my vaping conundrum o.O

[Jfaria1891]

so i got into vaping to quit smoking as i assume many of you did.
i was going to use it the way it was intended or the way i think its intended which would be to work down in the levels of nicotine untill you hit 0 then stop smoking all together.

but i find myself enjoying vaping like i don't want to stop vaping like its not harmful (or so we're told) and it relaxes me and feels good and theres so many flavors and its so inexpensive i dont see why i shouldn't do it, and i guess i kinda feel guilty for that because i was saposed to be doing this to stop smoking not find an alternative.

its even become a social thing as i have many e cigs and we all smoke them when friends come over rather then going to hooka or sheesha bars.

idk is anyone else in the same boat it seems like everyone here has no intentions to stop vaping either and the FDA has done little to no studies to see if its actually in fact even safe.

 

[JCJohn23]

I thought in the beginning it would be the same way too. It has now turned into a hobby of mine and I don't plan on stopping. I guess one question I would have is do you see it harmful if you were to just go to 0mg and hang there? I know for me somewhere deep inside when I was smoking analogs I had a reservation that I wasn't going to quit until a doctor told me I would die if I smoked again. Had best intentions to quit but I always knew... so its better I now have vaping!

 

[JerryRM]

The e-cig is not a quit smoking remedy, it's an alternative to smoking. Vape away and enjoy.

BTW, I haven't smoked a cig in over 3 years, so, for me, that's a big benefit of vaping.

I wouldn't trust any FDA studies, where it concerns e-cigs.

 

[Thrasher]

i started vaping to continue smoking, even if i dont use nic, i will smoke until i die and before i found vaping i accepted that fact, im so glad i found this wonderful hobby.

my only problem is being a gadget head and there is way too much cool stuff to tinker with lol..............

 

[Lenmerlo]

My problem always was that I enjoyed smoking (I know that sounds weird) and now that I have started vaping I dont ever see me stopping. I think all the flavors available have really helped me stop cigs. I do find it relaxing and dont forsee me stopping anytime in the near future.

 

[JerryRM]

My problem always was that I enjoyed smoking (I know that sounds weird) and now that I have started vaping I dont ever see me stopping. I think all the flavors available have really helped me stop cigs. I do find it relaxing and dont forsee me stopping anytime in the near future.

It doesn't sound weird to me, Lenmerlo. I enjoyed smoking too, all 46 years of it. When I started vaping, I only planned to slow down my smoking, not stop completely. But, two months later, I couldn't stand the taste or smell of cigarettes anymore, so I put them away.....for good. No matter what the gubmint decides about e-cigs, I will never go back to smoking.

 

[yzer]

FDA doesn't actually do that many studies. They never have. Do you want to pay taxes to have the FDA thoroughly test every product that comes out on the market? This is a common misconception about FDA. In the case of e-cigarettes they did some testing because a product had entered the market before any tests were submitted to FDA. FDA relies upon the industries themselves to do most of the studies or to pay for studies at institutions like universities.

FDA is still deciding how they will regulate e-cigarettes. The one thing we know is that e-cigarettes will be regulated by FDA the same way that they regulate tobacco products and not as a drug or food. The level of regulation is unknown at this point. If FDA regulation of e-cigarettes follows their history of regulating other totally new industries and products the industry itself will recommend regulations that the FDA will evaluate and adopt (or not). Because the industries have the best knowledge of new products the FDA relies upon them to provide useful input for regulation.

The best bet is that e-cigarettes present a reduced risk alternative to smoking tobacco, not a risk-free alternative. Only long term studies will provide an answer to the long-term safety of using e-cigarettes.

Until long term studies are done everyone who uses e-cigarettes does so at their own risk.

 

[Baditude]

It's been well proven that the primariy health issues with cigarette or tobacco use is the smoke itself and the other carcinogens within it. The known health risks of the addictive element of tobacco, nicotine, is quite controversial, depending upon who you wish to believe. I tend to believe it is no more risk than another stimulant, caffeine, which is probably consumed in even higher quantities in the general population than nicotine.

I'm convinced that I am now healthier for having quit smoking. I've cut my nicotine strength in my juice down from 24mg to 12mg, and I'm content to stay there at the present time.

Don't feel guilty. Be proud of kicking a terrible habit of tobacco use. So what if you are using an alternative nicotine delivery system. I know people who have been using nicotine gum for years.

 

[yzer]

The long term risk of using nicotine is well studied. It's is pretty low risk if not abused. The long term risk of vaping the carriers, flavoring and other ingredients is not that well known. Some of the carriers have been used in NRT (medical) inhalers for many years without issues. We know the safety of most flavoring ingredients when ingested but very little is known about the safety of inhaling these same chemicals.

 

[DiNet]

We all love the stuff that kills us, or damages us. And we use it every day... just read ingredients of your favorite snacks

doing this to stop smoking

You did... you did stop smoking. You're vaping now...

 

[grandmato5]

I see no reason to have a set plan. Go with the flow and adjust over time if you wish

When I ordered my first ecig I had no intention of quitting smoking. I was just going to use it when it would be more convenient then smoking. As soon as it arrived I changed my plan to see if I could stop smoking and only vape, which I did A few months later I decided to see if I could reduce my nicotine usage (didn't plan on going zero nic at the time) simply to not be as reliant upon it and a few months later I'd kicked my nicotine dependence. I use some nic when I feel like it and use zero nic juice most of the time. I enjoy vaping and know without a doubt that as long as vaping is an option there is zero chance of my smoking again. There may come a day in my future that I decide to give up vaping. If that happens thats fine and if not thats fine too. Just going with the flow here without any special plans for the future other then to never smoke another cigarette again.

 

[DancingHeretik]

I really don't care if I quit. As long as I'm vaping, I'm not smoking. That's all that matters to me.

The only thing I have considered is that I may have to go to no nic if the FDA goes crazy. But, I really don't think that's going to be a big issue. The worst that's likely to happen is that the price for nic may go up enough for me to cut my nic levels a bit to save money.

In the meantime, miracle of miracles, I no longer smoke!

 

[Baditude]

grandmato5, you have such a grand way with words and thoughts.

 

[Heavyrocker]

I heard they will raise taxes the same rate on nic juices.36% ...OUCH

 

[RosaJ]

I smoked a pack and a half a day of cigarettes for 40+ years. I had sleep apnea, couldn't walk very far without running out of breath, smelled like an ashtray, and all the other wonderful side effects relative to smoking.

You probably experienced some of them yourself while you smoked. On top of that we had the "non-smokers" treating us like scumbags and pariahs because we smoked. There was no respect shown to us and we were kicked to the curb to brave the weather literally if we wanted to have a cigarette. We endured this abuse (yes, it is abuse) for how many years? Why? Because we enjoyed it, plain and simple.

After 10 months of vaping, I can walk as far as I want without losing my breath (even a flight of stairs), I don't have sleep apnea any more (confirmed by my youngest son who is visiting for the holidays), I can even sing again without coughing LOL.

As you say, the FDA keeps saying and also the ANTZ, that there have not been any long term studies on vaping. Well, there have been some preliminary ones and they're very promising. So if you don't want to vape because we don't know if we're going to glow at night after a period of time vaping, then go ahead and go back to smoking. We are at the beginning of this awesome alternative to smoking, so for the long-term studies time will have to pass from now until whatever the magic number of years is.

In the meantime, I personally am not going to sweat it. After all I was willing to live with the effects of smoking once upon a time. I've lived long enough to know there are no guarantees in life. Even when the doctor prescribes a medication for you, it comes with all of the contraindications listed on the insert. In the end, doctors will look at you in the eyes and say, "it is ultimately your responsibility to take the medicine or not."

 

[Jfaria1891]

wow a ton of great responses thanks guys!
@RosaJ - i totally wouldn't mind glowing at night lol

and yes you are all right even if it is hazardous theres no way it could be worse then cancer sticks

again your all right if i don't want to stop then i shouldn't and if they want to tax nic juice i have no problem going to 0 nic juice im at 12 now it might suck at first but like everything else we will get over it lol.

i feel like they will be hesitant to mess with it too much they have been trying to force the public to stop smoking cancer sticks for so long id find it have to believe they would bash an alternative altho they will do anything for a little tax money.

and i also agree with all the different flavors and the freedom ecigs offer id never go back to smoking theres no amount they can tax it that would make it more expensive then cancer sticks they are just under 10 bucks a pack where i am lol F that. thats why i switched sides =P

 

[JerryRM]

I do believe that the hand to mouth habit is worse than the nicotine addiction. I started at 18 mg nic and I have reduced it to 12 mg nic, with no problems. Soon, I will be lowering the nic to 9 mg, then 6, 3 and finally 0, but I will still be vaping, even at 0 nic.

On the other hand, I would greatly miss puffing on my e-cig, especially when I am at the computer. Not for the nic, but for the enjoyment of puffing on it.

 

[Jfaria1891]

I do believe that the hand to mouth habit is worse than the nicotine addiction. I started at 18 mg nic and I have reduced it to 12 mg nic, with no problems. Soon, I will be lowering the nic to 9 mg, then 6, 3 and finally 0, but I will still be vaping, even at 0 nic.

On the other hand, I would greatly miss puffing on my e-cig, especially when I am at the computer. Not for the nic, but for the enjoyment of puffing on it.

yup same here its all about the oral fixation lmao

 

[mse12]

I say go for it until you're ready to stop. I'd venture to think quitting vaping will be VERY similar in quitting smoking which to say the least is difficult. For me I'm just happy that I found a way to have nicotine without smelling or spending over $6 for a pack...the health advantages are nice as well. I don't feel so dragged down like I do when I smoke an analog. I also think my blood pressure has come down a little too..still a lil' high but not so bad. I'm happy with vaping.

 

[DavidLester]

There is evidence to suggest that tobacco cigarettes have added chemicals that make them more addictive, and also some of the chemicals produced by tobacco cigarettes do make them more addictive than pure nicotine per see. Here is a good post on nicotine Risks of Nicotine | SWITCH NOW SAVE NOW
Most vapers have somewhere made the choice to quit smoking & see electronic cigs as a safer & cheaper alternative.
What happens after you have been vaping a while is that you will change the way you vape. When I smoked it was always in fear and guilt, and never really enjoyable. Now I like nothing better than vaping, be it an old fav or a new e-juice.
I put my GP on the spot and asked him if my e-cig was better for me than smoking. His reply did surprize me and I suggest you ask your Doctor the same question.