Excited, Nervous, Hopeful and Wary...all at the same time! Geez Louise.

[TeePee1970]

I'm such a dork, but with the evod kits hopefully arriving today or tomorrow and reading so many stories about the process and how it's helped so many people quit, it's got my emotions in quite the uproar. LOL. Like millions of people, I would really like to be a non-smoker - for health reasons, monetary reasons, cleaner environment reasons, etc. And our first and only grandchild is just a year old and I'd like to live to see his children and be a great-grandmother one day.

By the time it arrives I'll likely have 2-3 packs remaining in my weekly (*gasp*) carton. I am not buying another carton per my usual on Friday, but will play it by ear. Not gonna let myself run out though either.

I'm sure most of you can relate, but just the thought of being cigarette-free makes me want to go have one RIGHT NOW. Even though I know I'm not planning on going cold turkey at all and keeping the stinkies around just in case, it's still making me feel anxious. I know my extreme irritability when I'm not getting a cigarette fix. I've, jokingly, of course, said to people that have told me I should stop smoking that cigarettes are the only thing keeping me from beating the living #*$( out of someone! It is my pacifier and anxiety-easer.

I find myself trying to curtail my hopefulness that vaping is going to be so lovely that the cigarettes will become abhorrent to me because I don't want to over-sell it to myself knowing that there's a learning curve and a time-frame required to find the sweet spot.

My hubby is leaning towards the "I want to replace my Kool filter king experience" exactly. And, yes, I've tried to warn him. On the other hand, I'm leaning toward the "I want something that tastes really good - the complete opposite of the ashtray taste of my non-menthol ultra lights" because, in my mind, this will make me want to vape more than I smoke.

Sorry for rambling on...I just needed to vent a little before I explode

 

[SMP1121]

Well, first of all congrats on wanting to make the change!!

But, just relax....don't put a lot of pressure on yourself. Lots of people continue to smoke during the transition and some people just continue to smoke a few a day and vape. There are no rules!

You won't know until you try...and honestly...you may have to try several set ups before you find one that satisfies you enough to quit the analogs all together.

Since you are open to flavors the world is your oyster! There are lots of great juices out there. If you have a B&M near you, I suggest you go and sample flavors.

For your husband, if I may suggest Johnson Creek juices. They do have nice tobacco flavors without sweetness, etc. and you can order small 5ml sample packs. My boyfriend uses them since he doesn't really like all the sweetness of other juices. And I like them too but I like to switch flavors throughout the day.

Start out with a higher nic content...that will help.

Just try and come back with your questions, concerns and experiences...there are lots of people here to help!!

 

[cbrite]

I think that you will find that there is none of that crazy irritability thing going on once you start to vape if you get enough nicotine. I smoked a pack and a half of Virginia Slim Lights and started with 12 mg of nicotine--you may need more or less than 12 depending on what and how much you smoke. I had zero withdrawal symptoms, none, nada. Was my usual sweet (??) self. I didn't even tell anyone I was vaping vs smoking until I'd been at it a month and knew I wasn't going back to cigs.

I hadn't found this forum yet when I got my first e-cig (Green Smoke) so I was more apprehensive than excited. But even the Green Smoke things worked (it helped that we were in that Polar Vortex and no way I was leaving the warm house). I moved right up to an itaste vv3, and it was totally amazing. But once I started with those Green Smokes, I never looked back. You will do fine because most of the battle is wanting to quit and having a good reason to do it, whether it is your own health, money, the environment or just wanting to be there for the grandkids.

There is always a lot of help here. Honestly I have thought a hundred times that all those smoking cessation 800 numbers and groups and so forth should just send people to a forum as supportive and caring as this one and there would be more success stories.

 

[J_B_86]

I think going in with the right state of mind helps. I was a heavy smoker but when I ordered my e-cigs I just convinced myself it would work.

I started with 24mg nic which I'm sure helped but still had some minor cravings for regular cigs to begin with. I didn't find them hard to fight off though compared to patches or any other methods I tried to quit before.

I managed to give up regular cigs from the moment I started vaping and gave away what tobacco I had left. In saying that though its Ok to have a regular cig if you can't help it. As long as you can at least gradually cut back the amount you are smoking then you are making progress.

As far as the learning curve I started with cheap cig sized batteries and prefilled cartomisers to begin with and was happy. I upgraded after not long but keep finding more and more satisfying gadgets to play with.

 

[30+Years]

You'll be fine TeePee! Sounds like you really want to quit and IMO that's the most important thing.

It is different for everyone but you will find your way, just stick with it.

BTW: I still have some loose tobacco and tubes in the cuboard (need to throw away now) that I keeped for just incase but didn't need them after three days of vaping. Some feel the need to get rid of the cigs so that they aren't tempted for me it was a security blanket just knowing that they were there If I needed them.

 

[Weizenheimer]

just the thought of being cigarette-free makes me want to go have one RIGHT NOW.

In the past the thought of trying to quit smoking always made me feel anxious enough to want to smoke. Despite that fact, I stopped smoking in the middle of the day on the day my PV arrived. Hopefully it will go the same for you.

 

[Storm52]

TP, welcome to the forum. I was a 2pad kool smoker. I also started with the evod and I don't think you'll be disappointed. My suggestion is to start with 18 or 20mg nic juices, as the delivery method with vape is entirely different that smoking. My initial routine was to vape when I would normally light up, i.e. first thing in am walking down to get paper from driveway. Same with driving, or phone ringing, etc. Mimic the smoke habit. If you find you need a smoke, have one. Quitting is a progress and journey.
As far as juice, I couldn't find a kool juice. I tried the tobacco flavors and didn't like them at all. I wanted something entirely different from tobacco, so I went with peppermint flavor. There are some members that will say otherwise, but I don't think you can duplicate your cig taste. But then, my taste buds were dead to the taste of kool...they didn't have any taste.
Good luck and congratulations on your quit.

 

[twgbonehead]

I'm sure most of you can relate, but just the thought of being cigarette-free makes me want to go have one RIGHT NOW.

Absolutely. I framed the question differently for myself. At any point in time, I allow myself the choice of having a cigarette, or vaping. 95% of the time I choose to vape. Sometimes I choose to smoke. There have been days where I just "forgot" to smoke (absolutely astonishing to me when I realized it!) and days when I still decide to start the morning with one. But I'm smoking a miniscule amount compared to what I've been doing the last 35 years or so, and not stressed about it one little bit! It's all good.

 

[Buggainok]

TeePee, I can so relate to all the feelings you just expressed. I felt the same way before I got my Evod kit. I kept coming to this board and reading every positive thing I could find to get myself in the right frame of mind. I was a 2 pack a day smoker for over 40 years which is a big habit to break.

I was so hopeful, but scared at the same time. I had bought a Blu starter kit, and used it for a couple of days and did not smoke. But just barely did not smoke. It wasn't very comfortable at all, but staved off the worst of the cravings, so I knew that the e cigarette concept had something going for it.

I read all the posts about people not having much success with the cigalikes long term. Lots of people here said the Evod starter kit was great for beginners. So I got very brave and went to a local vape shop in my town to buy a starter kit. I am a grandma, and everyone who worked there was about 20-something, had weird colored hair and lots of tattoos and piercings! But they could not have been more friendly and helpful to me. They all thought it was "so cool" that a grandma wanted to know how to vape, lol.

I came home with the starter kit, which was 2 batteries, 2 toppers and a charger, and 3 bottles of juice. Like a lot of newcomers, I thought I wanted a tobacco taste, so I got 2 of those. The little gal helping me talked me into a banana nut juice, and I'm so glad she did. Turned out the tobacco was terrible, and the banana nut saved the day for me that first week.

She also recommended 12 mg juice, which turned out to be low for me, as I was a very heavy smoker. I used it the first week, and didn't smoke, but had vague, anxious feelings. I went back and got 24 mg. and the difference was like night and day. I was totally comfortable in a hour or two, and have been very comfortable ever since with the 24 mg. My advice is don't start too low with your nicotine mg - you can always go down if it's too much. If the mg is not high enough for your body, you might think the whole thing is not working, and go back to cigarettes. I have had zero desire to smoke with 24 mg.

I was thrilled with my starter kit and it was easy to use. I got very good flavor, and blew out the vapor. Wow, this was sort of like smoking, but not smoking, but by golly, I think I can do this. Someone had posted the term "ghost habit" and that appealed to me. She said when you are vaping and sort of thinking about smoking, that is the "ghost habit" speaking to you. She said just tell yourself, "My body is getting the nicotine it needs, and I don't really "need" to smoke. That is just your ghost habit talking, and you need to vape some more." It worked, and I didn't smoke.

I am still stunned, amazed and grateful that this has worked so well for me. I think your attitude is right, and it will work for you, too.

 

[TeePee1970]

Many thanks again to all of you!

I'm very, very hopeful that vaping may be "the ticket". Our son and his wife successfully quit with vaping, but they're both in the USAF and live in NC (with the previously mentioned grandson - boo hoo) so we unfortunately don't see them on a regular basis but during my last visit in January he was completely smoke free and my d-i-l was getting close. He is into it really heavy in terms of building, modifying, etc., so his enthusiasm was a bit overwhelming, LOL.

I saw on Facebook that his in-laws who also both smoke decided to start vaping so they could quit, and I thought, wth?, they've been smoking just as long, if not longer, than my hubby and I, so maybe we should look into it, too. That's when I started reading here, watching YouTube videos, and so on, and turns out we know some others who've done it as well.

 

[TeePee1970]

I think that you will find that there is none of that crazy irritability thing going on once you start to vape if you get enough nicotine. I smoked a pack and a half of Virginia Slim Lights and started with 12 mg of nicotine--you may need more or less than 12 depending on what and how much you smoke. I had zero withdrawal symptoms, none, nada. Was my usual sweet (??) self. I didn't even tell anyone I was vaping vs smoking until I'd been at it a month and knew I wasn't going back to cigs.

I hadn't found this forum yet when I got my first e-cig (Green Smoke) so I was more apprehensive than excited. But even the Green Smoke things worked (it helped that we were in that Polar Vortex and no way I was leaving the warm house). I moved right up to an itaste vv3, and it was totally amazing. But once I started with those Green Smokes, I never looked back. You will do fine because most of the battle is wanting to quit and having a good reason to do it, whether it is your own health, money, the environment or just wanting to be there for the grandkids.

There is always a lot of help here. Honestly I have thought a hundred times that all those smoking cessation 800 numbers and groups and so forth should just send people to a forum as supportive and caring as this one and there would be more success stories.

CBrite...I just had to post directly to you because I LOVE YOUR AVATAR. I'm in Ohio but only 40 minutes from "the burgh". Love me some Steelers!!!! Hopefully the vaping thing will be completely functioning by football season, LOL, 'cuz some of those games!! Gahddd!!

On another note, have you ever visited Pittsburgh Vape House out by Greentree? I also found on Facebook a new shop even closer to me just before Robinson on 22E called Kick 'n Butts.

 

[Hypatia]

Oh, girl, you will do GREAT! You've got a good mindset, although chasing the "Menthol Cig" experience like your husband is okay, too. My brother had the "cig" experience mindset, he found the Halo menthol flavors were different, but very satisfying for him. I will tell ya, as a "non-menthol" former smoker, it's not going to happen; the "cig taste," that is. I did find caramel and vanilla tobacco flavor (called RY4-I don't know why, just is, lol) and some of the Halo tobaccos really good for getting and staying off the smoke.

Haha, seriously I'm not a Halo shill. I don't even like their flavors anymore (taste buds do evolve, I'll tell you that, and everyone's tastes are different). But for a solid, quality vendor with good variety and simple ordering (no "custom" Pg/Vg ratios and other confusing junk like that). I loved that in the beginning, when everything was so confusing, and the local place SUCKED for juice (yuck and expensive).

You'll do great, and it's good to get your concerns and trepidations out on "paper" (ok, on a public forum for the world to see, lol). We've ALL been there. And we'll all be here for you and your DH through your journey.

 

[EBates]

Please try this to belay some of your conserns about vaping. Find a local vape shop that will allow you to test their juice. The ones around Dallas have lounges and will supply you a battery and a shelf(s) lined with sample juices. No purchase required. Find a juice or two that you like.
Talk to the shop folks about your transition from smoking to vaping and ask if they would be willing to help should you have problems getting started. Most that I've dealt with have been very helpful. Read this forum, ask for help. There's not a lot of rocket science to vaping but sometimes things just don't work as you would like.
Patience and Determination are your Friends. Doubt and Frustration are your Enemies.

 

[30+Years]

Love me some Steelers!!!! .

Ugh!!... lol

 

[TeePee1970]

ugh!!... Lol

hey now!!! Lol.

 

[Completely Average]

Sit back, relax, give it a shot, and just let it happen.

I smoked a pack+ per day of Camel filter and Camel 99s for 30 years straight. Quit without even wanting to. Vaping satisfied my cravings, allowed me more freedom (I never smoked inside), and I had FLAVORS to choose from.

I didn't plan to quit. I didn't want to quit. I LIKED smoking.

I simply transitioned to vaping because it is even better.

 

[MissBlue]

THANK YOU for this vent, teepee. i'm right therr with ya, in the exact same place, and with the same delicate balance going on of really wanting it to work, and make a successful transition - and at the same time, not wanting to oversimplify or Disney-fy the reality. thanks for sharing your thoughts; rambling or not they do make a difference for others. bravo.

 

[TeePee1970]

Thank you, MissBlue!

 

[cbrite]

As my old boss used to say when you exited his office--Don't be a stranger. Please hang out here and update us on how it is going. I am so excited for you!

 

[Bramble]

I'm excited for you TeePee

Many of us here did not expect to quit smoking at all, we just wanted an alternative that we could use instead of smoking (like indoors)... I think for me it was helpful that I was staying with my sister, who had quit cigarettes and only vaped. She could do that in the house and in the car and I was wanting to do the same.

Once I saw that it worked, I decided to just keep going, seeing how long I could go before having another cigarette. It is now two months. I tried a cigarette a few weeks ago and it was so horrible that I know I can never go back to it. 3 puffs and I nearly threw up. I can be around people who are smoking (I don't care for it much though), and I can get through stressful times without smoking. So I had some good results and I hope you will too

I started out with a flavor I liked (Fireball) not tobacco. Now I can't stand Fireball either but I've got a flavor for every mood. It keeps me from getting bored!

Good luck and welcome, stay in touch here!!