Two Millstones Coming Up
I do apologize for the length. Believe it or not, this is a third of what it use to be before I cut and chopped.
I stopped smoking in the house when my youngest was about five because he developed asthma. We bought another house when he was around 17. This house had a room that had been added on but had no cold air return---big selling point for me.
No air return meant the air from that room wouldn’t get to the rest of the house. As a further precaution, I put a double fan in the window to remove as much SHS as possible.
For the first time in years, I got to smoke in my own house. No more going outside. I had heat and/or AC. I even had a TV!!!
My daughter is five years older than her brother. At the time of the move, she was attending UOI where she degreed in Psychology , then she went to PT school in Chicago, then to Texas to work, then to N.C. to a better paying job.
In Raleigh, she met her husband.
All hopes dashed that she’d move back to Illinois. But what the heck, traveling is an adventure.
The downside, once she left the state, when her dad and I went to see her, it was for longgggg stays, and that meant, I was back to going outside for a smoke. I’d do this for 10+ years.
Sometime in January 2009, I heard about the electric cigarette for the first time.
In February, I decided to give it a try during my next visit because after my daughter had her daughter, we had a big row about me smelling like smoke. Since then, to keep the calm, I went to great lengths to not smell like smoke when around her and her family.
Just to give you an insight of what I did, imagine this (and you may laugh):
Traveling to N. C., in the airport smoking area, even though I felt totally ridicules, I wore a shower cap to protect the hair from being saturated. Then, before I got on the plane for the last leg, I’d go to the restroom and get out the wipes and de-smoke myself and change clothes.
At my daughter’s, when my five year old granddaughter was asleep, I’d go outside where I’d use the shower cap and a large wrap that covered just about everything from head to toe. And then, once inside, I’d shed it and change clothes.
It was almost easier to take a quick shower after every outdoor smoking session.
My search for an e-cig took me to the Internet where I found a few different models. Made the purchase three/four weeks before I had to get on a plane March 20.
The place I bought it was in China. I waited and waited, and I’m walking the floor in frustration and cussing up a storm.
March 10: The ten day countdown starts. I can no longer just pace and hope so I let my fingers do the walking. I start calling tobacco stores looking for an e-cig. It took about two hours to find one.
March 11: I bought an overpriced Fifty-One. The tobacco store owner, who used one, had a battery charged and ready to go when I picked it up. It came with 5 cartomizers so I bought a half dozen more 5 packs. She sold the Fifty-One on commission and all the salesman had left her with was medium strength.
Over the next few days, I puffed on it now and then.
Right out of the gate, I wasn’t too thrilled with the cutoff for the batteries, but figured, while I was at my daughters, I could live with it.
It took a few days for the battery to start puttering out---as I said, I didn‘t use it that much.
March 15. Woke up to find that the second battery hadn’t charged. I called the tobacco store. The owner said to try charging the other battery and she’d get hold the salesman.
March 16: She called to see how things went and I told her no-go. She told me to come back for an exchange.
March 17. Late afternoon, I made the 90 mile round trip to make the exchange.
March 18. I’m charging batteries--making sure the charger is working. It is.
March 19. Knowing I can recharge the battery that night, I use the Fifty-One during the day---want to really get use to it before leaving. Battery runs low while I’m out shopping with a friend. She smokes so there is no problem with lighting up the real thing This is the first time that I notice that analogs taste a little nasty, but I smoke a few before I get home and I’m right back to the norm. I have my usual cig before bedtime.
March 20. My son-in-laws birthday. Up early, showered, and hubby and I have made the 45 minute drive to the airport. He isn’t going but I’m very excited about spending three weeks with daughter and family. Most of my e-cig stuff is in with my laptop. One is in my purse. I checked my luggage and head over and explained what an e-cig is to the airport security guy. Showed him the little card that came with the Fifty-One. He had no problem with me using it inside, and, in my mind, I’m saying yeah!!!
Atlanta Airport is a whole different story so, since the shower cap stayed home and I didn’t want to reek of tobacco smoke, I stood outside the smoking room. I couldn’t believe that no one said anything to me. It probably was a good thing since I wasn’t in a good mood.
Actually I was ticked at the hypocrisy.
Airport policy evidently wanted to save the world from SHS but didn’t have any qualms about sending me into it.
On the plane, I used the bathroom once. While I was in there, I took a couple little vapes. Still a little hot about the airport deal---They did me wrong so they brought out my stubbornness so it was more out of defiance than need. Didn’t really expect it, but was pleased when no alarms went off. That’s when it dawned on me that I could vape in the airport’s restrooms.
At Raleigh, I’m outside waiting for my son-in-law to pick me up. This is when I find out that RDU is just as unbending as Atlanta. Security guy told me to go to a designated area. I tell him it’s an electronic cigarette. He said he didn’t give a damn what it was, I had to do THAT in the smoking area.
I never smoked in front of my granddaughter and because of the extreme measures I took to not smell like smoke, in N. C. and at home, she didn‘t have a clue.
She never saw me vape either, but when she was watching TV, playing, or taking a tubby, I’d sneak in a vape or two, or three.
I did vape in front of my daughter and son-in-law and they didn’t say anything negative. At first I thought their silence was due to the fact that I’d made it clear that I wasn’t going to take it outside.
Later they said they preferred the e-cig over cigarettes.
It surprised me at the end of the three weeks that I hadn’t missed analogs that much, and, since I hadn’t, it was obvious I could do what I hadn’t been able to do in the past. I could quit smoking.
On the return trip home, I had a long layover in Atlanta so I did my vaping in the restroom. The handicapped stall is wonderful. Although, I’m sure the cleaning lady, who seemed to clean continuously, must have thought I really had a problem since I visited often and stayed longer than the average Jane Doe. What can I say, I took a book, read, and vaped.
Here’s a suggestion: Take plenty of sanitizer wipes.
It’s a Friday and my son, because hubby is disabled and is having a bad day, picks me up at the airport. He’s an engineer who has the option of setting his own hours and can work from any place with Internet so we (I) depend on him a lot.
Since he had spent the last three weeks with his Dad, I asked if the other e-cig I ordered had come yet. He said no. And then I told him I was going to quit. He was happy. Then he wanted to know what I was going to do with all the analogs I had at home: 5 cartons in the freezer in the garage and another half carton in the refrig freezer in the kitchen.
I said I didn’t know---wasn’t ready to let loose of them yet.
As I said, my daughter is a Physical Therapist and my son-in-law is a Physical Trainer and they totally live the concept of eating right. Usually, before I leave the city limits, I’ve had at least a half dozen analogs and not-so-good-for-me meal.
We stopped at the Steak n Shake for a steak burger, fries, and a shake.
The only thing that is different is that I haven’t vaped anywhere near enough to get six analogs worth of nicotine in my system. I’ve refrained because I’ve also decided to go nicotine free along with smoke free.
The reasons for quitting smoking:
Not a year ago, my doctor had to increase my blood pressure meds and BP was still running on the high side.
I already had one really bad experience with COPD which put me on Advair.
I was dealing with bronchitis---becoming a norm and I carried an inhaler all the time.
The reason for quitting nicotine:
I’d been ignoring the signs of circulatory problems for awhile.
I got home about 1:00. Greeted hubby in the appropriate fashion and petted the dog, but didn’t even think about unpacking. Instead I called the tobacco store and talked to the owner. I asked her if she had 0, low, and medium cartomizers for the Fifty-One in stock. My worse fears happened when she said no but she could have some in by Monday. That meant I had to regulate my vaping over the weekend so I wouldn’t take in anymore nicotine than I had in the past three weeks.
Total bummer.
But, then, the other model came in the mail the next day. I was so happy that I wanted to kiss the mailman.
I think it’s a RN4081 or a DSE103. I got the starter kit with extra carts.
I study the carts and filler for my new model. I’ve never done it, but it didn’t look like it’d be that hard to refill if I just knew the liquid ingredients (other than nicotine). I got online and found out about vodka, PG and VG. Since I was having a little trouble with a sore mouth and throat, I decide to try VG. I made a trip to CVS to get some VG and on the way back, I stopped at a liquor store for the vodka.
I’d ordered high nicotine carts for the new model. Using a needleless syringe, that was still in the package, that I had in a “it-may-come-in handy-one-day-Xmas popcorn-tin,” I squeezed the nicotine liquid from the filler into a small bottle. I put the liquid cups and fillers, one at a time, in a small screw on lid that held vodka. When finished, I ran the vodka through the syringe and it joined the other in the small bottle.
I had a goal date in mind, and that was my son‘s birthday, and my daughter‘s wedding anniversary. It seemed fitting since my stop-smoking day was on my son-in-laws birthday.
I used the Fifty-one when I wanted a hit of nicotine.
The new model, I vaped no nicotine liquid.
That is until the cartomizers were finished and I stopped using the Fifty-One. Then I just carried carts with me for the new model: Several carts with no nicotine and my nicotine cart allotment for the day.
Every night, when I loaded my nic liquid cups for the next day, I made it weaker.
At the end, I was getting a little panicky so I used it very sparingly. So sparingly that on my goal date, I actually had some left over. I added a little VG and sealed it as tight as I could and put it back for emergencies or specials times.
I still have it.
As you already know, March 20th is my smoke-free anniversary day. This year, of course, is number one, and I’m announcing it a couple days early because I’m busy getting ready to go N. C. again.
June 9th is my nicotine free anniversary day!!!
Not a year yet, but @ a little over nine months!!!
And I know there are more milestones ahead for me because I‘ve already been tested.
Months back, I was shopping with the friend I mentioned earlier---we do that a lot together. For the love of me, I can’t get her to make the switch. We now use her car all the time because she can’t smoke in mine. When she smokes, she does crack a window because that is what she does for all non-smokers. On this one occasion, since winter had just begun and it was cold, I told her not to bother. It rarely happens anymore but back then, more times than not, SHS just smelled good, and periodically I’d get this feeling that I really missed smoking. My fate was sealed when she asked me to hold her lit cig for a second. I asked if I could take a drag. She said okay---mainly because I think she secretly wishes I’d start smoking again.
Anyway, I took a puff with no intention of inhaling, which I didn‘t but I suppose a little nicotine got absorbed through the mouth. It had to be very minimal. Probably just as much as breathing in SHS or eating a tomato. Basically, I don’t count it, but even if I did, it was worth it because it showed me how awful analogs tasted.
Since then, when I get that yen for an analog, I know it’s a game my subconscious is playing so I shrug it off.
The rest of the history of my journey.
I liked the RN4081 or DSE103 but always seemed to be charging batteries. Used and abused the atty with learning and dripping during the next couple of months. The batteries stopped functioning properly but the atty still worked---just not great.
Way before the batteries died, I decided to buy a couple more models. The first to arrive was the SKYRL which was a DSE102. The vendor lived in the U. S. and I got everything in like a week---wish I found him first.
Got two SKYRL batteries, two attys, a charger and a few extra carts for $79.00 + shipping. After figuring out how to load the liquid cups with as little filler as possible, two would last me until mid afternoon. If I vaped heavier than normal, I always had plenty of the cups with me because they were mess free---each had a screw on lid. Take the screw lid off, exchange, and put the lid on the old.
The day I got it, I color coded the batteries. Then I’d alternate which one would be number One for the day. I’d use One more than number Two. I put number One on the charger about three/four o’clock in the afternoon. Before number Two died, One was ready to go again. Two went on the charger until bedtime then I’d put number One back on (using a timer) so both would be fully charged the next day.
I called it the battery game. But from what I was reading on ECF, the length of time they held a charge was good.
The other model, which some company stuck another name on, turned out to the Super RN4081. I ordered 2 extra batteries so I had a total of four.
The battery time for these were awful.
I had a friend who bought it, but it didn’t take long for her to get tired of the short battery life. She ended up ordering SKYRL’s DSE102 too and, because I told her I would, I bought the RN4081 back.
Unfortunately, she didn’t stick with vaping---I think it was because her hubby stills smokes. But she did mail her stuff to her daughter who lives in Texas and I guess she has stopped smoking.
I’m totally impressed with the SKYRL (DSE102).
Back then, I didn’t heard much about it, and still don’t today, but it’s just a totally awesome little e-cig. There’s no pre-puff needed!!! It doesn’t have that irritating shut off on it!!! Or if it did, my constant puffing never engaged it.
Now that I’d found a great model, I wanted to stock up for the uncertain future. I didn’t save the website to favorites so hubby and I went looking and that’s when we found ECF---Not anymore but SKYRL was one of the vendors.
Hubby hangs around ECF and tries to find out why I’m having problems with one of the batteries. He firmly believed the batteries should last forever. Eventually he found out it was because it was an auto battery and the e-liquid got into it---I have a tendency to overfill. Guess I didn’t douse the battery too terribly bad because the troublesome one eventually came out of it.
I place another DSE102 order and once it arrives, I‘m happy as a lark.
I take and start using four of the new batteries and four attys in my rotation. I number all the batteries so I differentiate them--makes it easier to keep track of which one needed to go on the charger next. Time passes. I put in a couple more orders. The FDA wasn’t going to stop me from vaping because I had attys and A LOT of them.
Not so with the batteries but because of mods, I wasn’t worried about that aspect.
I finally loose my original two DSE102 batteries: One in September, the other in October. They stop working because I haven’t broke my tendency to overfill the liquid carts. The liquid finally did them in.
I turn over a total of eight batteries to hubby so he can remove the connectors: Two DSE102 batteries. Two RN4081/DSE103. Four RN4081 Super.
Once he’s done the connectorendectomy, he hauls me to his work area. He says I need to build at least one. He coaches me through it and I’ve officially made my own 3.7 battery NicoStick. Over the next week, he builds two---one is from using a DSE102 connector. I was so happy they were done before the next trip to N. C. because I learned from the my NicoStick that I didn’t have to charge batteries several times every day. It was down to a couple times a week---Boy did I feel liberated!!!
Unfortunately, I didn’t use the DSE102 NicoStick a lot because the atty got too hot.
By the end of November, we’ve gone to N. C. and returned, and hubby has built Wall Wart mods out of the rest of the connectors. These are even better than the NicoSticks, but, again, the DSE102 attys got too hot.
Guess it’s a good thing the RN4081 attys work great on the mods.
Hubby doesn’t think it’s so great because I’m now ordering RN4081 stuff, and since I am, thinks I should sell off the DSE102 stuff.
Every time he mentions it, I go no-no-no because the 45 attys and over a dozen batteries are my stash.
It might happen later, but not until I’ve got a lot of RN4081 attys.
The finale.
The general changes have occurred:
Things taste better.
Sense of smell has improved big time.
I feel better.
The really big plus changes:
My doctor has taken me off all but one of my blood pressure medications.
I haven’t had any bouts of COPD---on one breath I can just about swim the length of my athletic‘s club pool
No bouts of bronchitis---Can run with my dog.
I still have Advair and an inhaler around but they have gone untouched.
I have less leg pain when walking and/or running.
To my surprise, my hearing has improved.
To make room for Xmas cookie dough last year, I finally bite the bullet and gave away the cartons of Native analogs. Also gave away my cig making machine, tubes, tobacco, and other odds and ends. I did keep a few ashtrays.
I also gave away the Fifty-One a few weeks ago. I haven‘t used it for so long it seemed silly to hang onto it when it might convert another smoker. It went to an unemployed gal with kids. Hopefully she is using it so her kids aren‘t around SHS and she‘ll be around to see her grandchildren.
The second half of jj2 has had some successful moments too.
Hubby was an occasional smoker. It always irritated me that he could smoke one and not have another for days, weeks, even months.
Since analogs aren’t kept in the house anymore, he no longer has that occasional smoke.
He does vape but only when he is trying out a mod.
I do apologize for the length. Believe it or not, this is a third of what it use to be before I cut and chopped.
I stopped smoking in the house when my youngest was about five because he developed asthma. We bought another house when he was around 17. This house had a room that had been added on but had no cold air return---big selling point for me.
No air return meant the air from that room wouldn’t get to the rest of the house. As a further precaution, I put a double fan in the window to remove as much SHS as possible.
For the first time in years, I got to smoke in my own house. No more going outside. I had heat and/or AC. I even had a TV!!!
My daughter is five years older than her brother. At the time of the move, she was attending UOI where she degreed in Psychology , then she went to PT school in Chicago, then to Texas to work, then to N.C. to a better paying job.
In Raleigh, she met her husband.
All hopes dashed that she’d move back to Illinois. But what the heck, traveling is an adventure.
The downside, once she left the state, when her dad and I went to see her, it was for longgggg stays, and that meant, I was back to going outside for a smoke. I’d do this for 10+ years.
Sometime in January 2009, I heard about the electric cigarette for the first time.
In February, I decided to give it a try during my next visit because after my daughter had her daughter, we had a big row about me smelling like smoke. Since then, to keep the calm, I went to great lengths to not smell like smoke when around her and her family.
Just to give you an insight of what I did, imagine this (and you may laugh):
Traveling to N. C., in the airport smoking area, even though I felt totally ridicules, I wore a shower cap to protect the hair from being saturated. Then, before I got on the plane for the last leg, I’d go to the restroom and get out the wipes and de-smoke myself and change clothes.
At my daughter’s, when my five year old granddaughter was asleep, I’d go outside where I’d use the shower cap and a large wrap that covered just about everything from head to toe. And then, once inside, I’d shed it and change clothes.
It was almost easier to take a quick shower after every outdoor smoking session.
My search for an e-cig took me to the Internet where I found a few different models. Made the purchase three/four weeks before I had to get on a plane March 20.
The place I bought it was in China. I waited and waited, and I’m walking the floor in frustration and cussing up a storm.
March 10: The ten day countdown starts. I can no longer just pace and hope so I let my fingers do the walking. I start calling tobacco stores looking for an e-cig. It took about two hours to find one.
March 11: I bought an overpriced Fifty-One. The tobacco store owner, who used one, had a battery charged and ready to go when I picked it up. It came with 5 cartomizers so I bought a half dozen more 5 packs. She sold the Fifty-One on commission and all the salesman had left her with was medium strength.
Over the next few days, I puffed on it now and then.
Right out of the gate, I wasn’t too thrilled with the cutoff for the batteries, but figured, while I was at my daughters, I could live with it.
It took a few days for the battery to start puttering out---as I said, I didn‘t use it that much.
March 15. Woke up to find that the second battery hadn’t charged. I called the tobacco store. The owner said to try charging the other battery and she’d get hold the salesman.
March 16: She called to see how things went and I told her no-go. She told me to come back for an exchange.
March 17. Late afternoon, I made the 90 mile round trip to make the exchange.
March 18. I’m charging batteries--making sure the charger is working. It is.
March 19. Knowing I can recharge the battery that night, I use the Fifty-One during the day---want to really get use to it before leaving. Battery runs low while I’m out shopping with a friend. She smokes so there is no problem with lighting up the real thing This is the first time that I notice that analogs taste a little nasty, but I smoke a few before I get home and I’m right back to the norm. I have my usual cig before bedtime.
March 20. My son-in-laws birthday. Up early, showered, and hubby and I have made the 45 minute drive to the airport. He isn’t going but I’m very excited about spending three weeks with daughter and family. Most of my e-cig stuff is in with my laptop. One is in my purse. I checked my luggage and head over and explained what an e-cig is to the airport security guy. Showed him the little card that came with the Fifty-One. He had no problem with me using it inside, and, in my mind, I’m saying yeah!!!
Atlanta Airport is a whole different story so, since the shower cap stayed home and I didn’t want to reek of tobacco smoke, I stood outside the smoking room. I couldn’t believe that no one said anything to me. It probably was a good thing since I wasn’t in a good mood.
Actually I was ticked at the hypocrisy.
Airport policy evidently wanted to save the world from SHS but didn’t have any qualms about sending me into it.
On the plane, I used the bathroom once. While I was in there, I took a couple little vapes. Still a little hot about the airport deal---They did me wrong so they brought out my stubbornness so it was more out of defiance than need. Didn’t really expect it, but was pleased when no alarms went off. That’s when it dawned on me that I could vape in the airport’s restrooms.
At Raleigh, I’m outside waiting for my son-in-law to pick me up. This is when I find out that RDU is just as unbending as Atlanta. Security guy told me to go to a designated area. I tell him it’s an electronic cigarette. He said he didn’t give a damn what it was, I had to do THAT in the smoking area.
I never smoked in front of my granddaughter and because of the extreme measures I took to not smell like smoke, in N. C. and at home, she didn‘t have a clue.
She never saw me vape either, but when she was watching TV, playing, or taking a tubby, I’d sneak in a vape or two, or three.
I did vape in front of my daughter and son-in-law and they didn’t say anything negative. At first I thought their silence was due to the fact that I’d made it clear that I wasn’t going to take it outside.
Later they said they preferred the e-cig over cigarettes.
It surprised me at the end of the three weeks that I hadn’t missed analogs that much, and, since I hadn’t, it was obvious I could do what I hadn’t been able to do in the past. I could quit smoking.
On the return trip home, I had a long layover in Atlanta so I did my vaping in the restroom. The handicapped stall is wonderful. Although, I’m sure the cleaning lady, who seemed to clean continuously, must have thought I really had a problem since I visited often and stayed longer than the average Jane Doe. What can I say, I took a book, read, and vaped.
Here’s a suggestion: Take plenty of sanitizer wipes.
It’s a Friday and my son, because hubby is disabled and is having a bad day, picks me up at the airport. He’s an engineer who has the option of setting his own hours and can work from any place with Internet so we (I) depend on him a lot.
Since he had spent the last three weeks with his Dad, I asked if the other e-cig I ordered had come yet. He said no. And then I told him I was going to quit. He was happy. Then he wanted to know what I was going to do with all the analogs I had at home: 5 cartons in the freezer in the garage and another half carton in the refrig freezer in the kitchen.
I said I didn’t know---wasn’t ready to let loose of them yet.
As I said, my daughter is a Physical Therapist and my son-in-law is a Physical Trainer and they totally live the concept of eating right. Usually, before I leave the city limits, I’ve had at least a half dozen analogs and not-so-good-for-me meal.
We stopped at the Steak n Shake for a steak burger, fries, and a shake.
The only thing that is different is that I haven’t vaped anywhere near enough to get six analogs worth of nicotine in my system. I’ve refrained because I’ve also decided to go nicotine free along with smoke free.
The reasons for quitting smoking:
Not a year ago, my doctor had to increase my blood pressure meds and BP was still running on the high side.
I already had one really bad experience with COPD which put me on Advair.
I was dealing with bronchitis---becoming a norm and I carried an inhaler all the time.
The reason for quitting nicotine:
I’d been ignoring the signs of circulatory problems for awhile.
I got home about 1:00. Greeted hubby in the appropriate fashion and petted the dog, but didn’t even think about unpacking. Instead I called the tobacco store and talked to the owner. I asked her if she had 0, low, and medium cartomizers for the Fifty-One in stock. My worse fears happened when she said no but she could have some in by Monday. That meant I had to regulate my vaping over the weekend so I wouldn’t take in anymore nicotine than I had in the past three weeks.
Total bummer.
But, then, the other model came in the mail the next day. I was so happy that I wanted to kiss the mailman.
I think it’s a RN4081 or a DSE103. I got the starter kit with extra carts.
I study the carts and filler for my new model. I’ve never done it, but it didn’t look like it’d be that hard to refill if I just knew the liquid ingredients (other than nicotine). I got online and found out about vodka, PG and VG. Since I was having a little trouble with a sore mouth and throat, I decide to try VG. I made a trip to CVS to get some VG and on the way back, I stopped at a liquor store for the vodka.
I’d ordered high nicotine carts for the new model. Using a needleless syringe, that was still in the package, that I had in a “it-may-come-in handy-one-day-Xmas popcorn-tin,” I squeezed the nicotine liquid from the filler into a small bottle. I put the liquid cups and fillers, one at a time, in a small screw on lid that held vodka. When finished, I ran the vodka through the syringe and it joined the other in the small bottle.
I had a goal date in mind, and that was my son‘s birthday, and my daughter‘s wedding anniversary. It seemed fitting since my stop-smoking day was on my son-in-laws birthday.
I used the Fifty-one when I wanted a hit of nicotine.
The new model, I vaped no nicotine liquid.
That is until the cartomizers were finished and I stopped using the Fifty-One. Then I just carried carts with me for the new model: Several carts with no nicotine and my nicotine cart allotment for the day.
Every night, when I loaded my nic liquid cups for the next day, I made it weaker.
At the end, I was getting a little panicky so I used it very sparingly. So sparingly that on my goal date, I actually had some left over. I added a little VG and sealed it as tight as I could and put it back for emergencies or specials times.
I still have it.
As you already know, March 20th is my smoke-free anniversary day. This year, of course, is number one, and I’m announcing it a couple days early because I’m busy getting ready to go N. C. again.
June 9th is my nicotine free anniversary day!!!
Not a year yet, but @ a little over nine months!!!
And I know there are more milestones ahead for me because I‘ve already been tested.
Months back, I was shopping with the friend I mentioned earlier---we do that a lot together. For the love of me, I can’t get her to make the switch. We now use her car all the time because she can’t smoke in mine. When she smokes, she does crack a window because that is what she does for all non-smokers. On this one occasion, since winter had just begun and it was cold, I told her not to bother. It rarely happens anymore but back then, more times than not, SHS just smelled good, and periodically I’d get this feeling that I really missed smoking. My fate was sealed when she asked me to hold her lit cig for a second. I asked if I could take a drag. She said okay---mainly because I think she secretly wishes I’d start smoking again.
Anyway, I took a puff with no intention of inhaling, which I didn‘t but I suppose a little nicotine got absorbed through the mouth. It had to be very minimal. Probably just as much as breathing in SHS or eating a tomato. Basically, I don’t count it, but even if I did, it was worth it because it showed me how awful analogs tasted.
Since then, when I get that yen for an analog, I know it’s a game my subconscious is playing so I shrug it off.
The rest of the history of my journey.
I liked the RN4081 or DSE103 but always seemed to be charging batteries. Used and abused the atty with learning and dripping during the next couple of months. The batteries stopped functioning properly but the atty still worked---just not great.
Way before the batteries died, I decided to buy a couple more models. The first to arrive was the SKYRL which was a DSE102. The vendor lived in the U. S. and I got everything in like a week---wish I found him first.
Got two SKYRL batteries, two attys, a charger and a few extra carts for $79.00 + shipping. After figuring out how to load the liquid cups with as little filler as possible, two would last me until mid afternoon. If I vaped heavier than normal, I always had plenty of the cups with me because they were mess free---each had a screw on lid. Take the screw lid off, exchange, and put the lid on the old.
The day I got it, I color coded the batteries. Then I’d alternate which one would be number One for the day. I’d use One more than number Two. I put number One on the charger about three/four o’clock in the afternoon. Before number Two died, One was ready to go again. Two went on the charger until bedtime then I’d put number One back on (using a timer) so both would be fully charged the next day.
I called it the battery game. But from what I was reading on ECF, the length of time they held a charge was good.
The other model, which some company stuck another name on, turned out to the Super RN4081. I ordered 2 extra batteries so I had a total of four.
The battery time for these were awful.
I had a friend who bought it, but it didn’t take long for her to get tired of the short battery life. She ended up ordering SKYRL’s DSE102 too and, because I told her I would, I bought the RN4081 back.
Unfortunately, she didn’t stick with vaping---I think it was because her hubby stills smokes. But she did mail her stuff to her daughter who lives in Texas and I guess she has stopped smoking.
I’m totally impressed with the SKYRL (DSE102).
Back then, I didn’t heard much about it, and still don’t today, but it’s just a totally awesome little e-cig. There’s no pre-puff needed!!! It doesn’t have that irritating shut off on it!!! Or if it did, my constant puffing never engaged it.
Now that I’d found a great model, I wanted to stock up for the uncertain future. I didn’t save the website to favorites so hubby and I went looking and that’s when we found ECF---Not anymore but SKYRL was one of the vendors.
Hubby hangs around ECF and tries to find out why I’m having problems with one of the batteries. He firmly believed the batteries should last forever. Eventually he found out it was because it was an auto battery and the e-liquid got into it---I have a tendency to overfill. Guess I didn’t douse the battery too terribly bad because the troublesome one eventually came out of it.
I place another DSE102 order and once it arrives, I‘m happy as a lark.
I take and start using four of the new batteries and four attys in my rotation. I number all the batteries so I differentiate them--makes it easier to keep track of which one needed to go on the charger next. Time passes. I put in a couple more orders. The FDA wasn’t going to stop me from vaping because I had attys and A LOT of them.
Not so with the batteries but because of mods, I wasn’t worried about that aspect.
I finally loose my original two DSE102 batteries: One in September, the other in October. They stop working because I haven’t broke my tendency to overfill the liquid carts. The liquid finally did them in.
I turn over a total of eight batteries to hubby so he can remove the connectors: Two DSE102 batteries. Two RN4081/DSE103. Four RN4081 Super.
Once he’s done the connectorendectomy, he hauls me to his work area. He says I need to build at least one. He coaches me through it and I’ve officially made my own 3.7 battery NicoStick. Over the next week, he builds two---one is from using a DSE102 connector. I was so happy they were done before the next trip to N. C. because I learned from the my NicoStick that I didn’t have to charge batteries several times every day. It was down to a couple times a week---Boy did I feel liberated!!!
Unfortunately, I didn’t use the DSE102 NicoStick a lot because the atty got too hot.
By the end of November, we’ve gone to N. C. and returned, and hubby has built Wall Wart mods out of the rest of the connectors. These are even better than the NicoSticks, but, again, the DSE102 attys got too hot.
Guess it’s a good thing the RN4081 attys work great on the mods.
Hubby doesn’t think it’s so great because I’m now ordering RN4081 stuff, and since I am, thinks I should sell off the DSE102 stuff.
Every time he mentions it, I go no-no-no because the 45 attys and over a dozen batteries are my stash.
It might happen later, but not until I’ve got a lot of RN4081 attys.
The finale.
The general changes have occurred:
Things taste better.
Sense of smell has improved big time.
I feel better.
The really big plus changes:
My doctor has taken me off all but one of my blood pressure medications.
I haven’t had any bouts of COPD---on one breath I can just about swim the length of my athletic‘s club pool
No bouts of bronchitis---Can run with my dog.
I still have Advair and an inhaler around but they have gone untouched.
I have less leg pain when walking and/or running.
To my surprise, my hearing has improved.
To make room for Xmas cookie dough last year, I finally bite the bullet and gave away the cartons of Native analogs. Also gave away my cig making machine, tubes, tobacco, and other odds and ends. I did keep a few ashtrays.
I also gave away the Fifty-One a few weeks ago. I haven‘t used it for so long it seemed silly to hang onto it when it might convert another smoker. It went to an unemployed gal with kids. Hopefully she is using it so her kids aren‘t around SHS and she‘ll be around to see her grandchildren.
The second half of jj2 has had some successful moments too.
Hubby was an occasional smoker. It always irritated me that he could smoke one and not have another for days, weeks, even months.
Since analogs aren’t kept in the house anymore, he no longer has that occasional smoke.
He does vape but only when he is trying out a mod.
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