to feel positively evangelical about electronic cigarettes?

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

I was reading the AIBU thread about the husband vaping in the house with a newborn. I was struck by the passionate testimonials from former smokers, saying they couldn't have done it without e-cigs. I had tried a puff one of those things that look like a cigarette and was underwhelmed. But I didn't know about the more advanced set ups where you can fill them up with your flavour of choice. Anyway, I was intrigued. I smoked a pack a day for 25 years, and never quit more than a few months at a time, no matter which methods I tried.

nb84 encouraged me to give it a try and told me what to buy to get started.

I ordered a starter kit that night. It arrived the next day and I fell in love. I have three of them, now (one always charging, one near to hand, and one in my purse ready to go) and eight different flavours of the juice.

I don't want to smoke cigarettes any more. I like this better. It tastes really good. It feels good. And it doesn't stink. My hands, clothing, and breath don't reek anymore. I don't have to keep going outside. I don't have to feel like a smelly pariah. My husband can't smell it even when I'm sitting right next to him.

And I don't have to try and not think about the fact that my mother died of cancer after spending her last decade debilitated by emphysema.

And instead of paying £8 a day for fags, I can buy a week's worth of juice for £10. The hardware was less than £20 to get started and will require only £10 a month going forward. Of course, I can spend more. Many people geek out on it as a hobby because the gadgets are fun and constantly improving.

I'm not worried about putting on weight like people usually do when giving up the cancer sticks. In fact, I snack less. I no longer crave sweets. I would normally nibble all day, especially Haribo sweets. I don't want them anymore because I am tasting a bunch of sweet flavours all day long.

I'm so happy that I want to tell everyone - every smoker and everyone who loves a smoker - about it.

fiesty I think you're on the right level of nicotine. You might want to try a 24mg for when the craving gets really bad.

I also think that if you eventually break down and smoke a fag, you will be disgusted by it.

But I hope it doesn't come to that.

As a result of this thread I have just been out and bought a kit. I hope it works.

I think it might come to that katy :( xx

I tried a fag (roll up) about a week after I had started e cigs. It was the most disgusting thing ever - I had to go & rinse my mouth out & spit & eat mints to take the taste away.

And, unlike when I given up cold turkey, I now loathe the smell of fags - I find them truly repulsive.

Good Luck fiesty - lets us know how it goes.

:( ive just had one but you were right I now feel disgusting... but ive just been looking at the liquid I use and its 11mg im wondering if its a bit low?? Xx

I use 18 mg

how often to change the thing with the wick? anyone know, not sure whether it is called a cartomiser or what
I have a disposable wick thingy, you just replace it but anyone know when?

I have learned something important from this thread.

Before, when smokers went out for a fag and then came back and sat next to me at work, or blew their smoke over me outside a restaurant, I would smile sweetly, try not to cough my way into an asthma attack, and think inside "selfish bastards: they KNOW how disgusting this is for me, they just don't care- give me a knife and a dark alley..."

You can laugh but it is really helping me to realise that while you are still a smoker you don't realise how much it stinks and so forth. So I can stop thinking my smoker friends don't care about me

binky Get a basic ego style battery to start with, then they will show you the various options for things that fit it. Ego batteries have two screw threads so they can take most cartridges and atomizers. They will let you try things out, especially flavours.

Katy, I've been. I've got a kit that includes 2 batteries and 4 atomisers (not sure I will need all them) full charging kit and 5 liquids, 3 tobacco, 1 vanilla and 1 mint.

I am vaping as I type, I really want to roll a fag, I'm craving the ritual involved in smoking not the smoking itself. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this working.

Another absolute onvert here.
Gave up in january from 30 a day. Have introduced my mum to them (40 a day smoker for 57 years) she gave up overnight.

I make my own juices, they are really easy to make, and after the initial outlay for the nicotine base liquid it works out about a quarter of the cost of buying pre made ones.I also get to control the nicotine content that way and am slowly weaning. Have gone from 18mg to 8mg and intend to reduce it by a mg a month until I,m free.

waikikamookau you will know when to replace the wick. it will either stop working 9no vapour) or it will taste burnt.

thanks meddie

meddie - a quick question. I have a tank one, have not changed the coil and wick yet (3 weeks in) my liquid is not tasting quite the same but still get plenty of vapour etc, does that mean the coil needs to be changed or do i wait til no vapour too? I have spare coils and wicks.

Leylandi, I think some liquids will start to clog/build up in the wicks. If you change the coil, that should sort it. How long you been using that one?

Binky, I think a lot of people struggle with the odd little bits of the ritual that aren't there anymore. For a couple of days, I sometimes went outside my kitchen door to smoke because that was what I was used to.

I still vaguely miss something about cigarettes. Can't put my finger on what. I'm hoping that vaping will replace all of that in my mind.

When people say that they quit instantly, I think that it can give the imoression that this is completely effortless. I think most people go through an adjustment. But I know many people try a fag and no longer enjoy it.

As katy said. The coils do get coated and lose some efficiency. You can either replace or clean. I usually try a clean and dry burn first . You can usually find a video tutorial for this on you tube.

I love the way you have become such a convert in only a week or so katy, good on you!

ok thanks, what is a dry burn?

I had a rechargeable ecig which was brilliant and used that for 9 months til the batt etc were begininng to give up the ghost (Jacvapour VP1 starter kit) so upgraded to a tnak system around 3 to 4 weeks ago. Am quite a heavy vapour so with the change in taste I wondered if it was time for a coil change. Do you clean it as in water? or wipe the crap off with kitch roll etc?

I need to look up how to dry burn. Haven't needed to do it, yet. And I've got 12 flavours on the go, so I'm not likely to need to for a while.

the cheap and cheerful clearos are often fully disposable. I have some that are cheap and can take new coils, but I'm not sure I'll bother. I am trying out some of the nicer ones, and getting coils for them, because at £8-£12 apiece, I'd rather hang on to them.

The nicer ones are less likely to leak or sputter (which happens when the liquid gets into the air tube. It can end up in your mouth and isn't pleasant.

Nest, I have really gotten into this. Done a lot of reading and I'm starting to figure out what all the jargon means.

By the way, you have to learn how to draw on them. It's not the same as a cigarette.

You don't want to draw to fast. Some people suck furiously on cigarettes. If you do that. you won't get a satisfying amount of vapour. Draw steadily and gently for about five seconds into your mouth, not lungs.

Also,if you cover the tiny air holes at the bottom of the clearo, you will get a less airy draw. You can even suck harder that way, if you need the feeling of taking a strong pull. Some people put the tip of a toothpick in one of the holes and break it off in there to achieve this.

apparently, the majority of nicotine is absorbed by mucous membranes in the mouth, nose, and sinuses. some people vape like they're smoking a cigar and don't draw into the lungs at all.

To clean my heads I stick them in some vodka for a couple of hours, dry them off, stick them on my battery and then dry burn them. Basically I give them 4 or 5 second bursts, watch the coils and once they glow red and stop smoking they are done (if there's a top cap bit you have to remove that first so you can see the coils)

I have had my e cig sat waiting for the 'right' time for months. After reading this thread, I've decided tomorrow is the right time, I feel ready for it and quite excited. Got it all set up and ready to go, I currently smoke about 10 really light ones a day, but don't want to and can't afford to anymore. It helps that I have a bit of a cold at the moment, so not really enjoying it any more either.

Do you just go straight for it or slowly wean on to it? I am thinking just to go straight for it, I really want it to work this time though and not go back to smoking.

Bit scared of the e cig breaking or something and then being stuck without anything to help.

I weaned myself for a few days by smoking both my ecig & rollies. Then one morning I just stopped the fags - October 19th 2012 to be precise. Not that I am counting

And in case anyone is worrying about losing the 'clearing' effects of early morning tea/coffe + fag, I can assure them that an ecig works just fine!

I just went straight to an ecig. Was in a shopping centre one day and walked past one of those stalls selling ecigs, decided that today was the day to stop. Bought an ecig, smoked my last fag.

That was over 3 months ago, I had a drag on a real cig last weekend, it was horrible!!!