therefore the e-cig hasn't become an effective alternative in his mind. I believe that as long as he views vaping as nothing more than a stepping stone to quitting nicotine altogether, he's going to keep going back to analogs. He's not willing to buy a better, more effective PV. He's not willing to invest in stronger, better-tasting e-liquid. He doesn't want his wife to harp at him about spending more money on vaping when it was only supposed to be a temporary thing anyway. So now he's just wasting money on cigarettes again. The one thing that made me believe I could quit, and kept me from getting depressed, was not putting restrictions on my vaping. I'll vape as long as I want to - as long as I need to. I'm sure some people manage to use it as a temporary quit-smoking technique, but for many of us, this just isn't possible. I just wish I could make him see that...
Brother-in-law back on the analogs...
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I really don't know what to tell you to try to help him other than let him know that he doesn't need to completely quit. Anytime someone asks me if I intend to stop, I usually give the reply "Hell no. I like my nic and flavors." I don't have intentions of quitting but if it happens naturally, then so be it. Until then, I will enjoy it.
Maybe let him know that vaping is just a means to a healthier lifestyle versus smoking. I would also tell his wife to back off hassling him about it. The pressure alone could keep him going back and that if she wants him to quit smoking then get used to the vaping and money spent for it. Basically, tell her to button her lips.
Maybe let him know that vaping is just a means to a healthier lifestyle versus smoking. I would also tell his wife to back off hassling him about it. The pressure alone could keep him going back and that if she wants him to quit smoking then get used to the vaping and money spent for it. Basically, tell her to button her lips.
Addiction is a powerful thing. Like any other addiction, some people don't make it on their first try. Some people need to get back in the ring. He may be back. I hope so. I accept and understand my addiction and found a way to make it manageable. I don't see giving up vaping in the foreseeable future either. I am fine with that.
Great advice from Hairball and Swedishfish. Good luck with your brother-in-law. He's lucky to have you as family.
Sorry I feel ya. My brother bought a crappy ecig from 7-11 and thinks they don't work. So im going up to oregon to visit the fam and just so happens Im bringing a couple of 1000 mah batteries and charger for him and my sis. Im bringing a slew of awesome juices cartos and attys
My suggestion buy him something good. Maybe he will like it maybe not. Could be saving a life, and....he might feel guilty enough to try lol and if not then score for you and get it back
My suggestion buy him something good. Maybe he will like it maybe not. Could be saving a life, and....he might feel guilty enough to try lol and if not then score for you and get it back
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Bravo to you for caring about your BIL enough to post about it here.
A few things - you mentioned he was using an ECig you didn't like - but it was enough to get you interested and now you're using one you really like. Did he ever switch to a diff ECig after you went with something else?
Are you familiar enough with his tastes - perhaps even non tobacco flavors that you could introduce him to something he hasn't tried?
This of course is all leading up to - maybe his birthday is coming up and you could get him a simple ECig - like the one you're enjoying - along with a pack of blank cartos and maybe a sampler pack of flavors. Refilling is SUPER easy. If I can do it - anybody can! Once someone finds the equipment that works for them - well the ongoing expense (other than batts dying and getting new ones) is just the juice and blank cartos when the cartos crash and burn. I've done a little bit of math and for 1/2 cartos per day - it can be as cheap as .60-$1.20/day. In the card - maybe you could add the phrase - you've been given permission to vape forever..lol.
Obviously if he went back to analogs - he's spending $$ and the argument for your sister would be that he is #1 taking a very healthy approach to quitting analogs (mentally and physically) and #2 - he is back to spending more $$ - so spending less money should be an incentive to help her understand that he needs to reach his own time limit!
I'm just trying to throw some ideas your way! If it was me - I'd hook him up with an good, simple ECig and some sample juices right away!
A few things - you mentioned he was using an ECig you didn't like - but it was enough to get you interested and now you're using one you really like. Did he ever switch to a diff ECig after you went with something else?
Are you familiar enough with his tastes - perhaps even non tobacco flavors that you could introduce him to something he hasn't tried?
This of course is all leading up to - maybe his birthday is coming up and you could get him a simple ECig - like the one you're enjoying - along with a pack of blank cartos and maybe a sampler pack of flavors. Refilling is SUPER easy. If I can do it - anybody can! Once someone finds the equipment that works for them - well the ongoing expense (other than batts dying and getting new ones) is just the juice and blank cartos when the cartos crash and burn. I've done a little bit of math and for 1/2 cartos per day - it can be as cheap as .60-$1.20/day. In the card - maybe you could add the phrase - you've been given permission to vape forever..lol.
Obviously if he went back to analogs - he's spending $$ and the argument for your sister would be that he is #1 taking a very healthy approach to quitting analogs (mentally and physically) and #2 - he is back to spending more $$ - so spending less money should be an incentive to help her understand that he needs to reach his own time limit!
I'm just trying to throw some ideas your way! If it was me - I'd hook him up with an good, simple ECig and some sample juices right away!
I think its an important point to make.
I don't know if or when I will ever be able to stop vaping, and if I do, I hope that I would be smart enough to go back to vaping. The trouble with smoking is that you might think you are just going to have one, and then maybe you do and a week or a month goes by and then you have a few, then later you buy a pack. It probably would be more difficult to drag out the old equipment to satisfy some kind of instant thing if your mind is telling you that you're just going to have one.
I hope he's inspired by you this time (and I really wish someone would have a talk with his wife!)
I don't know if or when I will ever be able to stop vaping, and if I do, I hope that I would be smart enough to go back to vaping. The trouble with smoking is that you might think you are just going to have one, and then maybe you do and a week or a month goes by and then you have a few, then later you buy a pack. It probably would be more difficult to drag out the old equipment to satisfy some kind of instant thing if your mind is telling you that you're just going to have one.
I hope he's inspired by you this time (and I really wish someone would have a talk with his wife!)
Oh well. We're all current and former smokers here. Handing him a good rig and a healthy sized sampler of juice is of course a great idea.
I almost went back to real smokes. It was SO easy the first couple weeks, then all of a sudden I started getting sick and depressed, insomnia, and I started to get cravings all at the same time. I'm blessed that this all happened mostly late at night and I live where the closest late night smokes are a half hour drive away. It passed after a week, back to being easy. The switch doesn't always stay easy it seems.
I almost went back to real smokes. It was SO easy the first couple weeks, then all of a sudden I started getting sick and depressed, insomnia, and I started to get cravings all at the same time. I'm blessed that this all happened mostly late at night and I live where the closest late night smokes are a half hour drive away. It passed after a week, back to being easy. The switch doesn't always stay easy it seems.
Let's face it; smoking was a very close, personal friend of ours. It's very easy to see where your BIL is coming from. But you might want to point out to him and his wife that cigarettes cost more in the long run than vaping. I don't know how much a pack costs where you are, but they're fast approaching $6.50/pack out here. And who says this has to be a temporary thing, anyway? Temporary could mean as little as a month or as long as a couple of years for all anyone knows!
I second the idea for buying him a good rig and a nice bunch of sample sized juices. You, him and his wife might be pleasantly surprised. If he continues to smoke, then so be it. Don't nag him. That's his wife's job! (Just kidding, everyone!)
I second the idea for buying him a good rig and a nice bunch of sample sized juices. You, him and his wife might be pleasantly surprised. If he continues to smoke, then so be it. Don't nag him. That's his wife's job! (Just kidding, everyone!)
I agree completely.
I'm sure there are some people that may need a plan, or at least find it useful to have one.
But in general I think putting together a "plan" is far more likely to be counter-productive than helpful for most people.
Thanks for the replies and the encouragement, everyone! I agree with the consensus that I should get him a better PV and some stronger juice. His birthday is long past, but I don't really need an excuse to give him a gift when it has a chance of saving him from smoking! My one concern is his wife... The problem is that she doesn't know he's back on analogs. He smokes at work and he smokes at my house and he probably smokes after she goes to bed, but he asked me to not mention it around her, so it's clear he's sneaking. And that's almost as sad as the smoking, really. Again, I understand why he's doing it, because she can be a trial sometimes, but by hiding it he's just making himself feel more guilty. It's a messed up situation. And if she sees him vaping on a bigger, better e-cig, she's going to have questions. She's going to wonder why I'm buying him new gear when he's supposed to be quitting altogether, and she's going to jump all over me. I'm willing to get sucked into it though. Whatever it takes. Then again... Maybe he could hide the new PV just like he's hiding the analogs? Haha... No, I'm just kidding. Honesty is the best policy. I don't look forward to the fallout, but I've had to put her in her place before, and I'll do it again if need be...
Wow, I don't know how he can smoke that many cigarettes and she can't smell it on him. I really notice the stinky ashtray smell now when I'm around a cigarette smoker.
Good luck with the plan to get him back on the ecigs. You're a good BIL.
If he is smoking, she knows it!!! There is no way to hide the smell other than taking a shower and gargling about a half dozen times. Maybe she just doesn't want to acknowledge it so he keeps hiding what he is doing. If he's hiding it, he isn't doing it at home or around her.
I agree buy him a better setup and tell him to give you the money he's spending on cigs and you'll buy stuff for him. Hate to suggest doing something behind the wife's back but he thinks he is doing that already every time he buys a pack.
Then, if need be, he can vape on the QT.
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Well when he comes home from work smelling, he can use the excuse that the people he carpools with smoked in the car. When he goes home after band practice at my house (he's my drummer), she's already in bed (ALWAYS - she's very rigid when it come to her bedtime), so he has a chance to shower and brush his teeth and wait to make sure any odor residue is gone (he works nights, so he'd be up into the wee hours anyway). But you may be right anyway. It could be that she has figured it out and just hasn't confronted him yet. Seems unlikely to me, knowing her and the way she is, but anything is possible! Either way, it's sad that he's been reduced to such tactics. If I could just make him believe in vaping, I know he could make it work!
Simply put it as you're trying to give him a hand in switching with a bit better equipment that you've come across. A decent number of people start with Kit A, are getting there but admit to cravings, (or an occasional smoke), come to ECF and find out about Kit B to really transition over. (In other words, treat it as a "Don't ask, don't tell"). Discretion
HaHaHa - havent read the rest of the replies yet - but here is what I know for sure. If he is smoking analogs - she can smell it. She may choose to tell herself she does not smell cigarette smoke - or he may be blaming it on ppl he hangs/works with - but you can bet the smell is there. This is one of the first things I realized after quitting analogs. I thought that gum and perfume and hand washing was hiding the smoke smell - LMAO. NO - I realize now I smelled like perfume, soap AND STINKY SMOKE.
The second thing I notice is that if this is your BIL - doesn't that make his "wife" your sister?
Those dang sisters - just ask my brothers - can't live with em - can't live without em - mostly can't live with them and damn we are related!! Unless of course he is your EX-BIL and, again, bravo to you for having the guts to still care about your ex BIL - see note again about SISTERS..LOL.I'm really happy you have no prob in hooking him up - you're saving his life!
Funny, my brother-in-law is in the same boat; he had a 510 kit with cartridges, but got frustrated with the bad performance a few months ago and gave it up. But I saw his wife yesterday and she said he wanted to talk to me about getting started again. I'm gonna hook him up with a big battery and some cartos or tanks and some yummy juice, and hopefully he'll give it another good try.
Well now I just read the rest of the replies and I'm laughing! Especially about blaming the smell on others! HaHaHa!!
Listen I don't know what his tastes are - but I can tell you from recent experience (as in - in my mouth NOW) I ordered some Hot Cinnamon from Vermillion River - and it completely knocked my socks off - freakin awesome. On a scale of 1-10 I'd give it a 15. If I have to compare all other juices I sample to this - I'm probably going to have a hard time matching it. The flavor is out of this world. I hear all good things about all other juices from Vermillion River. In fact I've not seen one bad review on any of their flavors - both tobacco and non. I highly recommend. A 6pk sampler plus 1 free bottle will run you under $20 with shipping. I ordered mine on Friday night and was vaping on Monday night - USPS Priority mail - is std for them. I have five other flavors to try but simply cannot pull myself away from the HC!!
Aside from your BIL - YOU should try it!!!
Listen I don't know what his tastes are - but I can tell you from recent experience (as in - in my mouth NOW) I ordered some Hot Cinnamon from Vermillion River - and it completely knocked my socks off - freakin awesome. On a scale of 1-10 I'd give it a 15. If I have to compare all other juices I sample to this - I'm probably going to have a hard time matching it. The flavor is out of this world. I hear all good things about all other juices from Vermillion River. In fact I've not seen one bad review on any of their flavors - both tobacco and non. I highly recommend. A 6pk sampler plus 1 free bottle will run you under $20 with shipping. I ordered mine on Friday night and was vaping on Monday night - USPS Priority mail - is std for them. I have five other flavors to try but simply cannot pull myself away from the HC!!
Aside from your BIL - YOU should try it!!!
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The second thing I notice is that if this is your BIL - doesn't that make his "wife" your sister?
I'm really happy you have no prob in hooking him up - you're saving his life!
I have a brother in law (my wife's brother) and his wife is not my sister
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