encounter with a doctor today

[AndriaD]

it would be nice to see the big tobacco companies get in on the e-juice.... making it safer and cheaper for us. while tipping the fad and such in a regulatory manner. because we all know the tax man is coming. not sure when, but it's coming. eventually there will be a fight about this. about the millions of dollars being taken away from the big tobacco company, that lines the pockets of lobbyists, and congress alike. you think they have our safety as the end consumer in mind while mass producing cancer sticks? lol. ok. well I have my best interest in mind while making the switch. I buried my grandmother 4 years ago from lung cancer. it was 2 weeks after my first son was born. and I have been trying to quit ever since. had a few good runs, but always went back. this is the only thing that has kept me off the cigs. and in 6 weeks I have dropped from 18 to 12 to 6 nic level. i have no plans on going back to cigs......after 2 packs a day for so long I can't remember. I feel like million bucks. when actually its like right at 100k I have spent smoking.

I really can't agree about BT-produced ejuice; after all the total CRAP they've been putting in TOBACCO? Which is ALREADY lethal to burn and inhale, but they make it WORSE? Nah, I'll have to pass on the idea of ejuice made by them, and I certainly would never buy any -- first thing you know, they'll be slipping in those MAOIs that trip us up so badly at the 3wk and 3mo point -- it's really hard to get off that stuff if you are a depressive by nature, as I am.

I buried my dad of that in 2006, just a few years after he and I were both adult (and sober!) enough to actually have a relationship, but at that point, I had pretty much accepted that my end might look a lot like his. Like a little mindworm, working away at me everytime I lit up. And yep, e-cigs are the ONLY way I can be *happily* smoke-free, and that felt awesome. Think I've got the worst of the dehydration/electrolyte imbalance under control now, so I'm trying to vape a little more each day, substitute for more and more cigarettes, until I'm back to that *happily smoke-free* state.

There's a thing in AA that's really important; they stress being grateful for one's sobriety, even though sometimes that can take a while to be achieved. But I think it applies to vaping too; we really need to be grateful for this awesome technology, and work very hard to maintain its growth -- whatever is necessary to get those clowns in DC to pay attention to the fact that e-cigs SAVE LIVES!

Andria

 

[Rat2chat2]

My friend has COPD and was on a bunch of medicine and inhalers. I got her to try vaping and in 2 weeks you could tell a huge difference in her. She is now off of most of her medicine and hardly ever uses inhalers. Her doctor was so surprised and actually wanted to know more about vaping because of the change he had seen in her. I am thankful for vaping. Sure I know it is not as good as just clean air but I know beyond a shadow of doubt.........it is better for me than smoking.

 

[Jaylah]

I can kinda see the idea of waiting for a bit before making the change on your chart.

How many drunks do we really believe will stay sober after they've sworn up and down they will. Or, perhaps, the better question would be how many times has a drunk sworn up and down they've drunk their last, and it turned out not to be the case.

How many times have I sworn up and down that I was through with cigarettes. I had my gum, I had my patches, I had my lozenges, I had my Chantix, blah, blah, blah. And then back to smoking within no more than a week.

And even if you truly have smoked your last cigarette, the effects of the smoking you did take quite a while to return to normal.

 

[Galliano]

My GP asked me if I smoked, I said I quit cigs but vape instead, they chuckled and said that's totally fine.

 

[Panorama911]

My friend has COPD and was on a bunch of medicine and inhalers. I got her to try vaping and in 2 weeks you could tell a huge difference in her. She is now off of most of her medicine and hardly ever uses inhalers. Her doctor was so surprised and actually wanted to know more about vaping because of the change he had seen in her. I am thankful for vaping. Sure I know it is not as good as just clean air but I know beyond a shadow of doubt.........it is better for me than smoking.

This is exactly what needs to happen. Take instances such as this to the medical community and allow them to look deeper into it. In this case the Physician was "surprised" which indicates he or she had no medical knowledge to support the findings/results. This will then encourage further research on his or her behalf so they can say without question the results are attributed to the "cure"!

 

[Panorama911]

FACT: if I don't vape, I WILL smoke! Period! At the point in my recent illness when I was finally able to get out of bed, I hadn't vaped in 4 days, and cravings were beating me to death -- but EVERYTHING tasted horrible after not eating for 4 days, INCLUDING THE VAPE! So I got cigarettes and smoked them, figuring they couldn't taste any worse than everything else (they didn't, though after 115 days smoke free, they sure did taste odd), and that they WOULD remove the miserable cravings -- and they did.

It's either/or for me, and likely will remain so for some years, after being a smoker for 39 yrs. In fact at the moment I'm a dual user, as I try to vape enough to get back to "these cigarettes taste AWFUL," and I'm getting there, starting to taste the bitterness again. Once I can get down to no more than 5 a day, probably the smell will start to offend me again, and from there it's a pretty short trip to smoke-free again.

Andria

There is no question vaping is a deterrent to tobacco use! Even Physicians will agree to this, but that said, they will want to know it is safe in the long run.
The issue you are dealing with cannot be resolved by tobacco or vaping, you are dealing with a mental/physical issue and that will only be resolved through willpower and determination to quit.....and OFC support from all your friends here at ECF!

 

[CastleRat]

It's may be safe for now. I wonder if the government is going to require additives like they did for cigarettes. The last one I remember was fire ......ant cigarette papers. I have never heard of a fire ......ant that didn't cause cancer.

 

[Panorama911]

and thats my point..........point is this. I tried everything to quit smoking after 20+ years. except for Chantix. and there is no way I am taking that pill. my doctor applauded the fact i am vaping. he said the exact same thing. no long term studies can be made for something that is trending now. shoot, 40 years ago, tv recommended everyone to start smoking. obviously gaping with nicotine isn't healthy. I understand that. here comes the "common sense" ....... smoking cigs are so much worse for anyone over Vaping. just look at whats in the e-juice. as long as we are getting quality e-juice that doesn't have crazy additives. yes I understand it is a science for doctors, and scientists. and it should be. can't wait for the first 5 and 10 year readings to become available. all I am saying is, I don't need a medical license or degree to know that Vaping these 4 additives are better for me than smoking everything in a cigarette. I feel so much better. I am able to run at work again. energy has increased. vocal pitch has increased. and really my nerves and stress levels have went down since starting this trip.
'
and honeslty I am not arguing with your point, just validating my personal stance and opinion is all, lol. I try to respect everyones opinion because people are different. and one man's trash might be another man's gold. it would be nice to see the big tobacco companies get in on the e-juice.... making it safer and cheaper for us. while tipping the fad and such in a regulatory manner. because we all know the tax man is coming. not sure when, but it's coming. eventually there will be a fight about this. about the millions of dollars being taken away from the big tobacco company, that lines the pockets of lobbyists, and congress alike. you think they have our safety as the end consumer in mind while mass producing cancer sticks? lol. ok. well I have my best interest in mind while making the switch. I buried my grandmother 4 years ago from lung cancer. it was 2 weeks after my first son was born. and I have been trying to quit ever since. had a few good runs, but always went back. this is the only thing that has kept me off the cigs. and in 6 weeks I have dropped from 18 to 12 to 6 nic level. i have no plans on going back to cigs......after 2 packs a day for so long I can't remember. I feel like million bucks. when actually its like right at 100k I have spent smoking.

No argument at all! Your "common sense" is valid and should be respected. Now the problem is the FDA, the medical community and the politicians need to share the same sense.......and do so without a "price tag"! And all have differing opinions and motives. The medical side wants research and proof, the FDA wants to assure safety and the politicians want the revenue/power generated, 3 totally different realms all competing to serve the purpose they subscribe to.

Now is the time for you to take your 'common sense" and the results of it to your Physician and political representatives.....show them your common sense is valid!

 

[Panorama911]

It's may be safe for now. I wonder if the government is going to require additives like they did for cigarettes. The last one I remember was fire ......ant cigarette papers. I have never heard of a fire ......ant that didn't cause cancer.

I am not certain but the paper was redesigned to burn slower and extinguish rather than a chemical added to do so, I could be mistaken though. Also the chemicals added I think were not issued from the government but more from the tobacco companies to improve flavor and preserve quality, again I may be mistaken.

 

[AndriaD]

There is no question vaping is a deterrent to tobacco use! Even Physicians will agree to this, but that said, they will want to know it is safe in the long run.
The issue you are dealing with cannot be resolved by tobacco or vaping, you are dealing with a mental/physical issue and that will only be resolved through willpower and determination to quit.....and OFC support from all your friends here at ECF!

Hmm... I just woke up so I'm probably still very thick-headed but I can't seem to figure out what you mean -- first off, what's "OFC"? That's a new one on me! And I'm not really sure what problem you mean... if you mean the need to re-quit, I don't really consider it that big a problem; it worked great the first time, and I have a LOT better equipment and ejuice this time around. The appendix was just a "feces occurs" kinda thing, and thankfully, won't ever happen again, and there aren't too many things that could keep me in bed/off my feed for 4 days -- really really bad case of flu maybe, but I won't borrow trouble by anticipating it.

It's actually been a good learning experience for me; 1) don't underestimate the power of such a long-term addiction; 2) don't be such a zealot myself about the smell of it when I finally get smoke free again; and 3), MOST importantly, STAY HYDRATED AT ALL COSTS BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!!! And maybe add to that -- if ever there does come a time when for whatever reason I can't vape, GET PATCHES! It's certainly not a perfect fix for those whopper cravings, but it might help keep them from being such whoppers!

I didn't get sober the first time I tried that, either, and it took me 7 more yrs for it to truly kick my .... enough to make me willing to try again. It's certainly not going to be 7 yrs till I'm smoke-free again!

Andria

 

[Lurch]

My Primary Care Physician admitted that he did not know a lot about vaping, but vowed that he will check into it (and he is the kind that will do exactly that and I am sure that on my next visit we will be discussing it). He was trilled that I had quit smoking and agreed that vaping had to be better! My Cardiologist was trilled and changed my status to "non-smoker." I have another specialist that is also trilled that I changed to vaping.

My favorite local B&M is owned by a Doctor. Her husband quit smoking via vaping and was so impressed they opened a shop!!

 

[Led Z]

I had a visit with my Primary Care Physician 2 weeks ago and told him that I hap stopped smoking but was vaping instead. He chuckled with no comment. I am going to have to educate him a little at a time on subsequent visits. Just enough for him to do his own basic research on this "new" approach to nicotine delivery. This delivery system is in its infancy as far as medicine is concerned. So, facts are few and opinions are all that is available. As a recent quitter of cigarettes, I for one am rolling the dice on the theory that vaping is safer than cigarette smoking and certainly would not advocate that vaping is safe. I can certainly understand why some physicians, PA's or NP's would take a negative stand. My own twisted logic leads me to believe that I have, and that I am doing the right thing for now. I am happy that I no longer smoke cigarettes.

 

[Panorama911]

Hmm... I just woke up so I'm probably still very thick-headed but I can't seem to figure out what you mean -- first off, what's "OFC"? That's a new one on me! And I'm not really sure what problem you mean... if you mean the need to re-quit, I don't really consider it that big a problem; it worked great the first time, and I have a LOT better equipment and ejuice this time around. The appendix was just a "feces occurs" kinda thing, and thankfully, won't ever happen again, and there aren't too many things that could keep me in bed/off my feed for 4 days -- really really bad case of flu maybe, but I won't borrow trouble by anticipating it.

It's actually been a good learning experience for me; 1) don't underestimate the power of such a long-term addiction; 2) don't be such a zealot myself about the smell of it when I finally get smoke free again; and 3), MOST importantly, STAY HYDRATED AT ALL COSTS BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!!! And maybe add to that -- if ever there does come a time when for whatever reason I can't vape, GET PATCHES! It's certainly not a perfect fix for those whopper cravings, but it might help keep them from being such whoppers!

I didn't get sober the first time I tried that, either, and it took me 7 more yrs for it to truly kick my .... enough to make me willing to try again. It's certainly not going to be 7 yrs till I'm smoke-free again!

Andria

OFC = of course....Issues not problems= being not able to quit due to the physical addiction, hence dual use.

 

[AndriaD]

OFC = of course....Issues not problems= being not able to quit due to the physical addiction, hence dual use.

Actually that's my choice, for a good reason -- I was so drastically dehydrated and electrolyte-imbalanced, I'm watching the effect of vaping on my whole body very closely, while gradually adding more and more vape time daily. If the feet start to get painful and/or the ankles puffy and swollen again, I want to catch it very quickly and work to correct it, before it becomes a snowball down a mountainside.

Also because it worked well for me before, to not push or pressure myself, but just let it happen in its own time. If I just arbitrarily go "ok that's it, I'm done with smoking" and I fail, that will make me feel bad, hate myself, and generally make it harder to summon the chutzpah to actually try again -- been there, done that, for many many years, before e-cigs came along. But if I allow the better taste of vapor to gradually take over because the more I vape, the worse the cigarettes taste, then it's not a matter of pressure to perform, or "reform myself," it's a matter of personal choice, because vaping just tastes and smells better than cigarettes. But that sort of change doesn't happen instantly; it really is a case of, the more I vape, the more I dislike the taste of cigarettes. When I get to the point that cigarettes just taste like a leaf bonfire with an old tire in the middle of it in my mouth, I'll be back where I was when I quit before -- light one, take maybe 2 hits, and put it out because it's just so foul. Then, I'll be at another point I visited before, where I just won't even bother. I'll just vape, and be happy.

Andria

 

[edyle]

3/4 inch pvc tubing used for plumbing can be used to make easy to use carry containers.

 

[mo1159]

tooth brush holder works well also to put in your purse.

 

[RosaJ]

Actually that's my choice, for a good reason -- I was so drastically dehydrated and electrolyte-imbalanced, I'm watching the effect of vaping on my whole body very closely, while gradually adding more and more vape time daily. If the feet start to get painful and/or the ankles puffy and swollen again, I want to catch it very quickly and work to correct it, before it becomes a snowball down a mountainside.

Also because it worked well for me before, to not push or pressure myself, but just let it happen in its own time. If I just arbitrarily go "ok that's it, I'm done with smoking" and I fail, that will make me feel bad, hate myself, and generally make it harder to summon the chutzpah to actually try again -- been there, done that, for many many years, before e-cigs came along. But if I allow the better taste of vapor to gradually take over because the more I vape, the worse the cigarettes taste, then it's not a matter of pressure to perform, or "reform myself," it's a matter of personal choice, because vaping just tastes and smells better than cigarettes. But that sort of change doesn't happen instantly; it really is a case of, the more I vape, the more I dislike the taste of cigarettes. When I get to the point that cigarettes just taste like a leaf bonfire with an old tire in the middle of it in my mouth, I'll be back where I was when I quit before -- light one, take maybe 2 hits, and put it out because it's just so foul. Then, I'll be at another point I visited before, where I just won't even bother. I'll just vape, and be happy.

Andria

That's the best way to do it Andria. The key words are: Tobacco Harm Reduction. It's not the cigarettes you smoke, but the ones you don't. That's the way it worked for me, it only took me 1 1/2 weeks (2 years ago), but not everyone's the same so we must do what works best for us. I didn't have the health issues you do. Wishing you the best outcome possible.

 

[nicetucu]

My doctor was kind of impressed when I told him I quit smoking and using an e cig. So much so I took it out and did a vape in front of him to show him how it works.

I told him to email me if he wanted me to help out other patients trying to quit and turn to vape instead. I did not get any emails lol. He may have been trying to be nice, who knows. Next time I see him I will ask.

 

[AndriaD]

That's the best way to do it Andria. The key words are: Tobacco Harm Reduction. It's not the cigarettes you smoke, but the ones you don't. That's the way it worked for me, it only took me 1 1/2 weeks (2 years ago), but not everyone's the same so we must do what works best for us. I didn't have the health issues you do. Wishing you the best outcome possible.

I wish I had understood the reason for my issues better, while they were going on and getting worse -- I knew I was dehydrated, but didn't really get the electrolyte part, that my normal use of salt and drinking all that water and the sports drinks were actually making the problem worse. It's only since I started on the coconut water, eased up on the salt, and quit the all-day tea-drinking that the problem has eased, so I'm like, DOH! I needed potassium all that time!

Then when the illness hit me, and my body purging itself of pretty much EVERYTHING and being unable to keep much of anything down, including water, just made it that much worse. I knew that going 4 days without vaping wasn't a really good idea for my smoke-free state, but when vaping gags you as much as anything, what can ya do? Mainly just lie there and hope that last phenergan you took will stay down, this time. At least, the whole experience FORCED me to deal with the dehydration/electrolyte problem, so now I can take up the vaping again, knowing exactly what to look for, and how to fix it if it "breaks." And how to be a little more humble as a non-smoker, and grateful for the means to get there.

Andria

 

[rolygate]

There may be a need for not putting "non smoker" down on a medical record. The fact is you were a smoker, thus the record needs to show this in the event a procedure is needed that can be altered or affected by smoking, present or past. To just wipe a record clean of tobacco use could in the future cause an issue not anticipated. This is why it is so important to tell the physician every detail whether it seems relevant or not.

Yes; surely if they have
smoker
nonsmoker

then there's room for
"former smoker"

There's some confusion over the terminology here because the meaning of some of these terms is different in the medical world from the everyday meaning. For example, the term 'non-smoker' is defined as an ex-smoker by medics.

Here is how the terms are used in the medical world:

• ever-smoker: a person who has smoked at least one cigarette
• never-smoker: a person who has never smoked a single cigarette
• non-smoker: an ex-smoker (they don't officially use the term 'ex-smoker')
• smoker: a person who has smoked within the last 30 days
• daily smoker: a person who smokes every day

Placing the term 'non-smoker' in your file means that you are listed as an ex-smoker.