Giving Up Smoking After Over 40 Years With The Help Of E-Cigarettes.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

I have been smoking since I was about 15 years old and I am coming up quickly on my 59th birthday. I have been known to go through 3 packs a day. I didn't smoke them all, as many burn out while I'm working, but they have been my forever addiction and prop. Add to that I live in NY and cigarettes have been escalating in price. Almost 2 years ago a friend of mine introduced to me to cigarette injection machines and tubes. I have for the most part been making my own till now. I would occasionally treat myself to a "real" pack but at $9.50, they have become unaffordable.

I have quit 3 times in the past. The first time I quit for three years, when I was 24. A bad break-up with a boyfriend had left me with two alternatives, go out the window or start smoking again. I of course chose the latter.

Fast forward about 20 years ago I decided to try again and it last about 5 months and then another year later it lasted for about 2 months. Both time I tried the nicotine patch and an anti-anxiety medication, when I had health insurance and could visit the doctor.

I have since used nicotine patches when I was under situations when I couldn't smoke (ie jury duty, flying to and from CA and also the UK), and it helped take the edge off as long as I wore 2 full strength patches but I just couldn't commit to stopping again. I even thought the nicotine lozenges would work but all they gave me was severe heartburn.

About a year ago, I started to hear about e-cigarettes and I was intrigued. I started to look at them and was quite confused as there seemed to be very little conformity between makes and models. There are a few brands that have excellent marketing but most were a bit too expensive for me to lay out immediately. I also had to take into consideration the cost of maintenance. How much would it cost per month.

I also read about controversies about how healthy/unhealthy they were. I figured that due to the fact that I've been putting tar and so many more chemicals into my body, anything less would be a plus.

A couple of weeks ago I found an offer on eBay (which I use a lot for purchases) and bought via "coupon" a system. eBay does not allow direct sales of tobacco products, although these do not have tobacco, but flavoring and nicotine. It arrived and had problems because the cartridges it came with ran out of vapor within an hour or so, batteries had to be recharged almost every 2 hours but it seemed that if I didn't have these problems, I could use this kind of device to give up smoking.

I then did what I should have done from the beginning. I started to visit the e-cigarette-forum.com. It became an invaluable resource. From what I read, there were some brands and models more superior to others. Most posts put down the ones that were highly marketed and recommended more versatile ones that you could just fill with your own e-liquid, with superior vapor production (simulates smoke) and charging options. The forum is also a place for vendors to peddle their wares from hardware to the e-liquid (juice). Many offer discounts and coupon codes. I estimate that the total cost will be between $30.00-$40.00 a month. I have been making my own cigarettes for about $90.00 a month.

I decided on what appears to be one of the highest rated models, the Joye 510 in a kit and ordered it directly from China for $34.95 with free shipping(it isn't here yet), and also a passthrough system for the Joye 510, which I bought from a US vendor (with a 40% off ecoupon!). The passthrough is the battery part and connects to USB. I am practically always in front of the computer and it made sense to buy it. I also ordered blank cartomizers which one fills up with the e-liquid. I received the passthrough 2 days ago, and have, as of now, had 2 real cigarettes today. I put both of them out half-way through and re-lit them. That's it. I am not irritable/bitchy and in fact calm. It's a pleasure not having a cloud of smoke around me.

Using the e-cigarette does simulate smoking and is giving me the nicotine that a patch, gum or lozenge would do, and I hope that by next week I won't have to make a cigarette again.

I do know that it won't be a "walk in the park" physically as just like quitting cold turkey, I expect a constant sore throat and lots of coughing to follow. Probably for months.

I never ever do this here at DU, but please, wish me luck!

Peace,
Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :)

[Luciferous]

1. Good luck! :)

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. Thank you! :)

[Vincardog]

2. Good Luck

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

4. Thank you! :)

[joeybee12]

5. Good Luck! We're rooting for you!

:fistbump: :toast:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

9. Thanks a bunch!

:hi: :toast:

[greyl]

6. Best of luck to ya. nt

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

10. Thank you! :)

[AmandaRuth]

good luck and please let us know how it goes

The stress of life for the past few years has left me with a smoking habit, I know it is the wrong thing, perhaps the e-cig system will help with the quitting. Either that or a job. :)

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

13. Thank you AmandaRuth and sending you a hug. Working hasn't helped

me because I work for myself and there are no smoking rules here!

I really recommend that you look into ecigs. :)

:hug:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Me too. Started 2 weeks ago. So far, so good.

I'm using Green Smoke.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

16. So glad it's working for you so far! Even though it's a couple of days

I'm preferring the taste over cigs. :)

Good luck in keeping it up! :)

[nykym]

8. Hope it works for you

I have been thinking of going that route also - so thanks for the info.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

17. Thank you! :) I wish you the best with what ever decision you make. I know for myself,

when it comes to anything, it has to be with my own perfect timing. :) :hi:

[mdmc]

11. My dad quit smoking

or actually my dad hides the fact that he smokes and uses nicorrete gum:)

Good luck and congratulations my friend..

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

18. lol on the gum! My ex-sister-in-law gave up smoking 20+ years ago and still uses

nicorette gum!

Thanks and hugs to you mdmc!!!!

[Mimosa]

12. OmmmSweetOmmm, you'll win!

We're rooting for you! :D

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

19. Thank you! :)

:hi:

[Booster]

14. I absolutely do wish you luck and going to follow your progress

as much as I can. I need to quit also and have been thinking about using this system. I will check out that website you mentioned and maybe I will join you in quitting. If I were in your area I would probably quit just because of the cost, although I remember saying "when they get to $1 a pack, I'm quitting" yeah, right. But $9.50 a pack - whew.Best of luck to you and keep us posted on how you're doing.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

21. Thank you Booster! I will report on my progress next week and see how it goes.

The website is excellent and there's a lot of questions answered there. lol as to the $1 a pack! Actually, when making my own that's all that it cost and this is cheaper!

I believe everything is with perfect timing and you'll know when to do it. I figure it this way too....with the cost of purchased cigarettes here being about $90.00 a carton, trying it out is cheaper than a carton. But please, unlike me, do the research so you won't have to throw away money like I did with my first system.

Thanks again, good luck and :hi:

[Nite Owl]

15. Good luck

I just started Blucigs a few weeks ago. Not bad. I have cut back considerably on the real ones. Hoping this will do it--for both of us. Patches didn't work and Chantix was pretty bad, never made it to the full dose because of the side effects.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

26. That's great that you started. Blucigs is one of the big marketers

and from what I read, it seems that they don't quite deliver the same vapor and throat hit as other ecigs do. The one I'm using is incredible.

My ex is presently using Chantrix and it isn't working totally. He's been taking it for well over a month and he's still smoking. Not as much, but still. I couldn't even contemplate using it as I can't afford to go to the doctor let alone afford the prescription.

Best of luck!!!!

:hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. Nicotine?

I thought there wasn't any nicotine in electronic cigs.

[Lance_Boyle]

24. you can get nic-free juice, but most is nicotine and flavoring dissolved in

propylene glycol (fog machine smoke). It's nice to be able to pick your nic strength, too.

Edited to add - this is why it's critical to exercise caution in handling e-juice: nicotine is absorbed quite well through the skin.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

28. The juice can contain nicotine and can have different levels. I'm on 18mg

and know the next time I buy it, will get only 12mg. They also have nicotine free juice.

[EFerrari]

22. Good luck!

:hi:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

29. Thank you! :)

:hi:

[Lance_Boyle]

23. I followed virtually the same path, ended up with the Joye eGo.

Analog-free for almost 2 weeks now, and loving the "USA mix" juice that tastes like Marlboros, but less burned. The Dunhill juice is also quite good.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

30. Congratulations! I considered the eGo but it's a bit too pricey for me now

and it seemed it would be a little too big but the good thing is, that there are parts that are interchangeable with the 510. This way, if in the future I want to, I could go to the eGo.

I bought Marl B flavor and it does remind me of Marlboro. :) I don't like Dunhill cigarettes and have been thinking about the Benson and Hedges. Until the real Benson and Hedges went up so much in price, I smoked their ultra lights for years.

It seems a lot of people at the e-cig forum like the flavored stuff (vanilla, coconut chocolate, etc) and that seems to turn me off.

Best of luck!!!!!!

:hi:

[Lance_Boyle]

36. I have found the flavors to be almost universally puketastic.

I am tempted to try out a menthol next time I order juice, though. I always liked a menthol once in a while.

I am loving the eGo, and I think the 510s are very similar - the form factor is more cig-like than the eGo but the "guts" are alike. I got the eGo strictly for the battery life (vape all day, recharge at night).

One bit of advice, though, from one who has made the mistake: never overfill your cart (or your cartomizer in your case). E-juice on the lips and tongue is a bad, bad thing.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

37. lol on ejuice on the tongue! Been there, done that! I found a way

to avoid that. When filling the carto once I see the ejuice drip from the mouthpiece, I clean it off and then shake the carto. It seems to work. Once the actual 510 arrives, it has the atomizers and blank cartridges. Those will be easier to deal with. I also ordered the blue filter material to use for wicks. I read great things about them.

youtube is also quite cool when it comes to ecigs. Lots and lots of videos with how-to and reviews.

And as to menthol...my stomach can't handle it.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

39. PS on the eGo and 510. I believe they are made by the same company and

the longer battery life although important isn't too important right now. The passthrough is constantly charging and working when I'm at the computer. When the actual 510 comes, for around the house and going out, I purchased a pcc to keep the batteries charged.

[Lance_Boyle]

40. Sounds like you have a plan - hoping for the best for you.

My single favorite thing about the e-cig? I can "smoke" in my car again. I haven't done that for YEARS.

Now if someone would just make and market a hash oil version of the e-juice...

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

45. Thanks! I never gave up smoking in my car when I drove by myself or with a consenting adult ,

and as to the hash oil??? lol! I immediately thought pot juice! I used to love hash.....mmummmmmmm.... oh well!

:hi:

[Warpy]

25. I've seen too many friends struggle against nicotine and fail

to pooh-pooh any transition to a less toxic nicotine delivery system. Kudos to you for being smart enough to use the patches on long airline flights and in other situations when you can't smoke. I wish more people would realize they're available, traveling by air would be a lot more civil.

E cigs are a definite improvement over inhaling the smoke from tobacco leaves laced with gawd knows what. I'm sure you know the nicotine still has terribly destructive effects on your body, so I'll skip the lecture. The vapor is still less noxious than the burning leaves. Just be aware that the steam you're exhaling still contains nicotine, so be sensitive about doing it in crowds of nonsmokers. It doesn't stink like smoke does, but it's still toxic.

Eventually, you might be able to progress to being a nonsmoker. However, if this is the best you can do about a severe nicotine addiction, it's still a great improvement. Good luck with it.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

32. Thanks for your support and understanding. As a smoker, I've always

been considerate of non-smokers and exposing them to smoke. Even before there were no smoking sections I would always ask people if it was ok for me to smoke. I will still retain that consideration with these. :)

And thanks again!!!! :hi:

[OregonBlue]

129. From what I've read, the vapor you exhale does NOT contain nicotine. It is absorbed almost

instantaneously by the body and only water vapor is exhaled. Can you send more information. My kids are using ecig since they have children and they read all the literature prior to starting on these. I'm sure they'd want to know if there was a danger to their kids.

[Warpy]

131. The danger is more to older folks with compromised arteries

since nicotine causes arterial vasospasm.

Kids of smokers have a phenomenon called "glue ear," a chronic inflammation inside the inner ear with the fluid becoming really viscous and nasty. However, that might be because of all the other crap in smoke and not because of the nicotine, itself.

Anything is better than smoking at people, especially kids, asthmatics, and people with circulatory problems.

Not all the nicotine is absorbed, the respiratory system isn't that efficient.

[chill_wind]

27. K & R. Everything people could ever, ever want to know

about e-cigarette cigarette replacement.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/

I'm in no way affiliated with the site or sellers there, just have to point out the tons and tons of available info, marketing and discussion on the many systems available.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

38. The forum is wonderful. Another great resource are the tons of videos on youtube.

Lots of good how-to and review videos.

[XemaSab]

31. Good luck!

:hi:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

34. Thank you!!!!

:hi:

[bigwillq]

33. Good Luck!

:hug: Let me know how it goes. Smoker here, too. Quit a few times. Once for a year and a half. Last summer I quit for two month. Down to only about half a pack a day, but it's still too much! Let me know how it goes! :hug:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

35. Thank you and I will try to update this in a couple of weeks! It's great that

you've cut down and these might do the trick! :hi: :hug:

[NICO9000]

41. You can do it! Good luck!

Since you've quit before, you know it can be done although it ain't easy especially during trying times like these. Glad the e-cigs are helping. I quit in 1991 when I was 32, but only had about 15 years of on-and-off smoking under my belt.

I've gotta admit though, those e-cigs have really tempted me to try 'em out. I can totally relate to the comfort of the smoke and the prop part of it too. Having been smoke-free for so long, I don't really want to get back into bad habits, so have thankfully resisted them.

I'll send good thoughts from L.A. to ya!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

46. It's great that you've quit and have been smoke free for long! I hope that in time

I might even be able to wean myself off of these. :) I can see how "vaping" can be habit forming too and recommend that you don't even try them! :)

Thank you and hugs!!!

[druidity33]

63. you can get e-cigs without nicotine. nt.

[Ruby the Liberal]

70. There is a poster on that forum who quit ~10+ years ago

He started 'vaping' (e-cig talk for non-tobacco 'smoking') in 2008 with 0 nicotine juice because he missed it so much. Never got the whole habit out of his system. Today, he remains nicotine free and smoke free, but can enjoy what he once knew. He is one of many who post there on 0 nic.

I am not encouraging you to pick up the habit as they may be one in 1,000 that did that successfully. Just noting that there ARE former smokers on 0 nicotine that have been successful at this.

[madmom]

42. Good luck...you can do it...you won't be sorry!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

48. Thank you madmom! It is soooo weird. My office has an air purification

thingy, and my office has been smoke free since yesterday. All of a sudden smelling cigarettes from the room next door. My son is in there with friends, and the smell is yucky!

BTW...I offered to give my son my old system just to check out what it's like and if he likes it, will get him his own e-cig kit.

:hi:

[madmom]

54. That's great..my SO said food even tasted better for him .. so watch out for that , lol

:thumbsup:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

56. Oh Noes!!!!! Actually odd is that I don't feel the need to eat and that

was a problem when I gave up "analogues" in the past. I've overweight to begin with and I don't want to put on more weight.

Maybe I should get some flavor juices just in case????? :rofl:

:hug:

[StevieM]

43. Congratulations! I'm also in the process of quiting smoking right now. I'm using the nicorette gum.

I haven't had a cigarette in 53 days. I still kind of miss them, and I haven't given up the gum yet. But I smoked for 18 years so this is a pretty good start!

Steve

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

49. Thank you and I wish you luck! 53 days is great! I mentioned in a post above that

my ex-sister-in-law quit with nicorette over 20 years ago and she still chews it. Once again, a lot better than taking in all the tar and other chemicals.

Good luck again and :hi:

PS....I have problems with chewing gum and never tried it. That's why I only tried the lozenges, which were too acidic for my stomach.

[phleshdef]

44. I'm almost a full year, no cigs. I own an awesome 510 model that you can buy from an American site.

Send me a PM if you want more details, this particular device will make you look at cigarrettes as second rate nicotine delivery systems.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

51. It's great that you've quit for so long! The 510 I'm getting from China should be here in a few days

and was the least expensive offer I found. It is a company registered at the forum and from what I could tell is reputable. All the other goodies I purchased were from American companies. I will bookmark this post and if I need more... thinking for a dear friend for the holidays and my son, I will PM you. :)

Thanks!!!!! :hi:

[TBF]

47. My sister quit using E-cigarettes -

after smoking 15 years. For my mom it is harder, she has smoked nearly 50 years, but she is trying them now too (very similar to you - she had quit a couple of times in past years but it never stuck). My thoughts will be with both of you.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

53. Thank you and I wish your mom the best of luck with them! Both of my

parents were smokers. My Dad quit smoking cold turkey when he was in his 40s and my Mom in her 50s. eCigs would have made life around the house so much easier!

Thanks again!!!!

:hi:

[TheUnspeakable]

50. I think they're the greatest!!

i smoked about 40 years,too. In April 2009 I ordered one from ebay-I have tried the patch ,gum, hypnosis, etc-for over 20 years-every time I quit, I ended up crying ALL THE TIME!! that's the part I couldn't take. I would try to explain to people "it's not really so much that I want a cigarette, i just can't stop crying." I would just get really weird looks-I felt no one understood. Anyway, when I ordered the electric cig I told myself-when it comes, I will never smoke again. Fortunately, it took a long time to come from China, but when it did that was it-I haven't smoked since. Best of luck to you, I know you can do it! By the way, for a long time, I was really hooked on the ecigs-which is ok cause even though you "smoke" them, your breathing improves A LOT -but now I only use them occasionally-it's totally different than being addicted to regular cigs.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

55. Congratulations!!!! I love hearing success stories with this. I don't mind

if I'll be hooked on these for long or short term. As long as I can stop with "real" things.

The few times I did quit, I was literally hell on wheels. Normally I am outwardly calm and polite (my kids think I'm the nicest person) but yes, I did cry and worse, everything got on my nerves, and "evil me" came out! laughing now, but it wasn't funny to those around or myself. I was appalled by my own bad behavior. None of that is happening to me now. It's almost 3:30 here now, and I have not lit up another cigarette. Been vaping away though!

Once again, thank you for your support and sending you a hug!
:)

[xchrom]

52. i'm a smoker -- it's very cool to hear about this -- good luck. nt

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

57. Thank you!!! :)

[d_r]

58. Good luck.

"Tobacco is a filthy weed, and from the devil doth proceed. It stains your fingers, burns your clothes, and makes a chimney of your nose."

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

59. Cute ditty! Actually, tobacco has been used by Native Americans

for protection and other rituals. So until big corp tobacco got their grubby hands on those poor plants, they were actually used for good too.

And thank you!!!!!

:hi:

[Waiting For Everyman]

60. Yay, Ommm! I quit with e-cigs too on July 13th - haven't smoked at all

since my e-cig first arrived. It's easy to quit because e-cigs are BETTER. A LOT better. How hard is that, to do?

Right now as I'm writing this, I'm vaping a very nice chocolate vapor on my KR808D-1 e-cig! How great is that? With e-cigs, I still have everything I liked about smoking, only WITHOUT everything I wanted to get rid of. There's no smoke, no burning, no ash trays, no health damage, no smell, no social stigma. That's all gone, instantly. (Btw I checked out the facts on nicotine, and it's about the same health risk as caffeine.)

I too thought e-cigs would be too expensive for me because I have very little income. But by learning to fill my own cartridges, as you said, and comparing prices (doing a little "homework"), I have my monthly cost down now to about $15. (And I smoked 2 1/2 packs a day for 27 years.)

Your post gave very good advice, the same things which I found to be true too. Another good forum I can recommend is VapersForum.com

Best of luck Ommm, but I for one have no doubt that you'll have no trouble quitting once your gear arrives. It's just like Eddie Izzard said, "cake? or death?"... how easy can it get?

http://www.ecigsites.webs.com/

(That is only a small page I put up, to tell my friends what I got and where, so I wouldn't have to keep repeating the same info to each person who asked me. I'm strictly an e-cig user, not a supplier. I just want to share the best idea I've heard of in such a long time, which could save so many lives. And improve so many lives too. I wish every smoker knew about this choice.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

61. Thank you and how cool WFE! Another success story! And yes

all the enjoyment is there without all of the grossness of it. :) I still haven't lit up a cigarette since 10AM EDT!!!!!

Congratulations to you and another thank you for the link and recommending vapersforum.com. I will visit them tonight. :)

I don't know if I will ever get into the flavors but quick question? Do they work for appetite suppression??? :rofl:

Thanks again and another big congrat and a hug to you!
Ommmmmmmmm :)

[Waiting For Everyman]

65. Yes, actually, I've lost a few pounds!!! And I think the flavors might be why

LOL! Who knew, right? Another woman on the forums noticed the same thing too. I just love this whole experience. :)

I can highly recommend the flavor I'm vaping now - the "VG Chocolate" cartos and/or e-liquid at www.Vapor4Life.com under "Dollar Deals" on the left side. (BTW I got notice yesterday from V4L about a 22% off sale on cartos and liquids good until the end of the night tonight the 25th... using code "JuiceCarts22".) They have lots of flavors though, and the price with the discount is very good. I got some of the 36 mg liquid, to "cut" down to 6 mg (using flavoring from www.CapellaFlavorDrops.com and VG, vegetable glycerin - Walmart has that for @ 50 cents/oz).

Big hug, Ommm :hug: and "way to go" on no cigs since this morning! I'm so happy for you! You do SOUND (from your tone) like you're having as good a time with this as I am. It's been the best thing to happen to me in a looooong time.

I never thought there would ever be a solution to this cigarette problem for me in my lifetime. I wasn't expecting anywhere near that big of a result from it when I tried it.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

81. Thanks for getting back to me WFE and also for the links for the ejuice. :

I have been thinking of buying VG to cut the 18mg juice I'm using now and it's good to know that Walmart (although I hate shopping there) has it.

BTW! No cigs today at all so far and had a total of 3 plus a puff yesterday.

As to the losing weight..it makes a bit of sense because there are flavor sprays that do help with just that. I think I have to try chocolate now and have bookmarked Vapor4Life.com. :)

:hug: right back and thanks again!!!!

[L0oniX]

62. E cigs rock.

[blogslut]

64. Congratulations!

It's nice to breathe again, isn't it?

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

82. lol! I've only been totally smoke free now for about 12 hours so I'll let you know in a few weeks!

I am starting to cough a lot, which I know comes with quitting as I've been there and done that. :)
Thank you blogslut!!!! And :hug:

[Curmudgeoness]

66. Good luck. I have one on order now. I kept saying

all I need is a "nicotine delivery device" when it came to buying really cheap cigarettes. And this is just what I was asking for. I guess it is good luck for both of us.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

84. Curmudgeoness, thank you and so far this is really so good. I remember years ago

plastic cigarette looking props would be available and they would have a menthol taste and I wished that somehow, some way, this could be improved on. They have done so spectacularly!
Best of luck, and I don't think you will regret the decision to try it out. If you don't feel like going in with both feet at one time, there are vendors that sell disposables for under $10.00. Try it out and then while you are, realize that there are a few superior systems and how much greater they will be. :)
:hi: :hug:

[underpants]

67. Good luck! I quit for 3 years but started up again when I got fired

I am going to quit again on 9/13

2 years and 2 days after I started again

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

86. Thanks underpants and the best of luck to you!!!! I know personally how trauma

can trigger going back. You can do it! :hi:

[murielm99]

68. Good luck.

I quit too, after forty years.

I have quit four times in four years. It has worked for about six months each time.

This time, I used cold laser therapy. It has no side effects, and has been the best yet. I don't expect anything to be easy. You know that, too.

Two days ago, I cheated and smoked. I went to bed with a horrible headache.

I have cravings. But things are getting better. Keep us informed. They will get better for you, too.

I know you can do this!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

87. Thanks and good luck to you muriel! I never heard of cold laser therapy

and thanks for letting people know of another alternative. :)

Frankly, so far this is more than easy with the ecigs. I just puff on them as I would real cigs and all the bells and whistles are there. Today so far, zero analogue (real) cigs. :)

[Ruby the Liberal]

69. eCigs rock.

When you are on the e-cig forum, check out the puresmoker.com forum in the vendor section. They reverse-engineered the technology last year and their products are all made in Tennessee now, and are TOP QUALITY.

Best of luck to us all!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

88. Thanks for the recommendation! And so glad you're doing it too!!! And yes!

Best of luck to us all! :hi:

[Ruby the Liberal]

118. If you are still following this

You can get VG in the craft stores like Michaels or AC Moore. It is in the cake decorating section. Go to loranns.com (spelling) for flavorings to enhance what you are using. Just stay away from anything listed as a pure oil or anything with coloring added.

I ordered a blackberry flavoring from them that is out of this world!

:hi:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

138. Thanks Ruby! Just found it. It's

lorannoils.com

I just bookmarked it!

Have a great weekend! :hi:

[independentpiney]

71. I haven't touched tobacco since Feb 28th thanks to the joye 510

And I also was a 40+ year smoker. I also went the 'stuff your own' route for a couple years, but when the bulk taxes went up plus moochers I was still spending 120+/ month with that and still hated being a tobacco addict/fiend.

I started using 24 mg juice and vaping a lot, and have weaned down now to the 6 mg, and am also using less and less. I was using 30 ml of juice a week when I started and haven't gone through 30 ml yet this entire month.

The only time I got the 'cold turkey' physical effects was when I tried to bring down the nic level too quickly, and I immediately re-upped it rather than risk giving in to smoking one of those nasty things again. Now I can drink around smokers with zero urge to bum just one.

I've found a good US supplier for the 510 parts, and a great juice supplier with a good variety at $9 for 30 ml bottles. PM me if you want the websites for them.

I hope it works as good for you as it has for me.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

89. Thanks for letting me know about how well it's worked for you and for the tips!

I will PM you in a little while!

:hi:

[Wheezy]

72. You can do it!

I quit 2.5 years ago. Whatever works is the thing you should do. Good on you.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

90. Thanks so much Wheezy and congrats to you!!!!

:hi:

[mdmc]

73. Keep us informed!

peace, low stress, good morning..

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

91. Well dear friend, so far, really good. Not a single cigarette today! No stress

(craziness) either. :):hug:

[cate94]

74. I quit 12 years ago

after smoking over 25 years. I didn't use your method, but any thing that helps you quit is good. One thing that helped me not pick up another cigarette was that I never wanted to go through the quitting process again. It took me a few tries to get that through my thick skull. It sounds like your method will be far less painful.

Good luck!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

92. That's fabulous cate that you've given it up for so long. :) One of the reasons why

I waited so long to try to quit again were the memories of quitting in the past. So far, this is truly easy as I am getting all the satisfaction from smoking that I need. I am doing this one moment at a time, which is the best anyone can do. :)

And PS!!!! Thank you!!!!!

[malaise]

75. Good luck

Still I recommend cold turkey. It's cheaper - just frighten yourself with the truth that if you do not stop smoking will kill you. That worked for me. I simply changed my habits - coffee and a banana rather than coffee and a cigarette. Replace cigarettes with fruit or nuts.
:grouphug:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

93. Thanks dear Malaise! I don't have that kind of will power right now and knowing

myself, instead of fruits (I can't eat nuts) I will probably want to satisfy myself with loaves of bread, pasta, etc! I know from past cold turkey quitting! lol! I have discovered a really hard truth about myself, I can no longer create habits and fall back into my old poor ones way too quickly. I think that the impulse center of my brain has been impaired. Smoking ecigs just feels like a continuation of the old bad habit that I've had without the extra side-effects.

Thanks again and hugs!


PS....I did though have lovely grapes last night for dessert. They were mmmmmmmmmmmm but if I used them to replace 3 packs of cigs a day, this already ample body would have to be carted out of here. :rofl:

[malaise]

113. Love it

Keep going :grouphug:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

121. Thank you!

:hug:

[yellerpup]

76. Best of luck to you!

It can be done! I did it after 40 years, and if I can, you can! Congratulations on finding a path you can stay on. :kick:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

94. Thank you yellerpup and congrats to you too! It is amazing how many people

here responding to this thread were such long term smokers and managed to quit. :)

:hi:

[Michigan-Arizona]

77. Bought the E-Cig last week to

I started using mine last Friday & have not had a real cig since then. I to have been smoking since about the age of 15 & this e-cig has really given me hope of finally quitting. Good luck to all of us out there trying to quit this nasty habit!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

95. Thanks Michigan-Arizona and best of luck to you too!!!! GMTA!!!!!

So far today, not one single "analogue"!!!!
:hi:

[Mira]

78. Luck has little to do with it - though I wish it to you.

YOU have everything to do with it.
Mostly you need to realize in your gut that the decision to stop smoking is the most important part of your journey to come, way above HOW you will do it, and that it is not supposed to be easy
You are giving up an ingrained habit of physical and emotional addiction and it will take time to make it through to to other side.
Inch by inch it's a cinch.
Never give up.
Be good to yourself on all fronts, keep away strife and other difficulties if you at all can, and above all
DON"T SMOKE.

There is life after cigarettes.
Ask me how I know.

You are on a path of saving your life.
I wish you strength and perseverance.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

97. Thank you so much Mira for your kind thoughts/words/encouragement.

So far, this has been exceptionally easy, which is actually surprising the heck out of me. If I can even get back 20% more of my lung functions, I will be delighted. Not only did I smoke 3 packs a day, I'm overweight, and even walking a few blocks has knocked me out.
I know that no one can save one's life with situations like this, except for themselves. And I know that I am on the right path for me, for this moment, doing it.

Thanks again Mira and sending you a :hug:

[Mira]

117. Good on you!

Keep the thread handy and read in it when the going gets tough.
Then get through the temptation. NO puff, NO wavering. One day, and I hope it is soon, you will realize a few hours into your day that you have not yet thought about a cigarette. Then you will have crossed a major milestone.

And pm me before you light up.
I'll talk you through it.

I sat in bed at night in my early quitting days and weeks and read about smoking. And educated myself about what it was I had done to myself and what I was "giving up". Putting it out of your mind is not that helpful, keeping it in your mind, patting yourself on the back for every hour, every day, and celebrating the path is better.

My quit day was 5-5-98 / I had smoked for over 30 years, 2 packs on a good day, and quitting saved my life.

I have since then lost 2 brothers to cigarettes.

Carry on!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

124. You are wonderful and

thank you again. And hugs.

[jillan]

79. Please let me know if this works - I am 54, smoke a pack a day

been smoking since I was 16 & I feel like if I don't quit soon.....

Good luck and let me know!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

100. jilian, so far, so good and thank you! I have not had a real cig today and only 3

yesterday. It has all the comforting effects of smoking without the dirty smoke, dirty ashtrays etc.
I just hope that it isn't a novelty that will wear off, but am taking it one moment at a time. :)

:hi:

[Melissa G]

80. Best of luck!

:grouphug:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

101. Thank Melissa!

:hug:

[Javaman]

83. Good luck! I know someone that did the same thing.

It's working out really well for him. :)

Cheers to you!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

102. Thanks Javaman and it's great when I hear that I'm not alone in doing this,

and that there are real success stories!

:hi:

[Javaman]

107. He's been on the e-cig for about 8 months now.

he tried a few different types before settling on the one he liked.

He told me that one of the biggest issues with the e-cig is that when people first use it, they generally aren't taught the proper way to refill it. So they get frustrated.

The guy he gets his from is out of Dallas. The seller set up an appointment with my friend and walked him through the complete set up, refilling and recharging process.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

109. It's great to know that it's been 8 months for your friend. :)

There is no one in my area that I know of who could have taught me, ergo, the misstep in the beginning and the reason to do the research on the e-cig forum. also youtube videos. In fact, I just watched a cool vid of a person who claims to be an MD who loves e-cigs. It was a video of his filling and cleaning cartomizers. It was almost like having someone here to show me. The refilling has been a little tricky and he gave me a couple of good tips. :)
:hi:

[SlimJimmy]

85. I quit cold turkey a year ago

It was tough as all get out, but well worth the effort. And don't let anyone tell you that it can't be done. After about three days, the physical desire for the nicotine was gone. After that, the real battle began (the psychological one). But after a year, I can say that I've won that battle as well. I understand the appeal of the -e-cigs, but until you have completely stopped depending on the nicotine, it will be a struggle. At some point, you are going to have to go "cold turkey". I wish you the best of luck, and the best of strength when you do.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

103. It's wonderful SlimJimmy that you quit and that cold turkey worked out for you.

I had tried it in the past (my biggest success with that was my first time) and just couldn't see facing it again. I am hopefully going to try to wean myself down on nicotine levels. I'm using 18mg now and when my other 2 bottles run out I'm going to replace them with 11 or 12mg. And then after that, the least. Very much how the patch is used.

Thank you! :)

[SlimJimmy]

135. Sounds like a plan

The best of luck to you.

[JDPriestly]

96. Ommm -- is your post really a post or just an ad?

Reads like an ad? Do you write ads for a living?

Fewer and fewer people smoke in California -- because people can't smoke in buildings. It's great.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

98. No, JDPriestly, it is not an ad in the least.

[JDPriestly]

116. I had never heard of this.

I'm one of the lucky ones who never wanted to smoke. My heartfelt sympathies go to you and other who are mercilessly hooked. I have a friend my age (67) whose health is just awful thanks to that habit. Anything to break it could improve the quality of your life when you reach my age even if it doesn't lengthen your life.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

126. I first heard about them about a year ago, and it might have been here at DU. It seems

that from some of the responses on this thread, they are more popular than I thought. They really are quite amazing, simulating smoking without the smoke. :) There is actually a movement by some states/governments to get them banned. Imagine all the loss of tobacco revenue if these really caught on.

There are disposal kits available on the Internet and maybe you can get one for your friend to see if your friend likes it. :) I already have planned to get one for a dear friend of mine.

:hi:

[Greyskye]

111. smoking vs. vaping (e-cigs)

I agree with you completely, it's great that you can't smoke in public buildings in California any more. Many years ago I was in a band, and just one night of gigging in a bar would kill my voice for a week, and stink up my clothes so badly they had to immediately go into the wash.

But vaping, or using e-cigs, doesn't produce any objectionable second hand smoke. I was at a bar a few months ago, and there was a woman vaping an e-cig right next to me. No odor. None. Just a tiny bit of foggy looking vapor. I can easily live with that!

[Kermitt Gribble]

99. Good Luck OmmmSweetOmmm!!

I've been considering the e-cigarette, as well. Keep us posted on your progress!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

104. Hi Kermitt and Thanks! I will post an update in a couple of weeks if I'm still successful or if you

want, bookmark this thread and PM me! :)

:hi:

[K8-EEE]

105. Quitting is such wonderful freedom!

I quit on my 25th b-day -- it's the best thing I ever did for myself, for sure. And my bank account! Although when I quit the cigs were like $3.25 a pack I think! :)

GOOD LUCK!

[K8-EEE]

106. Quitting is such wonderful freedom!

I quit on my 25th b-day -- it's the best thing I ever did for myself, for sure. And my bank account! Although when I quit the cigs were like $3.25 a pack I think! :)

GOOD LUCK!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

110. Congratulations and thank you!!!!

:hi:

[Name removed]

108. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DeSwiss]

112. Good luck!!!

- E-cigs have got to be a much better option to stop smoking rather than the way I did after forty+ years:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdominal_aortic_aneurysm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bladder_cancer

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

114. Thank you DeSwiss and

:hug: for what you went through.

[JJ]

115. Keep us posted

Sounds like something to try myself.

Thanks for being the guinea-pig for us.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

122. I will (in my best guinea pig squeak)!

[slackmaster]

119. Best of luck to you. An acquaintence of mine finally quit smoking recently...

...when they took his smoldering ashes out of the crematorium.

:-(

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

120. Thanks and

:hug:

[Yo_Mama]

123. Best of luck - I know you can

I'm sure there will be rough days, but it sounds like you know how to get through them now.

I am impressed by the number of people who have quit smoking using e-cigarettes. Several said they didn't start them with that in mind, and several also gradually cut down the nicotine content and are now just using a flavored liquid.

I have to say that for some people, these things seem like magic.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

125. Thanks Yo Mama and yes, it almost feels like magic. :)

[Jackpine Radical]

127. May 1, 1984.

You never forget the day you quit. I went cold turkey, no patches, no gum, no meds.

Here are a couple of things I learned, and that others have found helpful.

First, I didn't have a cigarette habit. I had a thousand little cig habits. Cig-to-start-the-day; cig-with-coffee; cig-when-I-got-in-my-car; cig-when-I-picked-up-the-phone, etc. I had to unhook myself separately for each of these circumstances. For example, I carried Sen-sens in the car & took one of them when I got in, etc. I was afraid to drink coffee for a couple of days. A big thing is figuring out what to do with your hands when they're not occupied with a cigarette in circumstances where you always used to have that cigarette for a prop.

The other thing was exercise. When you first quit, you will get a rush of energy as the carbon monoxide clears your blood. This starts happening within hours after you quit. I had decided to go for a walk out into some rather rough terrain to isolate myself with a book and get away from where I could buy cigs. I started climbing a hill with a bottle of H2o & a couple of sandwiches, planning to stop & rest as often as I needed to. Well, with all that newfound energy and endurance, I found myself on top of the hill, feeling really good, so I kept on walking. I walked almost all day, stopping only to eat & drink water once in a while. I never did get around to sitting down with my book. The next day I did the same thing. I kept walking every day & soon I started biking. Bought myself a decent bike and got into taking really long bike rides.

In addition to the O2 you suddenly have washing through your system when you quit, you also get a lot of endorphins going with the exercise, and that helps with the addiction and with the anxiety.

Anyway, good luck. I'm pulling for you.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

132. Thank you JR for an insightful post and for adding to my support here. :)

I posted upthread to Malaise about my impulse control and inability to start good new habits and breaking the bad ones.
That's probably why the e-cigarette, which simulates smoking, so successfully, has worked for the last couple of days. I went cigarette free yesterday and none so far today.

I don't know if it has to do with age, or from years of yoyo dieting, but right now, from being overweight and having smoked as heavily as I have, even walking a couple of blocks gets me winded, and I live in a very hilly area which makes it more difficult. If I can continue on the path that I started, I will test out my lungs next week, and go for a short walk. :)

Thank you again and have a beautiful weekend!
Ommmmmmmmmmm :)

[TheUnspeakable]

142. Ommm-as soon as you can start walking

a little bit.I was walking everyday before i quit and part of my walk involved a big flight of stairs.
the way i feel now when i reach the top of the stairs compared to when i smoked cigs is a real motivator. Sometimes, if i think about smoking i think about how i would be almost gasping when
i reached the top, compared to now when i just feel normal when i get there-i never want that "gasping" feeling again. it 's important to have these little "motivations"

Best of Luck!!!!:hug:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

144. Thanks TU for the encouragement and advice! i just went grocery shopping and I didn't

tire in the least.

I do have a couple of flights of stairs in my home and haven't found a difference so far, but I know, from prior experience that I will.

Thanks again and have a great weekend!
Ommmmmmmmmmm :)

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

128. Started "vaping" ....

5 weeks ago, 58 yrs old. never had a day since I was 18 or 19 yrs old I did not have a cig,

1 to 2 pack a day smoker.

5 weeks with no cigs, analog that is.

feel better can hold my breath now foe almost 2.5 minutes as opposed to the 1 minute
5 weeks ago. swimmer and tennis player.

Love the nicotine buzz, just not all the chemicals

GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

133. Another vaping success story! Thank you! It really has been great to get

feedback that I'm not the only one here doing it on DU and I'm floored at how easy it has been. I went totally smoke free yesterday and haven't even been tempted to have an "analogue" today!

Keep it up!!!!

Have a great weekend! :)

[w8liftinglady]

130. I am really proud of you.Many of us have been there...

and you have us as a support system...

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

134. Thank you w8liftinglady and a big hug for your support! :)

[madokie]

136. First things first, Good Luck

When I tried to quite smoking cigarettes, whiskey or pot I was never successful but when I decided to quit I was able to quit all three. The difference being 'trying'

All I know for certain is you will be so happy with yourself once you do this.
I send strength your way to help.
Peace and have a great day

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

139. Thank you ((((madokie))))) for your words of encouragement!

:hi:

[Jeanette in FL]

137. It's been over 3 months for my husband on Blu E-cigs

Congrats to you!

My husband who was a heavy smoker 2 packs a day started using E-cigs on May 3, 2010. For the first week, he would have regular cigarettes every couple of hours along with the e-cigs. The second week, just e-cigs, full nicotine. After the first month he went to a lower nicotine level.

After the second month he would mix the lower nicotine with no nicotine. Third month in he stopped all nicotine.

It has been over 3 months for him. He still uses the e-cigs with no nicotine. I call it his pacifier.

I wish I could committ to the e-cigs fully. I actually like the flavor of the e-cigs much better than regular Marlboro's.

Good Luck to you and you have given me incentive to start again with the E-cigs. And this time I will be more committed.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

141. It's fantastic about your husband! When I started with my original ecig a couple

of weeks ago, I found that I was having cigarettes in between. With this new one, I feel no need to.

It's also great about your husband using the different nicotine levels to wean himself. I hope to be able to do that.

Meanwhile, today, no cigarettes since the day before yesterday!

When you are ready, you will try them again. It's possible that the Blu isn't for you and you need something with more mouth feel. The e-cigarette-forum.com is an invaluable resource.

Thank you again and wishing you and your husband the best!
Ommmmmmmm :)

[G_j]

140. I am planning on doing this too

& am also approaching 59.

Good luck to us!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

143. Great G_j! It really is worth a try! Good luck to us too!!!! And

:hi:

[drgonzosghost]

145. It'll Work, My 510 Set Me Free!!!!

I've been vaping for 8 months now and haven't had a single cigarette since. Vaping is delicious and incredibly fun, all the best to you!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

146. That's great drgonzosghost! Eight months! These success stories keep coming! I'm now

almost 2 full days without analogue!

I really am getting into the ritual of it too. I enjoy filling the cartomizer. :)

Thank you and have a great weekend!

:hi:

[shimmergal]

147. Sending wishes for luck, and

success. Believe that you can do it! Whatever it takes....

I quit a little over twnety years ago, after smoking all my adult life up till then. I did it cold turkey, and yes it was hard, but I'm so glad to not have cigarettes in my life now. From the way things were going, I suspect I might not be here now if I hadn't quit.

Didn't notice the energy surge like Jackpine Radical did--but maybe that was because one of my coping mechanisms was a vastly increased Diet Coke consumption ? What I did notice was that, within the first or second day, my complexion got a clearer look; I went from sallow to a rosy tinge.

Anyway, hang in there. We're pulling for you.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

148. Thank you shimmergal for your encouragement and I am now on my fourth day of completely

giving up real cigarettes. Also, congratulations to you for being smoke-free for so many years! I am trying to remember my coping mechanisms for the last times I quit, and I really have a mental block. Probably because I was such a bitch on wheels, I don't care to remember! I do though recall my now ex-husband asking me to start smoking again because he couldn't take it!

Thank you again and hugs shimmergal!

Wishing you a beautiful day!
Ommmmmmmmmm :)