My name is Anne. I am a 65 year old ex smoker. I smoked a pack a day for 47 years. I actively started smoking at 14 years of age. I grew up in a house of smokers. So I suppose I “smoked” my whole life. My whole life before vaping, that is.
In 2013 I was introduced to vaping. At the time, I was wheezing day and night, coughing every time I took a deep breath and was not able to walk over about 50 yards without being winded. I’ve been athletic and pretty health oriented other than smoking my whole life. Grew my own animals and garden organically, bake my own bread and raised my children to do the same. I tried all prescriptions available to quit smoking including well butrin, nicorette, the patch and even attended meetings for 6 weeks at one point to try and kick the habit. Chewing on celery and carrot sticks and chewing gum. I was trying everything I could think of to quit, as I could feel the effects. None of it worked for very long at all. The longest I ever made it was 2 weeks. From the first time I tried an electronic cigarette, I knew this was the answer! And once I found the right flavor and nicotine level I have not had a combustible cigarette since. I no longer wheeze, I walk 2 miles regularly without getting winded and my doctor is very pleased with my improvement. My blood oxygen levels are completely recovered from what they were when I first started vaping. I immediately introduced my sons to vaping as well. And am so grateful they have not smoked in over 8 years either. This works, because I can “smoke but not smoke”. It works because it addresses the nicotine AND the inhale exhale and visual of smoking without all the harmful effects of smoking! But I can tell you without our individualized nicotine levels and flavors, this would not work for so many people. What works for one does not work for another. I use a mouth to lung device 4.2V batter with a 1.8ohm coil) in an 18mg tobacco flavor. My oldest son vapes a 12 mg menthol cherry flavor, and my youngest vapes a 6mg blueberry custard flavor. I am so grateful for especially my sons being off cigarettes! They feel so much better too! And we are all very grateful their children are not being subjected to deadly cigarette smoke.
I must say I just wish this were available for my many Aunts, Uncles, cousins and grandparents who passed away too young because of emphesema, heart disease, stoke and lung cancer. Most recently, my 52 year old cousin with lung cancer. Her vital life cut off from cigarettes.
Because this product worked so well for me, I opened my first vape shop in 2013. I’ve had 3 all together, 2 closed due to a flavor ban in our state. I also acquired the lab that makes our ejuice over a year ago in order to get PMTA”S and testing done to keep this vital product on the market. My store and lab employ full time 2 employees, sad to say 3 others lost their jobs when the stores had to close. My youngest son is one of my employees who provides for his family of four and has for 8 years. This also provides my living, as I was recently divorced before opening my first store. Our customers rely on us to stay in business so they can stay off cigarettes. We rely on it for that reason and for our own income. This product is so important to me, my customers and my son. We are professional and believe in this product, as we are the proof it works. As are all our customers who have become friends over the years.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. It means a lot to me.
Anne