Time to step up, veteran vapers!

[Mac]

you might find some useful intel on this thread http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/health-safety-e-smoking/31195-did-your-lungs-clear-up.html

It's 4 months old and there were a bunch of posters that visited their doctor regularly. Maybe you could reach out to some of them. I wish I could be more help Kristin. I am going on 11 months now without a cigarette. But I have never had a primary care physician. I have never had health insurance. Only time I see a doctor is at the ER. It would cost me a couple hundred bucks and no signs of improvement could be noted, since this would be my first non ER doctor visit since I was 12.

 

[Richie G]

Why don't you PM SmokeyJoe and ask him to post your appeal in the Veterans forum? It is no longer visible to the rest of us.

[BTW, I voted for you.]

Without steering this thread in the wrong direction, this is what I was referring to with regard to Veteran status. Kristen, for all she does for us, and the intelligent manner in which she does it, should not have any kind of restraints within the forum. There is no one, that I am aware of, that has done more for us in such a short period of time as Kristen has.

Kristen, thank you, as always for your efforts. I wish I fell into the criteria that you're seeking. I fear that it's going to be tough to find just the right candidates for this endeavor, though. Ideally, people who have had x-rays and whatnot before they started e-cigs and a year or so afterward would be the target group.

Maybe we should be implementing this strategy starting with newbies as sort of a hazing process. LOL

A sticky in the newbie forum:

Ok folks, here's the deal -- nobody is allowed to post here until they take a physical. =)

I'm teasing, natch. But I think there is a long term approach that needs to be considered. Although, the FDA's <cough> study of the ONE Smoking Everywhere cartridge that triggered the negative publicity rhubarb toward e-cigs was VERY effective. Perhaps, we don't need a laundry list of veteran vapers. Maybe just a handful of reports from those veterans and their docs would be as a powerful as the misguided FDA report was. I mean, the FDA thing was nearly complete propaganda. A handful of factual reports should carry more or at least as much weight in the eyes of the public. Shouldn't it?

 

[natura]

Originally Posted by DonDaBoomVape View Post
"Why don't you PM SmokeyJoe and ask him to post your appeal in the Veterans forum? It is no longer visible to the rest of us."

I wonder why it's invisible? Wish it could be "read only" for us new vapers.
OH MY, Think their laughing at the new herds that come to ecf? hehehe

Well, it's nice to see people at least responding and nice to hopefully keep this on page one of today's posts.

 

[jj2]

Not there yet. I'll be about two months over when I see my GP next. I'm sure he'll have a dozen or so question since he knows I'm using the ecig when I do see him.
Since I hate going in the first place, I'm not going early---sorry, but I'll let you know how things are going when I do.

I do have to see another one in January (about a month shy though). If she has the time, I'll have her check my BP, breathing, and stuff like that.

 

[tribalmasters]

What a difference! I think I could even see the ghost of the heart in them early x-rays!

 

[kristin]

Good morning, Kristin:

I think your idea is great. My comment is that the week before Christmas is probably a bad time to recruit people, because many are so busy with the Holidays and travelling.

I bet if you put the call out after the New Year, you will get more responses.

Good luck.

Why don't you PM SmokeyJoe and ask him to post your appeal in the Veterans forum? It is no longer visible to the rest of us.

[BTW, I voted for you.]

you might find some useful intel on this thread http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/health-safety-e-smoking/31195-did-your-lungs-clear-up.html

It's 4 months old and there were a bunch of posters that visited their doctor regularly. Maybe you could reach out to some of them. I wish I could be more help Kristin. I am going on 11 months now without a cigarette. But I have never had a primary care physician. I have never had health insurance. Only time I see a doctor is at the ER. It would cost me a couple hundred bucks and no signs of improvement could be noted, since this would be my first non ER doctor visit since I was 12.

Thanks you guys and thanks, Richie, for the kind words, but there are a lot of people who work their butts off behind the scenes - Spikey Babian, for one. Webby, Volcalek, Thad, Kate, Sun...the list goes on but it's not big enough!

Dlynne, you have a good point - I'm not trying to get this done before christmas or anything, so I can wait a few more weeks!

Bear in mind that my goal is NOT to show that people are getting better!! People will just attribute that to the fact that they quit smoking. The goal is to show that they are no worse for the wear by using e-cigs for 12 months. So previous xrays are not really needed. My goal is to show no adverse affects of vaping. Just need a good checkup is needed: clear lungs, nose and throat, good blood pressure, etc. Maybe a breathing test of some kind.

If vaping were so bad, after 52 weeks of doing it, we'd show some sign of illness or damage, right? But I doubt it will. Hopefully, it'll show clear lungs, good blood pressure, no irritation to the lungs, nose and throat and good breathing sounds; all signs of someone who quit smoking but - SURPRISE! - they use e-cigs!

I would definitely be interested in people at the 8-9 month mark, as well and people who DO have before/after xrays - they could be a whole other group covered in the paper.

Who knows if and when this will get off the ground. My goal is to get 50-60 people to participate, so before I get all of the names together and get everyone contacted, many more people will probably hit the 12 month mark.

Again, this is not intended to replace an actual study or testing. This is basically a pacifier for the public and politicians. I'll gather every study I can find and include 50-100 (not counting on 100 at this point, but one can dream) testimonies from physicians who have examined their patients, after 365 days of vaping, and found nothing they can attribute to the e-cigs. People trust doctors and if the doctors are not affiliated with any group or company, all the better.

This is where we need members to step up and help the cause. People are always complaining that things are being done that they can't control and they want to DO something. THIS is a call to action!

I would also suggest, if you are a new but serious vaper & have quit smoking, go to your doctor and get pre-checked & xrayed NOW! We may need to call on you in 12 months!!

 

[jj2]

Kristin, I posted it in the Veteran's forum.

 

[natura]

jj2 Did you have lung x-rays before starting into vaping?

Tribalmaster- I'd love to see x-rays done 2 months after vaping, 4 months, 6 months, and a year. If it is at all like like lifting weights- the body adapts quickly; hence, the need to change your work out routine. Depending on who you listen to- they say 4 to 8 weeks then change up time. Especially when you consider recovery to things like bronchitis and flu.

Do Doctors, Nurses, Technicians, Hospital Adminsitrators get breaks on X-Rays? LOL Would be nice if one could do a series for this cause. We have some on the forum and if your reading PLEASE give this thread a reply. On that same level of thinking..Do you know someone outside the forum that might help? Your neighbor who started vaping and works at the hospital maybe?

 

[kristin]

Kristin, I posted it in the Veteran's forum.

Thank you, my Tigger-ish friend!

I'll finally be among your ranks in February!

 

[ladyraj]

Great idea Kristin and thanks for all you do! I have health benefits but some negative influences as well.

 

[jj2]

No, I didn't. If it was up to my doctor, I would've had lung e-rays every year. I relented about every five because they always came back clear.

I think the state of my lungs ticked off my doctor because he was sure there had to something terrible lurking in there---that way I'd have to quit smoking.

My problems were bronical and high blood and both have improved.
As for blood levels, I had them checked just a few months ago and they have remained the same.

 

[kristin]

Although, the FDA's <cough> study of the ONE Smoking Everywhere cartridge that triggered the negative publicity rhubarb toward e-cigs was VERY effective. Perhaps, we don't need a laundry list of veteran vapers. Maybe just a handful of reports from those veterans and their docs would be as a powerful as the misguided FDA report was. I mean, the FDA thing was nearly complete propaganda. A handful of factual reports should carry more or at least as much weight in the eyes of the public. Shouldn't it?

My line of thought, exactly. TBH, it's more for publicity than anything, although, the word from numerous physicians SHOULD hold weight with a LOT of people. If we can get the study into the mainstream media, 80% of our work will be done.

As I said, this ISN'T going to help with the FDA status, but it should get:

1. More people willing to join our ranks as e-cig users. The more members, the more powerful we are.

2. Less non-smokers/non-vapers willing to listen to the propaganda and more questioning it's validity, which should help with the knee-jerk reactions against them.

3. Slow or halt public vaping bans - legislators may be convinced that e-cigs AREN'T as dangerous as the FDA and ASH make them sound. How can they be, if so many doctors are reporting healthy patients? If it's not showing any signs of hurting the user, how can it harm bystanders?

4. Real-life examples of e-cig use, not just the clinical tests and anecdotes, to point to.

 

[cpcp68]

PM'd you

cpcp68

 

[kristin]

Great idea Kristin and thanks for all you do! I have health benefits but some negative influences as well.

Thanks Ladyraj. I'd want to know those negative aspects, as well. I feel that KNOWING the REAL adverse affects is better than the over-dramatic speculations of our opposition!

 

[TropicalBob]

Well, I'm a veteran, coming up on two years of e-smoking. But -- very importantly -- I rely on snus, dissolvables, a pipe and nasal snuff for much of my nicotine. So I'm not exclusively an e-cig user by any stretch.

Most importantly, my doctor would NOT cooperate. I guarantee it. He as much as said he didn't care what I did as long as I quit cigarettes. I showed him the e-cig. Demonstrated it. He was non-plused. Big deal. ANYTHING, he said, that keeps me off cigarettes is okay. I showed him snus. Fine. Showed him Stonewall dissolvables. Fine. Showed him two bullets of nasal snuff. Fine. The point is e-cigs did not impress him at all.

My most recent visit with a periodontist was worse. She abhorred the e-cig, and told me the only part of my body benefiting was my lungs. The rest of the organs and parts were suffering from constricted arteries because I used nicotine. I demo'd the e-cig. She waved her hands and told me in no uncertain terms not to use that thing again in her office. She told me I needed to quit all nicotine. Period.

Those are my anecdotes. Not great public relations material.

My medical tests are done regularly to check for cholesterol levels that resulted in carotid artery surgery three years ago. I'm fine now, but can't credit e-cigs for that fact. I'm on medication and had major surgery to get where I am today. Those are and were my live-savers.

My lungs appreciate the lack of inhaled smoke daily. No question. But nicotine creates its own problems and I'm a nicotine addict. Knowledgeable doctors might have a problem endorsing continued, recreational use of nicotine -- which is exactly what we're doing.

 

[The Wiz]

TB....I have an appointment with my periodontist on Feb 1st(Which happens to be the one year mark of my vaping habit),wonder if I'll get the same lecture? I do wonder about the constricted arteries and nicotine use....I guess i'll take may chances there and enjoy the fact that I have done away with cigarette smoking! My yearly physical is in Feb also.The Wiz!

 

[a2dcovert]

I have been smoke free for 8 months. It hasn't been easy and it is getting harder to keep the symptoms at bay. I know I'm not alone in this and I just wanted to warn you that there is a large group of us that have discovered that vaping e-juice alone isn't the complete solution. I'm going to win this war but it will not be due to e-cigs alone. Just go to the nicotine forum or the quitting forum to read what I am talking about. Nicotine is only one element in the puzzle.

 

[Liscab]

You are our Goddess, like a personal lawyer

 

[BuzzKill]

I have a severely broken HEEL bone the doctor said that many doctors will NOT operate on a smoker in the foot area ( thats why I started E-cigs ) because of low blood supply in the feet.

I told him I would do everything I could to quit analogs , I found E-cigs and here I am , The doc says my healing is ahead of schedule and it looks great ! this is on E-cigs ( smoker = 70% increased healing time + 60% higher chance of infection VERY BAD ! )

SO far he does'nt care what I do just don't smoke !

I just went to peridontist and they said my gums look WAY BETTER than the last visit 6mo ago

Later

 

[TropicalBob]

Wiz: You might get that lecture if you use the word "nicotine". I was explaining how I didn't smoke, but ... I used "this device that provides a measured amount of nicotine in a vapor." Freak out! Nicotine is a periodontist's no-no. Your gums don't get blood, they recede, you get "long in the tooth" and you impair healing of damaged tissue.

That was the lecture I got after puffing DVap's WTA liquid in her presence.