Went to the doctors office Monday

[Kabooma]

And wanted to post about it. It's been annoyingly eating at me since...

So I go in and you know how it is- the nurse practitioner meets you first, asks what brings you in, etc..

Then the dreaded question:

Nurse: Do you smoke?

Me: "Well, not really, I vape"

Nurse: "what does that mean?"

Me: "You've heard of the electronic cigarette?"

Nurse: "Ok, so yes, you smoke"

Me: "No, I don't. vaping isn't smoking"

Nurse: "it's the same thing"

Me: "No it isn't. Smoking is the burning and inhalation of tobacco, ammonia, nicotine, and hundreds of other dangerous toxins. vaping is simply nicotine and food grade liquid turned to steam. It's more equatable to wearing the patch than smoking."

Nurse: (goes back to her questionaire): "So, how often do you SMOKE?"

Me: (facepalm): "I don't smoke"

Without going through the next 5 minutes of catty back-and-forth, she clearly didn't understand vaping, and it was obvious that the big pharma's propaganda made it into that office.

Now, my doctor has been my doctor for several years, and she's cool as hell, and knows I smoked and quit several times and understands that vaping has kept me off the analogs, but that conversation with the NP was eye-opening. She isn't the first person I've run into who had a very sour disposition towards vaping.

Anyone else run into this crap?

 

[tmel]

I recently got life insurance and vaping labeled me as a tobacco user and I have to pay more.

It's clearly different, I'm still really really angry about it, ....ing .......

They think nicotine = tobacco.

Tobacco is fine, its the thousands of chemicals they put into it to make it burn faster so you buy more, .......n greedy animals.

 

[zanedog]

The nurse practitioner sounds like she needs more than a cigarette lol

 

[RosaJ]

You may want to mention it to your doctor, he/she needs to do some "educating" with her staff.

 

[exnihilo]

Do you smoke? Simple answer = no.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Spazmelda]

You may want to mention it to your doctor, he/she needs to do some "educating" with her staff.

Agree, and that's what I was going to suggest.

 

[zahzoo]

If your doctor is cool... you should have mentioned the conversation and your concerns with the NP. In most cases the NP works "for" the doctor. Since the NP feeds vital information to the doctor you'd really hope both are operating near the same page...

 

[Frenchfry1942]

Sadly, I have many times encountered such people. One of the things that CASAA is doing, or trying to do is to get information out. It doesn't happen as well when people don't sign up (for free). Also, I give a monthly donation of $5. Seems my vaping budget can accept that.

I say, "no, I don't smoke".

 

[GaG8tor]

My ex father in law was a heavy smoker for at least 50 years. About 5 years ago he had lung cancer and had to have reconstructive lung surgery and they removed about 1/3 of one of his lungs. He tried and failed miserably several times to quit smoking. Pills, patches, cold turkey. Once while taking Chantix he had to spend a few days in the mental ward because he was actually contemplating suicide. He started vaping about 6 months ago and instantly gave up the stinkies. Soon before he quit he had an appointment with his lung doctor and his lung capacity was about 40%. Last checkup the capacity of the reconstructed lung was up to 60%. If that's not an Ecig success story I'll kiss the rear end of everyone who says they aren't beneficial.

 

[VapieDan]

And wanted to post about it. It's been annoyingly eating at me since...

So I go in and you know how it is- the nurse practitioner meets you first, asks what brings you in, etc..

Then the dreaded question:

Nurse: Do you smoke?

Me: "Well, not really, I vape"

Nurse: "what does that mean?"

Me: "You've heard of the electronic cigarette?"

Nurse: "Ok, so yes, you smoke"

Me: "No, I don't. Vaping isn't smoking"

Nurse: "it's the same thing"

Me: "No it isn't. Smoking is the burning and inhalation of tobacco, ammonia, nicotine, and hundreds of other dangerous toxins. Vaping is simply nicotine and food grade liquid turned to steam. It's more equatable to wearing the patch than smoking."

Nurse: (goes back to her questionaire): "So, how often do you SMOKE?"

Me: (facepalm): "I don't smoke"

Without going through the next 5 minutes of catty back-and-forth, she clearly didn't understand vaping, and it was obvious that the big pharma's propaganda made it into that office.

Now, my doctor has been my doctor for several years, and she's cool as hell, and knows I smoked and quit several times and understands that vaping has kept me off the analogs, but that conversation with the NP was eye-opening. She isn't the first person I've run into who had a very sour disposition towards vaping.

Anyone else run into this crap?

I state "NO I quit using cigarettes for X amount of time".

 

[skoony]

go back to that office and check your records and make sure it is very clear
that you no longer smoke.
was it a private office or clinic/hospital?
if a clinic or hospital find out if they are involved in any clinical studies
involving smoking or smoking cessation.
np's are not stupid.there is a reason she insisted you are still a smoker
and she's put that in your record.
regards
mike

 

[EddardinWinter]

And wanted to post about it. It's been annoyingly eating at me since...

So I go in and you know how it is- the nurse practitioner meets you first, asks what brings you in, etc..

Then the dreaded question:

Nurse: Do you smoke?

Me: "Well, not really, I vape"

Nurse: "what does that mean?"

Me: "You've heard of the electronic cigarette?"

Nurse: "Ok, so yes, you smoke"

Me: "No, I don't. Vaping isn't smoking"

Nurse: "it's the same thing"

Me: "No it isn't. Smoking is the burning and inhalation of tobacco, ammonia, nicotine, and hundreds of other dangerous toxins. Vaping is simply nicotine and food grade liquid turned to steam. It's more equatable to wearing the patch than smoking."

Nurse: (goes back to her questionaire): "So, how often do you SMOKE?"

Me: (facepalm): "I don't smoke"

Without going through the next 5 minutes of catty back-and-forth, she clearly didn't understand vaping, and it was obvious that the big pharma's propaganda made it into that office.

Now, my doctor has been my doctor for several years, and she's cool as hell, and knows I smoked and quit several times and understands that vaping has kept me off the analogs, but that conversation with the NP was eye-opening. She isn't the first person I've run into who had a very sour disposition towards vaping.

Anyone else run into this crap?

Yeah. I made the decision to vape to quit smoking. My old doctor was on board with me, and away I went. About a year ago, he announced he was moving to Texas. I thought this was pretty inconsiderate of him. Sure, he has his own life to live...but what about my convenience?

So the new doctor interview process started. I actually documented this maddening process here on ECF it was so abominable. I think I settled on the third of fourth doctor I interviewed. My advice, get a doctor that will at least consider the issue with an open mind. I didn't want my doctor to agree with me blindly, but I am not gonna have a doctor who equivocates smoking and vaping. It's that simple.

My new doctor is coming around and has moved from guarded acceptance to embracing it as things happen like:

My lung capacity is up 28%
My weight is 43 pounds less
My required levels of thyroxin supplement have dropped 50 mcg/day

 

[Frenchfry1942]

Yes, go back. Talk to the NP, if no results, talk to the doctor, if no results, get your records under the intent of switching. Have them put them in a sealed envelope if it makes them feel better.

 

[Sucker_dad]

I would have to agree, the answer to "do you smoke?" is no. Don't be ambiguous about it. Vaping is not smoking so say no. When you give them an answer like that it is a foothold on misinformation. Just my .02

 

[Stephanie Page]

not sure when this kind prejudice would finally disappear, but i mean, seriously, vaping=steaming.
vaping is totally different from smoking.

 

[pfaber11]

i told my doctor i was vaping and had been doing for a couple of years and he marked me down as a non smoker.

 

[Mr.Mann]

When I get asked if I smoke, I say no, because I don't. I have taken a physical and told the doctor afterward, after he commented on me "clearly being a non-smoker," and he was completely intrigued -- so much that he wanted more information (and the nurse too) since they know people whom they felt could benefit. They actually wanted me to show them my gear and how it worked.

Remember, be confident in what you're doing and what you're not doing.

 

[joecil]

Since September 9th of last year I've been treated with months of follow ups for lung cancer. Now I was a PAD smoker for over 50 years and tried about every method of quitting out there with complete failure until a nurse suggested I use e-cigs. Well it works and both my Oncologist are happy with my choice with the only warning coming from one about being careful about where the juice came from. This was also true of my GP as well. Now I've even stopped nicotine and actually enjoying the tastes better. The problem is e-cigs because of the vapor which kind of looks like smoke they get linked together. Also the fact no one knows the long term health effect but as a man in my late 60's I doubt I will see any.

 

[Frenchfry1942]

I don't like to call my vaporizer an e-cig. I don't think it is a cigarette at all. It is a vaporizer with none of the bad chemicals of a cigarette. In the same sense, I do look for quality-made juices. Anyway, I don't smoke.

If I call it an e-cigarette, it just sets off alarms in un-informed people.

 

[mare ze dotes]

I say that I don't smoke. I don't say that I vape. (I want to avoid just such a conversation) But I don't smoke and no one can convince me otherwise. I suppose that if I ate the tobacco plant they would call that smoking? There are other sources of nicotine, it is just that tobacco is the most efficient for economically extracting. So sez I.