Did I go wrong?

[Cptfunpants]

I was not a cigarette smoker. I was a pipe smoker, I loved smoking and liked the nicotine. I wouldn't say I was addicted but I enjoyed it quite a bit. I didn't tend to inhale but if you've ever smoked a pipe before especially a large pipe it can last you over an hour and you sure get some solid nicotine from it. Even though I didn't inhale I knew it was bad for me so that's where I picked up vaping. I had gotten my uncle a V2cigs starter kit a few years back so that's how I knew about them. I never ordered one for myself until about 4 months ago. So what I'm asking is, should I not have started vaping? I enjoy it and find it relaxing but I'm fairly certain my daily nic consumption is higher than it was when I smoked a pipe. Due to this I've cut caffeine out of my diet as much as possible, I've heard that nicotine and caffeine are on a similar playing field health wise, not taking into account how addictive nic is just how they affect your heart and blood pressure So I've cut coffee and soft drinks out of my diet. So my question is should I have just given up the pipe and not started vaping? I guess you could say the same for people that smoked cigs "why not just quit cigs instead of picking up vaping?" but my pipe was more of a past time hobby than an addiction. Similar to people that smoke cigars I guess. Any input is appreciated this is for an open discussion, you won't hurt my feelings if you call me an idiot for starting to vape.

Note: Pipe meaning tobacco pipe

 

[Cptfunpants]

I phrased that last sentence rather poorly...It could be interpreted that I was taking a jab at vapors and calling them an idiot. That is not the case, what I meant to say was feel free to call me an idiot for starting to vape under these conditions.

 

[Kayte]

I don't see why that would make you an idiot. I know a few people that smoked analogs the same way... just now and then, but instead of quitting, they chose to switch to ecigs because they enjoyed it. They didn't want the smoke, but they did want to retain the hobby part of it. Makes sense to me. I also know 3 people that didn't smoke, but tried vaping and found it enjoyable. One has ADHD and found that a low nicotine helped with that. Are they idiots? I don't think so. I don't see it as any different from someone who uses coffee, tea or soda to get some caffeine in way they enjoy.

At this point, I don't vape because it's better for me... I vape because I enjoy it.

 

[MiamiMom63]

I definitely think you are better vaping than smoking a pipe, even though you didn't inhale. I'm facing some health issues with my heart and blood pressure and am working on getting down to zero nicotine. If you are worried about the nicotine intake, you can vape and drop your nicotine down to zero nicotine and enjoy it without the nicotine.

 

[2GLR]

You can easily lower the nicotine level in your juice. Try that with pipe tobacco.

 

[redddog]

I'm like you. I smoked stankies but only with certain friends and it could be months in between.

I started with vaping because I thought I could just do that the few times I smoked rather than the cigs. But now I like vaping so much I do about an ml a night (not every night) of 6 mg. Although the guilt has me ordering some 3mg to try out.

I too am wondering what level of idiot I should assigned.

 

[gimmieshelter31]

I don't think it was an idiotic decision AT ALL to vape instead of smoking your pipe. You get or make nicotine liquid in any concentration you desire. I find nicotine very relaxing personally . I also feel tobacco has a high potential to harm not only yourself but those around you also.

Perhaps you would like the form factor of an e-pipe better? I wouldn't overly stress about nicotine consumption. As stated, you can choose any level of liquid you like including 0 mg/ml. Should you find that as a result of vaping you have increased your dependency on nicotine,you can just as easily decrease that dependency a little at a time . Whether or not you inhaled your pipe or not,you were still breathing in burning vegetative matter including tar and whatever other chemicals result from the combustion process.

 

[Cptfunpants]

I've backed all the way down to 6mg most of the time. I have a few 0mg juices I like just because they have a whole different flavor at 0mg than at 6 or 12. I was 18mg initially but I've backed down to 6. The ePipes look amazing, the price is what has been keeping me away from them though. I haven't checked out the classifieds yet, maybe I should take a look there and see if I can get one second hand.

 

[spraintz]

2 of my good friends just recently started vaping and really enjoy it.

One was a pipe and cigar smoker and he enjoyed it but the negative effects were not good for him and now he vapes and loves it.

The other didn't smoke at all besides the rare cigar but he would dip every so often and now he vapes.


I don't think you went wrong at all, you still get a nice lil nic buzz but in a far safer way. In fact my buddy the pipe smoker says he likes vaping better than his pipe with all of the awesome flavors out there.

 

[zuzette]

well - nic really never was the bad guy in tobacco. I think you should do your own research regarding nicotine but my personal feeling is that it is not the horrible monster we have been trained to believe. I rank it in about the same as caffine.
I have been having a real think lately about how we have been trained to think of nicotine. Although its highly addictive - caffine is too. the symptoms of withdrawl from either drug are largely the same.
so far as how bad it is for you -
take some time to really dig as much as you can and you will see that the research is really more positive than negative. the negative usually comes from media slant stemming from the terrible nature of combustable tobacco.
simply - we have been trained to think of nicotine as terrible because of its ties to cigarettes and cigars. but overall - nicotine without the tar and crap from burning tobacco is really not so bad!

 

[Cptfunpants]

That's similar to what I described in my initial post at the top.

 

[bjannr]

My caffeine use dropped when I started vaping. That was agood thing because too much coffee would upset my stomach. I had been allowed to vape at work until two months ago. My coffee drinking has increased and I am more tired at work. I have never worried about my nicotine use. In my experience, the nicotine/caffeine balance works itself out.
I do wish I could still vape at work at least during the midnight shift.

 

[Boden]

I've heard that nicotine and caffeine are on a similar playing field health wise, not taking into account how addictive nic is just how they affect your heart and blood pressure So I've cut coffee and soft drinks out of my diet. So my question is should I have just given up the pipe and not started vaping?

The effect of Nic on the heart and lungs is much different when it is coming from burning tobacco than by itself.

ref:
Greek study finds e-cigarettes no threat to heart

http://www.ecita.org.uk/docs/Letter_to_Mail_Online_ 060912.pdf

VPLive Vape Team Episode #25: Proof Positive - YouTube

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_cigarette#Health_concerns

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/s...but-they-have-some-unlikely-critics.html?_r=0

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3151730/

You have to decide for yourself if it's right for you.

 

[Hulamoon]

All as above. Burning tobacco and chewing tobaccos - regardless of non-inhalation to the lungs still can cause various cancers of the throat, the nose and the mouth. Nicotine on the other hand, while addictive, is not dangerous of itself and is used to treat various ailments such as alzheimers and Parkinsons. PG is used for asthma inhalers. Make no mistake, you are much better off vaping. Congratulations on converting!

 

[LucentShadow]

I'd make the switch, if I were in your shoes. You can always monitor your nicotine intake, if your'e concerned about that.

In my introduction to smoking, I smoked pipe for two years, but did inhale. That took a toll on me, and I ended up picking up light cigarettes after trying to quit smoking. That was about 19 years ago... I still smoke occasionally. I'm one of those basket cases that never seems to lose the incessant urge to smoke, even nearly a year after quitting.

Anyway, if you happen to be a bit of a tinkerer, there have been a few examples of homemade e-pipes in the Modding forum here. It didn't look very difficult to turn a pipe into a simple e-pipe, to me.

 

[MiamiMom63]

As far as the nicotine goes, I think it effects everyone different. I personally love my nicotine and have for many years. Unfortunately, my family has heart disease risk heavily in our genes and have recently been diagnosed with arteriosclerosis, which is a hardening of the arteries and the beginnings of heart disease. Nicotine is not good for my arteries, unfortunately. I actually just found this out today so bummed. I am going to have to work hard on decreasing my nicotine. But for most people, yes, nicotine will not hurt you. But...for some people it does. Everyone needs to be their own doctor and know their own body's weaknesses.

 

[bjannr]

I was told by a Physician that nicotine inhibits healing. Will I stop vaping? No. I would not have stopped smoking and vaping does not deliver all the extras that smoking did. I may cut down my nic levels, but I won't quit.