Doctor's reaction

[Shifter_scott]

I bought my first PV in early September of last year, and smoked my last cigarette four days later, after 16 years of averaging 1/2 - 3/4 of a pack a day. Yesterday, I had my first checkup since this event. Here's how the conversation went:

Dr: Are you still smoking?
Me: No, actually.
Dr: When did you quit?
Me: Early September, I still use the electronics, though.
Dr: That's OK. Congratulations!
Me: Thanks. The electronics really worked for me. I figure it's 1000 times better for me than tobacco.
Dr: That it is. Have you used smokeless tobacco, chewing or snuff?
Me: No, I've never used those, just the electronics.
Dr: Well, that's great news. You should be proud.

I was honestly a little surprised at the Dr's reaction. His demeanor suggested that he considers vaping to not be a big deal at all, healthwise. Most of us here believe that's the case, but I expected at least some form of lecturing about continued nicotine consumption. I didn't get any. It led me to wonder about what sort of conversations are going on in the medical fields about vaping. I know the studies are incomplete, due to the newness of the whole thing, but I'm really wondering what doctors are saying to each other about it.

Has anyone else had an experience with telling their doctor that they have quit using tobacco, and switched to vaping?

 

[Kable]

I've read a lot of discussions on here about it. It seems it can go either way. The doctors that have educated themselves about it seem to be supportive, while the others are less so. Glad you found one of the former, and congrats on your success!

 

[Talyon]

Funny thing about doctors is, no matter what is studied ie: heart stents vs meds only etc your always going to get varying opinions from them, 2 doctors with same study in front of them can still have 2 opposing opinions, and remember its usually only their opinion. That being said, I'm glad your doctor gave a positive outlook, I hope at the same time that mine does as well, upon my next visit. Cheers.

 

[Renolizzie]

It is always nice to hear about a medical professional that seems informed

 

[Shifter_scott]

I thank you sir. I really was surprised at how quickly the doctor said, "That's OK.", when I told him I had gone to vaping. Like he didn't even blink. I'm actually a little fascinated by this. I assume doctors are in a position to form an opinion based on their own observations and chatter amongst themselves long before the "long-term scientific studies", with all their potential for bias and fraud, have provided any answers. I trust my doctor, he doesn't seem like the kind of guy to be swayed by information coming from sources that everyone knows are influenced by the pharmaceutical or tobacco industries, or by any of the various political agendas.

Anyone with any common sense can only conclude that the difference in properties between a vapor and smoke, and the lack of any combustion-fueled chemical change involved in vaping, can only combine to make vaping less hazardous to one's health than any form of tobacco consumption, and possibly less hazardous than, say, living one's life in Manhattan- or Tokyo-levels of ambient air pollution.

 

[trailblazer6]

My last visit with a Doctor convinced me to give up Doctors.

 

[JusticeKnuckles]

My doctor had a similar reaction too, when he asked me how I quit I advised I used an ecig and he expressed that I'm not his first patient to have used them to quit. He also asked how it worked so I gave him the abridged version of how they function and he seemed really interested in learning more so he can suggest them to others trying to quit!

 

[Shifter_scott]

Well, I myself wouldn't "give up" doctors. I do take most everything they say with the proverbial grain of salt. They're just people, after all, as flawed as the rest of us, with preconceptions, ego, and all the other factors that influence human behavior. Only idiots consider them the genius gods that some of them consider themselves. At the same time, their educated input can be valuable at times.

In the same vein, big pharma has made huge and legitimate advances in the treatment of diseases that used to be a death sentence. I give them full credit for that, and they deserve to make a profit from the risky research and development that led to these advances. Otherwise no one would do it in the first place. At the same time, they, like all companies, will manipulate data to protect their bottom lines.

I guess the bottom line is that each individual must analyze all the information available, filter it through their own knowledge and life experience, and come to a conclusion that works for them, as an individual. And also not be surprised when other individuals come to different conclusions.

 

[Shifter_scott]

BTW, JusticeKnuckles, I grew up in WNY. I moved there from Virginia (Navy brat) when I was 10, and lived there until I finished college at 24. I moved to NC in 2000. My parents and youngest brother live in West Seneca where I grew up. My brother is currently at UB, where I went to school. Another brother and his wife went to Fredonia, which is where my parents originally met. My grandfather and several aunts and uncles still live in Dunkirk. I've only made it back to the Buffalo area at Christmas the last few years.

I would move back to the Buffalo area, if it weren't for the weather and the insane tax rates and politics in general. If my current house outside of Raleigh, NC was located outside of Buffalo, NY, I would literally pay 10 TIMES more in property taxes every year. And people wonder why the population there has been shrinking for so long!

From what part of Western NY do you hail?

 

[hvac999]

Doctors are funny about e-cigs. When I told mine, I had switched, he gave me a look of disapproval. Then I said, well, it is the lesser of two evils, and he said, Thank you. So you never know.

 

[Shifter_scott]

Yeah, e-cigs are so relatively new, we can't expect there to be any kind of consensus in the medical field yet. That could take another decade or two. But debate is good, right? The only threat to that is foolish legislation.

 

[acezzz]

Yeah, e-cigs are so relatively new, we can't expect there to be any kind of consensus in the medical field yet. That could take another decade or two. But debate is good, right? The only threat to that is foolish legislation.

Look at page 4 of this newsletter from a major cardiovascular hospital >>>https://www.saintlukeshealthsystem....ltants/newsletter/SLCC News Fall 12 FINAL.pdf

 

[NickSteel]

I bought my first PV in early September of last year, and smoked my last cigarette four days later, after 16 years of averaging 1/2 - 3/4 of a pack a day. Yesterday, I had my first checkup since this event. Here's how the conversation went:

Dr: Are you still smoking?
Me: No, actually.
Dr: When did you quit?
Me: Early September, I still use the electronics, though.
Dr: That's OK. Congratulations!
Me: Thanks. The electronics really worked for me. I figure it's 1000 times better for me than tobacco.
Dr: That it is. Have you used smokeless tobacco, chewing or snuff?
Me: No, I've never used those, just the electronics.
Dr: Well, that's great news. You should be proud.

I was honestly a little surprised at the Dr's reaction. His demeanor suggested that he considers vaping to not be a big deal at all, healthwise. Most of us here believe that's the case, but I expected at least some form of lecturing about continued nicotine consumption. I didn't get any. It led me to wonder about what sort of conversations are going on in the medical fields about vaping. I know the studies are incomplete, due to the newness of the whole thing, but I'm really wondering what doctors are saying to each other about it.

Has anyone else had an experience with telling their doctor that they have quit using tobacco, and switched to vaping?

Exactly the experience of my wife and I with our physician. He was aware of e-cigs and updated our files to "non-tobacco use". He has been practicing for about 30 years and agreed that this was an effective way of transitioning from cigarettes.

 

[NatashaR]

Look at page 4 of this newsletter from a major cardiovascular hospital >>>https://www.saintlukeshealthsystem....ltants/newsletter/SLCC News Fall 12 FINAL.pdf

THANKS for this article.

I have had appts 1-2 times a week w/ my dentist now for about a month. Got LOTS of problems. Some genetic, some caused by smoking, ALL worsened by 30 yrs of smoking. 1st visit dentist said "you gotta quit that". So I came here, ordered some e-cigs and QUIT THAT. Went in the next week and said "ok I quit that". He was shocked and said "REALLY? HOW?". I told him and he was elated. Said he did not know alot about e-cigs, but he was going to do some further research and start hounding some of his other patients who had not quit. He asks about it every time I come in. He's both impressed and supportive.

Now if I could just get my INS co on board. Pfft

 

[bruiser]

I told my doc I was using a pv and he said: "I don't know anything about them".

 

[jfalbanese]

I bought my first PV in early September of last year, and smoked my last cigarette four days later, after 16 years of averaging 1/2 - 3/4 of a pack a day. Yesterday, I had my first checkup since this event. Here's how the conversation went:

Dr: Are you still smoking?
Me: No, actually.
Dr: When did you quit?
Me: Early September, I still use the electronics, though.
Dr: That's OK. Congratulations!
Me: Thanks. The electronics really worked for me. I figure it's 1000 times better for me than tobacco.
Dr: That it is. Have you used smokeless tobacco, chewing or snuff?
Me: No, I've never used those, just the electronics.
Dr: Well, that's great news. You should be proud.

I was honestly a little surprised at the Dr's reaction. His demeanor suggested that he considers vaping to not be a big deal at all, healthwise. Most of us here believe that's the case, but I expected at least some form of lecturing about continued nicotine consumption. I didn't get any. It led me to wonder about what sort of conversations are going on in the medical fields about vaping. I know the studies are incomplete, due to the newness of the whole thing, but I'm really wondering what doctors are saying to each other about it.

Has anyone else had an experience with telling their doctor that they have quit using tobacco, and switched to vaping?

i like your doctor. although on the larger scale they are guessing most of the time. it all comes down to getting the right doctor to guess the correct treatment, or suffer tragic consequences

 

[jfalbanese]

I told my doc I was using a pv and he said: "I don't know anything about them".

i would reconsider who you give your business to.

 

[NickSteel]

I told my doc I was using a pv and he said: "I don't know anything about them".

Not surprised. I didn't know anything about them before my daughter (an allergic non-smoker) "forced" a couple disposable ones on me the first of December. I researched this forum and took the plunge. A world of difference from the counter junk! All we can do is spread the word when we can. Hardly anyone appears aware of what's available. I gave my son, an RN in California, a Spinner/Clearomizer for Christmas. Several of his friends actually tried his and switched. We're on a quest now.

 

[adeline]

I told my doc ages ago.

She seemed really cool about it, and mentioned that several other patients had been using them to quit. This was a couple years ago too.

It doesn't really come up anymore. Once a year (I think) she asks me if I'm still a non-smoker.

 

[bmrdave]

I've said it before, but it bears repeating. My oncologist recommends e-cigs to all his patients who still smoke. He doesn't give a rat's a** about nicotine, he wants them to stop inhaling all those smoke particles.