So who misses smoking?

[ButchBoy]

So who misses smoking?

I do, and I haven't smoked for eleven years. But because I'm a weak-willed Butchboy, I've been on one form or another of nicotine during that entire time. Mainly Nicotrol nasal spray.

The constant price increases of Nicotrol (around $320.00 per month to feed my habit) finally caused me to look for an alternative, and when I learned about e-cigs I knew it was a gift from heaven sent to help me hold onto my nicotine addiction at a fraction of the cost. That it's also so much like smoking again is an added plus.

If e-cigs are banned and become too difficult to get, I'll return to the Nicotrol spray if I have to. Expensive, but it worked.


Mama, don't let your babies grow up to be addicts,
Butch

 

[hoogie76]

Had 3 analogs in he last month. Still get the urge once in a while but if I continue to vape, the urge goes away. I have totally quit, nic lozenges and gum that I used to constantly have in between analogs.

 

[btrfly]

Smoked two packs a day. Don't have the urge at all, but I am not around anyone who smokes.

The test will be at the next family get together.

Mom smokes (trying to quit) Diabetic and heart problem, not sure these would work for her? Something about blood sugar issues and heart problems I read about.

Both brothers smoke.

Both sister's in laws smoke.

Nephew smokes.

That will be a test. My opportunity to convert also.

I have seven kids. Four grown and thankfully none of them smoke.

 

[Elphaba Thropp]

No, it is not really working yet. I'm still smoking part of the time. Before, a pack lasted less than a day. (Maybe 25 cigs a day?) Now it lasts about two-and-a-half days. (So I'm using about eight a day.)

I rarely see anyone who smokes.

I received my SmokeStik in early June, and it's still not really working. It takes so much fussing. Why isn't it working...what is it this time? Need more drops, charge the battery, blow out the atomizer, too hot, too cold, whatever.

And forget it if you're seriously jonesing. Like after a long drive with the kids or a meeting when I can't get away, I want a real smoke and I want it now. This stupid thing is so wimpy, I just want to toss it. It's only good when I'm hanging out, not seriously stressed, and just need a little maintenance puff.

I'm ordering a Joy 510 which I hope will be better.

I don't believe that I'm addicted to the nicotine at all. I haven't tested this yet, and I'm not going to until I get settled with an e-cig that works. It's all in the rituals. The stimming. I need some decent throat hit and fog. I liked handling a cigarette, the lighting and the putting out... But this stupid thing wants too much handling.

Also, it is not cheaper. I was buying them from the reservation at about $32 per carton (16 cents per stogie). I remember a time when a carton was $5 at the local convenience store. Then again, that was when $5 was a lot of money...

 

[Dreamer]

Okay, this is day eight, eleven hours, forty three minutes, and 28 seconds since I said good bye to analogs forever. I am never going back, ever. vaping is a god send, and without it, I would not be as confident as I now am that I will never smoke again.

In case anyone has forgotten, let me help remind you. Fingers, hair, and breath that smells like an ash tray. Cherry burns on your fingers and cloths. Tar stains on lips and teeth. O2 deprivation headaches. 50% tax rates on a pack. Bloodshot and yellow eyes (from too much smoke in them). Smoker's cough. Shortness of breath. And the final degradation of being treated like a leper in in the U.S. anti-smoking hysteria.

Nope, don't miss it a bit. Never will. Vaping is superior in just about every respect. My wife even commented today, after coming home from work and kissing her, that I "taste good." I didn't tell her it was Pure Tennessee cured juice vapor that she was tasting on my lips. Nope, I just smiled and kissed her again. Just that alone made dumping analogs worth it.

 

[Raand1]

I smoked for 30 yrs. Nothing ever worked, i didn't think this would either. My only hopes for e-cig was to cut from 2 packs to 1 pack a day. The day my 510 arrived i went from 2 packs to 1 cig a day. 3 days later, i never smoked a analog again, and that wasn't my plan. 2 weeks without a analog and i feel like i'm cheating, its so easy. If you can't leave analogs alone UP your nicotine...i'm on 36 and i'm loving life without analogs.

 

[kolohe]

I smoked for 30 yrs. Nothing ever worked, i didn't think this would either. My only hopes for e-cig was to cut from 2 packs to 1 pack a day. The day my 510 arrived i went from 2 packs to 1 cig a day. 3 days later, i never smoked a analog again, and that wasn't my plan. 2 weeks without a analog and i feel like i'm cheating, its so easy. If you can't leave analogs alone UP your nicotine...i'm on 36 and i'm loving life without analogs.

You all are my inspiration. I'm desperately awaiting my first PV (510) to arrive at the end of the week. Reading all these posts have given me an unreal education, but it's also made me desperate to vape which has led to way too much smoking this week - my lungs hurt and I stink and I'm over it. Ugggh. Mahalo for the inspiration, tho!

 

[FL-Eagle]

I was amazed at how quickly my desire for analogs faded away, almost immediately.
Yesterday I smoked one analog and I couldn't even smoke the whole thing it tasted so bad.
I've even noticed my cough is starting to clear up after only a week.

 

[alstang1]

You all are my inspiration. I'm desperately awaiting my first PV (510) to arrive at the end of the week. Reading all these posts have given me an unreal education, but it's also made me desperate to vape which has led to way too much smoking this week - my lungs hurt and I stink and I'm over it. Ugggh. Mahalo for the inspiration, tho!

I was also sitting at the mailbox waiting on mine about 2 weeks ago. It arrived on a thursday, but someone knocked down my brick mailbox on the previous Monday, and my wife was not home, so i did not get it until Friday. Knowing that she missed the mail on Thursday stressed me out, but I was sitting at the post office on friday when they opened.

It has all been worth it. My wife kept asking how soon I would quit, and I kept telling her, "don't look at it as me QUITTING, I am doing this to cut back". Three days later, I am saving 40 plus smokes a day.

I desperately wanted to quit, but I knew that this would be no different than any of the other items I had tried. I would not be able to quit. WRONG. I am at 13 days now I think. Not even concerned on the days, just happy that I am not stinking up my truck and killing my body. I have finally quit smoking, and I am happy.

Al

 

[Adverb]

I still have a couple every day. Only discovered vaping a month or so ago. I'm not panicking or worried about those few maintenance smokes. I'm taking my time.
If I burn a pack per week, I still consider that a victory over smoking.

 

[googled]

I smoked for the nicotine. Never really 'enjoyed' smoking tobacco. I get nicotine, throat hit and lots of yummy flavours with vaping and the hand to mouth action. I can't see what I would gain from smoking tobacco verses vaping apart from the stink, health problems, yellow teeth and fingers and stinky breath. The smell actually makes me feel a bit nauseas now.

 

[ramblingrose]

They're foul, I hate them... and every now and then gotta have one.

Right now I'm having a bit of a problem, but it will pass soon. My parents are in town. They're in their 80s and no longer smoke when they're home in Florida. Our 'tradition' for years has been that when they're up north with me for the summer they smoke - but I buy so they don't get back into the habit. Knowing I traded cigs in for a PV, they brought their own this year. They're here longer than planned, as my mom fell and fractured her pelvis. Now my logic would be that's the time to keep the smoking down 'cause it's not good for healing, but her logic is she's stressed so it's no time to quit. So, now that their supply ran out, I'm sitting here with a fresh carton of Marlboros they asked to get for them. Once I leave work I'm surrounded by smoke, and all the old situations where we used to sit around smoking up a storm together. I'm having a hard time with it.

 

[Elphaba Thropp]

My parents are in town...

That sucks. Do you know how long this is going to last?

Is there any way you can put limits on it? With regular cigarettes, I always limited it to the attic (which is my little office) and outside.

I imagine that your old man is able enough -- could you ask him to step outside or limit it to his bedroom or some other specific locations? (Attic, cellar, garage, anything but the living room.)

Asking your mother to do that might be a little more difficult, but if you guys are cutting back, maybe she could find ways to cut back, too.

Why haven't they switched to e-cigs? This is the perfect opportunity to try it out, with supplies that are free and within easy reach.

 

[quovadis]

I can't stand the smell of cigarette smoke now.
If i go near to someone smoking i will hold my breath.

 

[ramblingrose]

That sucks. Do you know how long this is going to last?

Is there any way you can put limits on it? With regular cigarettes, I always limited it to the attic (which is my little office) and outside.

I imagine that your old man is able enough -- could you ask him to step outside or limit it to his bedroom or some other specific locations? (Attic, cellar, garage, anything but the living room.)

Asking your mother to do that might be a little more difficult, but if you guys are cutting back, maybe she could find ways to cut back, too.

Why haven't they switched to e-cigs? This is the perfect opportunity to try it out, with supplies that are free and within easy reach.

I wish it were easy, but its not. Dad's 86, and has survived stage 3 cancer, an aortic aneurysm and a blown aortic graft. It's been 7 years, but test now shows the cancer might be coming back. I can't fault him for feeling he wants to be comfortable doing whatever pleases him at this point.

I couple of years ago I stopped smoking in my house as part of my "somehow I've got quit these stupid things" plan, and they smoke only outside at their own house in Florida. So they normally go outside, no problem. But with mom unable to move, she's stuck in her bedroom for the first month of healing - it's not a break that can be put in a cast. We have everything she needs in the room, and dad stays with her most of the time... they've been married 61 years and are madly in love. I work, but do whatever I can to help.

It's stressful for all of us. Mom is being a peach but feels helpless. Dad worries about Mom and tries to do everything even though his age is catching up with him way too quickly these days. I worry about Mom, and watch for dangerous things the docs warned about like throwing a deadly blood clot, kidney shutdown, etc. I worry about Dad because he's stressed and trying to be a perfect caretaker, and take care of everything else Mom would be normally be doing. But its taking a toll on him. His pride and love for mom doesn't let him wait for me to get there and help.

We went through a very difficult time a couple of years ago when my brother was in a plane crash. On top of all the worrying and praying for my brother while he was in a burn ICU for months, I worried almost as much for my parents during the early months before we were sure my brother would make it. I think in those few months we all aged several years. My folks are wonderful people and have had much to deal with in recent years. As for me, I can't help loving and worrying about them. And can't see pushing them do anything other than what makes them comfortable at this point.

So, I guess all I can really do is vent here for now. Hopefully in a few weeks things will be getting back to normal.

I can't - WON'T - go back to smoking. I 'm glad to have this forum and you guys around right now... it makes a big difference. I'm more ready to deal with the home situation when I get there tonight than I was before I browsed the forum and wrote this. I'm armed and ready with my loaded Stick and 510!

Thanks for putting up with my rambles : )

 

[jj2]

I still do. The worst time, and don't laugh, is when I'm drinking a shake--who knows.
There are still other times but I know it's pretty much all in my head because I have a hard time handling the smell when I'm around a smoker.
Since I still got analogs in the freezer, I guess I deserve a gold star, but if I lit one up, I'd probably hate it.

 

[a2dcovert]

I am a nicotine addict. I have tried everything to stop until I found the e-cig. I carefully and slowly weaned myself off of the analogs. As of May 1st I have been analog free. But, I am still an addict and will be for the rest of my life. It does get a little easier but there is always that cloud hovering overhead waiting to strike me down if I get a weak moment.

Kevin

 

[Elphaba Thropp]

...I can't - WON'T - go back to smoking. I 'm glad to have this forum...

Ranting is good. Keep it up. I do it all the time at my other favorite site and it helps a lot.

 

[kolohe]

I was also sitting at the mailbox waiting on mine about 2 weeks ago. It arrived on a thursday, but someone knocked down my brick mailbox on the previous Monday, and my wife was not home, so i did not get it until Friday. Knowing that she missed the mail on Thursday stressed me out, but I was sitting at the post office on friday when they opened.

It has all been worth it. My wife kept asking how soon I would quit, and I kept telling her, "don't look at it as me QUITTING, I am doing this to cut back". Three days later, I am saving 40 plus smokes a day.

I desperately wanted to quit, but I knew that this would be no different than any of the other items I had tried. I would not be able to quit. WRONG. I am at 13 days now I think. Not even concerned on the days, just happy that I am not stinking up my truck and killing my body. I have finally quit smoking, and I am happy.

Al

That's great news, Al! Thanks for the encouragement and reassurance - I'm looking forward to following your lead soon!