Wellness

[ValuSkr]

Can you get addicted to e-cigs?

[poppinfresh]

ValuSkr, I imagine you could get addicted to using e-cigs. The thing with e-cigs is that you have the option of how much nicotine is in them. You can go from a high nicotine level to no nicotine at all. I think sometimes people think that your addicted to the nicotine and all the other chemicals in cigarettes, when in fact I discovered it wasn't the nicotine "for me", but the physical act of smoking itself. I started on the lowest amount of nicotine, then went to no nicotine quite quickly and noticed no difference in how I was feeling. As I said, it has been slightly over a year for me..I did not gain weight..didn't lose any either, lol..I don't have stinky ash trays, no mess, I don't smell of cigarettes, I can carry my e-cig around in my pocket if I like, and the money I have saved is gigantic. I definatey feel it is a good way for some to quit. And yes, it is sort of a trade off, instead of cold turkey quiting, but for me it has worked well.

[Graciesmom]

THAT YOU QUIT SMOKING IS WONDERFUL BUT you need to have a chest X-ray too !! I do know what I am talking about ... I was a 30 year, two pack a day smoker, but five years AFTER I QUIT, I would still experience shortness of breath going up two or three staircases at work which I thought would get better with time. On a routine visit to my doctor I mentioned it in passing ... It was not a complaint, only an observation, but to be cautious he said lets do an EKG and chest X-ray and go from there. Several weeks went by and I remembered to get the X-ray done, and the radiologist came into the room and showed me a tiny, tiny star-shaped dot at the top of my left lung. Long story short it was not even stage 1 lung cancer but I had the upper lobe of my left lung removed. I had no cancer in my lymph nodes so I needed no chemo or radiation ... But did need to be checked often via CT scan or X-ray for five years. By the Grace of God they caught it in time and I am now 7 years cancer free. I understand your insurance should cover the X-ray if you are a former smoker. THERE ARE NO SYMPTOMS WITH LUNG CANCER ... No pain, no blood, nothing. My shortness of breath was from COPD NOT cancer. Do yourself a HUGE favor and have a chest xray ... if for no other reason than your peace of mind. Lung cancer kills more than breast or colon cancer AND among those who have never smoked. I am not here to scare anyone ... Only to tell you what happened to me. There are wonderful new treatments on the horizon. I just retired and I thank God my Father for every single new day He has given me. It is a magnificent gift. If you quit be grateful and have an X-ray. Then pop a cork !!

[LilacTree]

My ex-husband, an avid smoker all of his life who tried many methods to quit and failed, had a stroke 12 years ago. He is still living at 81 years old. However, along with almost everything, he forgot about cigarettes and has not had even one since the stroke.

Makes one wonder if there is really a physical need or if it is all in one's head, doesn't it?

[qualitygal]

Ford, that's a good question at the end there. When I looked back after I had quit smoking, I realized one thing (of many about it). It was like I had given up a longtime friend, and didn't even realize that till later. Makes sense, I'd quit cold turkey, and no repercussions. So somewhere inside of me, it had been a companion/friend of sorts. I didn't even know that at the time.

[LilacTree]

On 1/4/2015 qualitygal said:

Ford, that's a good question at the end there. When I looked back after I had quit smoking, I realized one thing (of many about it). It was like I had given up a longtime friend, and didn't even realize that till later. Makes sense, I'd quit cold turkey, and no repercussions. So somewhere inside of me, it had been a companion/friend of sorts. I didn't even know that at the time.

My beloved sister used to say that. She was in rehab twice before she was finally put into hospice. In hospice they let her smoke outside because it didn't matter anymore. Either we or they would take her out on the patio in a wheelchair. I remember watching her take a long drag on the cigarette and holding the smoke in and blowing it out very slowly as almost in a trance.

However, while in rehab they wouldn't let her smoke (and that was months at a time) and she would become very fidgety, and ask if she could just hold one in her hand. They used to give her lollipops. She used to call it "hand to mouth disease."

[Midnight Shadow]

I'm so wishing you 100% TOTAL success with your quest in quitting smoking. I too am trying the E cig route. Still trying to find one that works for me to discourage the desire to have a real cigarette.

I'm in my 60's. At my recent check-up, I was asked if I still smoked. I told my physician that I've been smoking since I was conceived. She looked surprised and sort of chuckled at the way I put it until I told her that both my parents smoked all their lives (my mom is now 87, quit smoking at 80) dad died at age 56 from an accident, but was a 3 pack a day smoker. I got up to 1 pack per day. I told her I was sure my parents had a cigarette before and immediately after I was conceived. Also mentioned that basically all of my life growing up everyone around smoked, along w/the fact that from age 11 I was raised in a bar up to age 20. My parents owned a tavern and our living quarters were attached. Virtually 90% of the patrons smoked back then. It was a huge bar with well over 100 people in it at the same time during weekends. So our house along w/the bar was always laden w/it. I myself started smoking around age 18. However, I believe I smoked from birth w/all of the smoke that was around all of the time. I was basically inhaling it from the very beginning. Both while awake and sleeping I suppose.

I've tried on and off numerous times. But with my having been around it for so long, it seemed more natural to me to smoke than not. I told her that I basically had no idea what it was like not to. Not using this as an excuse at all. But it was just a few months ago that this dawned on me. I actually finally realized that for the majority of my life, I honestly didn't know what it was like not to smoke. Whenever I'd try not to it just didn't feel normal. Between the horrid cravings, my depression/anger and anxiety would sky rocket.

Anyway, I've finally gotten to the point to where I too want to quit for good. It's ruled my life and affected my health for far too long. I quit alcohol 28 years ago without any major issues. But this, this smoking, it's been unreal. So, I too am on the quest so to speak, to rid myself from what I personally see as a spiritual warfare battle of and for my mind.

I will keep you along with the other's who already have quit and those who want to quit in my prayers. I've often thought that I am probably one who actually needs a 30 day in-patient treatment program to not only deal with the smoking, but with issues that I'm probably covering up with it. I did that with alcohol and as I mentioned, it's been 28 years. I've not heard of a treatment program for quitting smoking. I tried one years ago w/a support group meeting once a week, but I'm one of those who needs more because I just end up lying to myself and can justify just about anything.

Again, My most heartfelt best to you.......MidnightShadow

God grant (us) the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the WISDOM to know the difference.

[poppinfresh]

MidnightShadow...Bless your heart. I hate to keep going on this post, but...let me tell you a bit about my journey with e-cigs. There is not an e-cig on this earth that will taste like a real cigarette, and that is where my journey began. A friend and I that quit together researched forever trying to find the right e=cig and juice that we could live with. Let me tell you, it cost some money up front and a lot of trial and error, although I tried to deal with companys that had a return policy and I succeeded in that. Finally I decided on a triton e-cig from Halo. It is one you refill with juice. I get my juice on Catepiller vapes and I only use the mocha, coffee or espresso. They are ones I can live with and satisfy me. I spend about 10 dollars a month on juice and that is it. If I can help you in any way, give me a holler and I will certainly help you if I can.

[esmeraldagooch]

Good luck with your plan. I quit 40 years ago cold turkey. You can do anything if you want success bad enough.

[NAES1]

Hi snapdragons,

I am so very proud of you. 1 complete week!

......"if there is anything -ONE thing- that you could do is quit su*cck*in on those addition dru *gs".......

I will be the 1st to tell you I have never smokkk*ed in my entire life and I have absolutely no idea how [they] make one feel. I know of so many friends who are now, just beginning to have the horrible stages from cigggggs.

I hope you win the battle and the companies someday will be taken down. Ever single one of them!

_Naes