Zippy wrote: what is in the fog that you inhale? What is in the secondhand stuff that I inhale?
It's water vapor. The liquids are a mixture of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine with flavor and nicotine added.
Propylene glycol = the "safe" antifreeze, as opposed to ethylene glycol. Propylene glycol is an "approved food additive" and is also commonly used in fog machines, yes the ones used at concerts & other situations. But it isn't the only fog fluid. There's also some mystery potion called "crack oil." Who knows what crack oil is. I used to just love it (NOT) when the lighting director said "Don't worry, it's water based." My reply is "you could dissolve cyanide in water and claim it's safe because it's water based. I wanna know, what's the part that's NOT water."
I don't know whether to blame propylene glycol but I used to cough up gobs of grey gunk for weeks after doing concert tours. In one band, the "star" finally put his foot down and forbade any more stage fog. When I found out, I looked him in the eye, shook his hand and said "thank you!"
So, propylene glycol is safe to swallow. To breathe, maybe not so much.
tribi9 wrote:There's no need for gimmicks. When you're ready and willing, you will quit.
Some of these guys have wives & other family members who are trying. Anything to get off the weed is good. Not everybody can go (cue John Lennon "Cold Turkey").
I think it's safe to assume that whatever is in the ecig is harmful at some level. Nothing is free...nothing. They'll tell you it's safe until it's not. On the other hand, breathing air probably isn't that healthy these days.
First I should say that I simply quit - no patches, gum, there were no ecigs then. So you might assume I'm one of those who think that smokers need to just quit - no gimmicks, no stand-ins, just quit. Well, there may some truth to that, I don't know. What I do know is if your mind is made up that you're going to quit you will. And I think that whatever methods work are fine as long as the end result is the same; no more smoking, no more nicotine.
That said, I care for a gentleman who has smoked probably for as long as I've been alive, or almost. A few months ago he got pneumonia and was hospitalized for a week, then spent a few weeks in a nursing home for some physical rehab (he has a weak leg from a stroke). All that time he was not allowed to smoke and when he got back home he continued his lack of smokes . . . but not really by his own decision. His sister had tried for years to get him to quit and insisted that he stay off the cigs. She is his financial guardian but not his full guardian and so cannot enforce her wish.
Well, it wasn't long before he decided to start again. But those around him convinced him to do the e-cigs instead of the little cigar like bad boys he was used to. He was fine with that for awhile but began to use them more and more, almost continually. His cough returned and after a couple of weeks he wound up back in the hospital with pneumonia again.
So, did they cause his relapse? I don't know. But they sure as heck didn't help. I wonder how things will go when he returns home again. Fortunately I am out of the smoking loop - none of my guys are allowed to go out and smoke during the night (though that could change). I've been with these guys for years and honestly, smoking is one of the few pleasures this one has in his life and I empathize with him. But I don't want it to shorten his life either.
I wasn't taking it as a smoking cessation aid, but it is sometimes used for that and may have helped me kick the habit.
It's been a week and a half and I can't see myself ever smoking again. Thanks to Cliff for the info on e-cigs, I've ordered a kit for my wife, who has decided to try switching to e-cigs.
Today is my oldest kid's birthday. She turned 17 today. Might be the best present I've ever given her.
LeftyStrat wrote:J
Today is my oldest kid's birthday. She turned 17 today. Might be the best present I've ever given her.
Doing the right thing, setting a good example, recognizing your problems and correcting them. Hard to wrap a ribbon around those but they're the best presents that can be given. Hope she's paying attention! She's got the best dad a daughter could want.
NickC wrote: Not only do I NOT crave them, they disgust me now.
Same here, I can not even stand the smell.
The reason I think is best to stay away from gimmicks, (And this just might apply to me) is because, the point is to QUIT, not to switch the smoking addiction to another type of addiction such as, but and not limited to: Antidepressants, patches, fogs, food etc.
I applaud you for trying though Lefty. I hope you stay strong.
