Quit Smoking Cold Turkey ... Now wanting to try E-Cigs

[CaSHMeRe]

Hello from Los Angeles, Cali

This forums is a WEALTH of knowledge and I have spent the last 48 hours going over as much information as I possibly can. Now, time for a couple questions ...

Some background first. I started smoking at 13 years of age, and I quit September 12, 2007 at the age of 23. Smoking about 1.5 packs (30 cigs) everyday for about 6-7 years straight. I tried everything under the sun to quit smoking ... Patches, Gum, cutting back, and finally, COLD TURKEY. The only thing that worked, was cold turkey. The last 9 months has been great, HOWEVER, I sincerely miss the oral fixation part. That feeling of smoke going into your mouth, down your throat, and into your chest, then exhaling. I was so much more active as a smoker. Since I quit smoking, I have gained about 40 lbs. and have become quite lazy. I just don't have the get up and drive mentality anymore, and I sincerely miss it. When I think about smoking, I don't think about that Nicotine "Fix" ... just the oral fixation part that I loved soooooo much. I always told myself, if they found a cure for cancer I would start smoking again Now that there is a possible alternative that doesn't cause health issues ?!?!?! I've got to try it out ....

Now, to my question.
1. Anyone else in my shoes? You quit smoking and once you found out about E-Cigs, wanted to give it a try? I would love to just sit back, and puff away at work, home, and on the road, without becoming Nicotine addicted again ...

2. I would only be interested in the E-Cigs that have cart's with 0 (Zero) Nicotine. People that have tried the 0 Nicotine cartridge, how was it?

3. Lastly, that feeling of inhaling the vapor, is is just like that of smoke?


Thanks for all your help !!! and I hope to be a big contributor to this forum someday!

 

[NerdyCinderella]

CaSHMeRe,
My view is that if it weren't for the flavor one wouldn't know/sense that one is inhaling the vapor. I'm almost positive this is a unique idea/feeling of mine and mine alone.

I gave up smoking for apx 1.5 yrs about 1 year ago. When I wanted to stop again about 1 month ago, I found I was weakening and I bought an ecig. I haven't been tempted to buy a pack of cigs since.

I have been a heavy smoker for 30 yrs plus and never tried to stop before the above stated time periods.

Good Luck

 

[TheEmperorOfIceCream]

Hi Cashmere

I use zero nic carts while I'm on the PC (puffing on one right now!). Good for taste, blowing smoke rings and rolling round your tongue, but it doesn't have the bite of smoke (IMO).

Welcome aboard

Emp

 

[CaSHMeRe]

CaSHMeRe,
My view is that if it weren't for the flavor one wouldn't know/sense that one is inhaling the vapor. I'm almost positive this is a unique idea/feeling of mine and mine alone.

Hey NerdyCinderella ... Thanks for the response!

Can you expand about the phrase above? When you smoked tobacco cig's, were you able to "Feel" the smoke enter your lungs, or were you one of those smokers that just tasted its but didn't really feel a sense of lung inhale?

That is what I am mainly going for. Taste, feel, etc...

Also, do they make a zero nic e-liq ???

Hi Cashmere

I use zero nic carts while I'm on the PC (puffing on one right now!). Good for taste, blowing smoke rings and rolling round your tongue, but it doesn't have the bite of smoke (IMO).

Welcome aboard

Emp

GREAT !!!! Thanks for sharing. Do you feel anything when you inhale and exhale? or just see and taste?

 

[TropicalBob]

You're going to love e-smoking, but do keep to your intent to use zero-nicotine cartridges. If you don't, you run the risk of yielding to the powerful appeal of cigarette smoking.

You've whipped the addiction. Now you miss your old habit. This can replace it.

I've been e-smoking since January, off cigarettes for a year as of next month. For the first months (and continuing) I used Swedish snus to obtain my needed nicotine, so I've never been nicotine free. I still use extra high liquid for e-smoking. But, like you, I'm aiming for zero nicotine before long. I intend to smoke just extracts (see a separate thread on Combo Tastes, etc).

Here's why I strongly advise not using nicotine solutions. One of the insidious traits of nicotine addiction is called tolerance, or dependence. As the brain adjusts to handling this powerfully addictive chemical, it makes additional receptors that come to expect a regular hit of nicotine. If the brain doesn't receive the hit, it makes you irritable and jumpy. If you short the brain, it kicks you. And adds still more receptors. Tolerance goes to work. The same nicotine amount that once worked now doesn't work quite as well. So you add even more nicotine ... and are happy for awhile. Then the cycle repeats. You need more nicotine.

With e-smoking, the temptation is to e-smoke non-stop, all day. If it's a nicotine liquid you're inhaling, your tolerance is growing. You need more and more as your bloodstream nicotine level rises higher and higher. Medically, your heart beats faster, your blood pressure goes up (setting up hardening of the arteries), your liver and pancreas go bonkers trying to make sugar and insulin, and your LDL cholesterol is negatively impacted. For good medical reasons, stay off nicotine. I honestly think my blood nicotine level is higher now than when I smoked 30 USA Gold cigarettes a day. E-smoking has worsened my addiction -- one reason we say this is NOT a method to quit cigarettes!

I say you'll love this because e-smoking lets you use your hands the way smoking did and you can see the inhalation and exhalation. The feel of smoke is not exactly duplicated, but it's close. And vapor can taste great with extract additions. Look around more to see what to experiment with. Let us know how you do.

 

[NerdyCinderella]

CaSHMeRe,
You know I never analyzed my smoking habits but to say I smoked apx 1.5 packs a day. I would bet I inhaled to the lungs.
Sure they make 0 Nic. I started on high nic but I should have started on low or none cause I hadn't smoked in 5 days when I got my first ecig.
Ecigs are addicting themselves. I'm smoking more with my ecigs than I did regular cigs.

 

[trog100]

i cant see how smoking a placebo no nictotine e cig will effect your active factor or your weight.. have u ever thought that nicotine actually effected u both physically and mentally.. it might be the nicotine u need not something to fondle and blow smoke rings with..

just food for thought from someone who does think nicotine has its benefits.. more so without the killer smoke factor..

trog

 

[CaSHMeRe]

i cant see how smoking a placebo no nictotine e cig will effect your active factor or your weight.. have u ever thought that nicotine actually effected u both physically and mentally.. it might be the nicotine u need not something to fondle and blow smoke rings with..

just food for thought from someone who does think nicotine has its benefits.. more so without the killer smoke factor..

trog

Sure have ... i've thought long and hard about whether I feel more associated/addicted to the "act" of smoking (ie: inhale, exhale, taste, feel, etc...) or nicotine and the like chemicals in cigarettes, and I've come to the conclusion that its the "act" itself. I have an oral fixation, and because of this, I constantly have to be doing something with my mouth. Since I quit smoking, it has been sunflower seeds and loads and loads of soda.

i LOVED the nic fix when i was depressed, stressed, or just waking up or eating. I know when I did it out of boredom and when I actually needed a fix.

I will always be an addict ... no doubt about it. However, I feel if I can control my nicotine intake by not associating the act with the chemical, i will still be able to enjoy a favorite past time of mine. I find nothing wrong with that

 

[CaSHMeRe]

double post ... sorry

 

[Mr.Darcy]

hello.hey,theres no harm in giving it a go,right?one of our fellow board members actually sells ecigs.hes called meltrex,and hes a good guy..he sells very good ecigs at affordable prices,and hes in the usa.in my opinion you should check his stuff out,you wont get much better.

 

[woody]

Hi CaSHMeRe
I had been quit 8 months when I started e-smoking. My life had felt incomplete and I lacked motivation (due to lack of nicotine after smoking for 25 years) To say I feel better for having a little of what I fancy is an understatement. I no longer feel deprived. I'm not sure this would have been the case with zero nic. cartridges but I smoked for a long time. You only smoked a short time but the zero may work well for you. I thought long and hard before ordering my first (njoy) e-cig but I don't regret it. I feel like "me" again. Also, if you order a really smart model i.e. the Kissbox Classic, you will have the pleasure of using something that feels good in you hand and looks good too. I used to enjoy using a really beautiful lighter and it's kind of like that.
Good luck.

 

[dnakr]

Welcome CaSHMeRe,

by TropicalBob
I say you'll love this because e-smoking lets you use your hands the way smoking did and you can see the inhalation and exhalation. The feel of smoke is not exactly duplicated, but it's close. And vapor can taste great with extract additions.

There really isn't much more I could add. I agree with TropicalBob. Again, keep us posted on how you are doing.

Rachel

 

[BananaDoc]

Hey there, EXACTLY in the same boat here!

I quit cold-turkey as well a few months ago when I lost my dad to congestive heart failure. He had his 1st heart attack at my age… His dad, my paternal grandfather, died at my age… Are you seeing a pattern in my genetic history with the early 40’s bringing really bad ....? Me too; Hence the decision to quit.

My SmartFixx (basically an NJOY) pen style has done EXACTLY what I needed it to. It gave me back the physical business of smoking. THAT is what I missed! That is why after successfully quitting tobacco, I would search for reasons to go back. I ENJOYED the feeling of smoking. I identified with the IMAGE and imagery of a smoker. I missed it and wanted it back.

What I didn’t miss was the stigma of being a ..... who was slowly killing himself. The stink of stale smoke on EVERYTHING I owned. Leaving my comfy warm office to stand in the middle of a howling snowstorm because I could not take the withdrawal pangs any longer… The spontaneous burst of laughter, degenerating into a hacking, pathetic cough. One lousy flight of stairs sucking the last puff of wind out of me… The REALITY of cigarette smoking.

Welcome to the 21st century! We can have our cig and vape it too!

DETAILS: Yes. I am perfectly satisfied with my ecig as a replacement for the old habit. The e-cig is longer and heavier… and, depending on the atomizer, the draw can feel exactly like a smoke or like a straw (no resistance at all). Seeing the vapor billow around your head is a nice trick to the brain as well... However, for when you don't want to draw a fuss or attention, replace the live battery with a dead one... we aren't looking for the nic hit; so we don't NEED the vapor 24/7.... we can just pretend.

BIG PLUS for staying nic free: You can "refill" your cartridges with Flavored Propylene Glycol ONLY! No need to spend 18US$ to purchase 30mls of nicotine juice--BICKFORD FLAVORS (see an earlier post of mine) will be happy to sell you your flavor of choice for $3 an OZ... (thats 29.5 mls...) I highly recommend the chocolate cherry! And yes, the volumes of "smoke" are exactly the same!

Good luck left coaster!

 

[dnakr]

BananaDoc,

Love your post - but I think Brickford is going to have to change their name to Brickman's just for you

 

[CaSHMeRe]

BananaDoc --- i'm speechless ... you answered everything I was wondering. The fact we can try different flavors at $3 bucks a pop, is GREAT !!!! Us "non" Nic guys really have the life

 

[BananaDoc]

BananaDoc,

Love your post - but I think Brickford is going to have to change their name to Brickman's just for you

Dammit! I'm tellin' you Rachel-- these mini-strokes are horrible as you get older.... BICKFORDS!!!!!

http://www.bickfordflavors.com/

it must be time for my afternoon meds and nap soon.... :roll:

NURSE!!!! Where is that darn button?!?!?!

 

[BananaDoc]

BananaDoc --- i'm speechless ... you answered everything I was wondering. The fact we can try different flavors at $3 bucks a pop, is GREAT !!!! Us "non" Nic guys really have the life

My pleasure! I really want to support you in this! I am a medical researcher and truly believe this is the dawn of a really cool era here...

and you are right-- "non" Nic guys really do have the life because we can afford to spend our money on really good bourbon and poker...

 

[sanneke]

BananaDoc,

Love your post - but I think Brickford is going to have to change their name to Brickman's just for you

Dammit! I'm tellin' you Rachel-- these mini-strokes are horrible as you get older.... BICKFORDS!!!!!

http://www.bickfordflavors.com/

it must be time for my afternoon meds and nap soon.... :roll:

NURSE!!!! Where is that darn button?!?!?!

Wait........you're saying that we can order from there, and use an oil based flavor to refill a cartridge?
What about the nicotine?

 

[dnakr]

Wait........you're saying that we can order from there, and use an oil based flavor to refill a cartridge?
What about the nicotine?

No - only the ones that are Propylene Glycol based. If you click on "price list" and open it, the ones that are shaded are soy oil based and should not be used.

Most people have been adding these flavors to the e-liquid they already have. If you use these alone, there is no nicotine.

 

[BananaDoc]

Wait........you're saying that we can order from there, and use an oil based flavor to refill a cartridge?
What about the nicotine?

NOT the oil based ones mate. The shaded flavors on the price list are oil based and must be avoided. The others are (overall) PG based and perfectly safe. To be sure-- i would email them first to assure they are only propylene Glycol and natural flavors... I called as they are in my town.

No nicotine. I don't do it... and CaSHMeRe hopes to stay nic free as well. Mixing the flavors WITH your normal liquid nicotine of choice is fine however...