My Doctor's Reaction To My PV

[Jules22871]

* Sorry for not reading all the posts. Concentration is not the best right now.


I am so glad to hear that you are doing better. I wish more people would post what their docs say and recommend. I see five different doctors and all of them love the ecig. I am always taking them cards to hand out.

 

[CaptJay]

Sweet deal Remie - your doc sounds like a decent sort
So yeah I'm English - and used to dealing with English docs, which means basically I don't accept their word without explanation and full info on whatever treatment they are proposing. Also my Doc back in the UK and I worked TOGETHER, discussing treatments and prescriptions; he always trusted that I knew my body best, and he knew medicine so together we could work out what worked and what didn't.
Moved to the USA, and the first doc I ran into was rather..let's say surprised at my attitude. It was really odd to me, and to him I must have seemed like..Idk..someone who SPOKE and wasn't scared of him He was really affronted when I questioned his knowledge/proposals. I found that insulting lol, he probably did too. It was amusing to me that he felt I had no right to question him, I found it amusing that he assumed I couldn't. He did try and push a prescription on me but I insisted on full disclosure about it and then questioned whether it was needed (yes Im one of those educated patients lol).
I have now found a doc who isn't so dyed in the wool traditionalist but I did find it shocking that he assumed because he had a degree in medicine he should be treated as ;god; and I was to have no opinion. I was also shocked that he didn't even ASK if I might also have a degree in medicine or science.. I guess the practice of patient medicine in the US is a lot different than patient practice medicine in the UK.
Kind of doesn't surprise me then tht the FDA isn't challenged by ordinary doctors, especially good ones like Remie's; probably worried about been blackballed by the other doctors.

I'm glad though that everyone with chest issues seems, in the MAIN, supported by their medical carers and that theyve seen improvements; can't help but wish though that they would all band together and shove the results up the FDAs nose to show them its working. Better yet - tell the world.
Peace and continued good health to all of your with medical issues worse than my own

 

[Metstoo]

He was really affronted when I questioned his knowledge/proposals. I found that insulting lol, he probably did too. It was amusing to me that he felt I had no right to question him, I found it amusing that he assumed I couldn't. He did try and push a prescription on me but I insisted on full disclosure about it and then questioned whether it was needed (yes Im one of those educated patients lol).

I sooo know this attitude from doctors.

 

[scheherezade]

That's great news Remie! I'm glad you posted. Also an asthmatic, and I'm looking forward to hitting my one month mark to see if I feel any different. You're an inspiration!

 

[chrislaubach]

Fantastic - I also ran this past a physician friend of mine and he validated the safety of vaping PG and nicotine. He worked for the FDA for awhile and started telling me stories about the big pharma companies and the pressures they would exert.

 

[sixofusernames]

thats really awesome, i am looking forward to my next dr. visit!

 

[Scott EE]

Fantastic - I also ran this past a physician friend of mine and he validated the safety of vaping PG and nicotine. He worked for the FDA for awhile and started telling me stories about the big pharma companies and the pressures they would exert.

Good I can keep my tinfoil hat on then.

 

[ogzpy]

very nice!!!

 

[DirtyHarry]

I sooo know this attitude from doctors.

I went (several years ago, when the "dot-bomb" happened) from working IT to working in a hospital. It was startling to me to see up close how medicine is virtually "tech support" for the human body; right down to the symptom/resolution matrix.

Interestingly, this made me understand and communicate with the doctors MUCH better. It helped also that I was from a "medical family" and had absorbed through osmosis a lot of medical knowledge throughout my lifetime.

Anyway, while I was always peripherally aware of it, working in a hospital really brought home to me the "generation gap" in doctors... basically, if a doctor graduated medical school somewhere before 1975 - 1985 or so, they will probably have the "god complex" that was trained into them early on in school. Younger doctors tend to be much more flexible and able to reason more clearly, engaging the patient more.

This is painting with a very broad brush, I know... certainly there are excellent physicians out there who have been practicing for 50 years... but at the time they were in school, they were the "rebels" against Established Doctrine that said "people will lose confidence if you don't assert your authority". My mother remembers a time where it was so bad that people had to stand up when a doctor came into the room, like in the military.

"Shop" for your doctors. Feel free to give them a job interview if it is your first time visiting; even such an institution as Kaiser (which I have) will allow you to pick and choose. I managed to get lucky on the first draw of the cards - but then, my doctor is a good 15 years younger than me, and so comes from the "younger generation" side of the Gap.

I'm eagerly awaiting my next visit in a few months; I suspect he'll be enthusiastic about vaping.

-Insp. 2211

 

[Metstoo]

Anyway, while I was always peripherally aware of it, working in a hospital really brought home to me the "generation gap" in doctors... basically, if a doctor graduated medical school somewhere before 1975 - 1985 or so, they will probably have the "god complex" that was trained into them early on in school. Younger doctors tend to be much more flexible and able to reason more clearly, engaging the patient more.

Yes, looking back, I can see that the docs that gave me attitude were generally older. Currently, I have a younger female gp doc that I like okay. My only complaint is the main complaint of most Americans and that is that, she has no time to work with me as much as I'd like. Comparatively, this doc manages her office fairly well and the waits aren't crowded and horribly long but, like most doctors these days, she has to crank a quota of patients through the door in order to meet insurance and financial demands. It's a shame, too, because she certainly seems to care and is curious and open to new ideas. Just no time to do followup. The healthcare system is whack and we all have to deal with it...

But that's another thread...

 

[wave42]

The best doctor I've ever had was a DO. If you're not familiar with that term, DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. They comprise about 10% of doctors but are represented in all fields. They are equal in every way to a MD. They are taught a holistic approach and tend to be very hands on and not "drug-centric". On a typical visit, he'd ask me about home, school, my job, etc.. They're not the type of doctor you visit if you're just looking for a prescription. Unfortunately, he's retired but if he were still in active practice, I have no doubt he would have been 100% behind my switch to e-cigs.

 

[Col. Gaunt]

When I told and showed my dentist that I now used PV's he wanted me to send him links as to where they could be purchased so he could recommend them to his other patients! He also wanted to get one for himself!

 

[Dmass]

I can't wait to tell my Dr.

 

[DrkLashes]

Congrats!!!! Love hearing cases like yours - where you actually KNOW your health is improving! I hope my doc shares the same enthusiasm- that's one awesome doc you have there too... to you!!!!

 

[Daifne]

Seeing my doctor tomorrow... er, since it's after midnight here, I guess that makes it later today. ;-) I will be talking to him about it as well as getting a letter from him to send to the state for they will give me a couple of months supply of gum to help me along. He's very much of a geek (last visit he asked me if I had jailbroken my new iPhone yet...) so I think he should already know about them. I'll let you all know tomorrow.

 

[pianoguy]

I wish everyone could read your story - that is fantastic, and it's also great to have a doctor with an open mind. Congrats!

 

[Daifne]

Well, that was disappointing. He has no problem with the e-cig, or any method used to get off the analogs. He was more excited about showing me his new digital stethoscope. ;-)

 

[Katattack]

Well, that was disappointing. He has no problem with the e-cig, or any method used to get off the analogs. He was more excited about showing me his new digital stethoscope. ;-)

"oh that's your new toy? Look at MY new toy!"

 

[Remie]

Daifne - I honestly LOL'd at the "digital stethoscope"!! Some of them can be expensive but the ambient noise reduction and sound amplification boosters make listening to hearts and lungs as fun as it was when first learning how in school <--- I am a total geek

I'm glad your doctor doesn't have any problems with you "vaping" - but yeah, a little more enthusiasm for you and a little less enthusiasm over his new toy would have probably felt good!

Do you use the nicotine gum when you vape? It's great you can get it at no cost! I tried it years ago and didn't like the sensation, it was irritating and didn't taste very good, but it's probably come a long way since then!

Exactly Kat... new toy syndrome spares nobody!!

Thank you everyone... I would have never taken the plunge without all of the encouragement and information I received when I found this forum! It's so great to have a real sense of "community". Sharing our experiences and having so much support is awesome.

 

[Daifne]

It really was pretty funny. ;-)

Remie,
I completely forgot to ask him for the letter. Oops. ;-)

I haven't been using the gum yet, but, even at 36mg, I seem to be getting too many cravings. I was/am an American Spirit smoker. Much higher nic levels than most analogs. The thing is that I don't chew any type of gum. Just don't like it. I may go with the lozenges instead.