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.

[motheroftwoboys]

My dh found it impossible to quit smoking having tried patches/gum/tablets/hypnotism - everything. E-cigs work. I really don't care if he carries on vaping. He is now a non smoker. :)

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

Havant: are you not reading what I'm posting??? THE STUFF I AM USING IS NOT PRODUCED BY THE TOBACCO COMPANIES. It's made in Chinese factories, to the specifications of vaping enthusiasts in the US, UK, etc. The liquids are made by small independent companies. Just like some yarn is produced by big companies, but keen knitters buy hand-spunstuff from other enthusiasts.

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

Tobacco companies are NOT interested in DIY vaping. They want to make proprietary hardware with enclosed liquid cartridges that force the user to come back to them for refills. Franky, I have no problem with that. But, they will have a hard time competing against the independents.

If anything, they see the DIY vaping as a real threat.

[ginmakesitallok]

Which is why they have jumped on the vaping bandwagon . The ironic thing is that if ecigs are regulated more strictly its the big tobacco companies who are the most likely to get licences for their products because of the huge costs involved.

[LineRunner]

This thread is really interesting.

And helpful. Thanks, OP.

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

Exactly, gin. I'm sure they're very carefully lobbying for exctly the sort of regulations they would benefit from. That would include vaping anywhere, sure. But strict dosing controls that would mean only prefilled cartridges would suit them fine.

[Waffling]

Fwiw I use the supermarket type ones, the ones you buy the cartridges for. I just prised off the white tip thing and add liquid (juice eww).

I'll invest in a proper thingy when the two batteries I have die.

[HotDogHotDogHotDiggityDog]

I started using a Tornado T on sunday. I haven't touched a fag nor do I want one. I've tried giving up many times but failed.

I spoke to our ward pharmacist (I work for the NHS), he said they are looking into these to prescribe to patients, but they need regulating first and funding to be made available to do this.

From what he knows about them from his own research, they are still the safer option to fags. There is no smoke involved, which causes the most damage. These are his words and I trust him, I've worked with him for years.

Many people do quit altogether using these. You can reduce the amount of nicotine, until the nicotine addition is gone. My friend is only vaping 0.6mg of nicotine now after 8 months off the fags. She's smoked for 30 odd years and failed to give up so many times using patches, tablets etc.

She no longer craves the nicotine but is still has the 'hand to mouth' habit all smokers know about. She's now trying to tackle that without trying to deal with the nicotine addiction too.

[StayAwayFromTheEdge]

They look ridiculous and are normaiaing tobacco use.
You are still addicted to nicotine which has health implications and are likely to be using more nicotine than before.
They are unregulated and you have no idea what is really in them.
Most people would be far better getting real support and using licensed products.

[waterlego6064]

This thread is enlightening, thank you.

Like you, I have tried one of the ones that looks like a fag but I wasn't enamoured with it.

I have smoked for twenty years- apart from 2 x 1 year breaks when pregnant. I have tried patches, gum, lozenges, hypnosis, Champix and Allen Carr. ie. I'm a very addicted smoker. I am inspired to give vaping a go. Anything has got to be better than repeatedly smoking roll-ups. And if it might eventually help me wean off nicotine altogether, that would be even better.

Thanks everyone for the recommendations and experiences you've shared. :).

[teenagetantrums]

I don't understand the negative comments on this thread I have tried everything to stop, this looks like a really good option for me will be ordering some as soon as I have the money.

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

About the only things I miss about smoking are:

The heft of the ciggie in my hand. Even the smnall cigalikes are much heavier. If somehow vaping could mimic this exactly, that would be great. But I expect to get used to the heft and feel of my eGo set-up in time.

The knocking the ash off by flicking with my thumb. Jut a dumb thing I noticed. Not a big thing by any means.

In a weird way, I sort of miss going outside to smoke. I know some vapers who do go outside for this reason. Especially the first fag of the morning while the kettle boils. The other night I put on my shoes and went into the kitchen and sort of looked at the door before realizing what I was even doing. I can't say I was craving a cigarette, exactly.

But vaping is just BETTER. I couldn't go back to fags.

I was just thinking... if I knew the world was going to end tomorrow, would I smoke or vape? I honestly don't know.

But, I inte d to do this until this completely replaces smoking in my little addict brain. Then if I do give it up, I will keep the kit in a drawer for the relapse that has always happened after a few months clean.

I won't go back tosmoking. It's too late for that, now. It will ever be enjoyable, again.

[LineRunner]

And smoking actual cigarettes in bed and on the sofa when tired is really bloody dangerous.

Not to mention passive smoking dangers for children.

[CostaLady]

Mine arrived in the post today!

[TabithaCampbellBlack]

BTW.....well done, Katy. You are now a non-smoker! :)

[WorraLiberty]

I gave up using these and would recommend them to anyone

[waterlego6064]

A quick question before I order my products Katy... The one you've linked to is £7 and I see the juices are £3 or so each. But others on this thread have said they've spent £50 on their kit. Why is there such a big difference in price? I've probably misunderstood something

[WorraLiberty]

Yes OP I went outside to vape

I knew if I didn't, I would probably end up using it more than I used to smoke.

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

66They look ridiculous and are normaiaing tobacco use.^

No more ridiculous than inhaling actual smoke, and there is no tobacco being used. Worrying about what people might think of me is no way to live a healthy life.

You are still addicted to nicotine which has health implications and are likely to be using more nicotine than before.

There is no proof that nicotine alone is worse than caffiene and it may even have beneficial effects in terms of cognition and memory.

It appears that less nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream from vaping than from smoking a cigarette.

They are unregulated and you have no idea what is really in them.

That would depend on where you buy the liquid. The same level of quality control we expect in food would not go amiss, but I feel I can find trustworthy producers in the meantime. I'm willing to literally bet my life that any of it is better than a cigarette.

Most people would be far better getting real support and using licensed products.

Wrong. Most people - the vast majority of people - fail to quit smoking using licensed products and all the support available from any entity. The success rate of patches, gum, lozenges, etc is incredibly low.

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

waterlego I thought the same thing! In fact, it looked so dodgy that I ended up paying twice that for the same thing from another vendor! But, I have since heard many people vouch for them. They are perfect for trying vaping. Many experienced vapers keep some around for back-ups or to give to curious friends.

You can pay hundreds of pounds for a kit. People do that because they love the thrill of finding the ultimate perfect vape. for them, it's a hobby.

That kit I linked is a cheap generic version of a standard eGo battery with standard generic atomizers. It will work. It will definitely work well enough for you to find out if vaping is for you.

[Beastofburden]

As a non smoker who hates, hates the smell of smoke, I am also evangelical about this.

I can't see the issue with remaining dependent on a low dose of nicotine. Everyone says smoking is a terrible addiction to shift. But small doses of nicotine would be safe-ish indefinitely. Safer than smoking, or obesity, or alcohol misuse, anyway.

Katy, the world needs people like you in the public sphere at the moment. I get the sense that both government and business are feeling their way on this. What we need is a community of consumers rising up and telling both that there is a HUGE market here, and this is how you want these products to develop- regulated and safe by all means, but not a monopoly to the tobacco companies. And fun. I think it's the fun side which makes this work so well. The bling, the different flavours.... It's not just a second rate substitute and an admission of failure, which I'm afraid gum is.

I would love to see savvy smokers take charge of this agenda.

[CostaLady]

waterlego, I spent £17.99 on my standard version which looks kind of like a fountain pen and £3.99 on the e-liquid. I think the deluxe versions which cost more come with extra e-liquid and spare cartridges for you to put the e-liquid in or more hard wearing cartridges meaning they don't have to be replaced as often.

[waterlego6064]

Fantastic, thank you Katy.

I have in my shopping cart: two of those ego blister packs you linked to (so that I can have one on charge while using the other (as suggested upthread), and three bottles of juice- 5ml each. Is that all I need to get started? And how long will that 'last' in comparison to smoking cigarettes?

Sorry for all the questions! Have looked at one of the vaping forums and now my head hurts with all the technical/scientific terms...some people seem to have a great many different bits of kit. And someone was on about having gloves to wear while you're filling cartridges or suchlike. I'm a bit baffled.

[waterlego6064]

Thank you Costa. I am feeling positive about this. This could really be the nail in the coffin of my smoking career and that is definitely something to be excited about.

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

Also, waterlego most vapers started with the crappy cigalikes and found them wanting. (Some people like worra do like them, thoguh!)

I urge you to check out a vaping forum. The jargon can be overwhelming with all the anoraks geeking out on the different makes and models, but they will be very keen to help you with any questions.

And be bold and try some fun flavours. I assumed that I wanted to taste something as close to Marlboro Lights as possible, but I am thrilled with watermelon, mango, cherry, strawberry milkshake, etc. I have a wee bottle of tobacco flavour but I haven't opened it. I no longer see the point.