I've never smoked an analog!- advice?

[swedishfish]

I'll quote CBB from another post, he summed this up perfectly as far as I'm concerned.

We forum members do often seem to be exceptionally helpful and friendly to new users who are trying to supplement their smoking habit by using e-cigs, and we can seem very hard on non-smokers interested in vaping. I feel like an overbearing troll when I try to tell non-smokers to not vape. There is a reason, we as smokers and former smokers are looking for a safer healthier lifestyle, that is not saying that vaping is safe or healthy it is only better than smoking. We all started smoking for various reasons and regret it, and do our best to prevent other people from picking up an habit that may be unhealthy.

Most of us would prefer not vaping but it is the crutch that keeps us from going back to cigarettes. We support each other and anyone trying to get away from smoke, we do not in general encourage anyone to vape who is not in need of a smoking supplication.

On the one hand, I do feel like an overbearing troll when I tell people they shouldn't vape if they don't smoke. I'm probably one of the least judgemental people you'll meet. On the other hand, to do anything less would just feel dishonest to me. I'm caring for my mother who's in the other room on oxygen. I'm the one that sits up nights listening to her fight for breath. I just look in her eyes and see fright that she can't breath and I can't do anything about it. Yes, she started vaping after smoking 60+ years. And I think (hope) it helped a little. But you can't undo damage and it might be a little too late.

For me to recommend a non-smoker to vape, I frankly can't do it. In fact the whole subject makes me uncomfortable. My problem, not yours. I wish there was a section of the board for people to freely talk about this. It is your right if you're of age to vape (so far). I just never want to see another person in my position, a 20+ year addict watching a 60+ year addict die.

I just can't in good conscience recommend/support it. I promised myself that I'd stay out of the non-smoking vapor threads, but they pull me in.

 

[Beans]

Swedishfish, I totally get where your coming from. I cared for my grandmother at home while she slowly passed from lung cancer. Nothing in my life has ever been more painful or harder to watch. She was MY mother. I hate to hear of people putting poison into their lungs also and fear they will have a similar fate. Which I will also face one day since I have a well established Lung disease too. But as you know we can only tell our story and hope someone might listen.
Unfortunately I NEVER listened to warnings from others, now I lay in the bed I made for myself. We can give our deepest heartfelt opinions but ultimately everyone makes their own choices.
I hope things go as well as possible for you and your family. I'm sorry you have to deal with what your going through. My thoughts are with you.

 

[swedishfish]

Thank you very much for that, that means a lot to me.

 

[dormouse]

My sisters and I similarly watched our mom die of COPD and emphysema.

I think one of the strongest habits of smoking is the hand to mouth and inhaling of something into the lungs. This is a very strong habit and that is why e-cigarettes help keep smokers away from cigarettes. So I think a zero nicotine e-cigarette would still be very very addictive. So add that on top of the fact that we don't really know what flavoring chemicals are really safe to inhale day after day. Or what we are breathing when we singe the stuffing. etc. It's just not something we can recommend to people who are not addicted to cigarettes.

 

[swedishfish]

I'm so sorry Dormouse. It truly is a hellish disease. My dad had Alzheimer's and I thought that was bad. At least he wasn't completely aware of what was going on.

 

[dopamine]

wow, I wake up and there are so many helpful and heartful responses. I really do appreciate them all- I unerstand the warnings come from a good place, and the concrete sugestions seem conscientious.

I think some of the struggle may be that it may be difficult for nicotine smokers (past or present) to separate out an act of inhaling a fragrant vapor from "smoking"- they have become completely intertwined in one's mind- which makes a lot of sense given one's relationship and emotional history with smoking. I can't see how it could be easy to separate out one act from another.

 

[Secti0n31]

If you're vaping no-nic juice I have absolutely nothing against a nonsmoker vaping. Some nonsmokers vape to use nicotine as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, and anti-depressant, and I really can't encourage that. Nicotine is addictive (allthough I'm far less addicted to my PV than I was to Cigs, and I can go much longer without a "smoke" now that I'm vaping), and I cannot condone someone vaping nicotine when they aren't smokers.

HOWEVER. I am a candy freak. Very slightly hypoglycemic and I used that condition as an excuse to munch on as much candy as I could get my hands on. Totally wrecked my molars. But Candy flavored nic-liquid absolutely kills that sweet tooth without the sugar or the calories. If you want to vape for flavor I recommend an ego or riva (riva is cheaper) and ce2 cartos in the 2.8ohm range. Both are reasonably priced and reliable.

I've been tempted to try some beef jerky and bacon flavors to perhaps ween me off of those foods, but I just have the feeling that if I vaped beef jerky I'd want to eat beef jerky and end up spending more money.

 

[Beans]

Secti0n31, Please let me save you Don't vape bacon. I LOVE the stuff and actually have Bacon BBQ's once a week during summer. Bacon juice is horrid. I can't stress this enough. Fair warning.....

 

[dopamine]

OK! SO here's what I think should be a good fit based on what you guys have said:

eGo (not the eGo-T?)
306 LR Cisco atomizer 1.5 ohms
a drip tip
USB adaptor

what else do I need to get? (I don't plan on vaping away from home)

Thanks!

 

[UntamedRose]

pst,moderators? hide this post from the FDA

wish we could

 

[dopamine]

c'mon guys- I'm 30 years old, hate nicotine despite many opportunities to get into it. Granted no one knows me but the posts from people making the assumption that I will start using nicotine are a bit offensive (can't think of any other reason to hide this from the FDA). It' taking an assumption and applying it in a prejudiced way. I think there is such a thing as responsible nicotine-free (enjoyable!) vaping, but again I see how difficult that would be to relate to if you've been addicted to the stuff. But I guess it's like alcoholics not quite understanding how someone can possibly drink in moderation and be OK (although I will do 0 nicotine, not moderation).

 

[wood]

if u plan to do 0 nic and are passionate about the flavors u should diy juice
you can get a liter of base for very cheap then stock up on flavourings and create your own juice in your own flavours
then its even more a hobby

 

[Tracy68]

I have to agree with some of the others here who are advising against taking up such a 'hobby".
I still get looks from people who assume I'm smoking when I'm vaping. Why on earth would you want to be in that position - assumed to be one of those nasty dirty "smokers"?
The hand to mouth action - inhaling and exhaling those wonderful big clouds of vapour you speak of are demons to me - just another part of the whole psychological addiction.
I use VG - hoping it's a better "healthier" ? alternative to PG but it still dries me out - irritates my chest throat and mouth if I overdo it. Truth is, I reckon anyway, lungs were meant for inhaling clean air(if that exists anywhere?) and nothing more.
I'm sorry, but I only wish the best for you and cannot support anyone, even without the nic, wishing to take this up when they have no good reason to - eg - as an alternative to killing themselves by smoking cigarettes.

If your passion lies in a fascination with scents, why not try candle making as a hobby? Might sound silly but then again maybe not. I make candles for a living - more scents than you could EVER imagine AND you can turn it into a good little money making business.

 

[dopamine]

I already do mix fragrances together- have lots of raw materials (perfume is also called "juice" in the industry!) and love to experiment- I"ve made soaps and my own personal fragrances. I can't wait to try DIY flavors

Oh and I don't ever plan on doing this in public- just at home, same place I do most of my other hobbies- I definitely don't want people assuming I am smoking!

 

[fb305]

You're an adult and can make your own decisions but you are about to realize that you've wasted a lot of money for nothing. Once you realize how much of a pain it is to keep your equipment working correctly and all the money you're going to waste trying to find juices you like you will probably give it up. Also, have you read up on what possible health effects it can have on you, or are you just going to take the word of some people on a forum that it's safe? I personally think it's stupid for anyone to take up vaping if they don't need to to quit smoking. I can't wait until I feel like I can give it up and not risk going back to smoking.

 

[newplague]

I say go for it. Check out Perfumers Apprentice - The Flavor Apprentice - World of Flavors . The Ego kit should work fine for you. Make sure you pick up a few different atties, that will make flavor changing easier for you. Also check out Cignot your Midwest Electronic Cigarette store. for your kit. Those ladies are great. Happy vaping to you and let us know if you come up with any amazing new flavors.

 

[dopamine]

Excellent! Thank you for understanding and being open-minded. I will certainly check out those suggestions and am excited to see what new flavors I may be able to whip up.

 

[TheAlphaAndTheOmega]

If you're vaping no-nic juice I have absolutely nothing against a nonsmoker vaping. Some nonsmokers vape to use nicotine as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, and anti-depressant, and I really can't encourage that. Nicotine is addictive (allthough I'm far less addicted to my PV than I was to Cigs, and I can go much longer without a "smoke" now that I'm vaping), and I cannot condone someone vaping nicotine when they aren't smokers.

HOWEVER. I am a candy freak. Very slightly hypoglycemic and I used that condition as an excuse to munch on as much candy as I could get my hands on. Totally wrecked my molars. But Candy flavored nic-liquid absolutely kills that sweet tooth without the sugar or the calories. If you want to vape for flavor I recommend an ego or riva (riva is cheaper) and ce2 cartos in the 2.8ohm range. Both are reasonably priced and reliable.

I've been tempted to try some beef jerky and bacon flavors to perhaps ween me off of those foods, but I just have the feeling that if I vaped beef jerky I'd want to eat beef jerky and end up spending more money.

This is so interesting to me. I haven't started vaping yet, as I just found you all and ordered my kit a few days ago. But I wondered if all of the great flavors could be a deterent to eating sweets, like SENSA. It's a food addative that makes you eat less... has something to do with the sense of smell and taste I think. Perhaps the OP dopamine could elaborate. Now that would be a thesis, using vaping to lose weight! Thoughts anyone?

 

[UntamedRose]

c'mon guys- I'm 30 years old, hate nicotine despite many opportunities to get into it. Granted no one knows me but the posts from people making the assumption that I will start using nicotine are a bit offensive (can't think of any other reason to hide this from the FDA). It' taking an assumption and applying it in a prejudiced way.

That Nonsmokers would be attracted by the flavors take up vaping...somehow get addicted to Nic, and then turn to smoking is a claim "fear mongering" the FDA has been using. Vapers have had to put up a long fought legal battle to keep ecigs legal. Hence us not really wanting the FDA to see these kinds of things. To put it simply threads like this are a potential liability. See Canada.

I think there is such a thing as responsible nicotine-free (enjoyable!) vaping, but again I see how difficult that would be to relate to if you've been addicted to the stuff. But I guess it's like alcoholics not quite understanding how someone can possibly drink in moderation and be OK (although I will do 0 nicotine, not moderation).

No not really comparable.
See with alcohol, there have been thousands of study's and even more years of usage by humans. We Know exactly what effects happen, how long they last, what long term risks, benefits and hazards there are to drinking in both moderation and in excess.

Ecig..we dont know. Our lungs could melt out at the ten year mark and honestly the Nic isnt so much the concern. If we do run into trouble it will likely be with the flavors, which are all made for ingestion not inhalation. Some problems and concerns have already popped up in that area.

Now while this is a risk a 2pack a day smoker, tried quitting for the past 5 years...would reasonably consider taking. It's a known killer vs potential killer..or not kinda choice. It doesnt make a whole lotta sense for someone who doesnt need it, and isnt already at risk.

 

[swedishfish]

c'mon guys- I'm 30 years old, hate nicotine despite many opportunities to get into it. Granted no one knows me but the posts from people making the assumption that I will start using nicotine are a bit offensive (can't think of any other reason to hide this from the FDA). It' taking an assumption and applying it in a prejudiced way. I think there is such a thing as responsible nicotine-free (enjoyable!) vaping, but again I see how difficult that would be to relate to if you've been addicted to the stuff. But I guess it's like alcoholics not quite understanding how someone can possibly drink in moderation and be OK (although I will do 0 nicotine, not moderation).

It's not even remotely the same thing, that's a false analogy.