My Dr's Reaction to My E-Cig

[Mommyshann]

Good Morning Fellow Addicts!

I had to go to the Dr. today for a Strep Throat infection. When I told her it's been 8 days since I've had a real cig she was ecstatic. I pulled out my e-cig, put it together and puffed on it and she lit up. She said she has known about these for a while now and highly recommends them. She has one patient that's been using an e-cig for almost a year now and uses 4 carts a day but his health has improved dramatically. She said that by using this I have probably just saved myself 10-20 years even if I use my e-cig for the rest of my life. Her only complaint about them is they, even for Dr's, they have been almost impossible to get. She was able to order them through a pharmaceutical company but it often took 2-3 weeks to receive and there were really no options as far as nic strength, flavor, etc. She asked where I got mine and I gave her a few of Steve's cards I had in my purse. She said she'll definitely be handing those out to other patients and she couldn't even begin to tell me how happy she was for me. She said that she is aware that there has been little testing on these but that absolutely nothing could ever be worse than smoking a real cigarette and what she has read and researched on the e-cigs shows that they cause very little to no harm. She told me if I feel I have to to smoke my e-cig for the rest of my life but under no circumstances to go back to smoking real cigs.

So, this is a huge relief for me. I'm so glad to know that she feels the same way I do about them and she agrees that the e-cig is a Godsend. She said she's had several patients that nothing else worked for but these did!

 

[ApOsTle51]

wow, excellent stuff.....nice to know people from the medical proffesion would prefer smoker to use e-cigs rather than real ones even though the lack of testing.

~Thanks for the story MommyShann~

 

[Kate]

That is good to hear, hopefully professionals working at the roots of the health system will feed the good news to higher ups. They can't help but realise that esmoking is far better than smoking and that it's the only option for many of us, NRT simply is not satisfying.

I saw my psychiatrist today and she was very interested in my ecig, she thought it was great. She was asking where to get them so I gave her one of Smokester's cards.

 

[Mommyshann]

Haha, sounds like soon the suppliers here will be fielding orders from Dr's offices Kate!

 

[Kate]

Yes, I hope so Shannon. Suppliers can't sell to doctors directly because esmoking isn't an approved medical treatment but if satisfied customers have business cards handy then recommendation is the next best thing.

 

[BarryK]

I also had to see my GP earlier in the week about another problem but he asked how the 'quitting' was going ............ I told him it was about 8 weeks since I'd had a proper ... and showed him the Classic - he too was in total support, and he also said that if I stayed on the e-cigs forever it was still much, much healthier than going back to tobacco.

The good word is spreading fast folks.......let's hope the big knobs in the NHS feel the same way, although I expect that the manufacturers of the 'approved' NRT's may have an altogether different opinion.........

 

[PeteMcArthur]

This is really encouraging, I expected the medical profession to be against e-cigs but they seem to be looking at the harm reduction angle. All very good apart from the fact that I conned my doc into thinking I stopped years ago. (I'm a coward, she would shout at me) so I won't be able to bring out the e-cig to show here.

On the other hand when she asks if I'm smoking, I'll be able to say NO with a clear conscience

 

[Femur]

Thanks for sharing guys - its encouraging to hear about the positives in the medical community, especially amount family doctors who see the lion share of traditional smokers.

Out of curiosity, has anyone had any negative reactions yet? (and to be clear, I'm not asking about cautious reactions as in - "I can't comment on them until more research is done" etc etc, but out and out NOs)

 

[jarvis]

It's interesting that she got them from a pharmaceutical company, I wonder if they're any different than the ones we're buying if a drug company is willing to sell them.

 

[m1sterlurk]

Strange this topic came up, I showed mine off to my doctor today too.

He was so impressed he promptly had me go show the secretary and tell her where to buy one (she's been trying to quit for awhile).

 

[cass]

Awesome story! Thanks for sharing! I haven't shown mine to the doc yet. Told him I was trying e cigs and he laughed. I think he thought I was kidding. I haven't whipped it out because I was concerned that he'd knock it and I really am feeling positive about it right now. I was concerned that I might get neg feedback that would only make me stress on the "what if he's right???"
Maybe I'll give it a shot next appointment.

 

[Shining Wit]

Good Morning Fellow Addicts!

I had to go to the Dr. today for a Strep Throat infection. When I told her it's been 8 days since I've had a real cig she was ecstatic. I pulled out my e-cig, put it together and puffed on it and she lit up.

What?! Your Dr lit up, in the surgery?!!!

Yes, I too have to visit my Doc this week for my regular check on blood pressure etc. We know each other quite well and he will not believe it when I tell him I have given up, he's been telling me for years and has given me lots of encouragement but until I became Intellicig Man there was nothing that could stop me. I'll be showing him how it works and hope he recommends it to others.
John.

 

[TropicalBob]

I got a similar reaction not long ago at my annual checkup. The doctor was so freaking ecstatic that I was off real cigarettes that he ignored the sore shoulder I wanted to discuss. So we talked e-cigs and snus and Stonewall. This is the bottom line: The medical profession is so anti-tobacco that I could be chewing lead pellets one after another and I'd get an "attaboy."

My doctor approved everything I was using. Basically, as long as I don't inhale tobacco smoke, my "whatever" solution is better for me, he seemed to indicate.

I did do a full demo of the Janty, however. Took it apart, etc. Puffed in his office. He didn't react much. He was just happy I didn't have my usual pack of cigarettes in my shirt pocket when I visited him this year.

And my shoulder still hurts like crazy. Er, doc, could I have your attention a second ...

 

[lynchite]

Great thread!

Does anyone know what the NHS stop smoking service thinks of them? I've been meaning to phone up to tell them about it but I don't want a negative reaction..

 

[BarryK]

.....................Does anyone know what the NHS stop smoking service thinks of them? I've been meaning to phone up to tell them about it but I don't want a negative reaction..

I got my E-cig 2 weeks after my 'quit' day and the initial reaction of my 'No Smoking Group' leader was initially very positive - one month later, that enthusiasm had turned to total negativity - I'd guess that this is nothing to do with the local health authority, who want people to quit by any means, but probably from much higher up in the private sector.

I'd guess that the makers of Niquitin & Nicorette are 'sponsoring' the Private Care Trusts' anti smoking campaigns, and as they are making a lot of money from the 'approved' NRT products they're not gonna want to see 'their' profits going elsewhere..........

 

[TropicalBob]

Good observation. We know that anti-smoking groups are often supported by "charitable" divisions of Big Pharmaceutical. That's been documented. If they can scare people into quitting, then Big Pharma profits from sale of NRT products. So what are they to make of e-cigs, where they do not profit and indeed lose money that might have otherwise been spent on gums and lozenges and patches?

They will oppose it. Not in a splashy fashion. They don't want to draw attention to their intention. But it's always about "follow the money." The change in attitude you experienced comes from a perceived loss of bottom line monies. All of us here can fill in the blanks on why e-smoking is "bad".

 

[jimldk]

Good job people..I am very happy at least some doctors will be more open to this new found aspect of alternative treatment....lets hope the words spreads and then we shall see....I am very thankful for this thread (that I felt not alone anymore)...spread the good words people and let the battle anew....

 

[Nazareth]

Went to the dentist a bit ago, talked to the assistant about the ecig after she asked me how much I smoke per day- went back for a follow-up visit & she had told her boss about them and he had gone online looking into them as he was trying to quit smoking. Short story I know, but destined to be a legendary one

 

[cass]

My doctor approved everything I was using. Basically, as long as I don't inhale tobacco smoke, my "whatever" solution is better for me, he seemed to indicate.

Man, Tropical, But I hope I get the same reaction. I have my 3rd CT tomorrow with the results on Friday. I'm armed and ready with the e-cig. But you know what usually happens in our gullible little minds. If he questions one little thing about it, my mind with start going. I'll start questioning the success I've had thus far. Pathetic, but admitted.
That's why I've tried so hard to learn everything about e-cigs. If people have questions, I want to have answers.

 

[Trinity]

NRT simply is not satisfying.

Except for full strength bitter tasting nicotine gum, that stuff is simply wow and really can kick, shame its probably more addictive than the cigs.

Im not the only person who went back to cigs to get off the damn stuff, and that was hard. Not fun to have a smoke and then need some gum!