My Rheumatologist and The E-Cig

[Rosa]

Get a three inch piece of memory foam---rated around 7. It did wonders for me.

Right on! Thanks.

 

[burnsmary95]

we got one of the 3" foam toppers from Overstock (dot) com for about $60 or so... queen. It helps so much. Ours has the little "finger" texture on top, so you don't just sag into it, it seems to support better than the flat top kind did.

 

[DMF]

I've been very lucky. My rheumatologist , and my general practitioner both were 100% behind me on this. The gp was tickled that with just one month vaping, and still an analog here and there, my blood pressure had lowered already. My rheum was happy because , like you I am also on that medication that is used to treat leukemia occasionally, and he was concerned for changes in lung tissue due to the med possibly being modified in a more accelerated fashion by analogs.
All in all, I have to say it is indeed good to have docs who stand behind vaping. Would they stand up against their colleagues to defend vaping? doubtful. But one on one is all I need at the moment.

 

[illinoismom]

5. He also feels that people with auto-immune disorders tend to be nicotine addicts because the brains of these people learn to crave it for the signal it gives the brain to release dopamine. He said he thinks this is also true of those who are suffering clinical (chemical/physiological/major) depression due to a chemical imbalance in the brain; nicotine equals the release of dopamine which equals a way to elevate one's mood or provide a sense of calming. In other words, without knowing it, these patients are actually self-medicating.

When I was severely depressed I wanted to quit smoking my doctor advised against it for the reasons stated above. He felt although the smoking was bad, by quitting I would make my medical condition worse. Surprising no one believed a doctor would tell some one to continue to smoke.

 

[tearose50]

My Doc is very supportive of E Cigs over analogs.

I'm not into this "self medicating" idea. That opens the can for supervision, if you ask me. FDA, AMA, APA and who knows who else. Having a beer; a chocolate indulgance; jogging and getting that runner's high --- all could be categorized as such.

Do you really think you were self medicating when you started smoking way back when?

 

[mwa102464]

I have an 18' memory foam mattress, it is awesome but still my dam back hurts when I wake up, what the heck is it with all of us with back issues these days, my L4 is crushed, other degenerative disk and sciatica issues, it just sucks

 

[Rosa]

Do you really think you were self medicating when you started smoking way back when?

Actually, I think most smokers are self medicating. Most people smoke as a way to get a nice dopamine rush going on and studies have shown that if your body is lacking in dopamine for whatever reason you are more likely to become a smoker. Studies also show that you can destroy your dopamine receptors if you smoke for too long -- in other words, people who smoke for a long time can reach a point where they will never be AS happy again in their lives without continuing a nicotine habit.

I'm just glad we long time smokers can have a less harmful alternative now, since it's not the nicotine that is bad for you (or particularly addictive) it's nice to not have to smoke to get it.

 

[pitbull777]

Not sure the FDA will listen to much other tahn there own BS... but its worth a shot to get the message across

 

[OwnedByAGrey]

Wow! Lots of responses! Too cool! It may sound campy, but it's really nice to know I'm not alone with this sort of thing, especially with vaping and having a medical condition on top of it.

Burnmary, I'll allay your fears about having RA. When a flare is present, there is a considerable amount of swelling, redness, and heat at the joint. The pain and swelling also tends to be symmetrical, meaning it occurs on both sides of the body. So, when my right wrist hurts, my left often does, as well. RA most often affects the wrists, fingers, and hands first. My first flare involved everything *but* my spine. It's also common to have a low grade fever with flares. So, while I can't say you don't have RA, it doesn't sound very likely.

I hear you loud and clear with the healthcare. My insurance company dropped me two months after my having been diagnosed with RA. I was well past the period during which no pre-existings can be discovered. The number one thing on their list for being able to drop me is that my general practitioner listed my having taken Glucosamine two years prior. I was uninsured for well over a year. Social Security told me that I was "two points shy" of being eligible for benefits (I was a stay-at-home-mom), and my husband made too much a year to qualify for SSDI. I was screwed, and the bills kept piling up and up. RA needs some pretty pricey tests. I had to drop my Rheumie. Just couldn't afford it.

What I had to do was apply for the high risk insurance pool in Pennsylvania. I do pay monthly for health insurance, but it's a fair premium for people who have pre-existings or are otherwise deemed as high risk. The deductibles are also fair. Most states have it - no one need go uninsured - it's just not widely advertised. I mean, if it were, we'd not need ... well, that's another thread for another day.

Frankly, I'd talk to your GP. Most will try some meds first to see if that helps you. Luckily for me, my GP is also a chiropractor and is certified in all kinds of alternative medicines, as well. Because a mattress topper has worked to some degree for you, I seriously doubt you're suffering from something such as RA.

 

[my2heartboys]

OK a big WTG for your Rheumatologist....wish mine would have given me the same speech. I go to a Rheumatologist because I have Fibromyalgia (it is listed as being a type of arthritis). Her only concern, which is indeed warented because at the time I was vaping 30mgs/ml of liquid, was that I be careful because of the amount of nicotine. I heeded this warning because I have a tendency, when I can, to chain vape and noticed that quite frequently I would get nauseated and knew that this was a symptom of ODing on nicotine. I have since dropped from 30mgs/ml to somewhere between 6-12mgs/ml to suit my vaping style.

Anyway, I just started a pharmacology class for allied health professionals and one of the first things we were taught was a quote by a guy called Paracelsus (I think, if memory serves correct he is from the Middle Ages) and it goes like this "Only the dose separates a drug from a poison...." In chasing this quote around my mind for the last few weeks and knowing what nicotine is, well, I cannot see a better example of this quote.

Anne

I thought I'd post this here as there are alot of threads started by new vapers which ask about any health concerns with vaping, and are concerned about how their doctors will view it Vs analogs.

I'm only 43, but I have Rheumatoid Arthtritis. I was diagnosed with it in 2009. It's an extremly painful and serious disease in which the immune system attacks the joints of the body, causing "flares" - excruciating pain, major swelling of the affected joints, fevers, debilitating exhaustion, the eventual eating away of the joints in the body. Untreated, it can cause complete disability, and, sometimes, death through secondary disease and illness. Every joint is susceptible, even those of the spine. It is severe enough that one of the treatments involves the use of a cancer drug, in very low dosages, to slow the progression of the disease. Luckily, I have so far been able to keep my flares to a minimum with an anti-malarial drug used to treat RA.

Smoking exacerbates RA. It causes inflammation, and inflammation causes pain. It also tends to be a trigger for flares. But, for some reason, many RA patients are also smokers and swear it helps them to some degree. Counterintuitive on the face of things.

I called my Rheumatologist today to inform him that I had quit smoking. Now, this gent has been in the Rheumatology field for 40 years and has seen many treatments come and go. He told me - very gently - that I needed to stop smoking when I first saw him. He stated it very gently because he knew that many RA patients smoke and are very disinclined to quit. I was a bit worried about his opinion regarding e-Cigs.

The conversation we had, however, was interesting to say the least, and here is a breakdown:

1. He was delighted that I quit analogs.

2. He has said that he has long believed that nicotine, pure nicotine without the other chemicals found in cigars, cigarettes, and pipes, was a mild analgesic, and has been following e-Cig studies very closely.

3. He also believes, and says it has been bourne out in recent studies of pure nicotine, that nicotine also has some anti-inflammatory properties.

4. He has said the above statements of his were due to his noticing over the years that patients who smoke analogs, while unhealthy in pulminary and cardiovascular terms, tended to be calmer, had a higher pain tolerance, and had slightly longer relapses between major flares.

5. He also feels that people with auto-immune disorders tend to be nicotine addicts because the brains of these people learn to crave it for the signal it gives the brain to release dopamine. He said he thinks this is also true of those who are suffering clinical (chemical/physiological/major) depression due to a chemical imbalance in the brain; nicotine equals the release of dopamine which equals a way to elevate one's mood or provide a sense of calming. In other words, without knowing it, these patients are actually self-medicating.

To put it mildly, I was stunned. I thought this info, coming from a venerated Rheumatologist, and one who is highly regarded in his field, would be helpful to some new folks (and, perhaps to some vaping veterans) who are finding themselves concerned about the health effects of vaping.

While I am NOT asserting - and neither did he - that nicotine usage equals a cure when it comes to RA, chemical depression, or other conditions which are exacerbated by low dopamine levels, it is very interesting and comforting to know that it isn't harmful or causing those conditions to worsen.

Just thought you'd like to know.

Vaping some Apricot Tea while waiting for my pain meds to kick in, and then I'm off to bed. (BTW ... I love my Rheumatologist.)

 

[my2heartboys]

Ok, one more thread to add to my long list of subscriptions. BTW--there are so many of us here who deal with chronic pain....maybe we should have our own subforum.

Player30, that sounds like something I did with one of my doctors. When I first was trying to find a diagnosis (and was told by one of my other doctors, psychiatrist, that he strongly suspected fibromyalgia) my GP at the time told me that he didn't believe in the diagnosis of fibromyalgia......needless to say I quickly found me a new GP. I currently take Lyrica for it, but it has been many weeks since I have had a pain free day....and lately my chronic fatigue threatens to close in and smother me.

Anne

I have had Lupus for 30 years (also anti-malarial user). Thanks for posting your comments. What I have learned from having an auto-immune disease is that attitude is everything! I do not allow it to get me down. My first rheumatologist told me I would be dead in five years, and so.... I got a new doctor!!

 

[jj2]

I do moderate the Wellness: Wrecked & Bonkers social group and would like to invite you all there.
If you feel the need to vent without the whole forum seeing, there is a private room.
Just click the link in my sig.

 

[OwnedByAGrey]

jj2, thank you so much! I will certainly favorite that group. Thanks for the invite and the head's up. This forum has more hidy-holes than a castle. LOL

 

[player30]

jj2, thank you so much! I will certainly favorite that group. Thanks for the invite and the head's up. This forum has more hidy-holes than a castle. LOL

hidy-holes... so true! lol

 

[vapi]

burnsmary95]we got one of the 3" foam toppers from Overstock (dot) com for about $60 or so... queen. It helps so much. Ours has the little "finger" texture on top, so you don't just sag into it, it seems to support better than the flat top kind did.

I went all out and got a tempurpedic with adjustable base. It doesn't help with the pain but is sure is cozy.

 

[Gulliverfoyle]

Excellent, real world experience. Thank you for sharing this.

I thought I'd post this here as there are alot of threads started by new vapers which ask about any health concerns with vaping, and are concerned about how their doctors will view it Vs analogs.

I'm only 43, but I have Rheumatoid Arthtritis. I was diagnosed with it in 2009. It's an extremly painful and serious disease in which the immune system attacks the joints of the body, causing "flares" - excruciating pain, major swelling of the affected joints, fevers, debilitating exhaustion, the eventual eating away of the joints in the body. Untreated, it can cause complete disability, and, sometimes, death through secondary disease and illness. Every joint is susceptible, even those of the spine. It is severe enough that one of the treatments involves the use of a cancer drug, in very low dosages, to slow the progression of the disease. Luckily, I have so far been able to keep my flares to a minimum with an anti-malarial drug used to treat RA.

Smoking exacerbates RA. It causes inflammation, and inflammation causes pain. It also tends to be a trigger for flares. But, for some reason, many RA patients are also smokers and swear it helps them to some degree. Counterintuitive on the face of things.

I called my Rheumatologist today to inform him that I had quit smoking. Now, this gent has been in the Rheumatology field for 40 years and has seen many treatments come and go. He told me - very gently - that I needed to stop smoking when I first saw him. He stated it very gently because he knew that many RA patients smoke and are very disinclined to quit. I was a bit worried about his opinion regarding e-Cigs.

The conversation we had, however, was interesting to say the least, and here is a breakdown:

1. He was delighted that I quit analogs.

2. He has said that he has long believed that nicotine, pure nicotine without the other chemicals found in cigars, cigarettes, and pipes, was a mild analgesic, and has been following e-Cig studies very closely.

3. He also believes, and says it has been bourne out in recent studies of pure nicotine, that nicotine also has some anti-inflammatory properties.

4. He has said the above statements of his were due to his noticing over the years that patients who smoke analogs, while unhealthy in pulminary and cardiovascular terms, tended to be calmer, had a higher pain tolerance, and had slightly longer relapses between major flares.

5. He also feels that people with auto-immune disorders tend to be nicotine addicts because the brains of these people learn to crave it for the signal it gives the brain to release dopamine. He said he thinks this is also true of those who are suffering clinical (chemical/physiological/major) depression due to a chemical imbalance in the brain; nicotine equals the release of dopamine which equals a way to elevate one's mood or provide a sense of calming. In other words, without knowing it, these patients are actually self-medicating.

To put it mildly, I was stunned. I thought this info, coming from a venerated Rheumatologist, and one who is highly regarded in his field, would be helpful to some new folks (and, perhaps to some vaping veterans) who are finding themselves concerned about the health effects of vaping.

While I am NOT asserting - and neither did he - that nicotine usage equals a cure when it comes to RA, chemical depression, or other conditions which are exacerbated by low dopamine levels, it is very interesting and comforting to know that it isn't harmful or causing those conditions to worsen.

Just thought you'd like to know.

Vaping some Apricot Tea while waiting for my pain meds to kick in, and then I'm off to bed. (BTW ... I love my Rheumatologist.)

 

[CarolT]

The anti-smokers deliberately commit scientific fraud by falsely blaming smoking for rheumatoid arthritis that's really caused by cytomegalovirus. Smokers and vapers who were once smokers are more likely to have been exposed to this virus, for socioeconomic reasons. The anti-smokers' bogus studies are based on lifestyle questionnaires, so they're cynically designed to exploit those class differences.

http://www.smokershistory.com/rheumat.html

 

[Rosa]

The anti-smokers deliberately commit scientific fraud by falsely blaming smoking for rheumatoid arthritis that's really caused by cytomegalovirus. Smokers and vapers who were once smokers are more likely to have been exposed to this virus, for socioeconomic reasons. The anti-smokers' bogus studies are based on lifestyle questionnaires, so they're cynically designed to exploit those class differences.

http://www.smokershistory.com/rheumat.html

I don't understand why you keep posting this... are you saying that we should continue to smoke? It seems to me that if e-cigs contain only three of the chemicals that are in tobacco cigarettes that we are better off vaping regardless of the data surrounding the debate of the dangers of smoking. I mean wether smoking is bad or good for you, vaping is ultimately better. Who cares anymore about the literature around cigarettes and health scams, we are already beyond that.

Even if someone could prove to me that it's mere coincidence that so many smokers end up dead I would still be happily vaping away and saying, "oh, mm-hmm. Oh, really?" and nodding and trying to be polite.

What's your motivation in these posts? I really don't get it?

 

[Rosa]

Besides, according to these statistics 60% of children/adults and 90% of the elderly should be dying of smoking related diseases right now by your assumption:

Cytomegalovirus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"58.9% of individuals aged 6 and older are infected with CMV while 90.8% of individuals aged 80 and older are positive for HCMV"

 

[CarolT]

I don't understand why you keep posting this... are you saying that we should continue to smoke? It seems to me that if e-cigs contain only three of the chemicals that are in tobacco cigarettes that we are better off vaping regardless of the data surrounding the debate of the dangers of smoking. I mean wether smoking is bad or good for you, vaping is ultimately better. Who cares anymore about the literature around cigarettes and health scams, we are already beyond that.

Even if someone could prove to me that it's mere coincidence that so many smokers end up dead I would still be happily vaping away and saying, "oh, mm-hmm. Oh, really?" and nodding and trying to be polite.

What's your motivation in these posts? I really don't get it?

What the h do you think - that we're supposed to just sit there like little tards and let the anti-smokers lie in our faces? BS. And if you believe in their garbage about chemicals you drank their poisoned kool-aid. You should start caring about the pollution you pour into your mind! They purposely spread those lies about chemicals so they could turn you into their hysteria-ridden puppet. Do you know how much cancer the American Cancer Society claims are caused by environmental chemicals? Six percent! And two-thirds of those are from occupational exposure. And they use quack studies based on lifestyle questionnaires to trump up the total! And all the while they're fear-mongering about secondhand smoke, they're covering up the fact that there have been over 50 studies, which show that human papillomaviruses cause ten times more lung cancers than they screech about.

http://www.smokershistory.com/hpvlungc.htm

And it doesn't matter if "vaping is ultimately better" or not, because if vapers come from a socioeconomic class that has a higher rate of infections, those fraudulent lifestyle questionnaire studies will falsely blame vaping!