What is your doc's opinion & your own experience?

[Denni]

I keep reading on these threads that some doctors have expressed a favourable opinion about e-cigs presented by their smoking patients (I have not been back to my own doc yet, and we've never discussed smoking, so I can't contribute any feedback of my own).

And also for those who are suffering from COPD or other respiratory conditions, what are your own anecdotal opinions about e-cigs? Do you perceive them as helpful?

Input sought for a doc I know

 

[MyB]

my doc is on my .... at every visit about smoking. when i told him i had cut my analog intake over half and that i was vaping, he seemed a little excited. he asked what was in the liquid and when i told him, his only response was that pg is used in asthma nebulizers so he didn't see any reason to be alarmed as long as i was cutting down on the analogs.

 

[Avid]

I keep reading on these threads that some doctors have expressed a favourable opinion about e-cigs presented by their smoking patients (I have not been back to my own doc yet, and we've never discussed smoking, so I can't contribute any feedback of my own).

And also for those who are suffering from COPD or other respiratory conditions, what are your own anecdotal opinions about e-cigs? Do you perceive them as helpful?

I asked my doctor what she thought about e-cigs a couple weeks ago, just prior to receiving my kit but she had never heard of them. As I explained it to her, she didn't seem adverse to the idea. She did ask to see it when I came in (haven't gotten back there yet to show her) as well as any information that came with the packaging.

I have chronic bronchitis, aggravated by 30 years of smoking almost 3 packs/day analogs. I have failed to either quit OR cut down with conventional methods (pills, gum, patches, hypnosis, etc). I think my doctor is probably just relieved I had found something I was enthusiastic about trying!

As for my take on the vaping, I can't wait to show her how I'm doing! After failing miserably on other available methods, I have gone from 3 packs/day analogs to vaping and only about 7 - 10 analogs/day... and dropping

I'm a happy girl!

 

[katink]

I'll just link to another place where I made a post about this. And of course my doctor had to be happy with these results
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/7606-any-extremely-unpleasant-side-affects.html#post117431

 

[Denni]

Thanks guys

(I haven't had time to be on the forum much today but will check back soon, and I've forwarded the link.

 

[UkUsa]

my doc is on my .... at every visit about smoking. when i told him i had cut my analog intake over half and that i was vaping, he seemed a little excited. he asked what was in the liquid and when i told him, his only response was that pg is used in asthma nebulizers so he didn't see any reason to be alarmed as long as i was cutting down on the analogs.

This was pretty much my doc's response too. I went on on Thursday with some bad back pain. Hadn't been for a while and he asked about my smoking. I told him "I don't smoke anymore, but i do use an electronic cigarette."
He had never heard of them, of course the 901 was in my pocket so i showed it to him. Told him that the liquid was mainly Propylene Glycol, with nicotine and flavorings. This way i get my nicotine without any tobacco at all and i'm stepping down the nictotine each month.

All he said was "That's good, stick with it."
He is pretty much a straight shooter so I figure that if he thought it was a bad idea to vap he would of told me.

 

[taz3cat]

All three of my doctors love e-cigs. My cardologist would not let me out of his office untill I promesed to fax his staff information on them. My family doctor had her nurse on the internet before I left getting the right information and me helping her. My pumonary Doctor is a little more "show me" and I am his test rat, he is really please about my not smoking analogs (thats the part he loves).

 

[Denni]

This is excellent! If the docs take an interest then perhaps e-cigs will be looked upon more favourably by the lawmakers. (I have no problem with having the devices and liquid properly tested and perhaps manufactured locally, under licence).

 

[TropicalBob]

My usual doctor wasn't available today to see me for a chest congestion issue so I got a new doc. As he took a history on his laptop, I told him of my e-smoking since January 2008. He did not show interest. No cigarettes? Nope. No cigarettes. And that was all that seemed important to him. I could have told him I was eating lawn clippings to avoid cigarettes, and I suspect he would have approved.

A nurse said she was planning on quitting cigarettes soon, said she'd heard of e-cigarettes. I showed her my Dura-C. Conversation over. She did not ask where to buy one, what they cost, what's in them, etc. To those I met today, the only important thing is to quit cigarettes -- and e-cigs aren't on any approved NRT list.

I really expected more interest. But until these have some kind of regulatory approval, those in the medical profession are not likely to enthusiastically recommend them. Doctors just don't recommend unapproved therapies or devices. I put my toy back in my shirt pocket.

 

[radiokaos]

My doc who works at the Mayo Clinic (Head of Family Physicians), knew about the E cig. He did caution me with some potential side effects (high doses of nic) and that there is no data or long term history use. He did applaud my efforts to cut back on Analogs. He wants to do some blood testing (CBC, WBC, etc) for the next few months to see if anything changes. No issue to me since my health plan covers all these tests.

Side note, I was at a party with these physicans (wifey is a surgical RN @ mayo) and these people were eating it up. I had two nurses and one scrub tech to try them out. Now they are hitting me up for ejuice for their new starter kits.

 

[Denni]

My usual doctor wasn't available today to see me for a chest congestion issue so I got a new doc. As he took a history on his laptop, I told him of my e-smoking since January 2008. He did not show interest. No cigarettes? Nope. No cigarettes. And that was all that seemed important to him. I could have told him I was eating lawn clippings to avoid cigarettes, and I suspect he would have approved.

A nurse said she was planning on quitting cigarettes soon, said she'd heard of e-cigarettes. I showed her my Dura-C. Conversation over. She did not ask where to buy one, what they cost, what's in them, etc. To those I met today, the only important thing is to quit cigarettes -- and e-cigs aren't on any approved NRT list.

I really expected more interest. But until these have some kind of regulatory approval, those in the medical profession are not likely to enthusiastically recommend them. Doctors just don't recommend unapproved therapies or devices. I put my toy back in my shirt pocket.

I guess they can't officially endorse them, but some will point them out to patients who simply can't quit the analogues. It seems that some docs are open to the harm-reduction approach, rather than the all-or-nothing attitude. Here in the UK, we may get the NHS interested if a few surgeries recommend this approach, and before the NRT guys get wind of it and start a counter-campaign