Why I started vaping e-cigarettes

[seatacboy]

[FONT=Helvetica Neue, arial, sans-serif] Please share your story as to why you started vaping. My account below may be a bit long-winded, but each of our stories will be somewhat different and unique.

I first smoked a cigarette at age 12 in 1973, when I delivered newspapers early every morning for the local daily paper. Over my teenage years, I generally smoked alone and generally "in the closet'" though my parents caught me a few times. As a practical matter, throughout my school years and even into college, I really wasn't a full time 7-day-a-week smoker, for me that actually did not occur until I reached age 29. Since then, I've had probably four dozen different episodes of quitting then relapsing.

Worth noting: As our body chemistry and compositions are all different, at the times when I actively smoked my per-day consumption was somewhat on the low side, averaging 10 cigarettes (half-pack) per day. But there's no beating around the bush - I avidly loved smoking including the intake of nicotine, as well as the motions of smoking and the enjoyment of being around other smokers who similarly thrived on this pastime/habit.


[FONT=Helvetica Neue, arial, sans-serif]Among the periods in which I had quit was a 3 year + stint, and other periods of "abstention" from several months to more than one year. Quitting created a number of "quality-of-life" and personal happiness problems for me,that were well outside of the typical nicotine addiction thing we allread about.[/FONT]


[FONT=Helvetica Neue, arial, sans-serif]Quitting smoking was indeed difficult, and upon each "success" it brought with it a certain level of accomplished pride. However, each "success" also failed to deliver any magical reward. I became an angry and resentful quitter, who had endured a huge emotional loss but never found my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I felt misled, misinformed, abused, and cheated - I had only lost something I really enjoyed, but got nothing forthe trade-off in return. Quitting left me with the same life difficulties that I started with, but it deprived me of my best coping mechanism.

[/FONT][FONT=Helvetica Neue, arial, sans-serif]Every since time that I would relapse back into smoking, it would be the case that 30 days before my relapse, I would have told you that I had my nicotine addiction totally and permanently beat and I would probably never smoke again.

In the context of my previous paragraph, though, life happens. At some point and usually after hours or even days of trying to hyper-analyze emyself through it - for me relapses did not occur on the "spur of the moment" but after a day or two of hyper-analyzing my "reasons" for smoknig - I would buy a pack, light up a cigarette, sparkup, and reclaim that special pleasure which I felt my life was missing. Up until my last relapse in December 2013, it was a given that whenever I would end up ready to relapse, I knew that nicotine gum and nicotine patches really would not quite do the job, and that smoking cigarettes was the way toactually get and enjoy that satisfaction.[/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica Neue, arial, sans-serif]Fortunately, in December 2013, when I faced a personal crisis where I was going to relapse – whether anybody else liked it or not – I decided to try the e-cigarette alternative. I immediately found that vaping nicotine via e-cigarettes, although a somewhat different experience than smoking, satisfied all of my desire for nicotine intake and did not produce the nasty health side-effects of smoking.[/FONT]


[FONT=Helvetica Neue, arial, sans-serif]Since then, I have occasionally stopped vaping for periods of two, three or four days attime. The symptoms of not intaking nicotine were, in my ownexperience, less pronounced and less intensely painful than I had experienced previously when quitting tobacco cigarettes. This part is strictly my own experience, but when I would quit vaping, I experienced drowsiness and an increased appetite and craving forfattening snack foods but with few of of the other "withdrawal" side effects (i.e. severe head-pounding headaches).[/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica Neue, arial, sans-serif]Atthis time, we don't have exhaustive research data from INDEPENDENT,UNBIASED sources as to what kinds of long-term health hazards andrisks may be associated with e-cigarette vaping and nicotine use frome-cigarettes. But we have vast amounts of information accepted as facts regarding the serious health risks of tobacco smoking and obesity.

What's your story as to why you started vaping?[/FONT][/FONT]

 

[Completely Average]

Atthis time, we don't have exhaustive research data from INDEPENDENT,UNBIASED sources as to what kinds of long-term health hazards andrisks may be associated with e-cigarette vaping and nicotine use frome-cigarettes.

That's not entirely correct.

We have LOTS of exhaustive data from independent, unbiased sources as to the long term health "hazards" of ecigs, they just aren't related to ecigarettes.

You've got to remember that the ingredients in the liquids used are common, over the counter, used every day ingredients. PG is considered "GRAS" by the FDA. That means it's Generally Recognized As Safe". Check your toothpaste and I'll bet it's the first listed ingredient.

VG is even safer than PG. It's a common food sweetener and food stabilizer. It's derived entirely from vegetable oil, and you're inhaling the same fumes every time you smell fried food.

The only really questionable ingredients are in the flavorings. For the most part they are common food flavorings, and are no more harmful for you than they are the cooks, chocolatiers, and candy makers that use them every day.

Generally speaking avoid liquids made in China. There's no telling what they've used as cheap fillers to reduce cost. Stick with FDA approved GRAS ingredients, and there should be no long term health issues at all, outside of the normal issues associated with nicotine. (BTW, nicotine is NOT a carcinogen and does NOT cause cancer by itself)

 

[dhock50]

I just wrote this type of letter. I plan to send to officials in Missouri in support of vaping. I did it in Word, but don't know how to copy it to the forum to post here. Can someone help! thanks

Sorry, I think I got it.

I am a 51 year old married mother of 3. I have smoked most of my life, starting at age 15. It had a very strong hold on me, which always scared me. I had tried many times to stop smoking, but always failed. I tried hypnotism, patches, medication, books but the addiction always won. As I had gotten older, I had become short of breathe at times, and had a horrible sounding cough, and high blood pressure. Even knowing that my health was suffering was not enough to make me quit, I had pretty much accepted that smoking was going to kill me.
In September of 2013, something life changing happened. I discovered e-cigarettes. After much research, I bought my first starter kit on-line, but figured it would just be another failure. After receiving my starter kit, I used it for the first time and that was the end of smoking cigarettes for me. I did not smoke even one cigarette after that day; I actually threw my last one away. No one could be any more shocked than me. I never dreamed it could be that easy.
Now 6 months later, I feel so much better. No more shortness of breath, no horrible cough, blood pressure is actually low enough that my doctor may be stopping my medication in the near future. I probably will have to accept that I did some damage to myself with the many years of smoking, but I am so happy that I can now move forward feeling like I could be here for my family. I am still using nicotine, but have gradually lowered my dosage.
When I hear talk of the bans, regulations, and negative talk regarding e-cigarettes, it infuriates me. I can’t believe that e-cigarettes are not being promoted as a better alternative to smoking. They have helped so many people, I alone have helped two people to make the switch, my 25 year old daughter being one of them, and they have been successful without relapse also. I think government officials, should be handing e-cigarettes out instead of trying to make it difficult to obtain and use. It almost seems that they are trying to force people back to smoking.
I am so happy that I found e-cigarettes. I am so passionate about the fact that this changed my life, my health, and quite possibly my future. I feel I have a much better chance now of being here for my children, grandchildren. Believe me when I say, without e-cigarettes, I would still be smoking.
I agree it would probably be better to be free of all nicotine, but that is not possible for a lot of people, including myself, so please consider supporting e-cigarettes as a better alternative to cigarettes. I believe this could be the future, and could save many lives.

 

[bacc.vap]

I just wrote this type of letter. I plan to send to officials in Missouri in support of vaping. I did it in Word, but don't know how to copy it to the forum to post here. Can someone help! thanks

I'm no word expert or anything , but can't you just highlight it and copy and paste like anything else?

 

[seatacboy]

That's not entirely correct....We have LOTS of exhaustive data from independent, unbiased sources as to the long term health "hazards" of ecigs, they just aren't related to ecigarettes.......You've got to remember that the ingredients in the liquids used are common, over the counter, used every day ingredients. PG is considered "GRAS" by the FDA. That means it's Generally Recognized As Safe". Check your toothpaste and I'll bet it's the first listed ingredient.....VG is even safer than PG. It's a common food sweetener and food stabilizer. It's derived entirely from vegetable oil, and you're inhaling the same fumes every time you smell fried food........The only really questionable ingredients are in the flavorings. For the most part they are common food flavorings, and are no more harmful for you than they are the cooks, chocolatiers, and candy makers that use them every day........Generally speaking avoid liquids made in China. There's no telling what they've used as cheap fillers to reduce cost. Stick with FDA approved GRAS ingredients, and there should be no long term health issues at all, outside of the normal issues associated with nicotine. (BTW, nicotine is NOT a carcinogen and does NOT cause cancer by itself)

Thank you. E-cigarettes are a Harm Reduction method of nicotine intake. At this time, there is no meaningful research identifying specific, objectively-verifiable risks or harms caused by e-cigs per se, though you're right, there is plenty of information regarding the various ingredients and components involved in the vaping process. The risks of smoking tobacco products are very, very, very well known.

It's conceivable there are health risks to vaping which we don't know about. I guess it's up to each individual to decide.

For me it's a very simple decision that - given the very serious KNOWN risks of tobacco smoking, given the ineffectiveness of NRT products like nicotine gum, patches and inhalers, and given that some of us developed an attraction/desire/craving for nicotine earlier in our lives - electronic cigarettes are a wonderful alternative.

The weird thing: hard-care "nanny state" zealots are trying to brainwash the American people into perceiving e-cigs as evil - and this in a day and age where legalized consumption of ........ ([moderated]/.........) - particularly by SMOKING [moderated]- is being increasingly accepted by the public. Does anyone else see the public-policy disconnect?

 

[Bgren99]

I started vaping last year simply to cut down on butts...other than the occasional pack of butts I'm pretty much tobacco free with minimal setbacks. Smoked for about 15 years

 

[JayK]

Started vaping to extend my life. I pretty much cut down to smoking a few stinkies when I had some wine or beer.. Vaping tastes much better and it's a fun hobby for me.

 

[PennyLynn]

I feel the same as you. I'm 63, and pretty much assumed I'd never be able to quit (and didn't want to). I started on Wednesday night and smoked my last full one on Sunday. I also don't understand why government and medical groups are shouting about this from the rafters!

 

[wheelie]

Not going into detail but sitting in the critical care unit of the hospital and wife wanted a cigarette. She told the doctor she wanted to go home. Doctor came to me and said if she goes home she will be dead by morning. So I told the doctor to put her in a wheelchair with all the hospital equipment and I will take her outside for a cigarette as I bet I can get her to stay. Doctor said "I can't as it is against hospital policy". I looked at the doctor and said, "well what you going to do". Doctor stopped dead and went silent for 5 seconds and looked at me and said, "I will get a wheel chair". Wheeled my wife outside and she looked at me and said "this is the last smoke I will ever have". She has not had a smoke in seven months now.

Me I had a lot of trouble. Gum, patchs. inhalers, spray and nothing worked. Was at a hardware store and asked the salesman "you sucking on a pen?" He showed me his esmoke and said he started at 24mg nicotine and today is at 6mg with no intentions of quiting. We talking where he got it so I was off to get one. Started off with Ego-C and a Prohead 2. Today I am cigarette free as is my wife. She started to have trouble so I gave her one of my Ego-C systems as I had four. Got her some 0mg nicotine juice and I add just a touch of 24mg in one of them when she hits a bad spot. Most of the time she vapes 0mg nicotine

I am happy to announce all my kids are now vaping as well. Dad was generous and bought them all beginner systems.

 

[cat68]

dhock50, my story pretty much mirrors yours, except I was 44 last year on April 12 when I started vaping and haven't touched a cigarette since. I had tried everything too, even Chantix which had me on the verge of committing suicide, and I would cry thinking that cigarettes were going to kill me. I was having terrible heart symptoms including rapid heartbeat and ankle swelling. One of the attorneys I worked with was a vaper and she inspired me to try it. It worked so well I couldn't believe it, never thought I'd see the day.

I got my 22-year old son-in-law interested and he now capes instead of dipping. My 22-year old daughter had already quit smoking because she was pregnant, but says if she ever has the urge again, she will take up vaping instead. I can't stress enough that vaping saved my life!


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[Subject666]

I started vaping when i joined this forum..quit cigarettes as soon as i got my first 510 kit...I started vaping due to the horrible smokers cough and wheezing I had.. every morning on the way to work I would almost vomit from trying to cough up phlegm and while I lay in bed at night trying to sleep I could hear my wheezing..I'm only 32 so that wasn't cool... How happy I was when my wife's uncle showed me his cheapo discard smoke(he has emphysema) after that nothin but Vapin!!

 

[seatacboy]

dhock50, my story pretty much mirrors yours, except I was 44 last year on April 12 when I started vaping and haven't touched a cigarette since. I had tried everything too, even Chantix which had me on the verge of committing suicide, and I would cry thinking that cigarettes were going to kill me. I was having terrible heart symptoms including rapid heartbeat and ankle swelling. One of the attorneys I worked with was a vaper and she inspired me to try it. It worked so well I couldn't believe it, never thought I'd see the day. .......I got my 22-year old son-in-law interested and he now capes instead of dipping. My 22-year old daughter had already quit smoking because she was pregnant, but says if she ever has the urge again, she will take up vaping instead. I can't stress enough that vaping saved my life!....

Wow, what a story! So many people around us truly don't comprehend just what a game-changer electronic cigarettes are, not only for our own benefit but for the benefit of our loved ones and others whose lives are impacted by us. Thanks for sharing.

 

[cat68]

Wow, what a story! So many people around us truly don't comprehend just what a game-changer electronic cigarettes are, not only for our own benefit but for the benefit of our loved ones and others whose lives are impacted by us. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks, seatacboy! Nice to see a Washington neighbor on this forum!


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[jstar]

I've been thinking I "need" to quit for a few years now. Turned 50 last birthday and smoking since i was a teen. Just all the gum/patch options don't help with habit, only the nicotine, so i know that wasn't going to work for me. Thought about chantix but the side effects listed, well, I don't even like taking aspirin. It wasn't till i saw a blu commercial quite a few times that i actually stopped, rewound PVR and actually "watched" the commercial. This just might work!!!! With me being in Canada i start trying to find this, well...no nic cigs here! Hubby found a 0nic cig at store and bought it for me. Yes it helped and i did cut back to half ( about 12-15) but that was short lived as my body really craved the nicotine. That started me on a search which brought me here! So I sit with my analogs and wait to finalize my order but I am hopeful that vaping is the right direction for me.

 

[Seann.V91]

May sound like a meat head, but I picked up smoking (black and mild cigars) around 15 years old about eight years ago, and then started smoking cigarettes at 17. I began to take bodybuilding much more serious and around 2012 I knew I need to put down the cigarettes because in order for a thorough pump while weight training you need large amounts of oxygen in your blood flowing through the working muscles which creates (fatigue) and the recovery at home would also depend not only on your diet, and sleep but the oxygen count you have in your body. In other words: in order to grow you need oxygen in your blood, large amounts of it would be even better which is why people take creatine via. Argenine ( nitric oxide)/ pre workout. But smoking cigs lessens the counts in oxygen in your blood.

From first hand experience most days as I trained while smoking cigs, I was tired easily, my cardio after weight training was dreadful and I looked very flat as to my muscles just didn't round out as round and full as they should be, and I knew it was the cigs..or the cigs weren't helping that in general. I don't know if this is a placebo but after a week or two of straight vaping 4-12 mg of nic level juices on my provari my muscles began to (not get bigger) but look more full and round (healthy) but I did feel I was bigger and healthier. I felt I was able to breathe oxygen and more of it to pass through the muscles where as I would die to have that oxygen while I smoked cigs. Oh and yes nicotine does effect the oxygen in the blood but in cigarettes there's 4000 other toxic ingredients that probably don't benefit the muscle growth factor, so yes vaping is definitely a better alternative although there is nicotine in ejuices but it wouldn't be so bad to stick with 4-12 mg and not vape 30 mins to and hour before exercising. And if you vape at zero, even better.

If I wanted a stronger vape with low nic I would just drip it in my sub ohm device and GO TO TOWN, until then I'll be a fiend for a kayfun

 

[Seann.V91]

But yeah this generally and most importantly why I started vaping, my doctor suggested it to me around 2011 and I started vaping in 2013. Hopefully my decision will benefit me in the long run.