Six Months Smoke-Free - After Switching To e-Cigs!

Six months ago today I smoked my last cigarette. 5:30PM on March 3rd, I inhaled my last puff of smoke. I cannot believe that it has been six months already. I really cannot express my shock. And my feeling of pride. I just cannot say how thankful I am to have found eCigs. From the very first time I picked up an eCig - I never looked back. After 30 years of smoking - after trying all of the other nicotine replacement methods - the gum, the patches, the pills, the inhalers ... none of which worked for me. I have found a way to kick that disgusting habit!

The best thing I have ever done!!!

I am not going to make this post about all of the stats - if you are new to my blog, or if this is the first time you are reading about my having switched to eCigs, please visit the e-Cigs link in the index to read my journey postings, which are extremely descriptive.

This posting is about where I am today. And today, I feel fabulous. I hardly use my asthma puffers anymore. Really just on humid days - which is to be expected when you have asthma. My coughing is nearly gone. I do still have to clear my throat in the mornings, but I am not hacking throughout my day. I feel my lungs becoming ever stronger with each passing day. I am not huffing and puffing by doing the most simple of tasks. I am sleeping better. My home does not smell of smoke. I, my clothes, my hair, do not smell of smoke. In fact, the smell of smoke really disgusts me and I just cannot even believe that I smoked for as long as I did!

What I have dubbed as my phantom-cigarette-syndrome has reduced dramatically. It is a very rare occasion when I find myself reaching for 'the pack'. Although it does still happen. In my first posting, I mentioned that my mother - who has been a non-smoker since 1988, still has the urge to flick a cigarette, and will find her fingers doing the motion. It does not happen often - but it does happen. So, considering that I am just six months in recovery, I am really not surprised by my physical movements to 'the pack'.

I have noticed that I am craving the 'feel' of a cigarette. The feel of a brand new pack, the firmness of the pack. Peeling away the wrapping, removing the foil, sliding that first cigarette out of the pack. The feel of the cigarette in my fingers.  I have had the urge to "try one".  To see if I still like it.  But I haven't. And I won't.

I imagine that just like any addiction, these thoughts will creep into my mind from time to time. The temptation will rear its ugly head, and it is up to me to be strong enough to smack it down just as quickly as it pops up!

I am still using the 24mg of nicotine in the eCigs, and plan to do so until my one-year mark. Partially to give myself a full year of recovery from all of the smoke and the other 4000 chemicals. But also, with my surgery coming up at the end of the week, I don't think it is a good time to shock my body with a reduction of nicotine. So, I plan to go through my surgical recovery and then make the decrease from 24mg to 16 mg.

Because some companies have a 20mg - and the one I use does not, this is another reason for my delay. I do not want to risk being set back. And lets face it, 24 to 16mg is a BIG drop.  To be quite honest, I am feeling very well accomplished right now and really don't feel the need to push myself.  So, in March, I will make the drop to 16mg, whether I do it straight or do a mix, I am unsure at this point. But either way, my plan all along has been to eventually wean myself off of nicotine entirely. So, once I am on 16mg, I will probably stay at that level for another year. And then reduce again - I believe the next level is 12mg. And then 6mg.  And then 0mg.

It may take me a few years to wean myself completely off of nicotine. But that is okay! I will not give myself permission to feel badly about that! I am a firm believer of celebrating the accomplishments I have made, rather than focusing on the hurdles, which are still before me. So, today I am going to do just that. Focus on the fact that I no longer have rat poison in my system. I no longer am ingesting carcinogens. I am not longer ingesting formaldehyde. My lungs are healing. The cilia are functioning once again. I no longer have tar and other crap sitting on my lungs. My breathing is better.

I am stronger today than I was six months ago.

And I will be even stronger six months from now!

As always, I will end by saying that if you are a smoker, and you are wanting to quit. PLEASE do your own research into e-cigarettes and see if they are the right choice for you!

17 Weeks Since I have Switched To e-Cigs ... The Journey Continues

17 Weeks since my last analog cigarette. I never thought that those words would come out of my mouth! And how proud I am of myself! More importantly I am feeling awesome!!!

It has been awhile since my last update, on the 60 day mark.  You may have noticed that I am now counting in weeks.  But for those of you who are mathematically inclined - or have a calculator, you know that it has now been 119 days!! Crazy right??

So lets get right into it.  I am now using the Aspire CE5 clearomizer, with the Spinner battery I bought  two months ago. I have to say that I think I have really found my favorite set-up. A set-up that works well for me. I am in love with these batteries. I have been using them for two months now and they are working just as great as they did on the day I first got them. In the 60 day post, I spoke a bit about the iSmoka clearomizer ... I still have it as a back up. And it is a good clearomizer, my only real issue with it is the mouthpiece. I just happen to prefer the rounded tip to the flat whistle tip. So for me, the CE5 is much more comfortable on my lips. But as with everything, it is really down to preference. The iSmoka is a great piece of equipment, that does come in some really nice colors. If it wasn't for the whistle tip, I may still be using it.

But. I'm not. So .... :-P lol

What I would like to do is cover some basic 101 type questions that I had as a newbie. Approaching four months in, I feel like I now have my feet wet and can call myself an intermediate vaper. But I still remember how daunting it was to begin my journey. Heck. I am still learning. And in the words of the late great Maya Angelou; When you learn, Teach! So,, here we go...

Q: What is an e-cig?
A: An e-cig is an electronic cigarette. Most e-cigs come in three parts. The battery, the heating coil, and the clearomizer - where the e-liquid is placed. If you think of a typical cigarette, the white part would be the battery, the filter part would be the clearomizer and the gold band at the base of the filter would be the heating coil.

Q: How do e-cigs work?
A: The power of the battery activates the heating coil, which heats the e-liquid at contact, turning the liquid in to vapor when inhaled.

Q: What is e-liquid?
A: Sometimes called e-juice. It is made up of between 2-4 parts.

1-2) The base (80%) is comprised of  VG (Vegetable Glycerin) Or mixed with PG (Propylene Glycerin) (Please check my first e-cig posting for detailed information on these compounds.) The typical compounds are 100%VG, 50/50% VG/PG or 80/20% PG/VG.

3) The flavoring will make up 10-20%. And I cannot even begin to list all of the wonderful flavors available in the vaping world. Just to name a few, you can enjoy just about any typical cigarette flavor, as well as cherry, mint, chocolate, bubblegum, cotton candy, licorice, banana, vanilla, brandy .. and the list goes on... and on .. and on. lol

4) The remaining part of the e-liquid compound  is 0-2.4% and that is nicotine.

So, as you see, if you just want mint flavored liquid, and it is pure VG base, there would only be two ingredients in the compound. If you have a split base, with flavor, plus nicotine, then you have a four-part compound.

The main thing to consider is that VG and PG are commonly found in everyday products such as make-up, mouse, gel, asthma inhalers etc. (View my first e-cig posting for more detailed information on VG and PG) But more importantly, is what e-liquid does NOT contain. And that is the other 4000 chemicals that are found in analog cigarettes. Additionally, with e-liquid, you are getting vapor and not smoke. Which eliminates the intake of carcinogenics.

Q: How much e-liquid will I need?
A: In my research, nobody seems to ever want to answer this question. And I can see why. There really is no scientific answer to this all important question.  But here is what I have learned: e-liquid typically comes in two sizes; 10ml and 30ml bottles. For our purposes, I will be speaking about 30ml bottles. In my smoking life, I was what you would consider to be a heavy smoker. I went through two packs of cigarettes a day. That is 40 cigarettes. However, what I learned was that I did not actually smoke 40 cigarettes. I would light a cigarette, take a couple of puffs, watch some TV, take another puff or two, set the cigarette down, check email, take another puff and put it out. In reality, I was actually only smoking 7-9 puffs out of each cigarette. So, if you figure that there are approximately 25 puffs per cigarette. I was burning a lot more than I was actually smoking. In reality, I was actually smoking 3 cartons of cigarettes, even though I was buying 5 cartons each month.  I had read somewhere that a 30ml bottle is equal to approximately one carton of cigarettes. And I tend to agree. Once my lungs began to heal and I was able to direct-inhale, I find that I use about 3ml per day, which is 3 30ml bottles per month.

Q: How much money will I save by vaping?
A: Ok, again, this is subjective to what you were spending before and what type of equipment you use in your vaping experience. Understanding that batteries need to be replaced every few months. So not every month's expenses will be the same. I will give you my average month expenses along with my re-up month costs.

When I was smoking cigarettes, I just could no longer afford to buy regular Tailor-made cigarettes, such as duMaurier or Benson & Hedges, which were selling for about $80 per carton. I was smoking reservation cigarettes - DK's, which I was buying at $30 per carton. So for five cartons a month - I was spending $150 per month.

The batteries I now have: AnyVape EGO Spinner 1000mAh cost me $29.45ea. I have two of them. They will last me 4 approximately 4 months.

The Clearomizer I now us is the Aspire CE5 BDC, which costs $9.98ea. One will last approximately 4 months if taken care of properly.

Heating coils - 5pk cost $19.99. I use 2 coils per month. So in 4 months I will use 8, which means I will buy two packs every 4 months.

e-Liquid. I use 3 30ml bottles with 24mg of nicotine. This will cost $18.99 per bottle.

So, once every four months, to re-up all of my equipment, it will cost me $198.00 Including 2 batteries, 1 clearomizer, 2 5pk boxes of heating coils, and 3 30ml bottles of e-liquid (One month supply of e-liquid). Including taxes and delivery.

Once a month, when I am just buying the e-liquid, it will cost me $75.00 including taxes and delivery.

So in a year. I am spending a total of  $1,269.00 vaping. As opposed to spending $1,824.00 per year on DK cigarettes. For a savings of $555.00 per year. Now, if I were to be smoking duMaurier etc at $80/carton. That would be $4,800.00 per year. Which would amount to a savings of $3,531.00 per year.

Either way you look at it. The financial savings are impressive. But are far outweighed by the health benefits! In MY Opinion, it is a total Win-Win!

I believe that these are the main questions that newbies have about the vaping world. The remaining questions are really about equipment and as I have said in my earlier postings, equipment is really a personal choice. I have gone through a few pieces by now and have finally found a set-up that works best for me. Just try to be patient and do as much research as you possibly can. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Experience shows me that those in the vaping community are more than happy to answer questions and share their personal experiences with those who are beginning their journey.

One thing I wanted to do was to take a look at the numbers. As I mentioned in previous postings, I have been using an app called Cessation Nation to track my progress and have posted the numbers at the 34 day mark, as well as the 60 day mark. So, I think we should take a look and see if anything has changed at the 119 day mark.

32 Days since my last cigarette.

1276 Cigarettes not smoked.

Heart rate and Blood pressure have dropped - 100%

Carbon Monoxide levels in my blood have dropped - 100%

Sense of taste and smell have improved - 100%

Circulation has substantially improved - 34%

Smoke related sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath have decreased - 11%

Risk of Heart Disease, Heart Attack and Stroke have dropped to less than half that of a smoker. - 8%

Risk of Stroke has decline to that of a non-smoker - 1%

Life expectancy gained - 5 days.

~*~*~

60 Days since my last cigarette.

2400 Cigarettes not smoked.

Heart rate and Blood pressure have dropped - 100%

Carbon Monoxide levels in my blood have dropped - 100%

Sense of taste and smell have improved - 100%

Circulation has substantially improved - 65%

Smoke related sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath have decreased - 21%

Risk of Heart Disease, Heart Attack and Stroke have dropped to less than half that of a smoker. - 16%

Risk of Stroke has decline to that of a non-smoker - 3%

Life expectancy gained - 10 days.

~*~*~

119 Days since my last cigarette.

4762 Cigarettes not smoked.

Heart Rate and Blood Pressure have dropped - 100%

Carbon Monoxide levels in my blood have dropped - 100%

Sense of taste and smell have improved - 100%

Circulation has substantially improved - 100%

Smoke related sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath have decreased - 43%

Risk of Heart Disease, Heart Attack and Stroke have dropped to less than half that of a smoker. - 32%

Risk of Stroke has declined to that of an non-smoker - 6%

Life expectancy gained - 19 days.

So, there is still work to be done. Let's be honest. I have abused my body for so many years that I really need to be thankful that I am even still around to have this conversation. However, I think these numbers are a tremendous tribute to the human body, and how it is able to repair itself. And the progress my body has made in such a short amount of time!

As I normally do, I want to close by saying that if you are currently a cigarette smoker, I strongly encourage you to do your research and consider making the move to e-cigarettes. If you have any medical/health questions,, be sure to discuss with your doctor first. I saw my doctor just last week and told him of my progress and he was just thrilled! Unfortunately I am not sure that the medical community at large is as positive or open-minded about the movement of e-cigs as my doctor is. The fact is that people are scared of new things. And e-cigs are relatively new, compared to analog cigarettes. 

But with that said, In MY Opinion, through my months of extensive research coupled with my own personal experience over these past four months, I have found them to be much safer and enabled me to be successful in my ability to put down those nasty cigarettes after 30 years of smoking! I feel better, stronger, and more healthy with each passing day!

Until next time friend..... 

Happy Vaping!

60 Days After Switching To e-Cigs - The Journey Continues

Well, today is 60 days since I last smoked an analog cigarette. WOW!! I feel really great about that. Each day is an accomplishment but to think that it has been over 8 weeks now, is just mind blowing to me! Especially since the journey has been relatively painless.

On the symptom topic, there really is nothing new to report. The sore throat that I spoke of in my last update, has not been an issue since. The coughing is really minimal at this stage. I cannot say that the coughing has completely stopped, but I will say that it is down significantly. If at the beginning it was a 10 - and a non-smoker would be a 0 ... I would have to really say that my coughing is down to maybe a 2 at this point. In my last post I had said that I imagined that by the end of the second month the coughing would pretty much be over - and it is. Judging from how I feel today, if it is not completely gone by month 3 - it most definitely will be gone by month 4. And let us be realistic for a moment - shall we? I didn't damage my body overnight. The abuse to my body is from decades of smoking, so it would be foolish to believe that the damage would be healed overnight. I am aware that many things will heal, and some never will. Thus is the true cost of making the stupid decision to ever start smoking cigarettes so many years ago.

But, as I always say, you cannot un-ring a bell. So, onward and upward!

How about some good news? The withdrawal from the 4000 chemicals is completely gone. I no longer crave rat poison, butane and formaldehyde. How's that for progress? lol  I think it is fantastic. I am delighted to know that those chemicals are now out of my system.  And should never have been there in the first place. But I digress...

What is interesting is that even though the physical craving - or what I have affectionately dubbed my phantom-cigarette-syndrome, has subsided significantly. As I said in my first post, my mom who quit smoking some thirty years ago, will still experience a physical memory - flicking a cigarette when none is in her hand. My physical memory really has not been an issue for me during this second month. It is a very rare occasion when I find myself reaching for the pack.  What is interesting is that I will have a mental memory (lol) I will think of reaching for the pack - but the hand does not do the physical act - then I will mentally correct myself, and reach for the ecig.

For the most part - it is that simple. A fleeting thought of reaching for the pack. A mental correction. And it's over. But there are occasional moments when I WANT a REAL cigarette! These moments are controllable and fleeting. But they do exist. I don't think it is about a craving. I think it is about memory - nostalgia. I imagine it is similar to an alcoholic who is recovering - years later will have the urge to have a drink. It isn't necessarily a craving per se, but more of old habits die hard. Again, for me, it is not a big deal. The thought pops up and my mental self swats the thought right out of my head, I take a drag of the ecig and go on about my business.

So how are the lungs doing? Quite well, thank you for asking! (haha!) Seriously, my breathing is improving with each passing day. My asthma has subsided dramatically and my use of inhalers is next to none. Maybe once a day and on some days I don't even have to use them at all! The wheezing has cut down a lot, my stamina is increasing and I don't sound like I am always trying to catch a train!

Vocal cords are still healing. I have done some specific research on this topic and sadly they may never heal completely. The facts are that I have done a lot of damage to them and that damage may be irreparable. At some point I will need to make an appointment with an E.N.T. (Ear, Nose and Throat) doctor and have them checked out to see if there are any polyps on them and if any scar tissue exists and if it can be surgically repaired. But for now I am hoping that the lack of carcinogenics will heal them. In my research I have learned that this can take about 9 months before I really see what healing will take place.  My voice is improving though. It isn't as scratchy and I don't' feel the need to clear my throat as much. So, fingers crossed that one day - one way or another - I will have my voice back again. In the meantime, it is recommended to keep them as moist as possible - ie. - drink lots of water.

In my last posting, I did a listing from the Cessation Nation app I had downloaded, shall we see where my numbers are today? I will post the last results at the 32 day mark - followed by the numbers for today at the 60 day mark.

32 Days since my last cigarette.

1276 Cigarettes not smoked.

Heart rate and Blood pressure have dropped - 100%

Carbon Monoxide levels in my blood have dropped - 100%

Sense of taste and smell have improved - 100%

Circulation has substantially improved - 34%

Smoke related sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath have decreased - 11%

Risk of Heart Disease, Heart Attack and Stroke have dropped to less than half that of a smoker. - 8%

Risk of Stroke has decline to that of a non-smoker - 1%

Life expectancy gained - 5 days.

~*~*~

60 Days since my last cigarette.

2400 Cigarettes not smoked.

Heart rate and Blood pressure have dropped - 100%

Carbon Monoxide levels in my blood have dropped - 100%

Sense of taste and smell have improved - 100%

Circulation has substantially improved - 65%

Smoke related sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath have decreased - 21%

Risk of Heart Disease, Heart Attack and Stroke have dropped to less than half that of a smoker. - 16%

Risk of Stroke has decline to that of a non-smoker - 3%

Life expectancy gained - 10 days.


So, there clearly has been some improvements. As I say - onward and upward!

The improvement of smell by 100% - I will share a funny story with you about that, as I was just speaking to someone about this very thing earlier today. In addition to smoking cigarettes, I use to also smoke weed. So back in the day I use to burn incense all the time. Many smokers are delusional in believing that the incense covers up the smell of the weed. Of course some burn it just because they like the smell, or use it for therapeutic purposes - meditation, etc ..  but I used it to cover up the smell of the weed. So, I have not burned any in a very long time. Well, I was digging through one of my junk drawers yesterday (don't we all have a junk drawer? ) and I came across some incense and decided to burn one. These are not the dollar store incense - these are expensive ones and I remember really loving how they smelled! So I dug out my incense holder and fired one up. Well OMG!!! I could not even smell the scent of the patchouli over the smell of the smoke!! It was overwhelming!! I could not even let the entire stick burn out.  After about ten minutes I actually had to extinguish it myself because I just could not stand the smoke.  I then started thinking how I use to use essentially perfumed smoke to cover up other smoke. Pause for irony.

If you have been following along in this journey with me, you may have noticed that the ecig pictured in today's post appears to be larger than the ones pictured in the first two postings. (If you missed the first two postings, you can find them under the 'ecigs' tag in the Index on the main page of this blog.) You are absolutely right. In my first posting I mentioned that in my research I learned that as your lungs heal and become stronger you will undoubtedly use more e-liquid as you are able to take in stronger draws and larger amounts of vapor per draw. Well, this is absolutely true. If you recall, I said that my very first draw of my very first ecig was one of great expectation and resulted in a coughing/choking fit. My poor lungs just could not take it! That in the beginning I could not direct inhale, and hand to inhale into my mouth and then to my lungs.

Two months later my lungs are significantly stronger and now that most of the tar and other crap has been expelled from my lungs, my cilia have been able to move freely once again, sweeping the crap out of my lungs and allowing them to function properly.

When I first made the switch from analog cigs to ecigs - I did so with the knowledge and suggestion through my research that I begin with what we all think about when we think of an ecig. The slender cigarette looking device. The company I purchase from calls these the 510 models. They are about the size of a pen, the thickness of a cigarette, with a light battery. The light battery is perfect for beginners, those making the transition, but frankly, at this point in my journey, they just are no longer satisfying.

Because they are so small, they just do not last long enough. And I found myself having to charge them up every couple of hours. Coupled with the fact that because they are so small, their ability to heat up the heating coil and ultimately produce vapor was no longer satisfying for my needs. In the beginning, when my lungs were a mess, I could not direct inhale, after two months - with stronger lungs, it was like sucking on a straw. I was really not getting anything from the 510 setup and required a stronger system. This is normal.

In all of the forums, chat rooms, blogs, papers, articles etc. that I had read, it seems to be the general consensus that once you have a couple of months under your belt, you will want to increase the strength of the vapor. Thus purchasing more powerful paraphernalia.

So this is what I have done. I am now on the Ego series. I won't get into all of the schematics but for those who are interested, I went from using the 510 280mah Mega Battery, to now using the AnyVape EGO Spinner Battery - 1000mAh. I love the power of this battery and the life of the battery as well.  As I said, the 510's needed to be charged every 3hrs or so, whereas the Spinner battery has been going now for over 24hrs without needing a recharge. Excellent!!!

What I don't like is the size. It is a bit cumbersome for my liking. Very masculine feeling. (Although it does come in a variety of colors.) If we say that the 510 is the size-ish of an analog cigarette, then the Spinner is about the size of a cigar. I really would like to have a battery, which has the power and lifespan of the Spinner but is a bit thinner - somewhere between the size of the two. And yes, I am a total girl about it but I really think there should be a more feminine option available, and perhaps there is with other distributors. For now I am sticking with the supplier that I have found. (More about them later.)

As for the tanks. With the 510 battery I was using the s-510 clearomizer. Of course with a larger battery, I require a larger clearomizer. So I have bought two. 1 (pink) iSmoka with a flat whistle tip - and 1 CE5 disposable (black tinted). Both are pictured above. I bought one of each because I really had no idea what I was doing. lol How's that for honesty?

When I did my original research, I was only concerned with the beginning steps. Sorting through all of the paraphernalia and trying to figure out what I needed at that point in time. What was necessary to get me started on the road to vaping. I was successful in that venture, but what I had not gotten around to was figuring out what I would require for phase two.

Enter Josh.

Who is Josh? I'm so glad you asked! Quite honestly, Josh is my vaping tour guide and my new BFF! lol

He is the support consultant at CanadaVapes.com, and has been of tremendous help to me, as I graduated from a novice to jr. vapor. lol Needless to say, I had a thousand questions, and finding someone with the experience - who was willing to answer my questions, I did not hold back.  Yes. I took full advantage of him! (Poor Josh! lol)  Quite honestly, I don't know if he ever became annoyed by all of my endless questions, but if he did - he never let on. Extremely patient with me and took the time to understand where I was in my journey and suggested products that he thought would be useful to me in my next steps. Taking the time in countless emails to explain all of the in's and out's of each product and not steering me towards stuff I have no use for. That's right, he didn't try to sell me stuff just to make a buck. WHAT?!?!?!?! He actually heard me - he knew and understood where I was in my journey, and what I needed.

This is how I ended up with the two different clearomizers. One disposable and one reusable. I wanted to get my hands on them and try them out for myself. In my early research I had become very well aware that at the end of the day it is about personal preference. And I was prepared for that. But at the end of the day you really have to try the stuff to know whether or not it is for you. So, I did. And I found what I believe is the perfect set-up for me at this stage. At least until I can find a smaller, yet just as powerful battery. Thanks for everything, Josh! My Professional BFF!! Haha! (Inside Joke. lol)

Well, I think I have just about covered everything there is at this point in my journey. Let me just say once again, if you or someone you know is wanting to quit smoking cigarettes, I strongly encourage you to do your research  on ecigs and consider making the switch. I cannot say what is right for someone else, but I can tell you that without a doubt - switching to ecigs is the best thing I have done for myself in a very long time!

I really do not plug companies on this blog but I do promote what I believe. And I have to say that I really am in love with CanadaVapes.com. If you are in search of a Canadian supplier for you ecig needs, consider visiting their online store and checking them out. At this point I have had the opportunity to deal with a couple of the staff there and they are truly A-mazing! Down to earth, helpful, fast, efficient, cost effective. And they have a wide variety of product. Most of which I have no idea how to use! LOL!

Until we meet again friend.....

Be Blessed.

-Laura

32 Days After Switching To e-Cigs - The Experience and The Journey

It has now been 32 days since I have switched to e-cigarettes and thought that I should do an update on how things are going and what my experiences are thus far in my quest to quit analog cigarettes.

Since things seemed to be going so smoothly in the early days, and of course we hear that it is the first three days to a week that are the most difficult, at the one week mark I thought that I was home free. Well, not so fast!

There are things that aren't told to you when you switch to e-cigs. As I said in my earlier post, I had braced myself for the difference in 'feel' between an analog cigarette and an e-cig, but what I did not prepare myself for was the withdrawal that I would feel from the other 4,000 chemical. Because I am still getting the nicotine from the e-cig, I thought it would be smooth sailing. Well - not really. The withdrawal from the formaldehyde and rat poison surely took me off guard. Who knew? Nobody talks about it because nobody thinks about it. But the truth is that after years - or in my case, decades of smoking, you body gets use to the poisons ingested from the cigarettes. And well, it is only logical that once you stop - your body says - HEY!!!

Ok, so I made it though that hump. I think at this point my body is over the lack of butane and carcinogenics in an analog cigarette. But the brain still wants a 'real' cig every once in awhile.  And even though I am still getting the nicotine, my brain is smarter than the average bear and on occasion will say - "Hey! I want a REAL cigarette!!!"  Fortunately it was easy to shut that voice up! I could mentally say "NO" and mentally smack that 'need' right out of my mind - just as quick as it arouse.

What was interesting, and something I did not read anything about during my months of research was that at the one-week mark, my throat was sooo sore! I though for sure I had strep-throat. It actually hurt to swallow - to the degree that I feared that I would not be able to continue with the e-cigs and that I would have to revert to the analogs again. Something I did not want to do!

So I went on forums and started searching for this specific issue - and it seems that it is normal and par for the course. Because of the Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerin - specifically the PG (see previous posting for more information on these compounds) - the throat can become dried as it adjusts from the smoke with a real cig to the vapor in an e-cig. It is normal, and suggested to find e-liquid with a higher VG percentage. The one I use is USP grade (99.7% pure) vegetable glycerin, so I knew that the PG sensitivity wasn't the issue and I would not need to look for another supplier. I learned that the majority of people experience a sore throat into the first week and that it only lasts a few days. It is strongly suggested to drink lots of water to keep you throat moist. So, I drank gallons of water and sure enough after four days the sore throat went away and it has not been a problem since.

What is irritating is the physical memory. What I affectionately refer to as phantom-cigarette-syndrome. I cannot tell you how many times I caught myself with my hand hitting the bare table where my cigarette pack once lived - in a failed attempt of mindlessly reaching for 'the pack'. Quite honestly, it would freak me out. It was as if I had no control over my own hand. I didn't even know I was doing it until I felt my finger tips on the table! And I have to say that is probably the worst part. The physical memory issues were driving me crazy. My hand actually craved the feeling of a pack of cigarettes!  I had even considered keeping an empty pack on the table - to hold during the physical cravings. I decided against it. It seemed that I would only be enabling the physical withdrawal and opted to push through it. To experience the loss my body was feeling - it all of its various shades. Problem is that you must keep your hands busy, so I found that I was eating everything in sight! And the last thing I need is to gain more weight. So after a couple of weeks of chips and countless packages of licorice, I have switched to celery sticks. (Until I run out and then I am back on the licorice! lol)

After a month I cannot say that this issue has completely resolved itself, however, it has lessened quite dramatically. I only on occasion find myself reaching for the pack - what is interesting is that now - usually - my mind will detect the urge before my hand motions, where as before my hand would already be on the table before my mind ever realized what had occurred.  So I consider this progress.

Speaking of progress, I have to touch upon the bucket-loads of crap that I was coughing up in the beginning. Truly, it was alarming amounts of tar that my lungs were expelling every day. Quite simply, the disrespect I had shown to my vital organs is shameful. As I said in the first posting - the first few days the coughing was quite intense. And much like other symptoms, this has lessened over the month. I am still coughing from time to time - but nowhere near as much as in the early days. I imagine that by the end of the second month, the majority of the coughing will be over.

I downloaded an app on my tablet - Cessation Nation - it is an app for those who have quit smoking. And to date the stats are as follows:

32 Days since my last cigarette.

1276 Cigarettes not smoked.

Heart rate and Blood pressure have dropped - 100%

Carbon Monoxide levels in my blood have dropped - 100%

Sense of taste and smell have improved - 100%

Circulation has substantially improved - 34%

Smoke related sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath have decreased - 11%

Risk of Heart Disease, Heart Attack and Stroke have dropped to less than half that of a smoker. - 8%

Risk of Stroke has decline to that of a non-smoker - 1%

Life expectancy gained - 5 days.

So, clearly there is still work to be done. But in 32 days I have come a long way and am super proud of myself! What I can say for certainty is that my vocal chords are healing and feeling better every day. Yes, my voice was affected by the smoke and poisons.  My lungs are getting stronger every day. I have gone from using my asthma inhalers up to 10 times a day - down to maybe once or twice a day  and there has even been the odd day here and there where I did not need them at all! My sense of smell and taste has improved vastly. Food tastes differently. I don't require as much seasoning and spices to taste the food. In fact, I can taste the authentic flavor of the food - and not all of the crap I put on top of it to give it flavor. I have never been a heavy salt user - but I notice that my use of salt has even declined.

Not to mention that my home no longer contains dirty ashtrays all over the place. My home and furniture no longer smell of smoke. I no longer smell of smoke. And my skin is looking better every single day!

I saw my doctor at the two week point and told him the good news, I could not believe how thrilled he was! His was super excited and told me how proud he was of me.

I have even converted a friend of mine who happened also to be a life-long smoker. Yesterday she received her starter kit and has began her own journey in switching from analog cigarettes to e-cigs.  YAY!!

If you or someone you know is a smoker of traditional cigarettes, I strongly encourage you to research e-cigarettes and think about making the switch over for yourself.

I Have Switched To e-Cigarettes

It was the summer before grade 9. I turned 14 years old and that was the year I picked up my first cigarette. I openly say that I began smoking at this age, but what does that really mean? At that time, my friend and I would split a pack and it would last for a week. Which means that I probably became a full fledged smoker when I was about 16 years old. But does that really matter? This summer I will be 46 years old, which means that I have been smoking for over 30 years. Or to look at it in another way, I have been a smoker for 2/3 of my lifetime.  In other words, I have smoked longer than I haven't! In fact, in 30 years, I have not gone a single day without a cigarette! And it has taken a toll on me.

My lungs. My asthma. My skin. My wallet. My life.

It is said that quitting smoking is more difficult than quitting heroine. Well, having never tried heroine, I cannot speak to that. But, let me say that as a smoker, it is extremely difficult to quit! Like many smokers - probably the majority of smokers - I did not enjoy being stuck under the thumb of the addiction. Being a slave to the cravings. Knowing full well that it was slowly killing me!

It is interesting that non-smokers think smokers are stupid. The graphic pictures on the cigarette packages of a diseased lung. Do they really believe that we do not know smoking is bad for us? NEWSFLASH - It is called an ADDICTION for a reason people!!

Like many smokers, I have attempted to quit countless times throughout my lifetime. The gum, the sprays and inhalers and prescription drugs and the patches. None of which worked for me. All of which gave me a headache, or caused me to gain weight - the very last thing I need is to gain more weight! If you are like me, and have tried everything, you feel helpless.

Meanwhile, the government is applying more and more taxes on cigarettes. I remember when a pack was less than $3.00 .. now a pack of duMaurier is easily $10.00. Crazy!! These increases forced me to switch to reservation cigarettes a couple of years ago. Just because I could no longer afford to spend $80.00 for a carton of duMaurier, when a carton of DK's could be bought for $30.00!!

The problem is that even with the cheaper cigarettes, it was still costing me $150.00 a month! And that is if I didn't have help smoking them. If I gave packs away, well, that would end up costing me another carton. And because reservation cigarettes are not as strictly regulated - they were truly killing me.

I could feel my asthma worsening in the time that I had been smoking the DK's. I could feel myself winded while walking my dog three times a day. Simple tasks would leave me breathless - and not in a good way!

And lets be honest. They stink! I mean regular cigarettes smell ... but DK's are horrible smelling! My home, my clothes, my hair,, all smelled of the smoke!

The irony in all of this is that we smoke cigarettes for the nicotine, and yet the nicotine is 1/4000th of what is in a cigarette. Amazing right? There are in fact over 4000 chemicals in a cigarette, many of which are unknown to man!

Some which are known are:

Carbon Monoxide (found in car exhaust)
Arsenic (rat poison)
Ammonia (found in window cleaner)
Acetone (found in nail polish remover)
Hydrogen Cyanide (gas chamber poison)
Napthalene (found in mothballs)
Sulphur Compounds (found in matches)
Lead
Volatile Alcohol
Formaldehyde (used as embalming fluid)
Butane (lighter fluid)

When you smoke, all of these chemicals mix together and form a sticky tar. The tar sticks to clothing, skin, and to the cilia (tiny hairs) that line the insides of your lungs. The cilia help to clean out dirt and germs from your lungs. If the cilia are covered in tar, they can't do their job properly, and germs, chemicals and dirt can stay in your lungs and cause diseases.

Can we talk about the tar for a moment? Smokers know that one of the less attractive parts of smoking is what is affectionately known as 'smokers cough'. And that lovely rainbow of crap you cough up in the morning and several times throughout the day. Lovely isn't it?

When I started smoking way back in the early 1980's there was not nearly the stigma there is today. I mean you could smoke in Hospitals for heaven's sake. I remember when my daughter was born in 1990 - I went upstairs to the next floor to the smoking lounge. Knowing what we know now - that was just crazy - right?

I decided that there just has to be a way for me to get out from under this disgusting habit. I knew that cold turkey was not an option for me. And that none of the quitting-smoking-aids worked (for me.) So I began to do research. Months of research on e-cigarettes.

I have to admit that when I first began to look into them, it was very confusing and very controversial. The government does not like them - because they cannot regulate them. In other words - they have not figured out a way to make money from them - so they frown on them.

But after having read every article, every forum, every bit of literature I could get my hands on, after watching every video on youtube about the products, the testimonials - (and there are thousands of them online!) I decided that this just may be what is right for me. Electronic cigarettes may be my way out!

Firstly, e-cigarettes are not a traditional cigarette. There is no smoke. There is no burning. There are none of the over 4,000 chemicals as outlined above. In fact it is not even called 'smoking' it is called 'vaping'. Why? Well, because instead of smoke - it is vapor that is being inhaled.

Simply, the e-liquid, which comes in every flavor under the sun, from mint to chocolate, all fruity flavors, liquor flavors, and tobacco flavors, is contained in the cartridge section of the e-cigarette, which is screwed into the heating coil and connected to the battery. When you inhale (take a draw) the battery activates the heating coil, which heats up the liquid and produces vapor. Really no different than a vaporizer that you use when you are sick - sometimes you use plain water and sometimes you add Vick's.  Same thing with the e-liquid (or e-juice as it is referred to) - it can be with or without added nicotine.

What does that mean? If you want say black cherry flavor vapor for example, you would only use plain black-cherry e-liquid. However, if you are an analog cigarette smoker and now using e-cigarettes, you are craving the nicotine, so you would have a selected amount (mg's) of nicotine added to the e-liquid and then your vapor would provide you the nicotine 'fix' you require - with the black-cherry flavor (or whichever flavor you choose).

The good news is that you crave the nicotine - you can have the nicotine ... without the rat poison and embalming fluid etc etc etc!!

Now, the government will say that there are two compounds in an e-cigarette which makes them unsafe. Let's discuss. The first is Vegetable Glycerin, which is approved by Health Canada for use in many items including:

Sugar substitute
In Beauty products including makeup, mousse, shampoo, bubble bath, after shave, and deodorant
Pet food
Soap
Skin and hand cream
Baked goods - increase moisture
As a thick gel for creams, gel capsule pills, rubs and jellies
Eye & ear drops, toothpastes, pastes, and many dental care products

The other compound is Propylene Glycol, which Health Canada has approved the use in products such as:

Pharmaceuticals - Oral, injectable and topical formulations
Beauty products including makeup, mousse, shampoo, bubble bath, after shave, and deodorant
baby wipes
Pet food
Asthma inhalers

So, needless to say, these compounds are of no concern to me.

My months of extensive research have brought me to conclude the following. In my opinion. e-cigarettes are safe. They are better for you than analog cigarettes. There is no smoke. Nicotine is optional. They are absent of the over 4,000 chemicals which are known to cause cancer and other life threatening diseases. They don't stink up your house. And e-cigarettes are 1/3 cheaper than what I was paying monthly for DK's!

One month supply of e-cigarettes would cost me about $65.00. One month of DK's would cost me a minimum of $150.00. One month of duMaurier would cost me $400.00 (At 5 cartons a month.)

Here is another thing I have discovered. While doing my research, in trying to figure out how much e-liquid I would need, I really started to NOTICE how I smoked. I began counting how many drags I took in a cigarette and discovered that I was literally burning away 1/2 - 2/3 of each and every cigarette. I was only taking 5-7 drags of a cigarette.  What does that mean? Well, it means that of that $150.00 I was spending each month - I was actually smoking about $70.00 of it. The other $80.00 I may as well have just rolled up and set on fire!

Crazy right!!

After all of my research, I decided that I had to give e-cigarettes a try. I had never seen a single person say they tried them and hated them. In fact it was quite the opposite, I would say 97% of the people I read from said that once they picked up an e-cigarette they never touched another analog cigarette again!

There were many people who say they liked one version better than another. Cartridges over Cartomizers. Another preferred Clearomizers. What size? What brand? Someone swore by the duMaurier e-liquid .. someone else said it was too sweet. So, what I got from all of that is that there would be a lot of tweaking involved and it was all really subject to personal preference. But I also knew that I had to give it a shot. What did I have to lose?

So, upon finding a supplier who I felt comfortable with, and after a LOT of math - trying to figure out what I would need in terms of supplies. How much e-liquid for a month. Do I use cartridges or cartomizers or clearomizers? There are so many options and it is all really confusing for a newbie. I settled on a 510 starter kit with a pair of 280 manual batteries in black. Two extra packs of cartomizers and three 30ml bottles of Benson & Hedges e-liquid.

I inhaled as deeply as my tar filled lungs would allow and I placed my order on Friday, February 28th. Much to my surprise, my order was shipped later that day and was in my mailbox on Monday March 3rd! One business day! WOW!!

One of the things they prepare newbies for is to ready your mind. An e-cigarette will never 'feel' like an analog cigarette. First of all they are not made of paper. Secondly, it is not smoke you are inhaling. Thirdly, they are heavier feeling and at least the length of a pen (larger ones can be a like a thick marker.)  So, over the weekend I was actually holding a pen in my hand like a cigarette, trying to prepare my brain - and my hands for the change.

Once my package arrived, I tore it open - excited - ready. I charged up the batteries, which took about 2hrs each. And I loaded up the cartomizer, inhaled - and coughed! LOL

OK - adjustments needed to be made. I have been inhaling smoke for 30 years, vapor is a shock to my ill tar-coated lungs. I could not direct inhale. I had to draw into my mouth and then inhale. No problem.

I have to say, in regards to the personal preferences, I did make a mistake in choosing cartomizers (pictured in my hand) and my selection of e-liquid. I do find the Benson & Hedges liquid to be sweet - I liken it to a smell / taste of scorched sugar.  However, I received gifts with my order - two clearomizers (pictured in the e-cig that is laying down on the counter) and a sample bottle of Canadian Smooth - both of which I LOVE!

That is part of the trial and error we spoke about earlier. I now know what I will be ordering in my next shipment!

But back to my testimony. Monday, March 3rd at 5:00PM I vaped my first e-cigarette and have not touched an analog cigarette since! It has been 4 days and approx 8 hours, which is UNHEARD OF for me!!

I can honestly say that I will never smoke an analog cigarette ever again!!

I can even say that in my first order - as a newbie - I bought my e-liquid with 24mg of nicotine, and in my next order I will reduce that to 18mg of nicotine. And I see the potential of further reducing that over time to 12mg and then 8mg .. and hopefully one day - 0mg! But I am not concerning myself with that today.

Today I view the fact that I have eliminated over 4,000 chemicals from my body. I have eliminated smoke. I have reduced my expenses to 1//3 of what they were. And in only 4 days - I feel better!!

Seasoned vapors say that for the first week to two weeks you will cough quite heavily, it is your lungs attempting to expel all of the tar and crap that has built up over the years. This is true! However, on day 4 - I am not coughing as much as I was on day 3 - and day 2 ... I can feel the gunk loosening and coming up. (Gross! But better out than in!) I feel my lungs already getting stronger. I am already noticing that I am not getting as winded doing simple things. Nor am I using my asthma inhalers nearly as much!

While I am not having nicotine withdrawal because I am still consuming nicotine, what I was not prepared for was the withdrawal from the over 4.000 other chemicals! Day 1 was pretty easy. Day 2 sucked! Day 3 was not as bad and today was a bit easier still. I will say that I had not planned for this and it did take me completely off guard. I had not given any consideration to the fact that I was not only addicted to nicotine - but also to rat poison and embalming fluid! Scary!

What is interesting is the physical memory of smoking. My hands. I have actually caught myself with my fingers bent as if to pick up a pack of cigarettes and reaching for them - mindlessly! It is very eerie! I have caught myself doing this many many times already.  Weird!

My hands actually crave the feeling of a package of cigarettes! LOL And I miss having an ashtray sitting next to me. I cannot tell you how many times I have picked up a crumb or piece of lint and went to drop it into my ashtray - and where no ashtray sits - the crumb or piece of lint land on the table. LOL

From what I understand from my mother who quit smoking in 1988, this physical memory can take years or even decades to go away. She still finds herself from time to time doing the motion of flicking a cigarette when she is not holding one. Her fingers will just go through the motions. I suppose that is to be expected though. For over 30 years a cigarette has been sort of an extension of my hand. So in essence it is like having a finger cut off. Like when an amputee can still feel the limb that was lost. That phantom limb syndrome.

So, I suppose that probably for the rest of my life I will experience phantom cigarette syndrome! LOL

In the meantime, I wanted to share my testimony with you. My experience and my journey. If you are a smoker and have not been able to quit, I strongly encourage you to research e-cigarettes for yourself. I can attest that they DO work for me!!  And I am feeling better and stronger with each passing hour!!

Love and Light

-Laura


Some of the chemical information referenced for analog and e-cigarettes were taken from www.lung.ca and www.canadavapes.com