Newbie Bandwagon..

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Shannanigan

Senior Member
Verified Member
May 17, 2014
180
486
Louisiana Who DAT!
I witnessed another member give more information about himself and I'm choosing to do the same.. Normally I just comment or pop-up on a thread! Ha!

I'm currently 36, two kids, and dealing with a difficult medical condition.(I don't post this for sympathy but more for awareness. Heck, who knows, maybe another member suffers from the same!)

I've smoked for 20 years, only stopping for my two pregnancies. Last year I decided to turn my health around. I should add that I was a "Wino" as well. I went through a "discovery" period, began lifting weights, cycling, and running. I realised when running, I felt like my chest was about to explode! I decided to begin vaping off and on, but never fell in love with the juices. I had a 2 hour commute both ways in between a 8-10 hour work day. My kids are also home schooled and in high school. I was the epitome of BUSY. I awoke on day and decided to stop drinking and started vaping a disgusting vanilla and an apple flavored vape in 0 nicotine for the commute. I pretty much gave up cigarettes cold turkey. I was able to push my body so much harder and instantly had more endurance! My weight began to shift, my lungs felt better, my body stopped detoxed like a beast, AND I was at the top of my company managing a high volume store. Best of all I was not smoking and felt like a new woman.

Fast forward a couple of months....

When I began loosing fat and building muscle, I started having ankle pain. (I had a brutal, old roller derby injury that was mended with lots of screws and several plates.) The screws began protruding and required surgery. I went out for surgery 9/30/13. Healing time was only to be 2 weeks. As a result of the surgery, I developed a neuromuscular disorder called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or CRPS for short. The weeks went on with new symptoms and I found myself severely depressed. I began smoking again. The cigarettes were like poison to my system and often found myself vomiting after only one. I kept smoking and several weeks after, the "heaviness" and sickly feelings associated with my previous experiences with smoking returned, but I was hooked again. I was smoking a pack a day and felt like crap! In February of this year I finally began vaping again, reordered better hardware and juice. It took about two months to give up cigarettes completely.

My physical condition still is deteriorating and I have gone from my best health ever to completely disabled. I still cannot believe it!! The amazing muscle gains I had have deteriorated and I have to use a wheel chair and walker. I still find myself especially frustrated, i like having control of my life and I miss working and friendships the most. I continue to battle this never ending, painful disease but at least I have freedom from cigarettes and I finally can say I would never return! Every victory counts in life, especially Victory over those that are manufactured to kill you!

I found Nicoticket like most, web searches that led to ECF. From there I searched Tapatalk for other forums and found a few more awesome boards and people! I'm thankful for Nicoticket for making an amazingly flavored, quality product! Also, to this group of amazing, encouraging, honest people! You all make my day! I order Nicoticket juices solely, I don't have to wonder what I'm getting!

Shine on you crazy vapers!
 

DetraMental

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Mar 31, 2013
3,290
2,351
United States
Hello, welcome, and congrats Shannanigan. We're glad you are with us here at ECF. Thanks for sharing your experience with us and I'm sure it'll be of vital importance to alot of people, myself included. I share in a lot of what you said. You sound like a very strong individual and that will take you far no matter what life tries to throw at ya, good for you! Keep that positive attitude and vape on!! I hope to see you around often here in the forums!!
 
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Megan Kogijiki Ratchford

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Jul 17, 2013
11,013
64,707
Arvada, CO
I witnessed another member give more information about himself and I'm choosing to do the same.. Normally I just comment or pop-up on a thread! Ha!

I'm currently 36, two kids, and dealing with a difficult medical condition.(I don't post this for sympathy but more for awareness. Heck, who knows, maybe another member suffers from the same!)

I've smoked for 20 years, only stopping for my two pregnancies. Last year I decided to turn my health around. I should add that I was a "Wino" as well. I went through a "discovery" period, began lifting weights, cycling, and running. I realised when running, I felt like my chest was about to explode! I decided to begin vaping off and on, but never fell in love with the juices. I had a 2 hour commute both ways in between a 8-10 hour work day. My kids are also home schooled and in high school. I was the epitome of BUSY. I awoke on day and decided to stop drinking and started vaping a disgusting vanilla and an apple flavored vape in 0 nicotine for the commute. I pretty much gave up cigarettes cold turkey. I was able to push my body so much harder and instantly had more endurance! My weight began to shift, my lungs felt better, my body stopped detoxed like a beast, AND I was at the top of my company managing a high volume store. Best of all I was not smoking and felt like a new woman.

Fast forward a couple of months....

When I began loosing fat and building muscle, I started having ankle pain. (I had a brutal, old roller derby injury that was mended with lots of screws and several plates.) The screws began protruding and required surgery. I went out for surgery 9/30/13. Healing time was only to be 2 weeks. As a result of the surgery, I developed a neuromuscular disorder called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or CRPS for short. The weeks went on with new symptoms and I found myself severely depressed. I began smoking again. The cigarettes were like poison to my system and often found myself vomiting after only one. I kept smoking and several weeks after, the "heaviness" and sickly feelings associated with my previous experiences with smoking returned, but I was hooked again. I was smoking a pack a day and felt like crap! In February of this year I finally began vaping again, reordered better hardware and juice. It took about two months to give up cigarettes completely.

My physical condition still is deteriorating and I have gone from my best health ever to completely disabled. I still cannot believe it!! The amazing muscle gains I had have deteriorated and I have to use a wheel chair and walker. I still find myself especially frustrated, i like having control of my life and I miss working and friendships the most. I continue to battle this never ending, painful disease but at least I have freedom from cigarettes and I finally can say I would never return! Every victory counts in life, especially Victory over those that are manufactured to kill you!

I found Nicoticket like most, web searches that led to ECF. From there I searched Tapatalk for other forums and found a few more awesome boards and people! I'm thankful for Nicoticket for making an amazingly flavored, quality product! Also, to this group of amazing, encouraging, honest people! You all make my day! I order Nicoticket juices solely, I don't have to wonder what I'm getting!

Shine on you crazy vapers!

Oh sweetie I'm so sorry. I have a student who has this and she's clinging to her independence as much as she can and she is very miserable... *SMOOSHY COMFORTING HUGGLES* And GO YOU!!!!! for kicking the cigs. You and I are a pair of stubborn people trying to hold on regardless of our health. I too realized my depression was eating away at my life. I started vaping because I figured I needed to live a better life even if my life is not what I'd like. I used to laugh at my docs when they would pester me to quit, "Why??? So I can live in a wheel chair LONGER????" but I discovered to try and live thinking of what I have right now rather than constantly listing what I will not ever be able to do was a far better mental state.

My ace in the hole was always to run away and winter over doing ice studies in Antarctica. But I would have had to quit smoking...well, got that one taken care of except having MS will disqualify me forever. Seriously had a nice poor me party when I realized that.

BUT! I CAN rebuild my own coils and I CAN be not smoking for longer than since I started and I CAN (thanks to my bosses who keep me regardless of my limitations) still teach pottery even if I can't do any of my own very much. I have to count my blessings even if they are a much smaller list than the bad stuff because when you really, REALLY start listening to that in your own head all the good stuff just seems too little too late. So I very consciously focus on those good things and some days the only thing I can come up with is my dear Grandmother's Cinnamon Danish and not smelling like the floor of an old bar.

Now THAT is a hellofa accomplishment! And we both did that!!! YES!!!:2cool::vapor:
 

RageKage

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Apr 23, 2014
197
747
Haddonfield, NJ
Welcome to the NT family, and thanks for sharing your story. What I have found in my VERY short time here is that this is one of the nicest, most helpful and welcoming group of people you could care to meet. I'm so glad to have found this group, and that you found us as well. Post here and post often, even if you just need to vent to someone if you're having a rough day. I'm sure the family here will be happy to listen, offer words of advice, or just be a group of compassionate shoulders when you need some to lean on. Warm-welcomes and hugs!!!
 

lda2345

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Apr 15, 2014
113
473
Arkansas
Thanks for sharing your story and welcome to the family! It really hit home for me since part of my job deals with individuals with disabilities and I also am into very into fitness. I really don't know why I couldn't keep of the smokes even working out and competing. Im a new me also and my breathing has much improved since i have been vaping!
 

distortoblotto

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Nov 12, 2013
8,140
47,367
S.F/ Seattle
Hello Shannaigan, Yet another big Thank You for sharing your story. It sounds like you already have two wonderful motivators to help you down your current stormy road and as others have said, you now have an caring and devoted extended family to turn to when your frustrations become obstacles or bumps in that road. May you maintain your path of becoming smoke free with reckless abandon and even more than that, may your road towards recovery be traveled at nothing less than Godspeed.
 

emily n portland

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Sep 12, 2013
1,636
5,700
portland, OR, USA
Thanks for sharing your moving story.

I have relapsing/remitting MS, and while I’m lucky to be relatively ok currently, I had a really rough year a few years ago and can relate to shock of being suddenly disabled. While I have nothing nice to say about chronic diseases...or insurance companies or big pharma for that matter, one positive aspect that came from battling them is I learned just how strong of a person I really am, and frankly surprised myself. If I made it through that year…well, I’m pretty confident I can face anything now. And you my dear, sound like a very strong and determined lady to me. Congratulations for conquering cigarettes and the trials of the last eight months. I wish you all the best and if you ever need someone to vent to, I’m happy to listen….we all are.

:)
 

Shannanigan

Senior Member
Verified Member
May 17, 2014
180
486
Louisiana Who DAT!
So glad you are here - thank you for sharing! I have a friend with CRPS and it's not an easy road.
What's your favorite NT flavor?
Hello Tamara! So far I haven't found a favorite! Ha! I love them all pretty equally! Currently, I've refilled Wakonda more than any other, but its probably because its new to me!
 

Shannanigan

Senior Member
Verified Member
May 17, 2014
180
486
Louisiana Who DAT!
Hello, welcome, and congrats Shannanigan. We're glad you are with us here at ECF. Thanks for sharing your experience with us and I'm sure it'll be of vital importance to alot of people, myself included. I share in a lot of what you said. You sound like a very strong individual and that will take you far no matter what life tries to through at ya, good for you! Keep that positive attitude and vape on!! I hope to see you around often here in the forums!!
Thank you DetraMental for the encouragement and kind words! I'm happy you found a bit of familiarity in my story. And you are correct, kicking up dust won't do any good, I do my best to stay positive! Blessings to you!!
 

Shannanigan

Senior Member
Verified Member
May 17, 2014
180
486
Louisiana Who DAT!
Thank you for sharing your story, Shannanigan. Living with pain of any kind is hard, especially chronic, ongoing pain. So happy to have you here with us. *gentle hugs*
"Shananigan has been gently hugged by AStilettoHeel!" Ha! Thank you so much! I giggle thinking of how you use your user name in gaming! Often, I'll see you post and think of another funny "action" done by AStilettoHeel! *hugs*
 
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