Quitting Vs Vaping

[Drew64]

Whilst being nosey on MN I came across the 'Stop Smoking' topic and thought I'd take a look.
I was surprised to see so many vaping threads.
Now, let me get this straight from the outset. I used to smoke (20 - 30 roll ups a day) and have stopped smoking them in favour of a vapouriser, however...

I don't consider my self as having given up smoking. I've just replaced roll ups with a vapouriser so in my mind I'm still smoking.

As for an aid to giving up smoking cigarettes, it's been very successful as I have barely smoked cigarettes since August 2014. I say barely because if I want a roll up I will have one, I've smoked maybe 10 roll ups in that time but I'm still smoking, a vapouriser.

I thought I would notice a major change in my health, others I have spoken to have said that they feel much better but I don't.
My lung function does not seem any better and I've often got a 'frog in my throat' that is annoying to say the least. I do notice an improved sense of smell though and both the car and house have stopped stinking of cigarettes.

I've almost quit the nicotine, I started on 1.8mg per 10ml bottle of juice and I'm now down to 0.6mg per 10ml bottle. The next step will be to vape juice with no nicotine in it. Then we will see if I can give up the 'smoking' habit as that is all it will be.

What are your experiences and do you still consider yourself a smoker?

I did the same as you, gave up smoking for vaping then cut down the nicotine strength. I stopped almost immediately after I went nicotine free and haven't vaped since July last year I haven t had any cravings either.

Yes op I feel the same. I swapped fags for vaping and trying to reduce the nicotine.

The bloody arguments I've had on here though with posters insisting that vaping is not smoking as they have given up and now vape - which is a completly differnent thing is insane.

I'm awaiting for them to turn up ..........

In fact I gave up smoking fags when pregnant and started again after I had dd. I find giving up vaping waaaay harder.

There are a lot of vaping threads here because we originally asked MNHQ for a vaping section after several very popular vaping threads in AIBU. MNHQ decided a stop smoking section would be more appropriate and I hope it's a welcoming place for everyone who is trying to stop, no matter what method they are using. I have certainly seen vapers posting supportively on threads about NRT, Champix, cold turkey, Allen Carr etc.

I don't consider my self as having given up smoking. I've just replaced roll ups with a vapouriser so in my mind I'm still smoking.

Leaving aside the fact you are still smoking on average once a month (and so would be counted as a smoker on most surveys), it's up to you whether you still consider yourself a smoker or not as a vaper. The important thing is your body can tell the difference because you are no longer inhaling vast quantities of carbon monoxide and carcinogens with your nicotine.

I switched to vaping in October 2013 and haven't smoked since. I don't consider myself a smoker because I no longer inhale smoke. I've also felt massive health benefits and the frog went from my throat within days. I'm sorry you haven't had the same experience. Sadly not all lung damage is reversible but it's very likely that cutting down smoking massively has helped prevent your health getting any worse. You could visit your GP if you are worried.

I'm personally not that bothered about cutting down and stopping nicotine. I started on 18mg and I'm still on 18mg. The important thing to me is to not relapse because I did that over and over again for three decades. It's certainly not something I would consider if I was still smoking a few fags. One a month can easily creep up to one a week, then one a day ...

Tequila - I'm awaiting for them to turn up ..........

Hello

Clearly vaping is not smoking because there is no smoke. I am struggling to see what is so 'insane' about that.

Lots of people cut down the nicotine a tiny bit at a time by mixing strengths. Why not start a thread for support?

Tequila, vaping is NOT smoking. Nothing burns, there's no smoke, it's not smoking. Yes it's inhaling nicotine, but it's not smoking.

I think giving up vaping would be harder than giving up smoking, because I've got little incentive to give up vaping, but had huge incentives to give up smoking.

Re the feeling better thing...

I gave up the fags (totally gave up, no vaping) 6 yrs ago and people often said to me 'oh you must feel so much better?'

Well, no... Smoking never made me feel ill...

But you know in your head it's the very best thing you can do for your long-term health. So good for you - never give up giving up.

I've been exclusively vaping for 3 months. I was a 20 a day royals smoker.

I'm not a smoker anymore. I can go for 8+ hours without vaping when at work, whereas my breaks used to be spent outside smoking. I no longer panic about what time the newsagents are shutting in case I run out of fags. All my routines have changed... there's no more 'I'll have a fag and then...'

Plus, I don't actually feel any different BUT I can run longer and cycle faster.

I am not a smoker.