new member WOO-HOO! Day 63 and counting!

[Proudshamrock]

I smoked two packs of cigarettes per day for 33 years and I loved my cigarettes. I put in a few half-hearted efforts to quit for my dad by using the patches, gums and medication. The first two gave me a nice buzz and the drugs were turning me into a paranoid homicidal maniac who only slept an average of 3½ hours per night for a month due to the outrageously fantastical nightmares in which I played the starring role! The sad thing is that I never even felt bad or disappointed in myself for failing because I never wanted to quit in the first place! 

Anyway, a few months ago I noticed that various friends of mine kept asking if I were sick because I wasn't chain smoking throughout our visits. (You KNOW you are a hard-core smoker when friends think you are ill if you don't light another cigarette almost before the last one is out!) I hadn't even been aware that I had slowed down until the questions kept coming so I realized I had some thinking to do. 

A couple of years ago I bought a generic e-cigarette type mod because I was at spending all day and most nights for three months at the hospital with my brother who was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and almost died due to complications from a mistake the doctor made during the surgery for the placement of his feeding tube. I planted myself in his room and became the guard dog who growled and questioned every action taken by the hospital staff because I was going to make sure that he became healthy enough to receive chemo and have a fighting chance at beating the demon. I used the cig-a-like but in reality it didn't come close to even putting a damper on my nicotine cravings - much to the doctors dismay!  😉 

So 63 days ago I was running errands and passed by a vape shop. I decided to drop in and see if the technology had improved since my last experience. I feel blessed to have chosen that particular shop because after two hours of undivided attention from several employees, I walked out the door of that shop a non-smoker and haven't had a cigarette since! I never had any cravings or any desire to smoke a cigarette. My nicotine habit was being met so there was no pain whatsoever. 

When people gush about how proud they are of me I kind of feel like a fraud! I mean it feels like I cheated or something because I put zero effort and work into quitting and I never went through the withdrawals that I know some friends had struggled with. Luckily I've learned how to soak up the compliments and am now even very proud of myself.   😆  YAY ME!! 

Edited January 13, 2016 by Proudshamrock
Mistake on my part

[Tam]

Congrats! It only gets better from here.   

[Bebop]

YAY YOU! 

[aufin]

You SHOULD be proud of yourself.  My experience with e-cigs was pretty much the same as yours (hospital not included), but fortunate to find a very helpful vape store to patiently walk me through everything.  Walked out with basic vape gear almost 3 years ago, put the smokes down and haven't had even one since that day. Be proud of your accomplishment and stay the course.  You won't regret it. 

[jasonculp]

Welcome, and congratulations!

[Compenstine]

WhhoooT!

[VapeMama]

Congratulations and welcome!!

 

[Proudshamrock]

Thank you for the encouragement and kudos everyone. I AM proud of myself. 😀

[cany]

Congrats

[peachy_kleen]

Congrats on quitting! I'm quitting myself, as well. Mark Twain once said something along the lines of: "Quitting smoking is easy. I should know, I've done it a thousand times." If only he had a vape pen, lol! :P 

[Proudshamrock]

Congrats on quitting! I'm quitting myself, as well. Mark Twain once said something along the lines of: "Quitting smoking is easy. I should know, I've done it a thousand times." If only he had a vape pen, lol! [emoji14] 

Good luck to you too. I love that quote and it's so very true.

[leaders-number]

Congrats! I am a heavy smoker , i want to quit it or switch to vaporizer . You looks prefessional , can you give me some suggestion ? Thx .

[Proudshamrock]

Congrats! I am a heavy smoker , i want to quit it or switch to vaporizer . You looks prefessional , can you give me some suggestion ? Thx .

In the vaping world I am a total newbie but I can tell you that if you get the setup that works best for you it can be so easy to quit smoking cigarettes! There is so much information on this site for those new to vaping that it's easy to get overwhelmed but don't give up! I would suggest that if you have a good vape shop in your area go talk to them. Be upfront right away about knowing nothing at all about vaping and explain your smoking habits to them. You will know if they are good if they take the lead and give you information on the different types of products available and show you a few options. Most places will even let you try before you buy. If they want to push you into buying the first thing they show you, act indifferent or treat you like you're an idiot for not understanding their vaping "jargon", I would walk out and try the next place on your list. It sounds corny but I just went to Google and looked up "Vape Shops Near Me". I went down the list and read all the reviews and went from there. When I found "the place" and knew what I wanted - and this is horrible but I'm on a tight budget - I looked online to compare prices. (Most shops have pretty high markups.) I found my mod cheaper online so I bought that there but I buy my coils, juices, etc. from that shop because they were so great to me. Be patient, be prepared to spend a bit of money, and enjoy the journey!