Hello all. I'm not exactly a newbie on this forum -- I've been a member for over 1.5 years. I first joined because this forum gave me all the info I needed on e-cigs so I could decide on which pv to start with. Because of all the support from forum members, this became my go-to place when I had any questions on e-cigs. Still, with nothing to contribute and all my questions answered by one post or another, I remained a lurker, until now.
Let me just briefly tell you about my e-cig journey so far. I had been a pad smoker for almost 30 years and thought that it was time to quit. I had tried the patch, drugs, hypnosis -- nothing worked. I had gone down to 1/2 a pack/day every now and then, but soon after, I went back to pad. You see, my husband and I moved back home to live with my dad to take care of him after my mom passed away. My dad is a doctor and he would give me hell if he knows that I'm smoking. And to top that off, my husband had quit smoking at the time. So I became a closet smoker. The mental stress of sneaking out (yes, sneaking out at age 43!) to smoke and trying to get rid of the smell after a cigarette was killing me. So, around a year ago, after doing extensive research, I picked my vendors and purchased my 1st kr808 starter kit and e-liquids. I used the kit for maybe a month. Honestly, it was more for the novelty of it than anything else. I didn't think that it could actually help me quit because it tasted nothing like a real analog. I know, I know. I was so close-minded! After reading all the posts, I still wanted an e-cig that felt like an analog and flavors that tasted like analogs. And to top it off, my husband, who had quit smoking for over 5 years, decided to pick up smoking again. Oh, the guilt! Arg! I knew that my smoking contributed to this. Through all the stress of sneaking out and all the guilt, I continued to smoke. I know it's irrational, but the more I thought about giving up smoking, the more I wanted to smoke. Then around 4 months ago, my brother (who's also a doctor, oy!), casually mentioned that I had been smoking for a long time and that if anything was to happen to me, he wouldn't know how to break the news to my neice and nephew. That did it. I picked up my pv again. Within 2 weeks, I had cut down to 4 analogs a day. Then in the past 2 months, I have cut down to 2 a day.
What a relief from the mental stress! I now only need to sneak out 2x a day, instead of 20! (Ridiculous, right?) Still, I could not drop those last analogs. But all in all, I would never go back to pad or even 3/day. It has not been easy, but 2 is my quota and I have stuck to it for 2 months. I even started exercising and had been feeling great. But in the last month, I developed this shortness of breath and a dry hacking cough. If it was a productive cough, I would not be so worried. But theres no phlegm, no sputum. Nothing. I would cough from 5 minutes to 1/2 hour. This usually happens at night, right before I sleep or while I'm asleep. I should probably see a doctor, but my primary does not approve of e-cigs. Neither does my husband, although I think that if I can one day quit, my husband will follow. I would cough so hard that I would start gasping for air. My husband, of course, is pointing all 10 fingers at vaping. Although I vigorously argued for vaping, I still have my doubts. I vape 80/20 to 70/30 pg/vg e-liquids and have been purchasing from the same 2 vendors. I know that I'm supposed to drink lots of water and have been drinking around 2 liters a day. I swear, I think I'm gaining weight from all the water intake. But am I drinking enough? Or am I developing symptoms of intolerance to pg or vg? If I am intolerant to either pg or vg, why would it start developing now, after 4 months of the same e-liquids? I caught a great sale and have over $100 worth of e-liquid stocked up right now and really hope that I dont have to buy new ones. I would appreciate any thoughts, feedbacks or similar experiences. Thank you!
Let me just briefly tell you about my e-cig journey so far. I had been a pad smoker for almost 30 years and thought that it was time to quit. I had tried the patch, drugs, hypnosis -- nothing worked. I had gone down to 1/2 a pack/day every now and then, but soon after, I went back to pad. You see, my husband and I moved back home to live with my dad to take care of him after my mom passed away. My dad is a doctor and he would give me hell if he knows that I'm smoking. And to top that off, my husband had quit smoking at the time. So I became a closet smoker. The mental stress of sneaking out (yes, sneaking out at age 43!) to smoke and trying to get rid of the smell after a cigarette was killing me. So, around a year ago, after doing extensive research, I picked my vendors and purchased my 1st kr808 starter kit and e-liquids. I used the kit for maybe a month. Honestly, it was more for the novelty of it than anything else. I didn't think that it could actually help me quit because it tasted nothing like a real analog. I know, I know. I was so close-minded! After reading all the posts, I still wanted an e-cig that felt like an analog and flavors that tasted like analogs. And to top it off, my husband, who had quit smoking for over 5 years, decided to pick up smoking again. Oh, the guilt! Arg! I knew that my smoking contributed to this. Through all the stress of sneaking out and all the guilt, I continued to smoke. I know it's irrational, but the more I thought about giving up smoking, the more I wanted to smoke. Then around 4 months ago, my brother (who's also a doctor, oy!), casually mentioned that I had been smoking for a long time and that if anything was to happen to me, he wouldn't know how to break the news to my neice and nephew. That did it. I picked up my pv again. Within 2 weeks, I had cut down to 4 analogs a day. Then in the past 2 months, I have cut down to 2 a day.
What a relief from the mental stress! I now only need to sneak out 2x a day, instead of 20! (Ridiculous, right?) Still, I could not drop those last analogs. But all in all, I would never go back to pad or even 3/day. It has not been easy, but 2 is my quota and I have stuck to it for 2 months. I even started exercising and had been feeling great. But in the last month, I developed this shortness of breath and a dry hacking cough. If it was a productive cough, I would not be so worried. But theres no phlegm, no sputum. Nothing. I would cough from 5 minutes to 1/2 hour. This usually happens at night, right before I sleep or while I'm asleep. I should probably see a doctor, but my primary does not approve of e-cigs. Neither does my husband, although I think that if I can one day quit, my husband will follow. I would cough so hard that I would start gasping for air. My husband, of course, is pointing all 10 fingers at vaping. Although I vigorously argued for vaping, I still have my doubts. I vape 80/20 to 70/30 pg/vg e-liquids and have been purchasing from the same 2 vendors. I know that I'm supposed to drink lots of water and have been drinking around 2 liters a day. I swear, I think I'm gaining weight from all the water intake. But am I drinking enough? Or am I developing symptoms of intolerance to pg or vg? If I am intolerant to either pg or vg, why would it start developing now, after 4 months of the same e-liquids? I caught a great sale and have over $100 worth of e-liquid stocked up right now and really hope that I dont have to buy new ones. I would appreciate any thoughts, feedbacks or similar experiences. Thank you!