It has now been two weeks of being smoke free! Below is an account of some of what I have gone through, and how I have become a happy vapor.
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I had been smoking for roughly 15 years. Not as long as some folks, but it was beginning to feel like I had been smoking for 30. I had tried to quit several times in that time period, more for just wanting to than any other reason. When you start out young (even though I didn't start till I was roughly 26), the body is amazing at its ability to clean itself of the borage of poisons and foreign chemicals for which it is subjected. More than a decade and a half later, it's painfully obvious that the body can only do so much before it's overwhelmed.
It's also amazing the hold cigarettes take. My first scare was back in early 2001 when I woke up in the middle of the night in a fright because it was hard to breath, and I could feel my heart beating erratically. I called 911 and was rushed to the hospital somewhere around 3am. I had the usual tests done for possible heart problems, including X-Rays, and everything came back clean. It was determined that I had experienced a panic attack. I was given information about panic attacks, started researching, and learned some of the symptoms of panic attacks can mimic those of a heart attack. But because it was a panic attack and my bill of health had come back as great, I continued smoking without a moments though. Then a year later my Father had a heart attack, who had also smoked. In fact, he had been in the Army during a time when packs of smokes were handed out
like rations. It was unsettling to hear his account, because he experienced extreme pain throughout his entire body, which I learned is unusual. I then did research on heart attacks and smoking related causes, got "scared straight" and quit smoking. For a week. Even when faced with evidence all around you, from loved ones, or friends, those little sticks can still control you and hold on tight.
Then two years ago I was feeling the worst I had in awhile, or at least finally being conscious of it. Every morning when I woke, my body was aching. If I had been out drinking with friends my throat would be raspy and sore from smoking too much. I was not enjoying smoking at all. To date, everything I felt was so common place I hadn't payed attention. I had also realized I had been experiencing bronchitis and sinus infections practically every year for the past 5 years. It just didn't make sense to me why I couldn't stop when I hated it so much. It is about this time that I started seeing a holistic practitioner, and I can't thank her enough for her support and guidance.
She has been awesome, to say the least, and has helped me to naturally get my cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure under control. She has also been supportive of my need to break the cigarette addiction and has provided great guidance through supplementation and cleansing to ease the process. In fact, when I had my first appointment, she had asked me if I had brain fog, and I promptly replied no. The reality is that the state I was in was so gradual over all those years of smoking, I didn't even realize that I in fact did have brain fog. It became obvious to me after about 2 - 3 months of taking supplements when I suddenly realized that it was lifting. I had still been able to perform job duties on a daily basis, but sometimes my mind would drift and I couldn't focus as well. When the brain fog started to lift, I could feel my head becoming clearer, and focusing was much easier. This was the start of my increased determination to quit smoking once and for all and get my body and mind back! Unfortunately it hasn't been easy, and the most I would last during a cold turkey quitting phase was 3 days. At that mark, my head would feel super active and I would have a hard time focusing on anything until I lit up to get rid of the explosion of uneasiness I was experiencing. Even so, I was still determined.
As a slight diversion, I would also like to share one method that actually helped me to quit smoking during the day at work. I used to love my smoke breaks, but in the summer of 2007, I had my first REAL desire to quit, and I started by attacking it like a habit. Whenever I had the desire to smoke at work, I would put my headphones on and go for a walk around the building. The amount of time I walked would vary, but it didn't take long until I was looking forward to the walks rather than smoking. Ever since that time, I had no desire to smoke while at work. But such things sometimes come at a price, because the second I got in my car ready to head home, I started itching for a cigarette. In a way, this was a good thing, because I proved that I could replace smoking with something else. But it was bad too, since once I got off work, the craving kicked in double time. I was going to start doing the same thing while at home, replace smoking with something else that was fun, but the nicotine monster worked extra hard to keep a hold on me.
Then at the beginning of this year, a friend had given me the gift of an e-cig from Modern Vapor. I had tried it out, but it didn't really do much for me. It didn't provide anything that I could latch onto as a focus to get me to stop smoking (no throat hit, and wimpy vapor at best). Then about 2 1/2 weeks ago I decided to give it another go. I went to their website and noticed they had some new atomizers, so I bought one and a couple packets of pre-filled carts. This time I noticed a little more vapor production (still wimpy), and some throat hit that gave me a little more feeling of smoking, but it still wasn't quit enough. That's when I began my search anew to see if there was anything better.
I had come across ECF before in the past years while doing research on quiting smoking, but never stayed long enough to learn more about vaping. After coming across the site again, I decided to create an account and start my quest for a better PV. Like many others, I quickly experienced
information overload. Even after reading "Best E-Cigarette for a New User", I was still left with questions, and no confidence in what to get. But, thanks to the awesome folks of the forum, I received great feedback which led me to more concise research. The world of vaping was finally starting to make more sense. I am now the proud owner of a KGO with resurrector cartos, and loving it!
In order to be able to look back and get a sense of what the switch was like, I took brief notes during the day for the past 2 weeks. My goal was to provide strength in reading on my improvement whenever I had an urge to smoke a cigarette. While my urge to smoke is almost non-existant since vaping, these notes have helped me on the rare occasion when the desire was noticeable.
September 22nd
Last analog smoked, and approximately half a box of cigs left. Tossed the remainders into the toilet and flushed 'em (felt like a drug dealer getting rid of evidence).
September 23rd
I know it will take time to undo all that has been done through smoking, but I am finally enjoying being smoke free and experiencing the healing process. My end goal is to get down to 0mg nicotine while vaping, and ultimately not need to vape at all, but this is the best approach I have ever come across to get me off cigarettes. Thanks again to the ECF community that has been supportive, not just to me, but to everyone that has been, and will continue to, look for an alternative to cigarettes and kick them to the curb. I can't begin to express how greatfull I am that such a great resource exists.
-----
I had been smoking for roughly 15 years. Not as long as some folks, but it was beginning to feel like I had been smoking for 30. I had tried to quit several times in that time period, more for just wanting to than any other reason. When you start out young (even though I didn't start till I was roughly 26), the body is amazing at its ability to clean itself of the borage of poisons and foreign chemicals for which it is subjected. More than a decade and a half later, it's painfully obvious that the body can only do so much before it's overwhelmed.
It's also amazing the hold cigarettes take. My first scare was back in early 2001 when I woke up in the middle of the night in a fright because it was hard to breath, and I could feel my heart beating erratically. I called 911 and was rushed to the hospital somewhere around 3am. I had the usual tests done for possible heart problems, including X-Rays, and everything came back clean. It was determined that I had experienced a panic attack. I was given information about panic attacks, started researching, and learned some of the symptoms of panic attacks can mimic those of a heart attack. But because it was a panic attack and my bill of health had come back as great, I continued smoking without a moments though. Then a year later my Father had a heart attack, who had also smoked. In fact, he had been in the Army during a time when packs of smokes were handed out
like rations. It was unsettling to hear his account, because he experienced extreme pain throughout his entire body, which I learned is unusual. I then did research on heart attacks and smoking related causes, got "scared straight" and quit smoking. For a week. Even when faced with evidence all around you, from loved ones, or friends, those little sticks can still control you and hold on tight.
Then two years ago I was feeling the worst I had in awhile, or at least finally being conscious of it. Every morning when I woke, my body was aching. If I had been out drinking with friends my throat would be raspy and sore from smoking too much. I was not enjoying smoking at all. To date, everything I felt was so common place I hadn't payed attention. I had also realized I had been experiencing bronchitis and sinus infections practically every year for the past 5 years. It just didn't make sense to me why I couldn't stop when I hated it so much. It is about this time that I started seeing a holistic practitioner, and I can't thank her enough for her support and guidance.
She has been awesome, to say the least, and has helped me to naturally get my cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure under control. She has also been supportive of my need to break the cigarette addiction and has provided great guidance through supplementation and cleansing to ease the process. In fact, when I had my first appointment, she had asked me if I had brain fog, and I promptly replied no. The reality is that the state I was in was so gradual over all those years of smoking, I didn't even realize that I in fact did have brain fog. It became obvious to me after about 2 - 3 months of taking supplements when I suddenly realized that it was lifting. I had still been able to perform job duties on a daily basis, but sometimes my mind would drift and I couldn't focus as well. When the brain fog started to lift, I could feel my head becoming clearer, and focusing was much easier. This was the start of my increased determination to quit smoking once and for all and get my body and mind back! Unfortunately it hasn't been easy, and the most I would last during a cold turkey quitting phase was 3 days. At that mark, my head would feel super active and I would have a hard time focusing on anything until I lit up to get rid of the explosion of uneasiness I was experiencing. Even so, I was still determined.
As a slight diversion, I would also like to share one method that actually helped me to quit smoking during the day at work. I used to love my smoke breaks, but in the summer of 2007, I had my first REAL desire to quit, and I started by attacking it like a habit. Whenever I had the desire to smoke at work, I would put my headphones on and go for a walk around the building. The amount of time I walked would vary, but it didn't take long until I was looking forward to the walks rather than smoking. Ever since that time, I had no desire to smoke while at work. But such things sometimes come at a price, because the second I got in my car ready to head home, I started itching for a cigarette. In a way, this was a good thing, because I proved that I could replace smoking with something else. But it was bad too, since once I got off work, the craving kicked in double time. I was going to start doing the same thing while at home, replace smoking with something else that was fun, but the nicotine monster worked extra hard to keep a hold on me.
Then at the beginning of this year, a friend had given me the gift of an e-cig from Modern Vapor. I had tried it out, but it didn't really do much for me. It didn't provide anything that I could latch onto as a focus to get me to stop smoking (no throat hit, and wimpy vapor at best). Then about 2 1/2 weeks ago I decided to give it another go. I went to their website and noticed they had some new atomizers, so I bought one and a couple packets of pre-filled carts. This time I noticed a little more vapor production (still wimpy), and some throat hit that gave me a little more feeling of smoking, but it still wasn't quit enough. That's when I began my search anew to see if there was anything better.
I had come across ECF before in the past years while doing research on quiting smoking, but never stayed long enough to learn more about vaping. After coming across the site again, I decided to create an account and start my quest for a better PV. Like many others, I quickly experienced
information overload. Even after reading "Best E-Cigarette for a New User", I was still left with questions, and no confidence in what to get. But, thanks to the awesome folks of the forum, I received great feedback which led me to more concise research. The world of vaping was finally starting to make more sense. I am now the proud owner of a KGO with resurrector cartos, and loving it!
In order to be able to look back and get a sense of what the switch was like, I took brief notes during the day for the past 2 weeks. My goal was to provide strength in reading on my improvement whenever I had an urge to smoke a cigarette. While my urge to smoke is almost non-existant since vaping, these notes have helped me on the rare occasion when the desire was noticeable.
September 22nd
Last analog smoked, and approximately half a box of cigs left. Tossed the remainders into the toilet and flushed 'em (felt like a drug dealer getting rid of evidence).
September 23rd
- MORNING: Whole body aches, joints feel stiff, mouth is dry.
- DAY: New atomizer and pre-filled carts came in from Modern Vapor. Enough to keep me from thinking about analogs all the time, but I need something better.
- EVENING: Had a strong desire for a cig...chain vaped the Modern Vapor.
- MORNING: Whole body aches, joints feel stiff, mouth is dry. Can tell a slight increase in lung function.
- DAY: Created account on ECF to try and find my next unit. Still analog free, and my head is feeling a bit dizzy off and on. Lungs feel a bit tight.
- EVENING: Really looking forward to breaking the 3 day mark this time.
- MORNING: Back aches, joints feel much better. Lung function about the same as yesterday morning.
- DAY: Ordered the KGO and resurrector cartos. Feeling brain fog really bad today, and always do at around day 3 of every attempt. Purchased a disposable e-cig from a local store to tide me over since my pre-filled carts are all dead.
- EVENING: Go see Mom and Grandpa. Really happy that I'm not smoking. Gives me more strength.
- MORNING: Back aches, no joint stiffness. Notice yet more increase in lung function. Breathing is becoming fun.
- DAY: Amazingly, the disposables are still going strong. I'm impressed with the vapor production (compared to the Modern Vapor). A few desires for analogs, but not enough to buy a pack.
- EVENING: Have a headache. Focusing on the positive.
- MORNING: Back aches 50% of usual. Sinuses feel like they are starting to clear.
- DAY: Starting to notice more energy throughout the day. Gradual, but noticable.
- EVENING: Found out a friend north of me has been into e-cigs for a bit. Loans me an 808 Elite with some 24mg juice. Glad I ordered my samples in lower strength, this is burning my throat pretty bad.
- MORNING: Back aches 50% of usual. Sinuses at 50% of usual.
- DAY: Brain has settled down and I'm thinking more clearly again.
- EVENING: Still have pretty good energy.
- MORNING: Back aches 25% of usual. Sinuses at 50% of usual. Notice significant increase in lung function. Don't feel as suffocated.
- DAY: The KGO came in, so dripped some of the 24mg juice on it. Even worse than on the 808 in terms of burning my throat, but the taste is really coming through.
- EVENING: Energy is amazing past 6pm (not going to run a marathon, but not ready to fall asleep). Muscles feel more relaxed.
- MORNING: Back aches 25% of usual. Morning Brain fog almost 0%. Sinuses at 50% of usual.
- DAY: Feeling more energy, and muscles continue to feel more relaxed. Body doesn't feel near as "stiff" anymore.
- EVENING: Just realized that I had been coughing more than usual. Getting more mucus upon couphing.
- MORNING: Slight back ache. No Brain fog. Sinuses 25% of usual.
- DAY: Energy level is still about the same as the previous day.
- EVENING: Energy crash out of nowhere. Feeling more tired.
- MORNING: Slight back ache. No Brain fog. Sinuses 25% of usual. Noticeable difference in breathing...air feels like it's gliding into my lungs. Don't feel suffocated.
- DAY: Finally the cartos came in, along with some Black n Mild juice. While lung capacity has improved, I know there is still room for lots of improvement. Sinuses cleared throughout the day.
- EVENING: Filled up my first carto, but soon learn I overfilled, and this is probably heavy VG juice. Still learning.
- MORNING: No aches, but didn't drink enough water yesterday and I feel it. Coughed for a few minutes, and got a slight headache.
- DAY: Just realized that gums are much healthier and no occasional soreness. Taste is starting to come through, and smells are stronger and more noticeable.
- EVENING: Noticeable improvement in breathing, sinuses are the clearest they've been in a long time. Don't feel dizzy anymore.
- MORNING: No aches. Still slight sinuses, but breathing is still very smooth.
- DAY: Have a lot more energy than normal. Actually vaping less!
- EVENING: Energy hasn't died off like it usually does after getting off work.
- MORNING: Woke up naturally without the alarm. Body feels much better, and only slight stiff feeling.
- DAY: Feeling lighter. After being seated in front of a computer for a while, standing is effortless. Sinsuses seem to be hanging around at the same level, but still greatly reduced.
- EVENING: Realized that skin is improving. Most notably I would usually have a feeling of tingling and/or slight burning sensation, particularly on the head. Nothing today.
- MORNING: This morning, my favorite blueberry yogurt seemed to explode with flavor....YUM! Surprisingly, no desire for coffee.
- DAY: I feel amazing compared to 2 weeks ago! Energy level continues to improve, and breathing is awesome!
- EVENING: 12mg juice came in yesterday, and have been loving it. No desire for cigarettes at all.
I know it will take time to undo all that has been done through smoking, but I am finally enjoying being smoke free and experiencing the healing process. My end goal is to get down to 0mg nicotine while vaping, and ultimately not need to vape at all, but this is the best approach I have ever come across to get me off cigarettes. Thanks again to the ECF community that has been supportive, not just to me, but to everyone that has been, and will continue to, look for an alternative to cigarettes and kick them to the curb. I can't begin to express how greatfull I am that such a great resource exists.
