Feeling good these days, old-timers?

[jeffree]

Just wondering, old-timers--and you can define that any way you want--how's your overall sense of well being these days? I don't mean the better breathing and such. I mean that bigger feeling of overall health and happiness. Noticed any changes since you quit cigs and started vaping?

--------------------------------------------
As for me... I trashed the cigs 10 months ago. I've had some prolonged ups and downs since then that I'm sure were related to cig-vape stuff, but I stayed true to the no cigs and only vapes. Had to. Was never really that hard for me even after many years of MLs. I look back now, though, and notice a lot of tiredness and general lethargy (not typical for me) during that time, even a few months back. The disappearance of cigs was probably why. I see that now more clearly.

Well, I was thinking tonight that lately I've been feeling as good as I have in years. Cigs no longer speak my language--the smell even bothers me. vaping feels natural. VG juice fits my body well. Energy's back. Movie stars visit. OK, made that up. Just hope there ain't another valley coming!

So what about you?

 

[BradSmith]

I'm really not sure if I wouldn't rather smoke. At times it still looks good to me. My friends all smoke except the bunch that I got vaping and it just looks so much easier and well frankly more satisfying. However, no matter what my mind says at times, my body tells a different story. I am no longer caughing up a lung every morning. I can run up and down a latter again or hike back into the woods miles with guys younger than me and keep up. That's pretty darn nice, so I think it's more than worth it. Plus I'm a guitarist/vocalist (and drummer) and my voice is coming back. It's how I make a living and I was seriously starting to wonder if I could ever get back in key again.

 

[jeffree]

Brad, I hear you on the music part. My home studio thanks me every night.

 

[BradSmith]

Brad, I hear you on the music part. My home studio thanks me every night.

It's nice isn't it? I find myself hitting notes I forgot I could hit. It's like a whole range has opened back up to me.

 

[rocks82]

Been vaping 15 months now. It's amazing how smells have changed to me. I walk by a smoker and smell it from 4ft away. It's absolutely repulsive to me. I can't imagine ever going back to analogs.

 

[MarciaSS]

I'm not an old timer...only quit analogs a bit over a month ago shortly after I started vaping, but I realized yesterday what people meant when they said smokers stink. I was my docs waiting room and a fellow walked past me and totally reeked of smoke! And to think I used to smell like that! YUCK!

 

[keyzygirl]

Im feeling pretty good.I went through that tired phase,I just couldnt seem to get it together.I think its gone,I feel I have more energy and stamina.I dont have that old chest ache in the morning,man I hated that.So Im very glad I did it,I dont think I would ever go back to smoking.I really enjoy vaping and when people ask when Im going to quit,I just smile.Not any time soon,I promise you that.

 

[jamvector]

Been vaping 15 months now. It's amazing how smells have changed to me. I walk by a smoker and smell it from 4ft away. It's absolutely repulsive to me. I can't imagine ever going back to analogs.

Hey Val, Great to see you! So glad to hear you are doing well, really missed you the last few months. I relate totally to the repulsion of smokers, I think I smell them from a mile away, even from nearby cars in traffic. I used to think I covered up my smoker smell really well, but I'm sick to think I used to be that way too. I am feeling much better, but probably vape too much, need to start working down lower on the nic - started at 24, down to 18, hope to get down to 8 at some point. Still paranoid about going too low and giving in to an analog if I'm weak - like at a bar or social event where others are smoking. As repulsive as it is, I am not convinced I could resist without strong ecigs on me; this is how I fell off the wagon many times before when I've tried to quit prior to discovering ecigs.

Besides my personal health benefits, the best thing of all is that I am no longer an embarrassment to my family and friends (although my wife thinks it's weird I "have to vape at all"). In summary, all is well after 13 months, but I still don't trust myself completely yet - failed so many times before.

 

[plantlvr]

Great stories! Have to agree on the 'smelly smoker', I never smelled old cig smoke so clearly before I became a vaper. For me I love the fact i don't smell like that anymore. Working with the public for years I remember how some folks would back away from me after i had a cig. That and not cleaning ashtrays are two of the biggest perks for me.
And i agree on not quitting vaping, I love it and don't plan on quitting anytime soon

 

[imawitch]

Hi everybody

Next month on the 2nd, I will be 1 year free from smoking analogs.

Im amazed!!!!!!! that ive been able to stop smoking ciggy's.

I smoked for many, and I mean many moons, and tried everything from gum, patches, pills to quit, and nothing helped...

I feel ecigs have saved my life...

I have copd, and used to feel tired, out of breath, took spiriva, symbicort and quick inhlaer ..was a step away from supplement oxygen..

but not now... I havent used my spiriva or my symbicort since Feb of 09..

I do still at times use my quick inhaler, but only every now and then eh?

I dont wheeze anymore..my lungs dont hurt like they used to, I can walk up stairs and not have to sit to catch my breath...I have energy!!!!

I feel good...

saw my family doc and lung doc last week, they are happy with me and say im doing great, they both approve of me using my ecig..

they tell me, that over time the copd will progress, however, now that i no longer smoke, the progression will be slowed big time, whohoooooooooo

yeah, when i walk past a smoker, i gag...cant belive i used to smell that way...the smell of ciggy smoke makes me sick..yuck yuck..

what can i say? im happy, and even w/ copd, doc says im darn near healthy...





oh well...im happy, feel good, and thanking the stars for ecig...

 

[Davo]

Looks like most of us "Old Timers" are on the same page, better breathing, no stink, no weezing and hacking, etc. I don't recall however a period of lethargy, just anxiety from withdrawals. I started at 24mg with some 36s and I'm down to 8s and have some carts with 4mg I vape. For me, I can't see SMOKING again ever... I have taken a puff from a friend just for kicks and it was so repulsive I can't see doing that again. Vaping is sooooo much better. Another aspect that's neat, I recently had a little bought with a cold and was amazed how quicly I got over it. When I smoked (1 to 2 paks a day), it would takes weeks to get over a cold, sinus, chest and coughing problems.

The lack of stinch is realy amazing, my clothes, truck smell so much better... and like so many have commented, I can smell one a mile away now.

One other thing that gets me though, I have turned on a number of folks to vaping and none have stuck with it, they just don't want to make the effort to adjust to what strength is right for them or affect the draw or just for whatever reason can't commit to NOT SMOKING. Damnit Jim (that's Bones, (Dr. McCoy) to Cptn Jim Kirk for you non Star Trek folks), I just don't understand.

 

[jamvector]

Looks like most of us "Old Timers" are on the same page, better breathing, no stink, no weezing and hacking, etc. I don't recall however a period of lethargy, just anxiety from withdrawals. I started at 24mg with some 36s and I'm down to 8s and have some carts with 4mg I vape. For me, I can't see SMOKING again ever... I have taken a puff from a friend just for kicks and it was so repulsive I can't see doing that again. Vaping is sooooo much better. Another aspect that's neat, I recently had a little bought with a cold and was amazed how quicly I got over it. When I smoked (1 to 2 paks a day), it would takes weeks to get over a cold, sinus, chest and coughing problems.

The lack of stinch is realy amazing, my clothes, truck smell so much better... and like so many have commented, I can smell one a mile away now.

One other thing that gets me though, I have turned on a number of folks to vaping and none have stuck with it, they just don't want to make the effort to adjust to what strength is right for them or affect the draw or just for whatever reason can't commit to NOT SMOKING. Damnit Jim (that's Bones, (Dr. McCoy) to Cptn Jim Kirk for you non Star Trek folks), I just don't understand.

"Dammit Jim, I'm a DOCTOR not a BRICKLAYER" was my favorite

Regarding recruitment of other smokers, I have kind of given up as well. I think smokers are naturally defensive about their habit, and are very reluctant to take the advice of us ex-smoking vapers. So why did we have success going on a year now, what makes us different? My best guess is that we really wanted to quit first of all, secondly, most of us researched and discovered vaping on our own initiative and determination. To validate this assumption, how many of you close to a year analog free were talked into trying V4L without finding / starting based on your own research and investigation? I bet if these same people we're trying to help had found this on their own, they would still be vaping.

The fact that I have loaned ecigs, tried to convert / help others with little to no success has really bothered me the last few months. A couple people I did get to order no longer vape saying "it just wasn't for me", or "it made me cough". No matter how much I try to offer suggestions for improving their vaping experience, they treat me like I'm a "defector" or some anti-smoking nazi (which I'm not). Doesn't change the fact however that I can't stand being anywhere near smokers any more - makes me nauseous.

 

[rdytoquit]

I agree with everyone about the stink of cigs.....I never thought I would say this but I hate being around smokers.

As far as helping other smokers to switch, I haven't had much luck either....but not for lack of trying. I spent a couple hours explaining
everything to someone. At the time, they seemed very enthusiastic about vaping. I found out that this person is still
smoking...oh well. I tried.

I do feel so much better since quitting cigs almost 9 months ago. I have no urge to go back to cigs nor do I plan on quitting vaping. I get
a little annoyed when people ask me when I'm going to quit vaping. They tell me I didn't really quit smoking. I get a little tired of explaining
the benefits of vaping. My family is so happy that I don't smoke cigs anymore as my mother died of lung cancer. When I promised her
I would quit smoking, in the back of my mind I thought I never really could. Thank God for Ecigs...they have saved my life and allowed me to
fulfill my promise.

Another benefit of vaping is the opportunity to meet and chat with such a great bunch of people on this site.

 

[DawnsFolly]

When I took up vaping it wasn't with the intent to quit. I LIKED to smoke. For my husband and my kid, I'd tried nearly everything but Chantix and was done with even trying. Do I not know it's very bad for me to smoke? Yeah, yeah, shut up already. I got my V4L kit to fill in at the office. Next thing I knew I couldn't stand the taste or smell of cigs. That's my approach to smokers now - just to fill in. They also seem to think it's very expensive. It can be. I just ordered a kit for my mom and if she uses it at all I'll be happy, but I know that noone else will probably switch.

 

[Davo]

Well isn't that interesting... I thought it was something I was doing wrong, but as we know you must WANT to quit. I would have thought any smoker this day in time would want to quit... but perhaps not. A buddy and co-worker introduced it to me, but however I was like a bloodhound on a scent at that point. I took a couple of drags off his V4l and that was it, I knew that dog would hunt. But I have to say that this forum makes a huge difference, as you all know. You have to be willing to find your sweet spot in the configuration of your vape stuff. Not to be outdone yet, I ordered a kit for another dear friend and delievered it last week and have been Facebooking with another to get started...we'll just have to see.

LOL, Jamvector...Damnit Jim, I'm only a Doctor not a...........

 

[plantlvr]

I'm with Dawn on this too Davo, I liked to smoke and had no intention of quitting, vaping was a way to get a hit of nic at my job. i was very surprised that i quit cigs in 2 days after starting to vape.

 

[keyzygirl]

I have given up on getting people to vape.I never bring it up,only answer when asked.I never even suggest that they vape.The only thing I do is give them a V4L card and tell them thats the best place to start.I have an XL batt,usb charger and a few carts I lend out so they can try it out if they ask.I tell them I expect to get it back as soon as they decide what they are going to do.I dont give them away because its usually a waste and they dont use it.I gave my brother a full XL kit that I won from V4L and he used it for 2 days and threw it in his desk drawer.What a WASTE!So now I only lend and hope!

 

[krazie_Kid]

Lol to be frank with you Jeff, I kicked one habit and picked up another. I kicked smoking, and picked up drinking. But I do feel a lot better over all lol.

 

[jeffree]

LOL. Maybe you can quit drinking now by switching to ......?

 

[JenJen]

I wanted to quit, but I didn't think it would be as easy as it was. My intent was to wean off the smokes by finishing up the carton I had just bought then be done with cigs and just vape. After 2 weeks of just smoking 2-4 cigs a day, I found that I was actually forcing myself to smoke the cigs to finish them off - I didn't even want them. I realized how ridiculous it was to make myself smoke, so I got rid of the 2 full packs I had left and just vaped. I have turned a lot of people on to vaping and about half of them stick with it. Some just do not want to give it an honest try. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink - right? At any rate I feel I have done my part by introducing them to it and making it clear that if they want to give it a try I will be happy to lend them some batts and give them some cartos. Above that, it is up to them. If and when they reach that point, at least they know it is out there.