Any advice on how to deal with biased health care professionals?

[cbrite]

I live in a small town where I may be the only person who vapes, who knows. I have never seen anyone else vaping. I have to go to my doctor soon for the annual checkup and have been thinking about whether or not to say anything about quitting smoking via vaping. My doctor always blames every ache/pain I have on smoking, and up till now I've just nodded my head, thought "yeah sure," and continued with my Virginia Slims. So I kind of want to tell him about vaping and how exciting it is for me to quit smoking. But....I have seen a lot of folks posting to the forum with stories like the OP's. I think I will just keep it to myself and if he mentions smoking or asks about it will just say I quit. I guess on the plus side, he might actually have to figure out what is causing x, y, z if he can't just pin it on smoking!

 

[Glenn_K]

Greetings, welcome to the forum.

You raised an interesting issue, and it makes me wonder what will happen with respect to life insurance companies that charge higher rates for smokers (here's one insurance company example).

In a sense, insurers have a financial incentive to lump vapers in with smokers -- it's not just a matter of ignorance or personal resentment as in the case of the nurse -- and this could turn into a very interesting legal fight, and hopefully one that will help our cause.

-- Glenn

 

[erinarthur222]

So I go in for my checkup today and the Nurse Practitioner asks me if I am a smoker, I tell her I have switched to E-Cigs and haven't had a real one since November. She looks me straight in the face and tells me that "There's no difference between an e-cigarette and a real cigarette. You are still a smoker. There are a lot of lies on the internet about them being safe but they aren't. I have a lot of patients that tried to get healthier by switching to them and I have to tell them there is no difference."

How do you respond to that, I wanted to set her straight but how do you do that without coloring the rest of the interactions you have with them from now on.

Obviously she hasn't been doing any real research, she also told myself and my wife that diabetes is caused "by overeating" and the pancreas being worn out from eating to much. We both know this is bull, my wife's been diabetic for years and is 5th generation diabetic.

Any advice on how to address the fact this nurse is obviously putting out totally incorrect information?

ignorant nurse. just say "no i do not smoke".

 

[Tinkiegrrl]

I'd switch offices. Thankfully, my experience with healthcare providers on this subject has been just the opposite. My mother is a nurse and bought me my first set up after my grandmother died of lung cancer. My doctor congratulated me when I switched, marked my chart as a non smoker, and took a pic of my set up to show other smoking patients what worked for me. He was recommending Blu to them until that point, and many of his clients weren't having a lot of success with that.

 

[RugerRob]

Greetings, welcome to the forum.

You raised an interesting issue, and it makes me wonder what will happen with respect to life insurance companies that charge higher rates for smokers (here's one insurance company example).

In a sense, insurers have a financial incentive to lump vapers in with smokers -- it's not just a matter of ignorance or personal resentment as in the case of the nurse -- and this could turn into a very interesting legal fight, and hopefully one that will help our cause.

-- Glenn

Yep, Agree anything to make a BUCK! I don't smoke, I don't vape, I don't own any guns, I don't take any drugs... and I pay all my taxes and bills on time like a good citizen the government wants me to be. Letem prove otherwise.

 

[Razorback]

Find one with an open mind. And switch.

Who knows what else they are close minded and backwards about...well, when she recommends leeches to "balance your humors" you will know.

Yeah, what he said!

 

[RosaJ]

OP, it sounds like the nurse practitioner skipped a few classes, for sure the ones on endocrinology. The doctor in charge of the office is the one who you should make aware of this problem. It's not your problem but his. His/her office is getting money from your health insurance, or from your pocket if you don't have insurance.

The red flag went up when you wrote what her "opinion" is on diabetes, the woman obviously does not know what she's talking about. As a consumer (and you are a consumer) tell your doctor what went on during your visit and start shopping for another medical services office that hire knowledgeable professionals.

I have the utmost respect for doctors and nurses, but have dealt with some who have no business to be in practice. I worked in a hospital setting for 10 years.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

There are some good practitioners out there and there are some bad. I am an RN who works out in the community and I think that the most difficult thing about e cigs in regards to recommending them to the public is the lack of "official" testing, the lack of FDA regs, and the refusal of the FDA to classify them as a tool for smoking cessation.

It sounds like she was a person you are not going to win over, her mind is closed and will likely remain so. She is also incorrect about Diabetes, oversimplifing it at best, not a good way to teach your patients to understand the disease. People would ask the obvious question, "If Diabetes were caused by overeating, why are there 400lb people who are not Diabetic?".

I would have smiled politely, listened to her crap, then said, "I encourage you to research this further, as a health care professional, you want to make sure you have accurate and updated info regarding alternatives your patients may be trying for their smoking addiction" , and then walked out and scheduled my next appointment with a different practitioner.

At my own medical office, there is an NP that I seriously dislike and do not trust. I have told the office that, and stay the heck away from her. There are always going to be some bad apples in the bin. I do not think a complaint to the office about e cigs will be taken seriously, people simply do not know enough about them and have no desire to learn more. You are dealing with uninformed individuals, all the way around, likely. Hopefully, even if your next healthcare professional is not familiar with e cigs, they will have an open mind to learning more.

 

[bosun]

Vote with your wallet and go someplace else.
I'm not perfect, not always right, but always ready to listen and learn and develop my own opinion.
Just because someone has a piece of paper on the wall that says they have a license to do something doesn't make them God.
I've told more than one doctor that the difference between them and an auto mechanic is that they paid more for their education...

 

[Frenchfry1942]

None of my doctors has had issue, in fact, they were for it. I guess, with a new doctor, I would tell them. But, if they had a problem with it, I would look to change or the next time I went to them, I would just say that it got me off of smoking and I don't anymore.

Knowing me, I would tactfully say, "anyone that says they are bad, is not informed with facts". There is so much new medicine out there that doctors can't read it all. A doctor not understanding, is a probability.

 

[Tinkiegrrl]

There are some good practitioners out there and there are some bad. I am an RN who works out in the community and I think that the most difficult thing about e cigs in regards to recommending them to the public is the lack of "official" testing, the lack of FDA regs, and the refusal of the FDA to classify them as a tool for smoking cessation.

It sounds like she was a person you are not going to win over, her mind is closed and will likely remain so. She is also incorrect about Diabetes, oversimplifing it at best, not a good way to teach your patients to understand the disease. People would ask the obvious question, "If Diabetes were caused by overeating, why are there 400lb people who are not Diabetic?".

I would have smiled politely, listened to her crap, then said, "I encourage you to research this further, as a health care professional, you want to make sure you have accurate and updated info regarding alternatives your patients may be trying for their smoking addiction" , and then walked out and scheduled my next appointment with a different practitioner.

At my own medical office, there is an NP that I seriously dislike and do not trust. I have told the office that, and stay the heck away from her. There are always going to be some bad apples in the bin. I do not think a complaint to the office about e cigs will be taken seriously, people simply do not know enough about them and have no desire to learn more. You are dealing with uninformed individuals, all the way around, likely. Hopefully, even if your next healthcare professional is not familiar with e cigs, they will have an open mind to learning more.

The FDA tried to classify it as a medication or smoking cessation tool and almost banned e-cigarettes entirely back then. A court ruled that the FDA couldn't take them off the shelves with that classification as they are not advertised as smoking cessation devices. But yes, unfortunately. classifying it as a smoking cessation device would hand the e-cigarette business to Big Pharma, and essentially end it as we know it. It'll be flavorless, it'll be expensive, and more then likely, it won't be anywhere near as satisfying as it needs to be to be effective.

 

[Razorback]

The FDA tried to classify it as a medication or smoking cessation tool and almost banned e-cigarettes entirely back then. A court ruled that the FDA couldn't take them off the shelves with that classification as they are not advertised as smoking cessation devices. But yes, unfortunately. classifying it as a smoking cessation device would hand the e-cigarette business to Big Pharma, and essentially end it as we know it. It'll be flavorless, it'll be expensive, and more then likely, it won't be anywhere near as satisfying as it needs to be to be effective.

I don't believe any truer statement has ever been made than that!

 

[bobbyeightseven]

Correct me if I'm wrong, isn't there tobacco products in nicotine? Or are we vaping synthetic nicotine? Btw my Dr. was happy with my choice to use ecig products over cigarettes.

 

[RAAng]

I would just ignore them. They ask about smoking, you tell them you use e-cigs. Why get defensive? I might ask for some information about the dangers that they are citing. That way, you are interested in getting the facts and they are in the hot seat for producing said facts

 

[RosaJ]

Correct me if I'm wrong, isn't there tobacco products in nicotine? Or are we vaping synthetic nicotine? Btw my Dr. was happy with my choice to use ecig products over cigarettes.

Yes, the same nicotine used in patches and gums.

 

[tgreider]

Hell why are you worried about what a "NURSE" thinks of for that matter does? When I started Vaping and stopped smoking I had a Doctor's Appointment. Now being the type of person that I am, I vaped in the reception area of my Doctor's office, vaped in the waiting room of my Doctor, and upon check-out vaped there to. I am well aware of ignorant people out in the public and take every opportunity to "push" my rights to vape anywhere I desire. That's where the cigarette smokers made the HUGE mistake of not pushing their rights! When I told the Doctor of my quitting smoking he gave me a "HIGH FIVE"! Just tell the Doctor of your conversation with the Nurse and tell him to correct the issue. Oh, by the way, I was really ready to unload on the first person that would tell me anything negative about my vaping. Unfortuately nobody did. Can I have your Doctors address......I'm ready to go off on someone!

 

[HoseGarden]

sue their pants off
sue their underpants off
sue their genitals off

its the american way

 

[Nu2Dis]

Nicotine has been known to raise Blood Glucose levels in people with diabetes (temporarily).

 

[patkin]

Just because a person makes their living in the medical field doesn't make them reasonable people. Their are ANTZ in all walks of life and occupations. I assess the situation I'm in to protect myself the best I can when dealing with anyone I privately and personally deem an idiot. Sometimes that, to my own disgust, requires lying. I've never found a reasonable excuse for lying until the last couple of years. Some of these ANTZ can seriously harm my well being in terms of finances and/or health care and, in my book, that requires me to defend myself in whatever reasonable way I have to.

 

[mare ze dotes]

I am another, I do not smoke. I wont say vape until it becomes a health issue.