I had wanted to quit for quite a while. The last time I talked to a doctor about it he wanted me to take Chantix. Uh… NO thank you! Besides the hideous side effects the cost (around $300) made it very unattractive!
I had considered going cold turkey but I’m 45 and getting too old for that shit. I’ve quit cold turkey repeatedly during my life… but I couldn’t do it this time.
At one time I had seen something about ecigs. I mentioned it to my Aunt and she said she’d tried one on the plane back from England. She liked it. I guess I filed that away somewhere in my memory. Then I saw a blog post by another blogger discussing using them. I started researching it, planning how much it would cost, and seeing if it was possible to quit using them. I discussed it with Richard and he said go for it.
What are they? It’s an electronic cigarette. It’s made up of a battery, an atomizer, and a cartridge (the part you inhale through). Inside the cartridge is, for lack of a better word, wadding that you place drops of liquid on. When inserted in the atomizer it is gently heated until vapor is created. That is what is exhaled when it’s used. Vapor. It’s called vaping. The liquid can contain nicotine. It’s the only ingredient and you don’t get all that nasty tar, and other chemicals that you get in regular cigarettes. It comes in different levels (mgs) and you can slowly lower how much you use. They also sell liquid with no nicotine that comes in different flavors.
Anyway I got my ecig about 4 days ago. I still had real cigs and finished them Saturday around noon. I was going to keep one pack as a security blanket. (Mentally for some it’s easier to quit if you have one pack. You don’t have that “I’m totally out!” panic feeling.) Well after using the ecig for a few days one thing was bugging me. The old ashtray, the lighters, and the damned ashes all over my desk. (It’s inevitable.. there will be ashes on the desk when you smoke.) I HATE that! It also felt like the ashtray and lighters were taunting me. Well screw that! I finished the cigarettes and put up the lighter and ashtrays.
The nice thing about the ecig is: no ashes, no lighter, ashtrays, no panic if you’re running out, no fear of setting something on fire, no fear of dropping a lit one in the car, and more. I DO catch myself trying to tap the ashes of the ecig. lol And I found an old glass ashtray that kind of fits it to sit it in. (Helps with the allusion.)
I’ve already noticed I’m breathing better, not coughing as much, my sense of smell is getting better (or worse if you consider the cat smells ewww!).
So I’m off of the real cigs. I’ll eventually taper off of the nicotine and go to 0 nicotine liquid. Hell, like I told Richard I’ll keep the ecig and maybe vape other flavors. I can’t EAT chocolate fudge brownies but I could VAPE them! ROFL
Filed under: Daily LIfe
by MOAB
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