Long-Winded Hello from Hammond IN

[dogbertusceasar]

Greetings everybody, name here is Jonathan; I just wanted to say hello and tell everyone about my vaping experience over the past month and a half.

Quick Background (as of March 2010):

• Live in Hammond, IN (Just Southeast of Chicago, IL)
• Analog smoker for about 20 years.
• Atypical Smoking Pattern: Most smokers crave the first cig of the day more than any other, but my pattern was opposite. I could easily go past noon without a smoke, but my cravings increased as the day went on. Late-night chain smoking was common.
• Peak consumption: 2 1/2 packs per day
• Quitting methods tried: Nicotine gum and patches, regular gum, straws, toothpicks, cinnamon sticks, plantain pills, homeopathic remedies (Indian tobacco), cold turkey, progressive filters, brand rotation, nicotine-less cigs, etc...
• Home life: Marrried, 2 step-children, 2 biological (Last one was born 4 days ago! YAY!)
• Occupation: Network Admin - Lost Job December '09 (Bank where I worked for 11 years went into receivership)
• Step-son diagnosed with juvenile diabetes (Type 1) late Jan '10

As you can probably guess from the last 3 lines, my analog habit is no longer an option:

• With no job, I need to conserve money, and cigs are way too expensive.
• Quitting methods that don't work are also too expensive
• I need to be competitive in the job market, and wheezing/coughing/analog-stench is a real interview killer
• I need to be inside helping my family, not outside on the porch smoking.

So, one night I hear a TV ad for an electronic cigarette. Well, I fired up my browser and started researching; then picked up the phone and started calling; finally I drove out to a local tobacco shop and bought a "Health-e-Cig" (or "e-Health Cig" not sure which - packaging is ambiguous).

This device is an automatic that looks like a real cig (white body, orange-red led, beige carts) and has 5 x 15 mg carts. I tried it and had a few problems:

• Battery life is WAY too short - I would need 3-4 batteries to complete a day
• Price is too high - the shop charged $60 for 1 batt, 1 atty, 1 charger and 5 carts. Spare carts came out to about the same price as cheap analogs.
• Looks too much like an analog - I want to keep it low-key, non-confrontational, and not set a bad example for or embarrass the kids.

BUT it did take away the cravings, and gave me the mouth and throat hit that I liked, so I knew I was on the right track.

Back to the browser, lots more research, read everything I could find on PVs, and made an online order:

Joye 510 starter kit == blue w/ blue leds, 2 manual batts, 2 attys, 1 charger, and 5 blank carts.
6 bottles of 24 mg VG juice in assorted flavors.

I received the package Feb 1, shortly after smoking my last analog... (talk about lucky timing!)

Nice! Battery life is OK, still need 2, but that's manageable. Price point is great for the bottled juice! Also, since it doesn't look like a cigarette, my 2 1/2-year old daughter thinks it's medicine, so she doesn't go around mimicing me puffing anymore. My congestion went away after few days, breathing became much easier, I no longer want analogs (even when my battery goes!), but the most fascinating thing is that I have been vaping much less than I smoked! It's been 6 weeks and I am still on the same 10 ml bottle of juice! (Pumpkin Pie flavored BTW)

I think part of the reason for this is that I don't feel the need to 'finish the cigarette' or to load up on nicotine so that I won't have to go out to smoke for a while. The fact that I was an 'atypical' smoker probably has a lot to do with this also, so don't count on this happening to you! As far as I've read, most people usually vape more than they previously smoked!

Overall, this has been a rewarding experience, and it seems to be the one that will finally keep me off the analogs. Plus it is costing me a LOT less! I've also recommended PVs to some of my smoking friends - one buddy of mine is awaiting his first shipment as I type!

Here are a few things that I noticed/figured out/experienced/learned during the last 6 weeks that I wish I had known beforehand: (I know many of these are in FAQs scattered about the net, but they bear repeating and hopefully even the veteran vapers will knowingly chuckle on some of them! ;-)

• Go with bottled juice over pre-filled carts - it's a LOT cheaper, and the flavors are much better!
• Get spicier flavors to start with, (like pumpkin pie, gingerbread or cinnamon) that helps give you a stronger throat sensation while you adjust.
• Go with the larger battery unless you really need the small size and can maintain multiple spares.
• Be careful with manual battery PVs, use a hard case if possible (whatever you do don't sit on them! ouch!)
• Always clean new attys before using and between flavors, or get a different atty for each flavor (funds permitting).
• Yes, you will need that extra battery - keep it charged and bring it with you.

Sorry this post is so long-winded, and thanks for your attention!

Best Regards,

Jonathan (Dogbertus Ceasar)

[mcquinn]

Hi from Richmond IN Johnathon.Looks like you learned most of it the hard way ,glad you stuck with it.Congrats on the baby and I hope you find a job soon.

[Rick]

WTG I learned the hard way as well wrt the cartomizers. The 510 is the only thing that got me off analogs.

[Jim Davis]

to ESF Jonathan;

Looks like you've got things pretty well under control. Congrats on the little one.

[Jestif]

Hi,Jonathan welcome to the forum.

[PTJD]

A belated Welcome!!

[dogbertusceasar]

Thanks to everyone for the hails and well-mets!

BTW: I think I just fried my first atty (might just be clogged - going through atty restoration faqs now...), and I did my first mod (pyramid teabag)

I now feel officially inducted into the world of vaping! (especially with the atty - grrr...

Best Regards,

Jonathan (Dogbertus Ceasar)

[julieblades]

That was really helpful Jonathan. I am just getting started on this project and you answered a lot of my questions.
thanks a lot

[jcamacho]

Welcome Dog, think you said it all already!

[PapaJoe8]

Welcome, and nice post Jonathan!

I did exactly what you did to get started. Local tobacco store and the health-e-cigs. The thing I did diff was to next go w/ m401s.

I am off analogs only a few weeks but so far so good.

I loaned my health gigs to my daughter but she didn't keep them charged and now the batts wont charge up. All I can figure is that the charge went past where they will charge again. I still use the attys since they fit my 401s. They have lived about 3 mos..

Jim suggested a dse905 mod and I just ordered one. It has not arrived yet.

Jonathan, where do you get your juice? I have ordered from several places.
Joe