So I told my doctor I switched

[Robby Wilson]

OK, so I had to have a physical done for the new year for my employer so I figured it was as good of time as any to lay it out to the doc. Naturally he has been on my nuts about smoking since I moved to Chicago and he became my doctor, but given the varied opinions by those in the medical profession about the devices I was not really sure what to expect. In general, I have a pretty good relationship with him, though I admit I do not see him very often. I am rarely sick.

To my shock he was actually fairly encouraging about it. He would not quite give his blessing, but in the peer reviewed medical literature he has read, he considers it unequivocally clear that the dangers are minuscule compared to smoking and stressed that more research needs to be done. I reported to him my drastic improvement in breathing, smell, taste, etc. which he took as encouraging news. He also took several tests to get a baseline for later use.

What has been your experience when bringing up vaping to your primary care physician?

 

[Firestorm]

My doctor wasn't necessarily pro-vaping, but he was in favor of any approach that could help me quit smoking.

 

[Beamslider]

My doctor told me it was substantialy better than smoking and was great that I got off the cigarettes. He also agreed that my overall health had improved.

He only asked how much nicotine I went thru in a day. I told him around 15 ml of 3 mg per day. He was okay with that.

He didn't even say to cut down and stop.

 

[Wraith504]

Ive had them preach to me about quitting, then caught them lighting up in the parking lot on the way to their cars. Ive stopped them and asked them for a light with a Sh%t eating grin on my face.

 

[Dropmyload]

I do an annual medical. I cant wait for February next year to see how I'm doing. Have been working out and walking 5kms alternately.

Almost 2 months smoke free. I hope I last!

 

[Opinionated]

I went to my doctor about vaping before I bought any vape gear. I only knew what i heard, and that was that it could help people quit smoking, but id never really heard anything much about it. So when all methods of quitting smoking had been unsuccessful, and I had developed severe breathing problems due to smoking, I remembered about vaping and wanted to know what my doctor thought before buying anything.

She was very provaping. She said that taking nothing into your lungs was best, but that if it was a choice between vaping and combustible cigarettes, then she believed vaping was much better. She also believed people could be very successful in quitting smoking if they vaped, and she thought I should give it a shot. (She actually told me not to listen to the anti-vapers... )

That was when I decided to try vaping to quit smoking, it had my doctors recommendation.

As a beside, that was 3-1/2 years ago and my doctors (all of them) have kept up with my vaping since, where concerns vaping and my health. The improvements have been so marked that they now list me on my paperwork as a non smoker without noting me vaping anymore - they said it's not necessary to note anymore. I guess the improvements have been that good. .

It's saying a lot. So yeah, my doctors are provaping.

 

[stols001]

My docs are all provaping, and one of my PCPs vapes, and is an awesome resource for any heath stuff. The other one thought I had throat cancer *for certain* right before I quit smoking, and I think he was more traumatized than I was, as he'd tried a bunch of allergy meds and abx, so I don't know how he is with OTHER patients, but for me, knowing my smoking habits as I reassured him, "Dude, if it is throat cancer, don't worry, I earned it," well, he's provaping for ME, certainly, though he seems sort of for it in an "I cannot outright recommend it," type of thing, and has certainly noted my health improvements. I see him today, have not gotten my chest X-ray repeated, and he's going to complain.

My specialist docs either don't care, or are happy that I've switched.. I do think the tide is turning, docs DO read research (I always imagine a pile of medical journals on the back of their toilet, but they read this stuff for sure). There is much less pushback, at least in my experience. My ENT was like, "They jury's out on vaping," but he's just a super black and white guy.

Anna

 

[Maytwin]

Mine was thrilled I'd stopped smoking and perfectly happy that I'd switched to vaping to do so

 

[rgerber]

OK, so I had to have a physical done for the new year for my employer so I figured it was as good of time as any to lay it out to the doc. Naturally he has been on my nuts about smoking since I moved to Chicago and he became my doctor, but given the varied opinions by those in the medical profession about the devices I was not really sure what to expect. In general, I have a pretty good relationship with him, though I admit I do not see him very often. I am rarely sick.

To my shock he was actually fairly encouraging about it. He would not quite give his blessing, but in the peer reviewed medical literature he has read, he considers it unequivocally clear that the dangers are minuscule compared to smoking and stressed that more research needs to be done. I reported to him my drastic improvement in breathing, smell, taste, etc. which he took as encouraging news. He also took several tests to get a baseline for later use.

What has been your experience when bringing up vaping to your primary care physician?

Three and a half years ago when I told mine, he gave me a hug.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

My primary care dude recommended it. I see him again next month.

My baselines were just awful two years ago. Results were great in 2017. I'm betting on even better results in January.

 

[OlderNDirt]

Both my GP and cardiologist gave me a thumbs up when I switched to vaping and changed my medical records to "former smoker", although both suggested cutting back the nicotine level. 3 years later and neither has ever asked if I'm still off the smokes, if I am still vaping, or if I have cut back on nicotine level (which went from 18mg to 6mg). I take that as "silent approval" of vaping.

 

[DavidOck]

I got the typical "best to not inhale anything but air" from my PCP, but then he marked my records as non-smoker

 

[suprtrkr]

About the same as yours. She wasn't thrilled about vaping. But she hates smoking.

 

[stols001]

My doc appointment went super well. Apparently my lungs are way clearer than last time the doc saw me (how he remembers this, I have no clue). Anyway, everything was better, heartrate, bloodpressure, etc. He also didn't freak about my BMI, which is improving at well. Well, at first he did, but then I pointed out that I was incorrectly listed as 5'6 instead of 5'3.5, after that he was all fine about it (the husband has been nagging me).

So, I still have to get a chest x-ray b/c he is .... like that (I have a tiny area of lung scarring, supposedly) and some labwork, but this has been my nicest appointment in a while

Anna

 

[Obi Wan Vapori]

My PCP just said "Better than cigarettes." and dropped the subject.

 

[jfcooley]

Heh, been so long my doctor didn't know who I was.

 

[stols001]

Your wife isn't nagging you enough, then.

BEWARE the wrath in the Anna household if the husband does not get his yearly physical (I'm convinced that's the reason why guys live longer if they're married, that plus some regular aerobic exercise if they behave themselves and GO to their physicals....)

Anna

 

[jfcooley]

Here's my take, mostly humor so no offense meant to anyone.

No news is great news. I went to the Dr finally years ago and suddenly Type 2 diabetes. Started the whole routine and quickly became annoyed at how much worse it all made me feel. So I did what most men would do. I stopped it all. No insulin, no metformin (no ballistic ....s), nothing.

Went back about a year later and levels were good, they "took me off" insulin which I was amused over flgiven I hadn't stuck myself in months.

Doctors are part of the problem. Growing up I ate dirt, picked my scabs (and my nose), eventually drank a bit, ran around a bit, and found I woke up each morning more or less the same as the day before. Maybe a bit dumber (or smarter if the police were involved). I broke my leg and removed the cast myself. Had chest pains and all ended up well.

My point is if you check, you'll find something. Maybe it is SOMETGING, but more often it's just something to charge the insurance company for.

Haven't seen a doctor in years. Last time I did I was told just quit smoking.

Sure thing Doc

 

[stols001]

IDK I agree on some level JC, but when you have serious health conditions, it's kind of useful to visit docs, (IMO). However, my mom has Crone's disease and in my late twenties I was having some issues and they sent me for a colonoscopy and I had a "hint" of something or other, so they wanted to load me down with meds. I actually filled the script before realizing that it was a) mostly preventative and based on my familial history and b) I did not WANT that particular illness, so I tossed the meds and have been fine ever since.

With that said, I'm not sure I'd recommend that, and my husband's yearly physicals have been totally fine, no issues. IDK if you changed your diet and/or whatnot, but baseline numbers... well, they are an ever shifting target. I think common sense is in order, at times, certainly. I think someone told me they "lowered" the "good" blood pressure numbers recently, mainly in order to prescribe blood pressure meds earlier....

With that said, my doc seemed to be using the old ranges, and if they have changed, he'd probably know if it was BS or not, KWIM.

Visiting a sucky doctor will lead to a poor outcome, a good one does what they can to protect your health, it is completely not unreasonable for me to get an x ray (the doc wanted the same MACHINE even, not just the same facility) to see if my "scarring" has grown. I'm doubtful that it has, but I understand his concern.

Anna

 

[Bigbob2322]

My doctor suggested E-ciggs (I hate that term) to me 7 yrs ago, I laughed at him saying they don't work, listen to your doctor.