Hello! I am hoping for a little clarity on this topic.
My father is 70. He has been smoking reds since he was a teen. He used to smoke unfiltered pall malls! He has been through a lot. My mom had cancer from 1998 to 2009 when we lost her. He is still heartbroken. She begged him to quit smoking. She used to smoke, but quit when she was diagnosed. He quit, but slowly started back up, hiding it, not smoking in the house. But she had to know from smelling him.
Eight months after she passed away, he had a massive heart attack. He had 98% blockage on one side, 100% on the other. He had surgery, stents put in, a pacemaker and recovered really well. He stayed here to recouperate. At some point after recovering, he started smoking again! Of course this upset me, but as a smoker, I understand that no one can make you quit.
Two years later, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He had his bladder and prostate removed and a neo bladder made. He took a very long time to recover. Towards the end of his recovery, we discovered that he had started smoking again!!! Ugh! My siblings all told him how upset they were, but he continued. I stayed out of it because I was still smoking, though I hated that he was.
In May 2015 he had a stroke. He was rushed into surgery, had arteries in his neck worked on. He did recover well, some small things are still a problem, but all in all, he was lucky. While in the hospital, they discovered that his kidneys are starting to fail. And while his numbers have been holding steady, mostly, he has had a few scary moments where he missed doses of medication and it affected his memory and strength. But, since then, he hasn’t missed one single pill! (I set up his pills for him since he has trouble understanding the doses and times as well as using his hands to get tiny pills into the right day and time in the pill organizer since the stroke. So I know when he missed ones and when he didn’t). I had to explain to him many times that one missed dose of any of his pills could cause his kidneys to fail, and he is going to be on dialysis for the rest of his life. I explained to him that this is not an if he needs dialysis, it’s a when he needs dialysis, according to the doctors. It took a serious loss of memory due to low kidney function to get him to finally get more serious about not missing doses. He has trouble seeing the white pills on the white pill container bottom. I told him he has to carefully check that he gets them all. I tried to get him a new pill organizer with a different color bottom, but he got serious finally.
I told him that he has been so lucky to pull through everything he has, and with his heart doing well, and he has been cancer free for several years, another stroke is a worry, but right now, his kidneys are the biggest issue. I told him that I know it is hard to quit smoking. But, in this case it is only going to lead him to that dialysis machine faster.
I just ordered him a very simple, easy to use eleaf all in one style vape setup. It said it is the most simple one on the market. Which is important for him, simple is best. I ordered the #1 ranked red tobacco flavored juice available. I also made him several varieties of tobacco e juice that I think he will like. They are steeping now.
However, I have second guessed this decision. Yes, in every way vaping is a safer option. Nicotine is not helping him. I don’t know if he will even give vaping a real try.
But, I have read comments from vapers online that said they get kidney stones easily and that vaping PG is really tough on the kidneys, particularly. That their kidneys felt worse than when they smoked. There were only 2 accounts I could find and no actual facts. I made most of the juice max VG just in case. But, I don’t know if I am leading him into a path that is more destructive to his kidneys, but healthier for the rest of him.
Does anyone know any information about this? Any facts, opinions, experiences? Does vaping PG wear on kidneys more than cigarettes?
He doesn’t do anything when he doesn’t feel right, except in extreme emergencies. Before his heart attack, he hadn’t been to a doctor in 40 years!! He had probably 2 minor heart attacks in the days before the massive one, but he thought, or just said, he had the flu! He had my sister find him a doctor to go to on day 3 of heart attacks. Thankfully they did a routine ekg first, and realized what was going on and had him life flighted to a hospital. He also had leaking fistulas from his neo bladder for 2 years before he addressed it with a doctor, only because I found out and made him. He is only 108 pounds, and cant gain weight. He only weighed 130 before all of this. And he is just completely oblivious to anything going on in his body. Or, maybe not oblivious but happier to ignore it. I fear that if vaping does cause kidney pain, he won’t speak up and before I know it, he is going to be much worse.
He is not going to quit smoking, but he may consider vaping if I show him the facts about smoking and kidney failure. I made the juice at 6mg of nic, lower than he is used to, but I hope that with him not understanding the terms and stuff, that he will not notice. The reason is, I believe it’s more of the habit and craving. He never smokes a whole cigarette. I don’t know why. I honestly think he feels like crap when he smokes, but just needs those few puffs. Which makes vaping perfect! I have had him try my vape before, but never a tobacco flavor. But he didn’t mind it. Didn’t love it because it wasn’t tobacco tasting.
Should I give him the vape??
I guess a lot of us went through that “I’m my own boss; I’ll do what I like”-phase when we knew we should’ve quit already. Some kind of childish spite perhaps. Well, I know I did at least lol. And maybe he feels it’s still his prerogative and finds a feeling of freedom in that. I’m sure you’ll win him over, Jenny, and he’s blessed to have a daughter like you to care for him. Best of luck!
Make sure he understands the importance of being hydrated.