Need a quitting support buddy and helpful ideas

[skatts72]

Ive been a smoker for 20 + years and have tried every thing known to man to help me quit with no success. I think my problem is I just really enjoy smoking. I have some issues with my right lung and was told about 9 years ago to quit or die early. very early like in my 40's. so I tried everything to quit but it has such a hold on me I found it impossible. now I have small children and would like to be around to watch them grow up. I think with my e- cig I may actually be able to quit and 2 of my boys have a birthdays coming up and I cant think of a better gift to give them. any advice welcome.

 

[Wildsky]

Hey Skatts.....
I'm going on day3 now with no analog, I've been vaping for about 2 months already, but was still having an analog now and then. (I started to stuff my own filter tubes about that time too - so its not so easy to just get smokes, I have to MAKE EM)
I smoked for 24 years, tried everything to quit! LOL

Anyhoo - don't try push it too hard, take it slow. Some folks can quit right away with not too many problems, others switch over slowly.

 

[skky]

Hi Skatts.

I was trying to start a thread entitled "Good Stuff to Look Forward to When Quitting" but I'm still too new to start a thread so I'll let you know the some of the neat stuff that happened to me when I stopped smoking regular cigarettes

1. After the 3rd day that ridiculously intense desire to HAVE-A-SMOKE fades. If you do smoke a regular cigarette it really tastes odd and you might feel ill. You are weirded out at this point because you have consumed them for so long and loved them. I was scared because I felt terribly ill. Tremors, tingling, & light-headedness.

2. After about 5 days I started smelling weird stuff and my nose was a little stuffed. When I say weird it's like you all-of-a-sudden have super powers and can smell things a mile away (well almost). My nose has been stuffed for a few weeks now when I wake up in the morning. I guess its because I'm detoxing... not sure.

3. Your hair is usually more shiny, smells fantastic, and can grow a bit faster. YAY!

4. By the end of the week you still might have cravings but they have changed from OMG I am going to D-I-E or ripped my hair out if I dont have a smoke to hmmm I feel like I'm missing something. Basically I was no longer as volatile when a craving hit.

5. You might actually think that going back to smoking is so bad (health-wise) that you'd never do it again even if you had the chance. That partially helped me. I kept thinking WOW I was pumping my body full of toxins in a major way and I don't want to do that anymore. I was also thinking of things differently like "Oh smoking a regular cigarette is so old school". Pretty much anything to get through it psychologically.

Personal Note of Weirdness...

I was at the mall this weekend and I really wanted to have a few drags of my ecig. I went outside and saw other ppl smoking regular cigarettes (mmmm the smell was so good to me-- reminding me of my security blanket I wished I could have one but didn't) I didn't want to smoke in the mall because I was not ready to explain to everyone it was not tobacco. Anyways I was outside and didn't want to have my ecig because I didn't want to explain to the ppl outside what it was. I just took a deep breath and didn't smoke anything. I realized at that point I was in a mini-gray area. How odd...

 

[Kate51]

I'm a newbie, too, on March 9th I recieved my NPRO, have graduated since to a pen-style now to cut down on refills. But of March 9th I smoked my LAST cigarette. This was something I made up my mind to do, and by golly if I can still have my nicotine with my coffee, if I never quit this it will be fine!!! I could no longer breath and exert myself at the same time (44 years of smoking), knew something had to happen FAST. And it did.
I use Johnson Creek Juice, the Original formula, 24mg (high) nicotine. Because I was afraid of not getting enough. I work at home, am home nearly 24-7, so try to anticipate doing a no-pain transition to not smoking. Has been working fabulously. Into the third day, no more coughing, have increased my energy level exponentially, sleep better, my husband says I look better?? but most of all, no more yellow fingers, smelly clothes, bad mouth, butts all over (I was smoking 3 packs a day of roll-your-own cigarettes, to save money) and generally feeling like crap every day. And yes, I did enjoy my smoking, did not want to quit, but knew I had to.
This has been an answer to my prayers, even though now I worry about dead batteries, dead atomizers, and running out of juice, so have spent a lot of money to keep these things handy at hand! And I can't even tell you how many people have been VERY interested in these devices, but are really afraid of investing into somethings that won't work. It does work, and your determination to make it work is crucial. Good luck to all!
BEST OF ALL, I have actually cut back on the amount of Nicotine I am ingesting every day. Amazing.

 

[Flip7990]

Good luck with the switch to vaping. I started with a Smoke 51 or long totem and managed to cut down from a pack a day to about 5 cigarettes a day. I then ordered a Janty Kissbox and found that it works much better for me. It has been about a month since I have had a real cigarette. I think that doing the research and possible trying more than one type of e-cigarette may help. It appears that everyone here has their favorites, and many of these users have tried different brands and types before finding it.
Once you find the right e-cigarette and flavor you like, you may end up like me and look forward to my chocolate flavored e-cig instead of a real one in the morning.

Best of luck

 

[OutWest]

Skatts,

When I first started using my ecig seriously, I was working 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, at a place that was no smoking indoors and the nearest exit was approx. 400ft away. I started out smoking 5-6 cigarettes in the morning while getting ready, and then once I brushed my teeth only vaping (using ecig). Then, through the day I only vaped, with the exception of the first couple of days where I did smoke one cigarette in the middle of the day. I continued to go outside for heavy vaping sessions and for the socialization aspect, for that is a big part of smoking, but I left my cigarettes inside. At the end of the day I would have 1-2 cigarettes before going to bed. Within a couple of weeks I was only smoking 3 cigarettes a day and vaping the rest of the time.

After returning home, I eventually relapsed. The reason being is that when working at home I can smoke at my desk, which makes it too easy. So, after I finished off all the cigarettes I had, I made myself go without a cigarette (and thus only used ecig) for as long as I could, which turned out to be 4 hrs that night and 6 hrs the next day. When I did eventually go to the store to buy a pack, I put them in the far end of the house where theyre not easily accessible. By doing that, I was able to fairly easily get right back to only smoking a few cigarettes a day.

I never have gotten past having a couple of cigarettes in the morning and one at night, but maybe I eventually will.

My best advice is to put your cigarettes where theyre inconvenient (far end of house, glovebox of car, etc). And, once youve brushed your teeth, dont let yourself have any. After a couple of days of that, I think you'll find that you wont want that nasty cigarette taste in your mouth (especially after brushing) and would rather have something yummy, such as a nice fruit flavor eliquid.

Also, have multiple batteries on hand, extra cartridges, and at least one spare atomizer, if not more, because they do die out of the blue. On an aside, I'd recommend more than one spare atomizer because what with the way the FDA has been behaving, it's going to be harder and harder to get any and will eventually end up having to wait for them to come from overseas. Reason for extra carts is because even if you refill them yourself, they do eventually wear out. I used one for a month, refilling as necessary, and now it wont stay attached to my ecig. If I turn my ecig upside down it falls out. In addition, imho you'll want at least two chargers for the batteries so that you can be charging two batteries at a time (your starter kit will come with one charger and you can pick up a USB charger pretty cheap).

 

[sherid]

My experience is very similar to Outwest's. Ironically, I also believe that the compulsion of constantly seeking the perfect e cig helps one stay focused on vaping. Visiting the forum and reading reviews is motivating, although some posts that focus on gloom and the end of vaping can be depressing enough to return to smoking full time.

 

[Stormynights]

I quit after 46 years with 2 other smokers in the house. What worked for me was a really good ecigarette. 901 and 510. I like them both equally. Really strong juice 36mg. It took the strong stuff to stop the cravings. I will be working on cutting back on the strength when I get more secure.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

My experience is very similar to Outwest's. Ironically, I also believe that the compulsion of constantly seeking the perfect e cig helps one stay focused on vaping.

I never thought of that, but it is true for me as well. Good point Sherid!

Visiting the forum and reading reviews is motivating, although some posts that focus on gloom and the end of vaping can be depressing enough to return to smoking full time.

The reality of what is going on can be stressful to someone who is trying to quit using these, however... It is SO important to understand what is going on with Big Government, Big Pharma and how it could impact your success with leaving using tobacco. I hope you all will ALSO read the other threads and find out how you can contact your Representatives to insure we can continue to use these without problems.

Skatts - You have the BEST support group on this forum 24/7. If you really want to get off of analogs, THIS is the place to do it. I haven't had a cigarette since March 25!! I had smoked a pack and one half for 30 plus years!!! Unfortunately, it took my father being diagnosed with in-op lung cancer to motivate me to look for a way to really quit. My sister found an article on line about e-cigs, then I found this forum.

I started with a Penstyle (DSE 801 or RN 4072, cost less than a carton of cigs). I love the vapor more than I ever loved cig smoke now!! When I finally got that it DOES work and quitting was nothing to fear, I bought 2 more full penstyle kits (so I'd have 3 chargers, 3 atomizers, 6 batteries) and I've purchased extra atomizers, batteries and liquids since (stock up due to government crapola possibilities). I just ordered a couple of USB passthroughs after reading about them on the forum, bought a Kensington battery pack (to get rid of constant recharging and hook up the passthrough) from BestBuy (on sale now). I've also just placed a large order for liquid. I chain vape 11mg all day (cut down 24 or 36mg liquid with both PG and VG).

Obviously the $$ can start adding up, but hey, considering the cost of a pack of smokes and the health issues that will cost me later... I'll be ahead of the game. It is an investment in the possibility of a longer better LIFE.

Last suggestion - Find the Social Group on this forum for your area. I've found about 8 people who live in my area (Phoenix). We're planning a get together at a vape friendly place. Having "real" friends who use these and have quit can be really helpful. If I can help in any way... send me a PM!!

 

[Brooksie]

Hi Skatts,
Glad you posted. I smoked 40 years, and loved it. I thought. But I was coughing my head off every day, so badly I pulled muscles in my side and back regularly. My family has history of COPD, that wasn't enough to scare me. But I was so sick of coughing for a good two hours in the morning, and heard of the e-cig from a nurse who's son quit analogs on it. I stumbled on the forum and read it for three hours before ordering my DSE901 mini and I bought a another kit too a penstyle. I stocked up on juice, batteries and atomizers, determined to be prepared.

I agree with Skky, after the first couple of days, my desire to smoke analogs was really fading fast. I realized I could turn to my e-cig instead. Some of the things that have helped me are:

1. Keeping the same routine, I vape outside at work (not in the smoking area because I don't want to have to explain it to anyone, I keep it to myself for the most part. I vape in the morning on the front porch with coffee, watching the birds, like I used to when I smoked. Although I do vape inside now at times, when on the computer.

2. I tried the patch, gum, lozenges, chantix, zyban, all several times, I realized part of what I was addicted to smoking was the hand-to-mouth part, the fussing with part, the reaching for part. Vaping provides that for me. I enjoy fussing with vaping, I needed the fuss-with factor. And I always have a battery charging. Take my charger to work.

3. I keep telling myself how great I feel now (even after only two weeks) After day one I felt better and my cough was drastically better in 3-4 days. I don't ever want to feel like I felt smoking analogs.

4. I have had 4 analogs in two weeks. Don't beat yourself up. I know I have 1/2 pack in my glove box of my car. I can smoke them if I want them. I just don't crave them anymore. I just say, I'll vape instead.

5. I found reading the posts on the forum to be very comforting. And very reinforcing mentally. Also, when I see people's signature line, 'vaping for xxx days, etc and some of the funny stuff, it boosts my confidence and attitude. I find reading the posts like having a whole bunch of friends who share this same trial and reward with me. That really has made a huge difference for me. I think if they can do it, I can too. And I will.

6. After two weeks, even after the first week the desire for an analog is really nill for me, I NEVER ever thought I would or could feel that way. I surprised even myself.

7. I tell myself that I'm proud of myself for doing this for me. I have a teenager, and have spend 17 years doing for others, now it's time to do something for myself.

So, hang in there and know that you are not alone. There are a bunch of us newbee's out here ready to support you.

Regards,
Kathy (Brooksie!)

 

[Frankie]

any advice welcome.

Is your health problem measurable? Because my advice would be to measure it before you quit, many times if possible, and then after you quit. It worked for me and my blood pressure. I fought the worst cravings by first deciding "if it goes bad again, I can start snusing, yeeha!" and then measuring the bloody pressure It kept in good low numbers, I could not get back to nicotine

With lungs the measuring is more difficult, but not impossible. You could probably do some measurable excercise like running or weightlifting or whatever and compare it after you quit. Also with lungs you are incredibly lucky, because you do not have to quit the drug, just the delivery device. My personal recommendation would be to look at Other Alternatives to Smoking - e-cigarette-forum.com • The place for electronic cigarette reviews, news and chat and start there in connection with your e-cig. If one of the solutions fails, you continue with one of the others and do not have to get back to cigarettes. You might soon realize you were addicted to nicotine and the act of smoking (and all the rituals connected with tobacco sigs) means nothing to you really - as long as you have a nice steady dose of nicotine for your system. Many even find smoking repulsive (becuase of the smoke odour) after they switch to e-cig or snus or other source of nic.