I'm Discouraged

[Credo]

Your physician clearly skipped the tact, patient psychology, and addiction counseling courses.

Even if he were correct in the assumption that 90% progress is worthless (which in my experience is dead wrong...even if financial health alone were counted...my life, and that of others around me has improved in 'many ways' since moving from smoking to other forms of nicotine use), that's no way to talk to someone who is fighting a long standing smoking addiction.

 

[cassandraschild]

My vote: New Doctor!

 

[Jay-dub]

I'd be curious to see if the Doc could cite any material that lead them to the conclusion that they are presenting to you as medical fact. Doctors that confuse established fact with unfounded assumptions either have an agenda or a god-complex. Or both.

 

[MorpheusPA]

I'm terribly sorry that happened to you! I had a cardiologist once who wouldn't believe I was having a reaction to a medication ("but NOBODY reacts to that!" ... except all the people who had the listed side effects, of course, you idiot). Plus he lectured and talked down to me, refused to explain anything, and generally acted badly and as though he couldn't wait to get away from me.

I changed cardiologists.

If you're otherwise happy with your doctor, stay but see another doctor about the e-cig (or, if you have friends who are doctors or nurses, ask them). If that's only one item on a long list of gripes, change doctors. You'll be happier, healthier, and better cared-for, and you deserve that.

 

[Steamix]

Considering the number of malpractice suits courts have to deal with every year it's pretty obvious that some framed parchment on a wall and some stuffed lab coat below it means 'competent' ...

 

[Recycled Roadkill]

Has anyone ever seen their doctors desk in their private office? Almost every type of gift possible from the drug manufacturers to help influence the doctors decisions of what to prescribe. That's just the stuff you can see. Ever use a pen in a doctor's office? I doubt you'll find one without medical advertising. That's all gotta mean something. I'd like to believe they're all above that but I really know better.

 

[BillyWJ]

Doctors are quite capable of being sheeple as well. Was she able to explain why you feel better? Probably not. For every good doctor out there I have encountered 3 that weren't worth spit. And unfortunately I have plenty of experience to be able to make that statement and know it to be true.

I have several relatives who are doctors, and close family friends who are as well, and sadly, this is true. As one of my relatives says, some doctors don't learn anything new after they leave school, and they refuse to listen if something they learned changes. She said you run into this more with general practitioners than surgeons or specialists, and it's a real problem when it comes to things like nutrition. She's a pediatrician who always has her nose in a book or journal, or is traveling to a conference to keep current with her field (Pediatrician), and says that she deals with this kind of attitude on a daily basis with doctors she works with or meets at conferences.

 

[mare ze dotes]

When I was a younger gal I thought Drs were super smart people who deserved the authority I gave them. Now I realize they are just people with some education. As it seems some more than others.

 

[BillyWJ]

When I was a younger gal I thought Drs were super smart people who deserved the authority I gave them. Now I realize they are just people with some education. As it seems some more than others.

True. And some truly have a gift for healing people, who have a "sixth sense" for diagnosis, and have a personality that's reassuring and comforting and who can show a patient they truly care. I've run into a few, and they're amazing people.

The rest of them got into the field because their parents insisted, or they're in it for the money.

 

[Whitechapel]

Even my psychiatrist was supportive. He said vaping was better than smoking and was very happy that I was on the right path to a better life.

 

[justagirl]

Well thank you all. It is funny whoever made the comment about Chantix... I was put on Wellbutrin (by said Dr.) Long story short.... I ended up on the side of the road one day panicked and afraid to drive home. This was after being a puppy-stomping maniac (not literally) for the week prior. (I was on it for ten days). When I called her she said, "It could be the Wellbutrin....maybe". Like I was lying.

I am having blood work done for my thyroid. I think I will just change doctors.

JAG

 

[Truetopath]

As a nurse and care coordinator at a primary care office I keep my vape gear on my desk and stealth vape all day long. Whenever one of the docs come in I'm happy to provide education and share my story. All you can do is hope something you say sticks.

 

[justagirl]

Yeah, when I asked her why she thought this she said "the studies so far are showing it is VERY DANGEROUS" Then she started in on the rest..... I did not try to argue with her but, I feel bad that anyone is told this by a doctor about ecigs. What if I was thinking of trying them and told this? I sure would not go out and buy one.

Just mad...

 

[Steamix]

Qui bono ? - BP is sure to tell them their line. All day holed up in the office with patients and too busy ( or too snotty ) to consider other avenues of information than the BP sales pitches... you'll end up with physicians parrotting the lines rather than admitting ' I don't know' or 'I haven't looked into that yet'. I prefer people who do the latter, for they are honest.

 

[Zealous]

I'm sorry your doctor was so unsupportive. He/she's an ... for abusing his/her position to spout uneducated nonsense. You are NOT better off smoking rather than vaping so don't believe that nonsense. And the fact that your doctor even said that, to me, means you need to find a new doctor. Clearly this doctor does not have your best interest at heart & that kind of doctor is no doctor at all imo.

Good for you for cutting back to 3 cigs a day. You'll be at 0 in no time at all. Don't let that "doctor" discourage you.

 

[tA71ana]

I've been dealing with docs since I was 17 and I am now 53. I trust doctors as far as I can throw them, lol
Before people are men, women, doctors, lawyers, liars or thieves, they are Human and subject to the very same dysfunctional, unhelpful and idiotic behavior everyone else is.
Make no mistake about it.
If I am prescribed a med the first thing I do is come home and look up the sides on the net (I have an underlying condition that precludes my taking most drugs) and if I see a side that could quite possibly make that condition worse, I don't take it.
My doctor knows I am this way and not to push the issue.
My view is that doctors are like the shadetree mechanics of old - there are a few good ones, some really bad ones...and the rest are mediocre.

 

[NiNi]

Well thank you all. It is funny whoever made the comment about Chantix... I was put on Wellbutrin (by said Dr.) Long story short.... I ended up on the side of the road one day panicked and afraid to drive home. This was after being a puppy-stomping maniac (not literally) for the week prior. (I was on it for ten days). When I called her she said, "It could be the Wellbutrin....maybe". Like I was lying.

I am having blood work done for my thyroid. I think I will just change doctors.

JAG

AURGH! Educate yourself on ANY medication your doc puts you on! They have a tendency to just barely mention "side effects". I'm usually in the 5% that have adverse reactions.
........."it could be the Wellbutrin......" ya think so, Doc, damn skippy!

From http://www.rxlist.com/wellbutrin-drug.htm

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Kind of sounds like the Wellbutrin was responsible, eh, Doc? *This is where you bang your head against a wall*

..and that site has a "wonderful" (ok, major sarcasm ) warning at the very top of the page on Wellbutrin (bupropion) and smoking cessation:

Advise patients and caregivers that the patient using bupropion for smoking cessation should stop taking bupropion and contact a healthcare provider immediately if agitation, hostility, depressed mood, or changes in thinking or behavior that are not typical for the patient are observed, or if the patient develops suicidal ideation or suicidal behavior.

I think docs should be tarred, feathered, and run out of town for some of the half cocked responses they give us as their patients.

 

[FlamingoTutu]

Good for you Justagirl, fire that bleep! If she can’t be bothered to keep abreast of smoking cessation techniques, what else concerning your health is she too lazy to keep up with? As they used to say,”Don’t let the turkeys get you down!”

 

[doots]

And maybe I shouldn't be so I thought I would post and get thoughts. I went to my doctor and she says, "your e-cig is as bad as the real thing" and when I told her that because of it I was down to 3 "real" cigarettes per day she says "three per day may as well be thirty. It's duration of smoking not amount you smoke."

I left feeling really blah. I know for myself that I do not cough as much. I feel better and have more energy but, dang... she just made me feel stupid.

JAG

Sorry but this Doctor sounds like a nut! Id seriously go to someone else..

 

[Baldr]

And maybe I shouldn't be so I thought I would post and get thoughts. I went to my doctor and she says, "your e-cig is as bad as the real thing" and when I told her that because of it I was down to 3 "real" cigarettes per day she says "three per day may as well be thirty. It's duration of smoking not amount you smoke."

I left feeling really blah. I know for myself that I do not cough as much. I feel better and have more energy but, dang... she just made me feel stupid.

JAG

Your doctor is an idiot.

Why Is The FDA Shielding Smokers From The Good News About E-Cigarettes? - Forbes

A fresh look at tobacco harm reduction: the case for the electronic cigarette