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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to feel positively evangelical about electronic cigarettes?

983 replies

KatyTheCleaningLady · 27/09/2013 15:07

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. Grin

OP posts:
forumdonkey · 27/09/2013 23:40

WidowWadman you can buy juices that are nicotine free

forumdonkey · 27/09/2013 23:44

To all the 'anti vaping' posters heres my link to what I posted ^ Just in case you missed it Wink

Lazysuzanne · 27/09/2013 23:55

Widow, based on your line of reasoning we should stop coffee manufacturers from making coffee in such lovely flavors and ban people from drinking it indoors

nbee84 · 28/09/2013 00:01

Hi Katy - not stalking you, honest Grin Haven't you come a long way in such a short time! Well done - and "told you so" Grin Grin

So good to hear all these positive stories.

Ecigs haven't been around for long enough to have had long term trials, but studies so far have shown them to be much safer than smoking. Figures of 95-99% safer. Even if there is still a small health risk I would carry on vaping as I know that if I didn't I would be smoking cigarettes and we all know the health risks of that.

WidowWadman · 28/09/2013 00:01

So how does that work? Haven't heard coffee being promoted as the allegedly healthy alternative to smoking.

TedMoseby · 28/09/2013 00:03

Wow, I find this thread really, really disturbing. Inhaling an unregulated product, made in China of all the places, into your lungs? Madness, absolute madness.

forumdonkey · 28/09/2013 00:05

widow have you watched my link that will explain ( a Dr) how they work and differ from tobacco.

KatyTheCleaningLady · 28/09/2013 00:08

Ted, the batteries are made in china. The liquids are made in many places, or even at home. I wouldn't mind quality control, but I am sure that there's nothing in any of them worse than in tobacco smoke.

OP posts:
forumdonkey · 28/09/2013 00:09

tell the juices are all made from ingredients that are already passed for food regulations and non of the juices I buy are from China but legitimate companies in the UK. The batteries and bits may well be from China but the juices I use aren't.

KatyTheCleaningLady · 28/09/2013 00:11

I just love how these fierce debates just serve to convert more newbies. I think this thread has made at lest three of them so far. Grin

I don't think I've yet heard a current smoker poo-poo the idea. I've heard a few "tried it once, didn't like it" but it seems that anyone desperately gripped by the addiction sees the logic in this.

OP posts:
nbee84 · 28/09/2013 00:12

I've never heard of a non smoker taking up vaping either.

As for children - according to Cancer Research 11% of 15 year olds are regular smokers. Given that most of us can't control what their teenagers do, would you rather they tried cigarettes and their 4,000 chemicals or the safer form of vaping? Obviously the ideal would be neither, and though I'm an ardent vaper I don't vape around children or in places that you would not smoke a cigarette.

nbee84 · 28/09/2013 00:13

TedMoseby - my liquid is made in my own kitchen.

WidowWadman · 28/09/2013 00:14

forumdonkey - wrt to Hilary Jones, he may be a real doctor, but not one whose judgement I'd neccessarily trust

KatyTheCleaningLady · 28/09/2013 00:17

There are some concerned people. BMA and NHS can't endorse anything that hasn't been tested completely, nor should they.

And, there was ONE study done a few years ago by the FDA that found tiny traces of a few nasties in SOME of the cartridges. These were cartridges from cigalikes. Not the home-made e-liquids being tested.

No vapour tests have really been done on the liquids, themselves. As in, the three or four ingredients used in them. I would welcome any such tests.

And I am positive that they will be better than smoke.

It is true that we don't know the long term effects of inhaling the ingredients. We can swallow them, but that's not inhaling.

But, again... compared to smoking? Meh.

OP posts:
forumdonkey · 28/09/2013 00:18

I have yet to read from a legitimate source of anyone dying or being seriously or terminally ill from vaping or even suffering an adverse effect from them. I'm not saying someone couldn't be allergic although I have never heard of this but I know plenty of people allergic to natural food products such as wheat, nuts, fish etc etc.

Vaping has been around a few years now, even though it is only now getting popular. when I started over 3 years ago there was many legitimate businesses selling them online. There are about 5 shops in a mile radius of me that sell them too

squoosh · 28/09/2013 00:19

I'm unconvinced. In 20 years time there'll be a big 'uh oh, we were wrong about the safety of vaping' revelation. Doctors used to prescribe cigarettes for their health benefits not that long ago.

WidowWadman · 28/09/2013 00:21

I'm not sure why you assume that "home-made" means that it's safe either. If anything it may be less safe than mass-produced standardised stuff.

How can you be positive that they will be safer when there is actually no research? And why do you believe vapour can't be inhaled?

squoosh · 28/09/2013 00:26

KatyTheCleaningLady I was 'desperately gripped' by a cigarette addiction a few months ago, but at no point would I have considered vaping. I wanted to be free of addiction not swap one for another.

forumdonkey · 28/09/2013 00:29

I know one thing without doubt - smoking was bad for my health and could kill me and cause cancer. After my own research about the ingredients in juices I have decided they are no more of a risk than tobacco. I think that can be agreed on including the fact they are not anti social and smelly like smoke and less of a fire risk too.

As for Dr Hillary well my GP's and dentist all agree with him and they're not endorsing anything Wink

KatyTheCleaningLady · 28/09/2013 00:30

Squoosh, you apparently believed that you could quit. Desparation is feeling like you can't quit.

OP posts:
forumdonkey · 28/09/2013 00:33

widow all the ingredients have been passed as food safe. Why isn't everyone including the government banning them?

KatyTheCleaningLady · 28/09/2013 00:34

Widow, I didn't say vapour can't be inhaled. Confused

Home made means you know what's in it (insofar as you trust your source of the pg/vg and food flavourings.) What risks there may be from thoes chemicals as inhaled vapour I don't know. But I'm assuming they're better than smoke.

OP posts:
scrazy · 28/09/2013 00:36

They are a fad to keep addicts hooked on the drug that they need to feel normal. Of course the authorities are going to crack onto it and tax regulate it sooner or later.

It makes me cringe when I hear addicts say that they now 'vape' wtf!

Former smoker and nicotine addict here. The thing I miss if anything is the draw of the smoke and e cigs just don't have that, but anyway keep on vaping or just go through a couple of weeks withdrawal instead, which peaks at three days then is finished in 3 weeks at the most.

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