Just the facts...

[rhantson]

The following is nothing but facts... not even names have been changed to protect anyone... (Insert Dragnet Theme Here)...

The following facts have nothing to do with any FDA report. These are just facts based on my life as a smoker and my new life as someone who is using an alternative method to deal with my addiction to nicotine. These facts are based on only one study, the study of my own life and my own struggle with having been drawn into the dangerous habit of smoking.

Fact - In 1984, at age 14, I picked up my first cigarette. I was hooked almost immediately.

Fact - In 1986, I was a two pack a day smoker.

Fact - In 1991, I made my first attempt to quit smoking, the old fashioned way... I walked away...

Fact - In 1991, after three days of being a non-smoker, and literally t-ing off everyone I came in contact with due to my attitude, I stopped off and picked up a pack of smokes...

Fact - 1992, I was handed my first "patch"... Did I put down the smokes? Nope... I had a patch, and was still smoking about 5 to 10 cigs a day... After about 3 months of trying, I gave up - it was incredibly expensive, and I just couldn't afford to continue, and I was STILL smoking...

Fact - 1994, Another attempt to stop smoking... see 1992...

Fact - 1997 - Married a smoker...

Fact - 1998 - Had my first child... moved to smoking outside... attempted to quit again.... Gum... Patch... see 1992 - same exact story...

Fact - 2008 - another attempt to quit - this time using a little pill... wound up in a very unusual depressed state, suicidal thoughts, dropped the pill, went back to a pack a day. Wife quit cold turkey - had a hell of a time doing so - can not go out to a bar with me as shes afraid she'll pick up the habit again. Social life deteriorates due to the fact that most of our friends are smokers and its just too tempting...

Fact - July 9, 2010 - picked up a 510... haven't had, nor have I desired a cigarette since. I'm feeling better about myself. I don't smell like a dirty ashtray. I'm on my way to a healthier life.

Fact - July 25, 2010 - Still, haven't had a desire to even touch an analog cigerette. I have my tastebuds back. I'm using less salt (that's a healthier change to say the least). I'm drinking less coffee for some reason (probably the Keoke Coffee flavor eliquid I enjoy in the morning?). I have more energy. My wife has never seen me more energetic and happy. I'm less irritable.

Like I said - just the facts... Just wanted to share that with those who are dropping by and wondering what the facts are... from a former analog smoker...

 

[CtryBoy]

Now if only the FDA would listen to the FACTS and quit trying to SAVE us.

 

[glowgirl]

Case closed! Congrats on your success!

 

[iheart45s]

I'm a new esmoker and although I'm noticing less desire to smoke regular ciggies, I'm still going through withdrawal symptoms. Totally irritable. What lvl of nic did you use when you started?

 

[dknightd]

Thanks for sharing your story. I still find myself wanting to burn tobacco occasionally - so far I've been giving in to those urges. I think I am addicted to more than just the nicotine. But I'm burning less and vaping more. I'd like to not do either, but vaping seems like a better option. My wife gave it up cold turkey when she got pregnant - amazing women - I've been smoking outside since then. When she gets back I think I'll try to stop burning altogether - no more ashtray mouth for me

 

[spider362]

When I got my first e-cig I stopped using analogs cold turkey.

Been vaping 24mg, Dekang, Menthol ever since.

These things WORK...

See my banner below for my success story...

 

[CaptJay]

Nice testimonial and it made me laugh too as well groan on your attempts - so glad you found my fave 510 and love it still. Hows the wife doing? Still off the cigs or looking at your 510 with envy?

 

[Madmann]

Good stuff but ever forget these more important facts.

* In 20 minutes, your blood pressure and pulse rate decrease, and the body temperature of your hands and feet increase.
* Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. At 8 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood decreases to normal. With the decrease in carbon monoxide, your blood oxygen level increases to normal.
* At 24 hours, your risk of having a heart attack decreases.
* At 48 hours, nerve endings start to regrow and the ability to smell and taste is enhanced.
* Between 2 weeks and 3 months, your circulation improves, walking becomes easier and you don’t cough or wheeze as often. Phlegm production decreases. Within several months, you have significant improvement in lung function.
* In 1 to 9 months, coughs, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease as you continue to see significant improvement in lung function. Cilia, tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs, regain normal function.
* In 1 year, risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack is reduced to half that of a smoker.
* Between 5 and 15 years after quitting, your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
* In 10 years, your risk of lung cancer drops. Additionally, your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease. Even after a decade of not smoking however, your risk of lung cancer remains higher than in people who have never smoked. Your risk of ulcer also decreases.
* In 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack in similar to that of people who have never smoked. The risk of death returns to nearly the level of a non-smoker.

 

[Riggs-]

Good stuff but ever forget these more important facts.

* In 20 minutes, your blood pressure and pulse rate decrease, and the body temperature of your hands and feet increase.
* Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. At 8 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood decreases to normal. With the decrease in carbon monoxide, your blood oxygen level increases to normal.
* At 24 hours, your risk of having a heart attack decreases.
* At 48 hours, nerve endings start to regrow and the ability to smell and taste is enhanced.
* Between 2 weeks and 3 months, your circulation improves, walking becomes easier and you don’t cough or wheeze as often. Phlegm production decreases. Within several months, you have significant improvement in lung function.
* In 1 to 9 months, coughs, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease as you continue to see significant improvement in lung function. Cilia, tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs, regain normal function.
* In 1 year, risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack is reduced to half that of a smoker.
* Between 5 and 15 years after quitting, your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
* In 10 years, your risk of lung cancer drops. Additionally, your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease. Even after a decade of not smoking however, your risk of lung cancer remains higher than in people who have never smoked. Your risk of ulcer also decreases.
* In 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack in similar to that of people who have never smoked. The risk of death returns to nearly the level of a non-smoker.

Nic causes the first one, so that doesn't actually go away, but the rest of the terrible stuff does .

Riggs-

 

[Automaton]

Open and shut.

Thank you for telling us about your story. This whole e-cig thing really is pretty much amazing, and as far as I'm aware, the only thing in existence with which the majority of smokers are able to quit (75-85% according to every poll I've read). The next best thing is Chantix, which is about half as effective, and can turn you suicidal/homicidal. No thank you. The fact that they're trying to get e-cigs banned is insane.

See my signature. Before now, I've never gone more than 4 or 5 days when I quit.

 

[zbasspro]

Singing to the choir my man! You story parallels mine in soo many ways! I'm glad you found a way out. As far as the FDA is concerned I could make it a few years as of right now if I had to. They say the shelf life of nic is 2 years. I'll stock up and take my chances of that being a fallacy. I WILL NOT allow them to send me back to sure death! I'll find a way of extracting nic if need be.

 

[zoiDman]

... My wife has never seen me more energetic and happy. I'm less irritable.
...

Seems like even if e-Cigs are just as bad for you as cigs, that this would make a person want to switch.

That and they are cheaper.

 

[kevinthemix]

Now if only the FDA would listen to the FACTS and quit trying to SAVE us.

Maybe we have to roar the FACTS at them, and that should suffice to break through their hearing problem.

class-action lawsuit? write a zillion thank you letters to Judge richad leon .... go hardcore on creating a defamatory and derogatory awareness of the FDAs illicit intents ...

killing the ecig is a great initiative for the FDA, becuase the resulting deaths and killings from tobacco will gain them more support from Big Pharma & big tobacco.

Spread the word, voice the facts - kill the FDA's corruption, before it kills you.

 

[STB]

Your story is very similar to ours. This is why we started our blog; it has become such an interesting area to research and write about. This forum is fantastic source of information

 

[rhantson]

I'm a new esmoker and although I'm noticing less desire to smoke regular ciggies, I'm still going through withdrawal symptoms. Totally irritable. What lvl of nic did you use when you started?

I started at 18... from what I've been learning, if you can deal with the withdrawls that is, stay off the analogs for about a week and it'll pass even quicker... Easier said than done I know, but the effects of dropping analogs cold turkey subsided pretty quickly over a period of a week.

As long as you are backing off them though and slowly weaning yourself away from all those bad chems - is an accomplishment in my book!

It's just getting over the first couple of hurdles that really make the difference...

By the way - an update... I played softball for the first time in 20 years last night! Got walked to first base and the next at bat hit a triple... I ran home, hit the base and didn't have to spend 20 minutes trying to catch my breath! 3 weeks and I'm not losing my breath from running just that short distance!

Drawback though... I miss that wonderful headrush I used to get out of a couple flights of stairs now... I guess I'll have to start running now to get that "runners high" again now! LOL

 

[rhantson]

Nice testimonial and it made me laugh too as well groan on your attempts - so glad you found my fave 510 and love it still. Hows the wife doing? Still off the cigs or looking at your 510 with envy?

She's been off the cigs and staying off them! She's very pleased with my energy levels and doesn't envy my eCig at all... she looks at like this - if I'm not smelling like smoke, my health and energy level is improving, and I'm going to live to see my kids get married... MORE POWER TO IT!

 

[Jonmo1]

Nice personal accounting.

I wonder how many stories like this we would have to collect for them to be considered a "study" ?

 

[Ypsitower]

I started vaping about a year ago and it didn't last long. Too much to carry because I wanted to vape all day long. Started with a 510 and loved it at first but batteries didn't last long enough. Now that I have a model that lasts 8 hours or so I just need one small extra battery and a bottle of juice to drip. I should finally be able to walk away from the analogs.

 

[evenflow]

Singing to the choir my man! You story parallels mine in soo many ways! I'm glad you found a way out. As far as the FDA is concerned I could make it a few years as of right now if I had to. They say the shelf life of nic is 2 years. I'll stock up and take my chances of that being a fallacy. I WILL NOT allow them to send me back to sure death! I'll find a way of extracting nic if need be.

I just love the passion in this post. Way to go!!!!