My doctor's reaction to my e-cig...

[VapRon]

I had a not so good experience with my Doc.
Last week I went there because my Heart was irregular.
I was a smoker for 40 years. In the last year I lost 30 pounds and am at ideal weight.
I was also on Beta Blocker because of Blood pressure.
Since I vape (about 4 weeks now) my bp dropped and the heart started to go a bit nuts.
So the I told the Doc the whole story and he took me off the 2 medications. Don’t need the blocker and the water pill anymore YEAAAA.

So I asked if the vaping had something to do with it. He said he doesn't think so.
Then I asked what his opinion is regarding e-cigs. He answered: Well you are the third who quit smoking with it but thats about all he knows. On an intellectual base he would not recommend it. It would produce carbon monoxide and have various chemicals that cause cancer.

Right there I knew he had no clue whatsoever or pretended he had no clue.
I know that he is very disgusted with smokers and anything that has to do with smoking. So at that moment I felt it was better to get out before getting into a long discussion.

I was planning on to take something regarding studies or so to the next visit in 2 weeks. Not sure what though.

 

[Nicko]

The so-called health groups who continue to strongly condemn e-cigs are probably considered a joke by most doctors. It would be nice if more doctors contacted those lying health groups and told them a few facts.

 

[Nicko]

I had a not so good experience with my Doc.
Last week I went there because my Heart was irregular.
I was a smoker for 40 years. In the last year I lost 30 pounds and am at ideal weight.
I was also on Beta Blocker because of Blood pressure.
Since I vape (about 4 weeks now) my bp dropped and the heart started to go a bit nuts.
So the I told the Doc the whole story and he took me off the 2 medications. Don’t need the blocker and the water pill anymore YEAAAA.

So I asked if the vaping had something to do with it. He said he doesn't think so.
Then I asked what his opinion is regarding e-cigs. He answered: Well you are the third who quit smoking with it but thats about all he knows. On an intellectual base he would not recommend it. It would produce carbon monoxide and have various chemicals that cause cancer.

Right there I knew he had no clue whatsoever or pretended he had no clue.
I know that he is very disgusted with smokers and anything that has to do with smoking. So at that moment I felt it was better to get out before getting into a long discussion.

I was planning on to take something regarding studies or so to the next visit in 2 weeks. Not sure what though.

It's incredible that your doctor can be so wrong. You should certainly give him some information to read. Contact CASAA | The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association

 

[btight]

@ VapRon, sorry to hear you had a not so good experience @ doctor's office. I myself was glad that my doctor embraced it; she was just glad that the analog was out of my life. The nurse there was also curious for her son, so I recommended this site and that he might want to give it a try. If more people in the medical community sought out the information on a alternative medicine regimen, maybe more would be on the bandwagon.

 

[stretchpants]

I see my Doc on Friday.We have been through many types of cigarette quitting remedies together.
I would go in for a hang nail (totally unrelated to smoking) and voila! she would immediately slap a new patch on my arm or write a new script for wellbutrin or some such drug.They all failed. Why? Because I liked smoking.I would go thru the quitting motions for her and my family and I knew they all would fail.You have to want to quit.
But I digress...I think she will be so happy for me that she will actually pay me for the office visit.
I fully intend on taking all the e-cig stuff up to and including the wall charger.She will listen and she will investigate it for herself.She won't dismiss it out of hand.I have a great Doc and I can't wait to tell her about e cigs.

 

[Sainted_S]

I had a pretty good reaction from my doctor but what surprised me was the dentist today. First time seeing this dentist and of course they asked if I smoked. My teeth aren't in the best shape after 2 PAD and I said I quit in August. The dental assistant was so surprised and said, "That is so wonderful, congratulations." Then I nervously told her I do use an electric cigarrette, and she immediately said, "That is so great that it worked for you." Such a relief to have a positive reaction. I really don't understand the reluctance some of the medical community has to embrace PV's...oh wait, big pharmacy..slipped my mind.

 

[nopatch]

Good to hear that a specialist has your side and is being truthful with the benefits of vaping.

A doctor is NOT a specialist as far as Vaping a humectant(Pg Or Vg) is concerned.They Have Zero Data to advise anything on that matter.

 

[VapRon]

Thanks btight, Nicko.

Thats what I needed Nicko. (CASAA)

 

[Sainted_S]

A doctor is NOT a specialist as far as Vaping a humectant(Pg Or Vg) is concerned.They Have Zero Data to advise anything on that matter.

But I'm sure he is expert in dealing with the effects of analogs...

 

[nopatch]

It's incredible that your doctor can be so wrong. You should certainly give him some information to read. Contact CASAA | The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association

I have found the Source Link regarding the petition by AAPHP. I found the following statement bit surprising.

"With over three years of experience with E-cigarettes in the United States, we are not aware
of any reports of illness directly attributable to their use."

Perhaps the AAPHP havent gone through many posts here on Ecf.

 

[Temporal Drake]

Anecdotally, it seems like a lot of GPs are embracing the ecigs. Anything that gets you off the carcinogens I guess.

I wish the feds in Canada could start to see it the same way.

 

[Nicko]

I have found the Source Link regarding the petition by AAPHP. I found the following statement bit surprising.

"With over three years of experience with E-cigarettes in the United States, we are not aware
of any reports of illness directly attributable to their use."

Perhaps the AAPHP havent gone through many posts here on Ecf.

To my knowledge, the statement you quoted is accurate.

 

[nopatch]

But I'm sure he is expert in dealing with the effects of analogs...

Ofcourse.The Medical community has lot of studies to depend on as far as Ill effects of Regular(Analogs ) cigarettes are concerned.

 

[wolcen]

My doctor knew about them only generally, but was encouraging, and did seem interested to know a bit more (even asking if I wouldn't mind sending along some info via the hospital's online service). My record was also annotated to indicate I am now a non-smoker (3 months in another 6 days). As an aside...I wonder how much importance any of this may hold for life insurance policies? Of course, life insurance policy providers' prices are very closely tied to "tobacco use" (insurance providers ALWAYS know where the risks are, don't they?), but I have no idea if they can look at or subpoena medical records. My father always told me to never admit that I [had] smoked to a doctor. I did anyway. What can I say? I have a long history of not following (mostly sage [in hind-sight]) advice.

Anyway, it is always a good reminder that nicotine can be dangerous. Handling highly concentrated nicotine is easily deadly. Fortunately at least it's not been found to be carcinogenic. While it is being researched for possible positive effects on brain function for some (those with Alzheimers, Parkinsons, ADHD, possibly schizophrenia, etc.) it does also cause vascular constriction and other negative effects. For me, it's pretty contra-indicated as it also has a possibility to induce arrhythmia which I have issues with sometimes. Then again, my caffeine intake also has a pretty negative effect there, and who thinks that is dangerous?

Of course, the FDA also wants you to know there are TSNA's [tobacco-specific nitro.samines], which are generally carcinogenic. Read the research though on that one though (here's just one thread on it: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ask-veterans/183351-tsnas-e-juice.html) . Suffice it to say that there's comparable amounts of TSNA's in e-Cigs to what is present in any FDA-approved NRT [nicotine replacement therapy], and something like 1/500th (or much less) than what a single cigarette contains.

Personally, I liked smoking, and never really wanted to stop, but it's undoubtedly a gravely deadly addiction, so I gave it the appropriate consideration (eventually - it wasn't easy!). In addition to loosing my adopted mother (by lung cancer - she had quit several years prior) I also lost my birth father to a massive stroke. While his stroke wasn't directly attributed to his smoking a pack a day that was certainly a factor if not the cause.

I am very VERY grateful to Hon Lik for inventing the e-cigarette. Life is tough sometimes, and we all grasp onto something - for me, that was most often a cigarette prior to now. I can now enjoy a very similar experience (and that good old nicotine) in what I consider a substantially safer way than I could before. But...I hopefully will live a happy healthy life, and I certainly owe it to myself and those around me (MATAM) to be concerned for what might be in e-cigs. We're inhaling the stuff - which (as I understand it) is the second most effective way to absorb something into our bodies (the first being injection).

So, for anyone concerned about the safety of e-cigs for themselves (and those around you), please, do your research. Nearly the full extent of human knowledge on the substances contained in e-cigs is out there on the internet, just waiting to be looked for, read, understood, and actioned upon according to someone's own moral compass.

By and large I consider e-cigs to be mostly safe to MATAM, but they are not without any risk whatsoever. If you are interested in furthering the knowledge about e-cigs and their safely, please support CASAA | The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association and also have a look in the Health, Safety and E-Smoking

Please note: crossing the street may also be hazardous to your health, please always look both ways!

Welcome, and enjoy!

 

[espresso]

I would tell my patients this alternative method if the topic of smoking problem happens to come up,
I really would.

But the problem is, the bonehead government we currently have here ban the sale of e-cigarettes.
Even if any of the patients want to give it a try, they would have to find their way to acquire the product.

 

[Cat_in_the_Playground]

I recently had my annual appt with my cardiologist. He and his RNs were thrilled that I quit. The one RN was very familiar with them b/c her brother uses a PV and quit smoking that way. They would still like me to eventually quit the nic (as it does increase HR and BP and contributes to arteriosclerosis), but right now, they are just thrilled that I quit smoking. I'll work on decreasing my nic eventually. I'm just trying to find a juice that can give the TH of 18mg nic with 0 nic. Any suggestions? I think if I could find that, it would make going to 0 nic a lot easier.

 

[JWebb]

I get nothing but "Good for you" when I tell my doctor/internist and dentist. they are glad I stopped smoking.

 

[DC2]

Looks like we may be making a difference one doctor at a time.

Yes, one doctor at a time, one reporter at a time, one smoker at a time.
This is how underground movements are made.

And we need to keep growing, and gaining in power, because "THEY" really want to stop us.
The best thing to do is get involved, if you can, and fight for our future to vape.

They are us, and we are them...
CASAA | The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association

 

[wolcen]

I recently had my annual appt with my cardiologist. He and his RNs were thrilled that I quit. The one RN was very familiar with them b/c her brother uses a PV and quit smoking that way. They would still like me to eventually quit the nic (as it does increase HR and BP and contributes to arteriosclerosis), but right now, they are just thrilled that I quit smoking. I'll work on decreasing my nic eventually. I'm just trying to find a juice that can give the TH of 18mg nic with 0 nic. Any suggestions? I think if I could find that, it would make going to 0 nic a lot easier.

Check these out that I yanked from the list of additives at List of e-liquid additives « E-Liquid Recipe Book

Q-Hit (Throat hit additive)
Throat Hit +
Diablo Loco (A DV flavor concentrate that adds TH due to SHU rating of 500,000)
PGA (Added to thin VG or add throat hit)

 

[garvstone]

I have a Dr's appt in the am. I quit for a couple months with Chantix and have just ordered my first today (a USB Passthrough). The chantix made me insane so I stopped and foolishly went back to analogs. I am going to ask him his thoughts on the situation.