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Cigarette smoking


Josie Beth

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I’m putting this topic here because it doesn’t really fit anywhere else. I have been smoking on and off since I was maybe 12 or 13 and I really want to quit. Part of it is due to my preparation for going back on HRT, but I am also concerned about long term health and especially my teeth. In the last 3 years I’ve neglected to take care of my dental health and I know part of it has to do with smoking. I looked in the mirror one day several months ago and was really shocked at how my teeth looked compared to even a couple of years ago. It’s not that I need to smoke but it’s more of a habit that I just do. It’s less expensive for me because I make my own filter cigarettes with a machine, and I’m almost out of supplies for them. It’s almost like I’m hurrying to get them used up so I can quit. 

 

Once I do quit then comes repairing the damage done to my teeth because I really want a healthy smile. The stains are noticeable. Does anyone recommend a whitening product that works? I’ve got something I tried but it didn’t really work that well. I suppose I need a good cleaning and some other work done too. It’s sad because I had a perfect smile and now it’s just not the same.

 

I was under a lot of stress for 3 years but now I’m mostly in a calmer place so that excuse is gone. It’s not a matter of if, but when. I think that in my mind I associate clean teeth with transitioning, and I want to be beautiful.

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Quitting smoking for good works only if you are mentally ready for it.  I don't know whether stained teeth count for this, but who knows?  I smoked 3 packs a day, and stopped cold turkey 36 years ago.  My mental trigger was the pregnancy of my wife, and I did not want my pregnant wife nor later our child be exposed to secondary smoke.  I stopped out of concern for their health, not of mine!  I never touched anything smoke or tobacco related since!

When our labs set out to originally develop the bleach stuff (we are globally by far the largest supplier of restorative dental products, and if you had any filling done, a crown or bridge made in the last 20 years, it was for 99% something that was developed by us - I worked on some of the stuff, because it overlaps with other medial sectors), it was meant to help dentists to blend existing teeth with new restored prostheses. The natural color of teeth is not white, but rather yellowish (similar color to bones),  The whitening came up because dentists wanted to create another stream of revenue, and the cosmetic industry followed,  The whitening is achieved by bleaching the top surface of your teeth, and this bleaching can be achieved reliably by dentists only.  Once your teeth have been bleached, you may be able to maintain the bleached appearance with over the counter products.

 

I don't think that any insurance would pay for this process, and you may want to shop around with different dentists what they charge for bleaching.  

I am pretty happy with my natural colored, slightly yellow looking teeth, but I don't plan to go out clubbing anymore, and don't have to impress anybody anymore with a smile sporting white teeth!

 

I wish you good luck with stopping to smoke for good, and finding a treatment that fits your pocket book!

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Quitting the butts is a must for everyone everywhere! They are smelly dirty and disgusting!!! 

 I smoked for a long time. But transition is why I quit. I am not a frequent dental patient, but I take care of my teeth. We just use a crest whitening toothpaste and I think my teeth are pretty white. People tell me I have white teeth at least. ? I have also used the crest whitening strips. It’s been a while but they worked well. But they hurt my teeth after a while. 

image.thumb.jpg.12260c81299a29e4899f04cf331521e0.jpg

not great but not bad. That’s just whitening toothpaste 2x a day. 

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  • Forum Moderator

You are certainly in the correct forum.  The use of tobacco is highly addictive.  I know it was for me.  I am not smoking today and if i remember where i was in that addiction when the urge strikes i can make it through.  I have learned the hard way that a single drag will bring back the "need" and i'll be buying cartons within the week.  I asked for help and having found sobriety knew that despite the pain at first i would eventually be free.  It is indeed rare the the urge comes to me now.  

As to teeth........stop smoking first.  It could easily be the best thing you ever due for your overall health.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

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  • 7 months later...

I have been off cigarettes for about 2 months, maybe more. Lost count actually. However I vape instead and it’s surprisingly less a part of my day than I expected. I don’t feel that urge to do it every time I turn around. I’m even considering just ditching the nicotine and going to 0% nicotine. It’s the throat hit I’m really after and not so much the nicotine. I can’t even stand cigarette smoke anymore. I think if I could just find a job that has no smokers then I’d be better off. 

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  • Forum Moderator

Josie, check the news.  Vaping is no safer than smoking so please work at stopping that too!  I have trouble breathing at times as I have a chronic lung condition, despite never smoking.  You've gotten this far and two months is a very good achievement.  Keep going! 

 

Also think of the savings you'll have from not spending on vaping and smoking items. More for clothes and makeup!  

 

Jani

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hiya all. So i am going to weigh in on what i know about ecigarettes. I have been vaping since 2012 and yes i can agree with kirsten and  anyone else that cigarettes are sick and disgusting!!!! i can smell them a few hundred yards away.  Yuk!!!But I have not had any real side effects from vaping. Anyways, There is alot of misconception about vaping. Like vaping produces Formaldehyde from the pg or pro;ylene glycol is kinda false unless it is heated to about 600 degrees and no it is not antifreeze either!!!! The other thing is these juul devices and the ejuices that are available now are much higher in nicotine. The kind called salt nic, is as high as 50mg nicotine strength. I wouldn't ever go that high. Now i am not saying ecigarettes are safe, but they are alittle safer than cig smoking. Now to Josie's thing. I was told by my doctor when i started HRT that i need to get off the nicotine that was in my vape fluid which i did. It did make a difference to however, when i move to  a different state next year. I am just going to get rid of all my stuff that i used for vaping. I don't want to spend the money on it anymore.  Well Thats just my 2 cents for what it is worth. Thanks and HUGS all.

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  • Forum Moderator

There have been a number of recent cases in the news of death from vaping.  A lot of unknowns still, as admitted by one of the largest manufacturers.   

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On 1/17/2019 at 5:07 AM, Josie Beth said:

but I am also concerned about long term health and especially my teeth. In the last 3 years I’ve neglected to take care of my dental health and I know part of it has to do with smoking.

Honestly if you're getting worried quit and focus on your dental health. I was in the same boat and now I'm going to lose all of my teeth before I'm 30. It's such a massive hit on your self esteem that id urge anyone smoking to go and throw their cigarettes away immediately. I've smoked since about 10-11 and I'm now 25. It really isn't worth it any way you spin it it's just another bad coping mechanism. Anyways good luck quitting, if you ever feel like you're going to go back just remind yourself that it's hurting you both physically and emotionally with the damage it's doing and you're going to be better and happier if you push through it.

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My dental health has greatly improved simply because I switched to vaping. I’ve done some research on the side effects of it and the one that effects me the most is my throat dries out a little. There’s also a bit of heartburn but nothing too terrible. What causes it is the nic salts. The thing that I don’t like about juul pods is the high nicotine content and that they use benzoic acid. So I’ve found some that has less nicotine and I’m looking for a brand of compatible pods that use citric acid instead. Ideally I would like to ween off of the nicotine soon and just use a more natural vape juice. I was looking at a different system but I found a brand that makes juul compatible pods that are empty and refillable so I can use my own juice in them. That’s going to increase the savings several fold. Now I just have to find a really healthy juice brand that has low nicotine or 0%.

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  • Admin
Just now, Josie Beth said:

my throat dries out a little. There’s also a bit of heartburn

 

I've noticed this too, and had to jump in.  I've found the extent of these problems really depends on the juice I use.  I'd never go back to cigarettes, so I started trying different things.  Strangely, my go-to juice that doesn't give me dry throat or heartburn at all is the bargain basement cheap stuff.  Had to buy a bottle of premium the other day to tide me over until my cheap stuff gets here, and since I started using it I've had a permanent frog in my throat. 

 

Of course, YMMV as with all things.

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I just wanted to say cause i didnt say it bbefore. I am on 0 nicitine and there is a company here in idaho that makes the best and cleanest ejuice around. I actually know the owner and he does extensive testing on his products. The lab is called crescent moon labs. The brand name is quantum sauce. Tc all. HUGS Susan

 

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  • Admin
1 hour ago, Susan said:

The brand name is quantum sauce.

 

It always surprises me when I see references to local things anywhere online.  I remember back in the day someone actually published a book called Is Idaho in Iowa? because nobody on Earth knew what or where we are.  ?

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Yes I’ve heard of quantum sauce. I’m also curious about virgin vapor. Either one seems like a good option. They both have listed test results that show the absence of the questionable ingredients. The thing about those ingredients that people are debating about is that they are not intentionally added to the juice by the companies that make the vaping juices, instead it’s already present in their flavoring and wasn’t even really paid attention to until people started looking for cleaner alternatives. So that’s given rise to companies that do focus on product purity, including some that only use kosher, organic & non GMO ingredients. The 8 cases of popcorn lung are not from vaping but from people who were exposed to large quantities of the chemical in the flavoring for popcorn, which is where they get the name. The trace amounts in vaping products is so minuscule by comparison it’s unlikely to produce the same effect. I have not even heard of anyone dying from vaping but even if they did it is more likely that they had a pre-existing condition or were allergic to something in the juice and vaping was not going to help them recover from the condition. I’m very allergic to pork products so I’m very interested in the kosher vaping stuff.

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My husband and I are both very allergic to cigarette smoke.My oldest brother had a heart attack last week,his smoking is part of it.He even got me sick twice.

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Anytime anyone can stop smoking is great! The carcinogens produced from the combustion will kill or do irreparable damage, so that should be enough right there to quit. It ruins outside and inside the body. It can also kill anyone around you too. The nicotine is a horrible addictive drug that should be outlawed just as any other harmfully addictive drug should be. 

Vaping can be just as harmful if you do not know where and how it was made. Many off brand vaping liquids are virtually poison, especially the cheap ones made in China and other countries without proper industry standards. 

If you vape, know what’s in the liquid. It doesn’t have to be harmful, so be safe. Don’t buy something just because it is sold at a store, or because it’s cheap and convenient 

I vape and will not buy cheap unknown crap that is sold out there.  

There are plenty of legit companies out there that make safe products, do your research. 

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I couldn't agree with you more ellora!!. Hey Josie. Quatnium does make 0 mg nicotine but the store that you get it from might have to.special order it. And a side note. The far does do regular checks on labs for compliance as crescent moon just got checked a few weeks ago. 

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The store I usually buy from has a good selection of products but they cater to the ready made vaping pen style users mainly. They have a lot of pod systems. Even some disposable vaping pens. I tried one really cheap pod a week ago and though it lasted longer, it was so harsh that I decided to never buy one again. 

 

So I’m going to hunt down the local shop that got me interested in the first place. Believe it or not there was a vape store owner at my old job, who not only backed me up when a subordinate was rude in front of everyone, but they asked me if I would consider quitting cigarettes for my health. They didn’t even need me to go to their store, they just wanted me to think of vaping as a way to possibly quit and that planted the seed. Since I’ve definitely got to change my approach to vaping, it wouldn’t hurt to go check them out and see if they carry the juice products that I’ve been interested in. And I can personally thank them for helping me quit smoking, even though I didn’t purchase anything from them. Their website has a lot of information for people trying to quit and even strategies to work through the psychological stuff. Most vaping shops won’t even touch the subject. They just want you to be a customer. 

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We have more vaping stores and places in San Diego , than star bucks. ?. I use cartridges, and custom vape pens. I love my custom one, it has a dragon head on the tip. I buy liquid that doesn’t have any of the harmful chemicals that other companies make. Most of the liquids are local, or have a long standing reputation. The liquid shouldn’t be harsh. Alcohol and other crap will cause the harshness. It should be a smooth vape. 

Using too high of a temperature can be bad too. Too high and it will go from vapor to smoke. 

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You are right ellora. Alot of vapor manufactures do use alcohol and yes it is harsh. Thats why i buy the kind i do. I also think that's what made these people sick and in the hospital. Btw. Michigan is banning all ecigs and juices. I honestly don't think it will fly but i could be wrong to. Also what states are next? The bad thing is alot of shops will close and lots of money will be lost revenue.

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@Susan, I was just reading about the illnesses in NY and other places, and some are saying it might be vitamin E they found in some e cigarettes that are causing hospitalizations. After interviewing a lot of people, they also found a lot of the bad product was bought on the street. There is also a lot of black market crap out there. There should be guidelines and oversight on anything that’s being sold in stores. A lot of that bad stuff is being sold at convenience stores that hasn’t been monitored. Including the exploding vape pen batteries. 

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I quit recently since I made a little promise to never smoke around the GF.   When we started seeing each other more often, I just smoked less.   When we took a 3 day trip to New York, it was rough, but I kept that promise.  It helped we were having fun.  I switched over to those cheapy little vape pens, but I hear in 30 days they are getting banned in Michigan so that's out. 

 

My GF convinced me the hardest.  She's a doctor and she has been pushing at me to quit.  She finally told me that pulmonary embolisms are such a risk in transitioning people that some doctors will refuse to do FFS if you smoke.  Hmm, that's a pretty good reason if I ever heard one.  Play to the most wanted things.

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Sensei Mark came to the front of the room, before the big American and Japanese flags. Between them was a picture.  "I am honored to introduce to you Sensei Bob.  He is a second Dan black belt.  He has actually beaten me in tournaments.  I have known him through tournaments.  You will listen to him as you listen to me.   Sensei Bob, take the class. The two sensei bowed to each other.  Sensei Bob pointed out that Sensei Mark had beaten him, as well. Taylor was sort of standing against the back wall, scrunched up, a mouse in her crisp new beltless gi.  Her t-shirt was off white underneath it and she was hoping no one would notice. "I am Sensei Mark. You are Taylor." "Yes, sensei!" she stood at attention and shouted it. He laughed.  "This is not Cobra Kai and we are not in a Karate Kind movie.  You do that here only between bows.  Bob tells me you are a complete beginner." "That is an understatement." "Here, let me fix your gi."  She had it on a little incorrectly.  She drew back. "What's the matter?" "I am pretty touchy." "Okay.  Untie the straps in front and tie them the other way, like mine." "I don't have a belt." "There. That is right. You will get a belt after three months and passing tests on kata, kumite and karate knowledge." "I don't know what that is." "And we touch a lot here.  Not romantically. You see how Sensei Bob is going around and adjusting people's stances and arm locations." "Yes, I see that." No enthusiasm. "You are Sensei Bob's girl, right?" "Yes.  What is important to him is important to me, so here I am."  He wished her well and told her to go see Margie, who handled registration at the little table. "Hi, I heard about you." Margie began. "What does that mean?" "It means we treat everyone here with respect.  That was the wrong way to start." "I'll say. Try again." "Good morning. How can I help you?" "I want to register for the beginner class." "You are Taylor, right?" "Right." "Sensei Bob paid for your lesson today." He would. She gave name, address, age, height, weight, and they came to gender. Margie asked it twice. "Put down female." "The only other choice is male." "Then that is it." "Earlier I was thinking about tournaments, which are big here. The rules are that boys fight boys and girls fight girls - there are Men's and Women's Divisions.  I know you look like a woman, but they go by the birth certificate." This was awkward.  Really awkward.  Down at the other end of the room they were moving in unison when Bob said HAI!, turning, punching, kicking, etc. "I don't plan to go to tournaments.  One step at a time, shall we?" "Okay.  And I meant it when I said respect.  We bow to each other.  You will see. As a sign of honoring other people." Margie bowed slightly, sitting down.  Taylor returned the bow and smiled. The class moved into sparring, breaking into twos and practicing moves against each other.  Bob was moving among the pairs, adjusting positions of hands, hips, feet.  Taylor was unsure about someone touching her like that, her hips particularly.    The green belt class ended as new students came in for the beginners' class. Down at the other end the brown belt class began.  The room was large enough you could do two classes at the same time.   The other beginners, nervous, lined up at Margie's table.  People got into gis, the men in their big area and only woman in the little restroom that was for them.   Sensei Mark greeted them and showed them where to stand: on the little x's on the floor. He explained the School Code.  They would recite it at the beginning of class and they needed to memorize it for the white belt test, at which time they would, of course, receive a white belt. He explained some terms.    They warmed up with some basic, easy stretches.   They learned a kata called Taikyoku Shodan, involving blocks, punches and some movements. This was not bad.   She was now paired off with Judy.  Things were going well and this was not too bad. Judy was sixty years old and had been told to exercise by her doctor.  Taylor said her boyfriend was teaching the other class, which was impressive, and he wanted her involved.   "You remember the gedan barai - downward block?"  They did. Everyone showed him and he went around and made sure everyone had it down. "And the lunge punch?"  They did. "Now we are going to put them together. One of you will punch and the other block it. Okay?"   Taylor squared off against Judy.  Her heart was pounding.  She practiced her gedan barai as Judy practiced her lower lunge punch.  Then they faced each other. "Okay, first partner, lunge punch.  Second partner, lower block.  Slowly.  Go!" Taylor saw the punch coming at her, but instead of blocking it her eyes welled up with tears and she dropped to the floor, weeping uncontrollably. "Oh God, Oh, God, Oh God, make it stop, make it stop" she shouted to parties unseen. Fetal position, rocking back and forth. Crying hysterically. "I didn't go near her," Judy said, bewildered. "Taylor?"  this was Sensei Bob.  Both classes had stopped and were looking at her. She kept crying. "I am here, "Bob told her, not touching.  "Oh Bob you need a wife who can be a real woman to you. I am making you into a monk or something." And she continued crying at full volume. "You need someone better than me, someone who can give you kids." Everyone could hear this.  They were turning away, trying to pretend they could not hear this. "I need to get her out of here and take her." Bob said, and he and Mark bowed to each other. He scooped her up and she bawled into his shoulder.  She clung to him.  First hug ever. Death grip, more like it. "Judy, would you get her things?" "I did nothing," Judy said, and moved towards the restroom, stunned.  "Nothing." "I know what she was wearing," Margie said, and got them. "I've got a gym bag. It 's red and it says Roosters on it. Can you get it? Mark got it.  He accompanied them to the car.  Taylor was non-stop crying deeply, clinging to him for dear life. Mark unlocked the car and together they managed to pry Taylor off of him, even though it took both of them to do it.  She was in the car seat and they managed to buckle her in it. "I am going to take you to your apartment," he said. "No. Emergency room," she said. "Maybe the psych ward."  He didn't doubt it. She calmed down in a few minutes on the way. "Well, that was embarrassing." "Everyone remembers their first day of karate class." "Bob, what I love about you is your sense of humor." "I love everything about you." "Even this?" "Yes. Even this." She managed to walk into the ER.  They were both still in gis. "Karate accident?" "No. I am Taylor and I am a nut. I wear a gi all the time. I make my boyfriend wear one, too." "She had a triggered event.  She's had some difficult times." "I see. Do you you know are bleeding?" "No."  Her crotch was wet with blood and the blood was seeping down both legs. She was wheeled away. "Sir, please wait here." He did.  He had no legal right to see her right now. After a while a nurse came out and said he could come on  back. There she was in a hospital gown.  "Seems like old times." "yeah.  We gotta stop meeting like this." The nurse buzzed around and left them. "They are running tests." "I bet they are." "I got an MRI. On a Saturday morning, too."  First ever. "You rate.  But why?" "They figure some of the old scar tissue - you know, from the- from the past - ripped open and they need to see what is going on." "We know what is going on,"said a doctor, stepping in. He looked at her. "I am Doctor Michaels.  They called me in.  I just happened to be in the building and they wanted me to see this and take the case.  My specialty is Disorders of Sexual Development. But what I am seeing is little in the way of disorder.  Look at this." They looked at the image. "This is a perfectly ordinary uterus." "Uterus?" "Yes, your uterus." "What?" "That is not all.  This is a cervix, and this is a vagina." "It's blocked up." "Yes.  It looks like you had surgery to do exactly that when you were an infant.  They used to do that." "This is me?" "You." "Really?" "I imagine this takes some getting used to. "Can it be undone?" "Absolutely. I mean, I cannot guarantee it, but it is more than likely. I would like to run some tests." "And the bleeding?" "It looks like the hormones you have been taking have kicked of a regular monthly cycle. Then you did a whole bunch of exercise.  Not surprising." "What?" "I want you to come to my office next week for follow-up.  Have you ever had a genetic test of any sort?" "No." "Well, your testes - one looks at first glance more like an ovary." "Ovary. Can I have kids?" "Too soon to tell.  You look happy." She did.  "Bob, you look stunned." "I am." "Given what happened earlier today we want to keep you overnight for observation.  I understand you are a trauma victim and something triggered it." "I got a punch thrown at me in kara-tay class, is all. I am a wimp." "Well, I will let you two talk for a minute and they will come and get you shortly.  No bad news here." "They are coming to take me away, hah-hah, they are coming to take me away," Taylor chanted. "Bob, I am not done with kara-tay.  I want to at least finish a first class. I mean, you paid for it and I want you to get your money's worth." "I think I got that." "Kiss me, you fool,"  she said, and he did, with energy.        
    • April Marie
      These arrived in yesterday's mail. I'm out working in the yard today so just old clothes. I'm looking forward to wearing this t-shirt dress when the weather warms up a bit more.  
    • missyjo
      Ashley I've known busty girls who wore b nice bras tl work n such then like a sift sports bra to lounge or sleep in hugs
    • missyjo
      your nails b hair came wonderful  congratulations  enjoy
    • Willow
      The one thing about this position, if you want more hours just wait and be flexible.  I’m now working until 7:30 pm instead of 4:30.  
    • Ashley0616
      I hope your head cold goes away soon! Sorry you have to cut grass with that.   Love the new t-shirt   I love that one.    What Jeep would you want to get? That is awesome about your wife getting better!
    • Ashley0616
      Welcome Mattie! I would recommend the first step is finding a gender therapist and see if you are or aren't. Then one of the biggest steps if you are do you want to start hormone replacement therapy. The decision should be thought long and hard. There are irreversible effects. Looking forward to your next post! Take care!
    • Ashley0616
      Congratulations on being able to pick up a cancellation! I hope to hear more updates about your transition. 
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