Your experience switching from cigarettes to e-cigs?

[olderthandirt]

1 to 2 packs a day for around 37 years. Been rolling my own for around 10 years.
1st vape on 3-26-09, 2 to 4 analogs along with it, last tobacco when I went to bed on 4-1-09. Think about a smoke when the stoopid NPro spits juice but the 901 alays those thoughts nicely.

Hmm.. today was the 1st day I didn't get a mouthful of juice! I'll get it right yet

 

[BJ43]

2 packs a day 45 years, occasional pipe or cigar, all inhaled. Got my 901 10 Jan 09 and from the first vape never smoked analog again. Still have a pack Marl red with ten cigs that I plan to throw away Apr 10 at three months. Started with 24mg and am down to 12 mg. Feel great. First wk made my first usb mod and larger battery mod, after that never used the original batteries.

 

[Beequeen]

I've been smoking for over 20 years, a pack a day of Marlboro Lights. Truth be told, I'm still smoking half a pack a day. I got down to 5 a day when I started vaping, but due to the constant upkeep and unreliability of e-cigs, I've fallen back into smoking analogs....with a filter, mind you, so at least I'm removing alot of the tar . Unfortunately, for me, e-cigs never gave me the same hit and feeling as smoking cigs. Pleasurable, yes, but just as satisfying, no. If these things gave me more of a kick and didn't need constant maintenance, I have no doubt that I'd be able to knock cigs out altogether. I'm hopeful that with future improvements to these devices, it'll happen.

 

[ZUG]

actualy quite smoking anolog cold turkey end of dec. went a month without nothing after smoking for 30 some years it was horrible phsicaly as well as mental could not concentrate and would dream about lighting up every night. I knew I would not make it in jan came across the njoy add on internet and said what the hell, I look at it like a miricle from the first day I got it nerves back to normal just like when i was smoking felt great have many different e-cigs pens and mini's now as well as a ton of juice (all from info gained from this forum) my wife quite the same time as me and also was not going to make it and she smoked more than me and she now vapes as well , have never had another anolog or her since dec and I never even think about them or dream about them. like i said (MIRACLE).

 

[calligal]

Started at 13 and within 2 years I was hooked as were my friends who started with me. Not sure when my habit got up to a pack a day or when I went from marlboros to carleton ultra light but I smoke for approx 25 years before successfully quiting. (After trying hypnosis, gum, wellbutrin and the patch. I switched between reg cigs and herbal cigs until weaned off the regs and herbals were so awful I dropped those as well.) One year later one "harmless cig" led to smoking about a pack a day again, only this time djarum special. 6 years passed with every month being the one I would quit on. I tried Chantrix but it made me so ill I could not even get thru 1st week of treatment. I bought herbals cigs but just could not find that magic again.
I committed on New Years Resolution to quit by April 1st.

Look at me now...I received my 1st e-cig 3/17/09 at 7:30pm which is why I consider my 1st day to be 3/18/09-On that day without consideration I smoked only 7 analogs. For the next 6 days I smoked 4 analogs a day (I still had 2 packs left and finally realized that I wasn't stopping until they were gone.) My last two days of analogs 3 then 2. Morning and Bedtime being a key factor. 3/37/09 is now the offical quit date.

1st few days went surprisingly well. I had even gone to a party and hung out with the smokers w/o longing an analog as I was more than content with just my PV (especially when I vaped inside by the roaring fire.)

I have had a few trigger moments since then but all have been mild, more of an "oh..yeah...I don't smoke anymore, than "I need a cigarette". I have also had a few emotional moments in the last few days but an hour walk with my mp3 player blasting my favorite songs seems to help. (I am not craving a cig or nicotine so not sure if the moods are related.) Even now writing about smoking does not elicit any desire.
The best and worst of Vaping was getting my sense of smell back but realizing my entire wardrobe smelled like cigarettes. Febreez did a nice job of removing order thank goodness.
11 days analog free. I may feel marginally and better, healthier but the change is slight. I am eating a bit more but I was dieting before I started so it may not be related and I have gained 1 pound.
To be honest I went with this because it was an alternative to smoking and I hoped it would lead me entirely away from cigarettes. It is too soon to say what life will be like without an e-cig but I do now I will not go back to analogs.

 

[jingai]

The biggest incentive for me to stay of analogs is the knowledge that if I fail this time, it's the end of the line. It's highly unlikely that anything else will come along in the future that is such a close substitute for the real thing so if I take up smoking again, I don't really have any valid excuses [all of the official NRTs are rubbish IMHO; I cannot honestly say that this time].

This is my thing. This is probably the best I'll get trying to quit.

Problem is, I'm sitting here right now dying for a real cigarette but I intentionally don't have any in the house. So I'm vaping constantly.

As a side note.. since you all seem like such a great bunch of people.. do you all have a chat room? on IRC or whatever? I think it'd be helpful.

-j

 

[megan]

I read this board far more than I post on it (obviously, check out my # of posts). But I felt like I wanted to contribute to this thread.
I've been smoking since I was 13 years old. Worked my way up to at least a pack a day by the age of 17. I'm now 38. I've tried quitting smoking so many times. Tried everything too. Including acupuncture which prolly would have worked if I didn't actually enjoy the ritual of smoking.
It's been 9 days since my last analog. Not that big of a deal compared to other folks on this board but let me tell you... I haven't been without a cigarette for 9 days since I was 17. As shameful as it is for me to admit, not even when I was pregnant. So 9 days is a huge deal. Do I miss it? Yes, when I get ...... off at something. But I just vape for a minute or two and it goes away. I get a very mellowed out, relaxed feeling from it. Much different than analogs. I don't want to ever go back to analogs. Especially since the price is out of control. I can't afford to smoke.
It's also nice not having to run out to the convenient store at 11pm because I ran out of smokes. Or have to run and hide to smoke behind the garage before the kids see me. Or any of the other inconveniences of smoking.
It's been great. I'm stocking up on a bunch of spare parts and liquid because I am afraid that if my supply runs out, I will break down and buy a pack of smokes. As long as I stay prepared, I'm confidant that I have this thing licked!!!

 

[ChainSmkr]

A habit that started out a pack a week turned into a 3-pack a day habit for me. I tried gum and patches but they didn't work. I've never gone even one day without a cigarette. When I got the e-cig, I instantly and effortlessly cut down to one pack a day just by substitution. I am in awe of the people that have quit the day they started vaping and those that have gone cold turkey. I must have the willpower of a gnat. (Do gnats have willpower?) For now, I'm content with the reduction but know that the pack a day still has to dwindle down to zero.

 

[whatagem]

WOW! I appreciate everyone's replies. I thought I must be going through an adjustment period or something; I wanted to see how I compare. So here's my story:
Everyone, and I mean everyone, in my family & my husband's family smokes. I was smoking for 1-2 years before my parents even knew. My mom cried when she found out.
Grandfather died of heartattack--instantly in fourties (heavy smoker)
Father-in-law died of heart attack--almost instantly (heavy smoker)
Mom diganosed with emphysema almost 15 years ago--they gave her 10 yrs to live (previously 3 packs a day, would break off filters; now smokes much less but still smoking She is AMAZED with my e-cig. Trying to get her to talk to her Dr. about it)

I began when I was 15 and decided in my early 20's I wanted to quit. I vowed I would quit before I was 30, and before I had children. I turned 28 2 weeks ago, still no kids running around.
I've tried:
patch, gum, lozenze
patch & gum at same time...got dizzy and threw up!!!
cold turkey, wellbutrin
cold laser therapy
chantix
I read Allan Carr's book (pbbbt phbbbt!!!!)
I considered hypnosis but at $900 I couldn't afford it and acupuncture was next on the list.

On an average work day, I smoke about 2 packs a day--probably about 3 on a day off. My taste is gone, my smell almost gone. My chest hurts sometimes. 4 years ago I landed myself in the emergency room with pneumonia.

I've prayed. I've asked every believer I know to pray for me. It's so hard when husband smokes and not interested in quitting. if I'm trying to quit, he goes outside--I still smell it & it will smell yummy to me. I taste it on him when I kiss him. Sadly, I've never gone a full 24 hours without a cig. Too weak; cigarettes' pull too strong.

I've been vaping a little here & there now. I like it & I think it may do it for me. Cigarettes have tasted quite nasty to me for a few years now. The recent tax rise made me realize either I can smoke, or I can eat. Cigarettes taste even more nasty in my mouth since I've begun vaping. It's gross--and yet I still want it

I've tried out a couple tobacco flavors, just to keep it real in my head. I know I'm smoking less now. At Easter service, being in a church where a cigarette has never been lit--I smelled my husband. I never smelled him before. I could SMELL cigarette smoke in his clothes!!!! That's crazy!

My last plan was to lay up in bed for the entire weekend while being on Chantix. I think I may try it while vaping. Plan a stress-free weekend and rent a pile of movies and say no to cigs! After visting this site so much, I hoped it would happen "accidentally" like for so many others. I kinda don't see that happening for me though.

Hoped husband would like it. He's tried my 901 a few times. The first, he coughed so hard he puked. 2nd time--almost puked. Tried it a couple more times and coughed uncontrollably! "Don't pull on it so hard!" I tell him. Don't know what he's doing wrong. I wish he could like it as much as I and we could quit together. Boy, wouldn't that be nice? I'd pull up our stinky carpet and buy all new clothes!

.....sorry that I yap so much....

 

[justtry]

got my first e cig in november, used it for 2 days and put it in a drawer. The first e cig i got sucked, from the mall, overpriced, lousy cartridges. In January I bought my first bottle of TW liquid and after a day I went to a pack of analogs/per week. Then all of a sudden I was down to like 1 or 2 a day, the morning and drive home cigarette. After dabbling in other devices like the 901 and 801, I educated myself on them, bought more liquids and really imersed myself into it. Now I'm analog free, however i have cheated mostly when tossing back beers with the boys, I'm a little leary of bring out my 801 (favorite device) with a blue LED to our corner bar, it just doesn't fit my image, but smoking one cig with a pint of beer with my pals is better than 30 without the beer on a normal day! I only go out once a week so honestly i smoke maybe 1 analog a week and then i don't want another one after that till the next week.

 

[Nicfits]

I had actually quit cold turkey and had been on the wagon for three days when I discovered E-cigs. I immediately bought one and got zero nicotine juice. All I wanted was something to help get me through one craving to the next. And it did just that. I am now 45 days cigarette and nicotine free. I have no more cravings for tobacco or nicotine, but I continue to vape my e-cigs simply because I enjoy doing so.

 

[PowerfulDot]

I'm at the end of my 3rd full day of no cigarettes and doing well. I'm very tempted to go buy a pack of analogs and just have a couple, but I just drip a little more peach cobbler and try to forget about the convenience store directly underneath my apartment.

Keeping strong-ish!
Dot

 

[Cathy]

good for you, i bet your pocketbook likes it to

 

[Ron43]

Very interesting to read the experiences of fellow vapers.

I've been smoking for over 30 years, building up to 2+ packs a day. I've been vaping for about a month now and my analog usage is down to about 1/2 pack a day. Being a menthol smoker, I have one e-cig specifically for menthol and another to try different flavors (currently watermelon which is great). Throughout most of the day I find it easy to substitute the menthol e-cig for an analog except when I have the first cup of coffee in the morning and then again after eating. Those are the two times that I find it hardest to give up analogs but I'm confident I can get there eventually.

 

[Bellinghamster]

15 years @ 20/day (mostly light methols)

About 5 years ago, I switched to additive free cigs, which gave me withdrawals as if I had quit cigs altogether. They gradually subsided, and I was really enjoying smoking my American Spirit Light Menthols.

Between the price increases, the bans, having a non-smoking spouse, and a baby, I knew it was time to quit for real.

I found out about e-cigs last summer from a techie friend who had read about them. We ordered together, and kept each other interested/motivated.

I've tried 'em all, I have prolly $2K USD in "stuff" in a specially purchased cabinet in the garage. None are perfect, but I'm eagerly awaiting the Vapor King (I'm always eagerly awaiting something)

Now I use my SD on the days I work at home, and refill carts for the M401. I take the M401 when I go into the office or drive around. I also supplement both with nasal snuff because I'm finding it provides a nice, fast, and smooth nic hit with none of the smell/hassle of cigs. I also sometimes use nic lozenges because I like the accuracy of dosage, and I don't get as many weird looks as I do with snuff.

Today I vaped only 0nic in the SD and got all my nic from snuff... and it was wonderful.

Generally, second hand smoke doesn't entice me anymore... ***EXCEPT CLOVES*** That smell almost takes me off my feet and I want one sooooo bad.

In regards to the folks who say you can't touch a cig or you will be back to full on smoking, I have to say that hasn't been my experience. I can buy a pack on "special occasions" and smoke them, then return to vaping without any trouble. The biggest drawback to those excursions is having to wash EVERYTHING I was wearing IMMEDIATELY as they smell so horrible once the booze has worn off. Oh, that and the sore throat and headache the next morning...

I'm going to Vegas in 2 weeks, and I'll be bringing a bunch of analogs and don't feel any guilt at all. If I'm gonna be drunk and gambling, I may as well be smoking! I'll bring the M401 too, you never know I might get a craving

BTW: I no longer consider myself an "addict". I am now a "nicotine hobbyist!"

 

[Vapinginmyboots]

Hello. Ive been smoking 35 to 40 cigarettes for about 7 years or so, pack a day before that or so for a total of 12 years that is until midnight fri. april 10th. Its been almost 6 days now w/out any tobacco, only vaping, and I am feeling great with only a few cravings here and there. At first it feels wierd to be off tobacco, the first few days once in a while sometimes felt very uncomfortable even with the immediate benefits like sense of smell, some taste buds coming back to life, ect. Sounds like some or most of us WANT an analog, reality is you only think you do. I tried this for a full day and smoked a cigarette the next morning, boy was i dissapointed in myself and it tasted pretty bad. Now, if you stick with it and have supplies on hand, it gets easier with each passing day. Best thing to do IMHO is pick a day, smoke your last analog before midnight, and make sure it is your last before the very 1st second of the next day. Good luck

 

[calligal]

21 days analog free since I started vaping but previously I smoked for 20 years. and quit by doing something simular. I weaned myself off cigs by only smoking them when I got to the angry point, otherwise I smoked herbals. It took a long time because the herbals were so disgusting they initially made me angry, but gradually it worked until I was off both altogether.

2 years later and after hanging out for months with my smoker friends at work without a craving I curiously wanted to try one and thought it couldn't hurt. (Yes, I was a dumba**) 6 smoking years later every attempt to quit failed. Even knowing that it was possible for me I could not do it.

This time I quit analogs much quicker. I did finish up my two packs first (it was a headtrip thing-they were there and had to be smoked, especially in the am and before bed.) Once they were gone it was easier than expected.
There are times as others have mentioned that I look for the ritual of opening the pack, removing, lighting, and tapping but they have gone until only when I feel uptight.
Also, After 7 days of being analog free I had two days where I was acting like a maniac. I almost gave in but once I realized it was probably the chemicals flushing out and a couple of long walks with my favorite music blasting into my head I was okay. I also started craving something more and began eating more. Not much but enough to notice and that seems to have faded in the last couple of days.

I was a pack a day smoker but I also had to constantly work on keeping it that way.

 

[menthollight]

I saw the concept of e-cigarettes solely as a way to save some money. I had no intention of giving up the pack and a half a day of regular cigarettes that I've smoked for over 30 years, just cut back some and supplement them with an e-cig. So I did some research, ordered a Joye 510, and received it last week.

After two days with the e-cig I was down to 5 or 6 analogs per day, and I haven't had an analog since my 4th day with the e-cig. It just sort of happened -- why smoke a cigarette when I can have a pleasant vape and still get my nicotine, oral gratification, and most everything else the cigarette provides?

I still have partial packs of regular cigarettes on my desk, coffee table, kitchen counter, all the places I used to reach for one, but they're just no longer necessary. Maybe knowing that they're available helps, I don't know.

So now I've spent a little more than I would have spent on two month's worth of cigarettes, and I have lots of batteries, atomizers, cartridges, and several hundred ml of juice -- at least four month's worth of vaping supplies.

So I've saved lots of money, and, oddly enough, I seem to have quit smoking!

I still occasionally reach for a lighter when I pick up my e-cig, but I'm sure that will go away after a while

 

[Dukes Run]

I tried one last night for the first time. A friend of mine let me try hers and I thought it was pretty cool. Looking to order an EVO like she had. Might be able to kick the habit.

 

[RsL]

I do envy those of you who have been able to quickly make the switch from analog to electronic. Perhaps I will get there someday as well. But after 3 weeks of vaping with several different brands of e-smokes, I still find myself smoking several real cigs a day. The reason for me is simple. I need a strong throat hit and I'm just not getting that out of e-cigs. I've found juice that I love and tastes so much better than real cigs, but yet I'm not getting that kick in the throat and that is a deal breaker for me....