Brief article in the latest Consumer Reports

[Vocalek]

Well, I did it. I did a copy & paste of what I entered so I could refer back to it.

At first I tried to fill out the report using Firefox but ran into problems. It kept wanting me to check every checkbox in the type of event area and would not continue. When I switched to Internet Explorer it worked.

It's OK to leave fields blank if you have no information to give (or don't want to answer) or to enter "n/a" for "not applicable".

I left the field for "Outcomes Attributed to Adverse Event" blank, unfortunately. Looking at it now I wish I had typed, "Improved health."

In the field for "Describe Event, Problem or Product Use Error" I wrote:

This is a report of beneficial health effects from use of electronic cigarette. On Mar 27 2009, switched from smoking tobacco cigarettes to using electronic cigarette. At first, used tobacco flavored liquid, but did not like the flavor. Tried a fruit flavor and began using pleasant flavors exclusively. As a result, have no craving to light a real cigarette. Tried a puff once and it tasted awful. Health effects: Wheezing that used to keep me awake at night has gone. No more productive morning cough. Can enjoy a hearty laugh without going into an embarrassing coughing jag. Breathe easier. Peak flow reading was 300, and is now 400. BP and cholesterol have both improved.

I did have data to enter in the field "Relevant Tests/Laboratory Data" because my health insurer keeps records online for patients to access. So I looked up my office visits and lab test results of cholesterol taken before I switched and from most recent tests (3 weeks ago.)

BP 140/84 on 3/9/2009
BP 122/71 on 3/19/2012
Cholesterol 226 HDL 63 LDL 141 Triglyceride 112 on 12/11/2007
Cholesterol 177 HDL 65 LDL 92 Triglyceride 100 on 3/6/2012

In "Other Relevant History" field I described the horrible experiences I went through 20 years ago after becoming abstinent from nicotine and that the cognitive impairments continued for 6 months until I began smoking again. I commented, "Since switching to an electronic cigarette, have been able refrain from smoking without having cognitive abilities impaired. Not experiencing cravings."

Under "Suspect Products" there are two columns. I entered some info about my starting product and the product I used now.

NDC # or Unique ID n/a

Left the "Suspect Medical device" area completely blank, as Judge Leon told us these are NOT a medical device, right?

In the last section where you give personal information about the person making the report, I gave my true name, address, phone and email. There is a pick list for Occupation. I selected:

Occupation Consumer/Non-Health Professional


I think it is important to clarify somewhere that even though they make you select one of the bad categories, that this is a report of the beneficial effects. For an example, see the sentence bolded above.

 

[dlsw]

Thanks!!!!

 

[Spazmelda]

I had started one, but on the iPad it was hard to fill out. I plan to try again on a computer. As far as adverse effects I had written that the only possibly adverse event was that I wasn't spending tons of money on cigarettes and pharmaceuticals anymore, but that I didn't really consider that adverse to *me*, just to the tobacco and pharmaceutical companies.