UGH.. I quit the analogs but am getting tired of the "what ifs?" from hubby..

[EdHarley]

Smack'em upside the head, why don't cha.

I'm not sure a literal smack is called for but maybe a "Gibbs" and a smirk would get the point across.

Actually, I just wish that spouses and families could ALL be as supportive as mine have been. My circumstances are a little different but the concept is the same. I was lying in a hospital bed, three days after bypass surgery when I told my wife (trembling and scared) that I was committed to quitting (after 43 years). She cried. During the difficult times (yeah, I still have some), I remind myself of that moment and I can't bring myself to disappoint her again.

Three months later, I'm still analog free and about 96% thrilled about it. I started smoking with the "cool kids" in the 7th grade. (1969) and while I enjoyed smoking most of the time since, I've always regretted that first drag. Only a smoker can relate to such a convoluted concept but it is what it is.

Maybe you could invite you hubby to read through this thread and see if he starts to get it. Just remember, you can explain til you're blue in the face and he may never actually get it. After all, no good deed ever goes unpunished!

Stay calm & vape away!!!

 

[thatguy2]

Explain it this way..
You can wean yourself off the nicotine a little at a time..
Your starting with 18mg and doing well.. find a flavor that you really like and your almost there..
Next time buy it in a step down - say 16mg.. you'll use a bit more for a few days then your body will adapt..
Then repeat with say 12mg
Then 6mg
Then 0mg
Next thing you know, you'll be vaping because you like the flavor..

It takes time and willpower, but you have the upper hand in the supporting daughters..

Hang tough and drop by to rant when the husband gets on your last nerve.. we all care here..

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

This addiction is so much more than just the nic. It is behavioral, social, emotional,........
You are and can still be strong and vape. I started vaping because nothing else on the market worked. And it has saved my life and given me a smoke free one. I didn't and still don't plan on quitting vaping. Do I lower my nic? Sometimes. If I get to 0 nic will I stop vaping? Maybe, maybe not. What you are doing is for you and your family. Just allow a little time to pass, so he can see the benefits that come with no analogs. More energy, better skin and hair and the list could just go on but you get the picture. When your taste buds start to wake up and your sense of smell returns, don't be surprised as to what taste good now, might not in the future. It is all part of the journey we are on and its all positive. He will come around. And you will do just fine.
Just know there is always someone home here at ecf...24/7/365.
Let us know how you are doing.
Good luck

 

[Rabbit Chaser]

My fiance hates cigarettes for many reasons and I discussed the vape transition with him openly. He went to the vape store with me and asked questions, read articles online. He is very supportive but I understand that he does not really understand. I went from 18 mg nic and am now at 6 mg. He asked if I was going to quit vaping at 0 mg and I said probably not. I enjoy it, I do. Until they come out with verified research that is dangerous, I am going to keep on vaping. I lost a lot of my teeth due to gum disease from smoking (in my early 40's) and quit analogs then with the patch. Worst few months of my life. With the vape, i have no cravings - even when I am with smokers. I am not putting 4000, yes, 4000 chemicals, including arsenic, into my system. My asthma attacks are now pretty much nonexistant. I've rid myself of the icky things you mentioned like smell and stigma.

Here is what I have found - if I don't vape or discuss vaping around those who don't understand, it gives them less opportunity to put down my vaping. I gave up analogs the day I decided to vape instead (I had my first device for about two weeks before that happened). I have spent a decent amount of money on devices and juice but am now at a point where I just resupply my juice and coils, no more buying devices until after the new year.

Hopefully your husband will read some of what others suggested and realize that it is a HUGE step to put away analogs, no matter how you do it.

 

[Rabbit Chaser]

My fiance hates cigarettes for many reasons and I discussed the vape transition with him openly. He went to the vape store with me and asked questions, read articles online. He is very supportive but I understand that he does not really understand. I went from 18 mg nic and am now at 6 mg. He asked if I was going to quit vaping at 0 mg and I said probably not. I enjoy it, I do. Until they come out with verified research that is dangerous, I am going to keep on vaping. I lost a lot of my teeth due to gum disease from smoking (in my early 40's) and quit analogs then with the patch. Worst few months of my life. With the vape, i have no cravings - even when I am with smokers. I am not putting 4000, yes, 4000 chemicals, including arsenic, into my system. My asthma attacks are now pretty much nonexistant. I've rid myself of the icky things you mentioned like smell and stigma.

Here is what I have found - if I don't vape or discuss vaping around those who don't understand, it gives them less opportunity to put down my vaping. I gave up analogs the day I decided to vape instead (I had my first device for about two weeks before that happened). I have spent a decent amount of money on devices and juice but am now at a point where I just resupply my juice and coils, no more buying devices until after the new year.

Hopefully your husband will read some of what others suggested and realize that it is a HUGE step to put away analogs, no matter how you do it.

 

[TXCherry]

I see that it's been a little bit since your original post - has your husband come around?

I'm not married, but I'm so thrilled with how supportive my family has been. This Friday will mark 3 weeks since my last smoke. My dad has been a smoker for about 50 years, and he's asked me to get him set up with a PV system for Christmas. My mom still eyes it somewhat suspiciously, but I think she's becoming more interested in trying it, too. Friends think it's awesome, and I've converted 2 of them to ecigs. My BIGGEST fan is my son - he's so excited that his mom has quit smoking cigarettes, and tells me every couple of days how proud he is of me.

Your husband must be pleased that the smell (and taste) of the cigarettes is gone. Even my son has commented about how much better I smell. I'd love to hear an update from you!

 

[aerin34]

Aw, you sound like a nice family and your kids support you and I think hubby does too but just doesn't understand yet, but I think he will come around.

Just level with him that you are still addicted to nicotine, but that you can drop your nic level down little by little, that you didn't want to quit smoking cold turkey, didn't think you could do that, and so you are vaping to start harm reduction and eventually quit that, too.

Just tell him you need his support and love to make a big change in your life.

I think he will come around, you know, non smokers really don't know what it's like to be a slave to cigs.....he just doesn't understand how this is a PROCESS for you.

THIS! Non-smokers will never 'get' the hold that smoking has over those of us that did it... Hopefully, He will get it soon enough when He sees you healthier and happier!

 

[xjonquilx]

I just don't get it, but then again, maybe I do... My husband has NEVER smoked in his life, but he grew up with both parents smoking. His father smoked 3 PAD and decided one day to quit, bought a pack.. and never even opened it. His mother still smokes but I doubt she is even a PAD smoker. I started stupidly back in high school.. ironically enough at one of my volleyball games. Athletic to this day, I have been smoking ever since and that was back in 1987. I was up to a PAD and decided I had had enough.. I was sick of it. Sick of the smell, sick of the heavy feeling in my chest, sick of coughing.. sick of spending $7.89 per pack.. per day... sick of being ashamed of being a smoker, shameful that my daughters had the only mom who smoked in their classes.. (probably only PARENT period in their whole school!!) and was done with smoking but just couldn't buy that pack and NOT open it.. telling myself I was DONE. Well, two weeks ago I started reading about vaping and decided I would give it a go, no harm right??

Friday afternoon after school shopping with the girls, I said I have one more stop to make.. and that was one of the local vape shops. I went in, told them I wanted to quit analogs, they hooked me up with an ego starter kit, three clearomizers and I picked out 3 e juices. The guy there mixed them to 18 MG for me and off I went. On the way home I explained to my daughters what that place was all about, and how I was going to quit smoking.. and the looks on their faces and their response was PRICELESS!!! They were soooo happy! So we decided to keep it a secret from my husband until we knew how it was going to turn out.

WELL.. long story short, I haven't had an analog since I walked out of that vape shop. My husband knew the girls and I were planning a big surprise for him.. and I thought it would be more like a month from now that we would share the good news, but I was tired of hiding my vaping from him so we broke the news that "Mommy has stopped SMOKING!!!" says my 9 YO !! He said he figured that was what this was all about.. So we tell him all about the process whereby I became a "non smoker!" and, don't get me wrong- he is very happy about THAT part, but now come the questions about whether or not I am actually adding another addiction/vice, why not just quit? How healthy is it really? What sense does it make if you aren't really smoking, to continue a costly vice just to get nicotine? What if you are upping your nicotine intake, and then you will just go right back to smoking.. I of course am quite defensive since this is a HUGE undertaking and feel like all that other banter is senseless at this point.. I just want to enjoy being smokefree, not being worried about WHEN I am going to quite vaping.. my god it has only been 2 days!!! I LIKED smoking, I just didn't like all that went with it.. so if I like vaping and it isn't a harmful process, much the opposite really.. then what...!!! Feeling guilty for something that changed my life is {MODERATED} ..... but I do get where my husband is coming from.. why can't I just quit??!! WELLLLLLL, I can't. I tried the drugs, made me want cigs less, but then I wanted to kill myself, and had the craziest of scariest of nightmares.. what sort of trade off is that??!

Sorry for the rant.. but I am feeling like it would almost be easier to just start smoking again.. Hubby and I aren't talking right now.. I am outside in my smoking chair feeling guilty for vaping..

I know how you feel. I get random strangers chewing me out for it too, and sometimes it makes me feel like just saying screw it and lighting up again because it's like what's the point if no one acknowledges it as quitting. But I remind myself of why I started to begin with. 15 years of smoking, a lot of it spent just trying to quit. For whatever reason, I can't give up the oral habit. Vaping at least keeps me away from cigarettes, and my improvement in health is the proof that I've done something good for myself. When I started I had lost all function in my left lung, it was swollen and painful and I was on loratabs. I may very well have been on oxygen by now, in pain and waiting to die had my doctor not approved me starting to vape. And I know the day I throw away the ecig week be the day I put myself in danger of starting smoking again. Maybe not for years, but the day will come when I have a craving I can't resist. It's happened to everyone in my family. My mom picked it back up after having quit for 15 years. At least with ecigs I can keep one with 0nic on hand for those days and stay smoke free. A big deal coming from a family full of deaths from cancer and emphysema.

You will find over time your cravings will go down and you won't need the higher nic juice. It'll be gradual and natural... One day you'll realize your juice is making you nauseous and step down the nic on your next bottle. This is what people fail to realize. The addiction isn't so much in the nicotine as it is the billion other chemicals in smokes and the oral habit. Once you break the addiction to the other junk, your need for nicotine goes away on its own naturally. The only thing that remains is the oral habit, which I seriously doubt anyone breaks themselves from because it's a stim more than it is an addiction. All humans have stims. Ours is just oral.

Other than nicotine, your juice contains pg and VG. Pg is used in inhalers and nebulizers and is perfectly safe. VG is also safe and is nothing more than a naturally derived sweet tasting water based emollient that makes visible vapor. All the flavors are the same ones used in the food you eat.

Nicotine itself is as harmful as caffeine. Unlike caffeine it actually has medicinal properties, which is why big pharma is currently working on an oral pill form of it. Big surprise here: NRT is already being used off label by professionals as an effective treatment for OCD. Turns out it has a higher success rate than any actual medication labeled for treating OCD.

There have been numerous independent studies done that have repeatedly shown ecigs to be harmless as well.

Higher nic juices don't mean you'll go back to smoking either because over time smoking will repel you more and more. You'll actually be able to smell it and taste it for what it is... Nasty and stinky. Who would want to go back to something like that when they have all these yummy eliquids to use instead?

Vaping is not costly either... If it is you're either a hobbyist choosing to spend a lot of money on a mod collection and fancy eliquid or you're buying from the wrong place. I only spend a max of $50/month and that's only if I'm buying two ego batteries. There are even cheaper ways to vape but I pay a bit more for convenience.

Make your husband sit down and read these posts or Google everything I just said above. All the questions he's asking have been answered already. And make sure he knows that he's pushing you to feel like smoking again. Ask him if he'd be doing this if you were sitting using the patch or gum. Seriously, doing this when you're only two days into quitting is ridiculous and would be a deterrent to anyone quitting using any method. Tell him straight up his ONLY job right now is to support your efforts to quit, not question if they're good enough. If he has questions he can keep them to himself and Google or post in a forum like this one instead of infecting you with doubt. The questions may not hurt him one bit but he needs to be aware of the damage they do to you and ask himself if his need to ask is really worth putting his wife at risk of failing to quit once again, especially when I'm sure he knows you can't answer them offhand any more than he can.

Sorry for the long post but I wanted to make sure I addressed all the points your original post raised. It also really burns my buns when I hear about people doing this to anyone that's trying to quit an addiction of any kind, so please forgive my bluntness.

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