Going to the Doctor

[danibanani]

Quick question...

I have a LOT of medical appointments coming up, all due to analog abuse. Every single time I go, they ask:

"Are you a smoker?"

I've been analog free for two weeks today (yay!), but I'm vaping. Do I tell them I'm a non-smoker when they ask? Or should I specifically say I'm vaping? I'd rather say I'm a non-smoker.

Thanks for any advice,
Dani

 

[Seattle444]

Sounds to me like you are an x-smoker aren't you?? You could tell them you vape but I don't think that is the question here. "Are You A Smoker"......Ahhhh No!!
Welcome to the forum and I hope everything with your health gets better. vaping will definitely improve your health.

 

[Redruth]

Think I would explain not smoking but vaping. Anyway hello, welcome and well done on kicking the stinky sticks.

 

[RosaJ]

Vaping is not smoking. When a doctor asks me if I smoke, I answer "I quit smoking 3 1/2 years ago." If they asked me how I did it, I then would say "With electronic cigarettes" but so far the doctors are not interested on how I did it.

How would anyone consider vaping the same as smoking? It's totally different. The closest thing to it is to use a nicotine inhaler, and that is not considered smoking.

 

[joesquid]

I just told my doc I quit smoking and was vaping He was estatic, and so was my dentist.

 

[coldandbitter]

I'd say that you are an ex smoker. A great deal of the problems that the medical community is going to assume are part of your lifestyle with smoking are no longer a concern. The effects of vaping have been greatly understood at a personal level by all of us, but I do believe the tar, lung hacking, carbon monoxide and other poisons in your system are the factors that you are removing and are exactly what your doctor is taking into your health equation.

I would emphasize WHEN you quit smoking to your care provider. There is a significant difference between a non smoker and a recent smoker. Congrats on kicking the big nasty but don't forget to keep yourself hydrated and try vapor free deep breathing. (Ask YOUR doctor of course if you feel tentative) There is still a significant of gunk in your system that your body is going to remove for you. Amazing what we can recover from in a clean environment!

 

[Frenchfry1942]

Agreed, smoking is much different than vaping. I quit smoking 11 months ago. If asked, I use a vaporizer.

 

[skoony]

congratulations on quitting.
tell your doctor you quit and when.
you might still have some residual sounds in your lungs
from the smoking. you don't want the doc to attribute that
to some other cause.
regards
mike

 

[BigCatDaddy]

I tell the docs that I had my last smoke on Oct. 02, 2013, and if they ask how I quit, then I tell them I vape. In my opinion, I can't really put a label on it. I smoked before, I don't now. That doesn't make me a non-smoker or an ex-smoker, just someone who doesn't smoke right now.

 

[danibanani]

Thanks, everyone!

In the two weeks I've been analog free, my constant cough has disappeared and my phlegm production is almost gone. It's amazing. I wish I would have done this a long time ago. On a funny (but serious) note, I've quit pissing myself every time I cough, so I'm going to save a fortune on not buying poise pads (TMI, I know! But some ladies can understand my pain!).

Thanks again, everyone!
Dani

 

[Spiceman1967]

I told my Dr that I quit smoking and when. It just so happens it was about two weeks after I quit and started vaping. Sound familiar? Anyways, he was very happy and ask me if I was experiencing extra coughing due to my lungs trying to repair. I had and he said that was normal. He ask what method I used to quit and I told him E-cigs. He looked at me for a second and then reach in his desk and pulled out a e-Go twist with a Nautilous tank and said, "Me too!"

 

[Katmar]

My doctor has it on record that I quit smoking on June 23, 2009, so I am considered and ex-smoker. He knows I vape.

Hope your appts. go well. Please keep us posted.

 

[danibanani]

I told my Dr that I quit smoking and when. It just so happens it was about two weeks after I quit and started vaping. Sound familiar? Anyways, he was very happy and ask me if I was experiencing extra coughing due to my lungs trying to repair. I had and he said that was normal. He ask what method I used to quit and I told him E-cigs. He looked at me for a second and then reach in his desk and pulled out a e-Go twist with a Nautilous tank and said, "Me too!"

Spiceman, that's hilarious! Thanks for the chuckle.

 

[AngiBe]

It also depends on what type of doctor and what type of issues. My GP was ecstatic I quit and didn't seem concerned at all about Ecigs. My GI doc was happy I quit but told me to get off the nic. He wasn't thrilled I was on 12 mg and wants me to drop to zero and quit all together. I'm struggling but working my way to get all my juices to 6 mg then eventually to zero

 

[skoony]

It also depends on what type of doctor and what type of issues. My GP was ecstatic I quit and didn't seem concerned at all about Ecigs. My GI doc was happy I quit but told me to get off the nic. He wasn't thrilled I was on 12 mg and wants me to drop to zero and quit all together. I'm struggling but working my way to get all my juices to 6 mg then eventually to zero

at 59 years old i quit a 38 year 2 pack a day plus at the end habit on 07/24/2013.
i started at 18 nic. i remain at 18 nic.
i have bigger fish to fry.
if its good for you,go for it.
don't in the mean time let nic levels unnecessarily concern you.
in the big scheme of things you already made the giant leap.
regards
mike