Leap of faith

[Jeff11]

I'm sitting here smoking my Marlboro, Pack is low, need to go pick up a carton, and I really don't want to. I'm thinking seriously of picking up an ecig and giving it a shot. Please, I welcome all responses. Tell me whats what. Is it safe? Is it going to help me quit? What if I run out of the stuff, can I find it locally? Whats the best brand or style?
I really don't want to smoke another damn cigarette, but what can I say, I'm a junky. Been a pack a day man for 30 years. Its killing me.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Hello and welcome to ecf. You have come to the right place for answers. Look at the stickies at the top portion of the page. Loads of info -- to help give you an understanding of what it is all about and a good starting place.
good luck

sas

 

[Stabbie]

I am new also. Been smoke free for a month. Have not had an analog since I got my ecig in the mail.
Find something easy to start with. I like the ego-t and even more so the go-go. Fill them up with juice and vape. There is nothing else to worry about to start out. The kits contain everything you need. They are easy to get going and get your foot in the door.
Then take a month and learn about the other PVs.
I am already looking at mods for my next PV.

Also, get a few different flavors of juice. I thought I would never vape something other than tobacco flavor. I bought some banana cream pie on a whim and never looked back.

 

[SilentVapidity]

Welcome! And I'll echo what other folks have said that you found a great place to ask questions and review info to find answers and make your decision.

Had to smile when I read:

Is it safe?

Ever see Marathon Man? Love that movie.

Anyway, I've been vaping since my 40th birthday (Feb 13 2011) and the only negative physical side effect that I've found is dehydration. I've doubled my water intake, and that is off-setting the dehydration. I found that issue and answer here at ECF.

The negative financial side effect is that I've been ordering tons of stuff online to try -- different flavors, different hardware, etc. But I'm not spending any more money than I spent on cigarettes. I was close to a pack a day smoker, American Spirits. And once I have enough juice to last me through Armageddon and beyond, I'll probably stop shopping for more. Probably.

E-cigs have helped many folks to quit smoking cigarettes. It's helped me to cut down -- dramatically. There are days when I'll have 2 - 3 cigarettes because the e-cigs meet nearly every need. I'm still trying to find the right nicotine content to eliminate those last 2 - 3 cigarettes.

People on ECF are very nice, very helpful, very experienced -- as well as very fun. Check around the different forums, read some of the posts. And, there are great videos on YouTube that were very helpful to me when I first started to explore the world of vaping. For me, it's often helpful if I "see" something demonstrated rather than read about it.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Jeff11 - Join the Alabama social group here on ECF. They'll all be really helpful to you and you might be able to meet up with local people who vape and get info. on purchasing locally, etc.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/groups/alabama-vapes.html

Everything you need to know about vaping is on the forum here. This is a good place to start http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ping-illustrated-guide-e-cigs-part-1-6-a.html

And then check out The ECF Library for more info.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Kimng]

Welcome Jeff!!!!! I started vaping 4 days ago!!! Haven't had a analog cig since my eGo came in the mail!!! While I have had minor cravings for analogs a couple of times, I find once I pick up my PV the cravings melt away!!! If u read through many of the threads here u will find all the answers ur looking for including symptoms of quitting analogs and some symptoms of switching to ecigs!! From what i noticed it's mostly dehydration which is easily remedied by increasing ur fluid intake!!!

I too was a pack a day smoker of american spirits!!! I have a pack lying around still just in case i wasn't going to get into the ecig thing!!! However, now that my taste buds are coming back to life the flavor and enjoyment of vaping is much more than i ever got out of smoking analogs!!! Big plus i no longer stick the smoke!!!

Keep asking questions and doing research!!! U will find what's right for u!!!!

I really enjoy the joye eGo, perfect battery life for me and super easy to use and the learning curve is very small!!!

 

[cyberwolf]

Welcome to the forum! Safe is a relative term and the only definite answer is that the technology hasn't been around long enough for conclusive long-term studies. What we do no is that activists and government groups have been trying hard for two years to find something wrong and have essentially come up with nothing other than minuscule amounts of chemicals in some cartridges that are found in cigarettes anyway and the suspicion that kids might like them. in short, cigarettes will kill you and there has so far been nothing that proves that ecigs are harmful.

Take a look at the links the others have recommended. You can't really go wrong with any kits that get good reviews here on the forum. I am a fan of the eGo, but there are many others out there. Just be sure to get enough e-liquid. You will likely go through around 15ml a week and will need to wait on the mail a few days to get it unless you find a local vendor.

Speaking of local vendors, be wary in your search. Mall kiosks have proven to be ripoffs. You shouldn't have to spend over $60 for an entry level kit.

 

[marcielynn]

Good Luck Jeff!!!

 

[Blue Ridge]

Hi Jeff, I all too well about the Marlboro's. I'm 45 years old and smoked since I was 16, one month ago I ordered a Joye 510 starter kit and some USA Mix ejuice and have not looked back, I quit smoking! you can too!

 

[Taniger1]

I'm sitting here smoking my Marlboro, Pack is low, need to go pick up a carton, and I really don't want to.

ROTFL Ahhhhh Jeff, I feel yer pain, I started the E-cig route too. I picked up a carton of smokes....2?? weeks ago, and 6 packs are in the freezer, with 2 or 3 packs laying around the house opened but mostly full. For me, E-cigs have NOT stopped my smoking, but I think I'm MAYBE smoking 2 - 3 a day, and somedays not at all. I am not going to kill myself, if I just stop them totally Rock on!! If I stay wiht the 2-3 a day, well that's ok too. Do NOT beat yourself up if you find yourself smoking analogs a bit, I don't :0), and I'm sure EVERYONE here would say the same thing.

On that note, I'm going to put a plug in for the ladies at Cignot your Midwest Electronic Cigarette store.. eGo for the WIN

 

[H. Wordsmythe]

Hello, and welcome from another newbie! I've been off analogs for one month and one week, and I can honestly say that I know I'm never going back. Vaping DOES work. It's amazing, really. I know that some people don't make a complete break from the analogs, but even cutting back is going to benefit you, health and money-wise (well, the money part will depend on how crazy you go on buying vape supplies!). Before I started vaping, I just could not comprehend how it could replace smoking, but now that I've made the switch, it all makes sense. It tastes better, it feels just as satisfying, it doesn't damage your body... Give it a shot! It's worth every penny. As for what gear you should get, I'd suggest starting with something like an eGo. I wish I'd gone that route to begin with, and I'd advise anyone who's thinking about starting up to begin with a firm foundation - that being a device that has a great reputation and versatility. I know many folks start with something like a standard 510 kit, and end up feeling vaguely dissatisfied with some aspect of the experience, be it battery life, vapor production, throat hit or whatever. That's not to say that you regular 510 (or any other stick-style, analog-appearing e-cig) is a bad device, but you'd probably end up upgrading to something better eventually anyway, so why not start at a higher level? But whatever you choose - and I hope you do choose to give e-cigs a shot - good luck and happy vaping!!

 

[MickeyRat]

First let me direct you to this thread because I did a really long run down on different PVs in there and I'm not doing it again.

To answer a couple more of your questions. You can only get a quality PV locally, if you're very lucky. Most of what is sold in stores is overpriced junk but, I'll say price it anyway. That way you'll realize you can probably get two quality kits for less than what local retailers charge for one near useless kit.

As for safety. Long term is unknown. There's every reason to believe that they are safer than cigarettes which are known to be harmful. As far as I'm concerned, any study that doesn't compare PVs to cigarettes is bogus. The two studies that I know about compared the harmful ingredients in cigarettes to the harmful ingredients in PVs were from Harvard and the government of New Zealand. Those concluded that the only ingredient known to be harmful in PVs is nicotine and by itself that's not too bad. The long term effects of inhaling vaporized PG and VG in these quantities aren't known but, they are considered safe for inhalation in other applications.

 

[Rar]

Welcome Jeff. I started vaping sometime at the end of February. I both vaped and smoked, cutting back more and more on the analogs. I don't think my first PV was entirely suitable for me, so I was reluctant to give up my analogs. Once I upgraded a bit and chose another PV more suited to me and based on my prior smoking habits (based on the recommendations of this forum), I knew I could set a quit analog date. I agree with H. Wordsmythe, "Vaping DOES work." I also agree that you should go the route of establishing a firm foundation with a good quality PV - a route I, too, wish I had gone. I also hope you choose to give e-cigs a shot.

 

[RIMP]

I'm sitting here smoking my Marlboro, Pack is low, need to go pick up a carton, and I really don't want to. I'm thinking seriously of picking up an ecig and giving it a shot. Please, I welcome all responses. Tell me whats what. Is it safe? Is it going to help me quit? What if I run out of the stuff, can I find it locally? Whats the best brand or style?
I really don't want to smoke another damn cigarette, but what can I say, I'm a junky. Been a pack a day man for 30 years. Its killing me.

You need to get your post count up so you can receive PM's,(personal msgs).
I may be in your area or know someone who is I would go with an ego t 510 connection with type B attys and tanks.
RIMP

 

[Jeff11]

Wow, what a response. I've been surfing around since starting this thread, and I'm excited. I know this isnt a cure for smoking and I know in the end Its up to me. I am going to do it. Anything is better than this. My sister in law is vaping now, and I puffed on hers last night at the Pub and liked it. I am shopping now. Thanks for all this great feedback. Keep it coming and I'm glad to hear so many success stories. I will keep yall posted.

 

[Jeff11]

Working on that post count. Thanks.

 

[Tarrant220]

I'm new as well here but I've been vaping for well over a year now, I highly encourage every smoker I talk to into giving it a shot, you've nothing to lose but your addiction to cigarettes!

As far as "is it safe?", as someone else said, "safe" is a relative word, it takes years for a rock solid study to be published but with no toxins or chemicals the way I look at it is even if you have minor concerns...almost anything is safer for you then actual smoking. Heck they say star light can even cause cancer now a days!!

Give it a shot, you wont regret it as long as you don't go with a really cheap brand, and with just a bit of research you can determine which ones are or aren't, also popular consensus here I'm sure can direct you to a quality product. Good luck to you!

 

[KeithB]

The general belief is that e-cigs are much safer than smoking and what evidence there is appears to back that up. The simple fact is they just haven't been around long enough to have had any long term studies done on them.

I've formed my own opinion by looking at the thousands of chemicals I'm no longer inhaling from cigarettes. The biggest unknown is the risk of inhaling the flavorings used in the juice. PG has been studied in regards to inhalation and is GRAS (generally recognized as safe), VG had not been studied as much, but the fears of it degrading into acrolien (SP?) may be unfounded as the casual measurements taken by some forums members show atties just don;t get that hot if they've got juice. Nicotine is a poison and a stimulant which will raise your BP, but it is apparently not a carcinogen, although you'll get some TSNAs, which are carcinogens, at trace levels similar to FDA approved nicotine replacement therapies like the patch, the gum and lozenges.

 

[Tarrant220]

yeah that's one thing I find amusing about the FDA. They have the gull to lie to the general population about something being unhealthy but then they approve us using a product with over 4000 chemicals and toxins in it. If I were to make a product with bleach, ammonia, asbestos, embalming fluid....so one and so forth and tried to sell it they would shut me down and lock me up.

It boils down to money and the ecig makers have tried to partner up with the FDA to do studies with no response from the FDA itself, all they keep doing is trying to ram negative propaganda down our throats. It's great to see so many people educating themselves on the issue.

 

[CES]

Hey Jeff,

Great to see someone else from Alabama thinking about trying out vaping. (Thanks for putting up the link to the social group Hellen.) You've gotten great answers so far- hope you take the leap. Welcome to ECF!