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TowerOfVape

RISH of Passage
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Member For 4 Years
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When I started vaping at work part-time, I really didn't have anyone I can go to with information on the vaping phenomenon that I see before me in the present day. My boss had been vaping since Mid-2011 , but he still uses cig-a-likes or e-cigars (he's fully content w/ that BTW). For the past 10 months, every once in a while he would approach me and ask me to give one of his ecigs a try. I wasn't too pleased and each time returned it by the end of my shift. I would thank him, then go into my car for the commute home, reach for my pack of smokes, and light one up. I smoked between 1-1 1/2 packs a day since I was a teenager 'til my true "vaping" birth (I'm 42 now). I tried 4 times to quit (each time after getting a bout of pneumonia). Attempts included nicotine gum, nicotine patches, going cold turkey on a New Year's eve (which lasted a total of 3 days) and then Chantix (horrible experience). On each "attempt," I was so irritable and cranky that by the end, I gave in and got another pack of smokes, lit it up, and honestly felt relief when I took in a drag.

Anyway, on the morning of June 20, 2012, I was on my morning commute to work and all of a sudden, I was gasping for air. Mind you, at the time I had full-blown asthma (on top of a bad habit), so I thought I just had to take a few puffs from my trusty inhaler. No effect. I pulled over at the next exit, called up my boss, and told him I had to go to a doctor because I was having a very hard time breathing. He told me to drive straight to the hospital. I managed to drive another 20 minutes back to my hometown and to the local hospital. I found out later that day that my left lung had collapsed and my Blood/O2 level was a dangerously low 72%. They were able to stabilize my breathing and I wound up staying there for another few days. It was during my time in the hospital that it finally "dawned" on me: If I don't quit smoking I'm going to die...and soon. I'm already overweight, out of shape, have asthma, and now this. I was literally at a loss for a solution. So what was I to do?

Later that night, my boss called me up and emphasized that I give electronic cigarettes a "real" go. I had my laptop in the hospital so I went on Google and did another search. Instead of electronic cigarette, I typed in (for some unknown reason) "ecig mods." The results I got lead me to my first exposure to a "true" vaping site. I wound up ordering an eGo starter kit from there. Days after I got out of the hospital (and surviving on disposable ecigs), my package arrived. When I put that eGo together, placed one of the pre-filled cartos in the tube, and pressed that button: WOW! To me, it was like a religious experience. It was so surreal and without a doubt one of the happiest moments I ever felt.

That's my story and here I am 2 years later. I love the vaping community and enjoy the time I volunteer to aid in convincing more smokers how "this thing we do" is so much better than smoking as a form of tobacco harm reduction! It's become my #1 passion outside of family, friends, and career. In a lot of ways, it has blended itself into every facet of my life in one form or another which I relish with a huge smile on my face

In regards to this forum, the threads I'll be moderating are in The Trading Post. If you have an issue, I'm one of the resources you may contact! Let's do this fellas!

*brofist* - R

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bigbamboob

Silver Contributor
YO TOWER!!!!!

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allby

VU Live Host
Member For 5 Years
Brofist Rish I know what you mean about vaping bleeding into all parts of your life. My kids love the fact that i vape and not smoke now but i think sometimes they think iv joined a cult. lol thats ok its a great cult
 

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