“
After my recent
operation, my son
bought me a vaping device
to try and I now use it and
have stopped smoking.
Moving on to your health, can you
explain a bit more about how smoking
began to affect your health?
The only significant affect was with the
leg pain, cramp in the calves and even
worse, the toes. My feet were cold all the
while and this was very uncomfortable. .
What surgery did you have or other
medical treatments?
The first surgery was about six years
ago. Both legs were done and it involved
injecting dye into the leg arteries and
taking x-rays to determine where the
blockages were occurring. These areas
are expanded with a balloon device that
crushes the plaque against the arterial
wall. You are awake during this process
and it is very painful but the relief after
the operation was wonderful. No pain
and my feet were warm for the first time in
years. I could feel the blood flowing again.
I tried to stop smoking but couldn’t and
was soon back on the fags again. After 11
months the pain returned and I needed a
42 AUGUST 2015 VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE
second operation on both legs again.
Would the pain have not come back
had you stopped smoking?
I don’t know.
I understand that doctors told you
that you could lose your legs if you
didn’t quit?
Yes, this is always a possibility and the
doctors say that only way to avoid it is to
stop smoking.
When was that, how did you feel at
the time and what did you do about
it?
This was the advice from the doctors
from the beginning. And I tried to stop
but couldn’t. The symptoms returned
and I recently had a further examination
which showed that both legs were in
trouble again but the right leg was too
badly effected and would need open
by-pass surgery which involves higher
risk and could result in leg removal or
worse. My left leg was treated with the
balloon technique but I agreed that the
right leg should remain as is. They say
that because of the risks, open by-pass
surgery should be reconsidered if the leg
deteriorates further and by this they mean
if it reaches a point that I can’t walk 200
yards without pain.
When did you first hear about vaping?
Tell me how you got to try it and your
initial reaction.
After my recent operation, my son bought
me a vaping device to try and I now use it
and have stopped smoking.
Are you into all the gear like mods
and different flavours and that sort of
thing?
No I use only the nicotine type.
How much do you vape?
I first started 3 months ago and I use it all
the while. It is my comforter and it takes
away the craving for cigarettes
How useful was it to getting you to
quit smoking. Would you recommend
it to others?
This is the only thing that has worked for
me and I would strongly recommend it to
others.
What impact on your health would
you put down to vaping?
I haven’t noticed any adverse effects from
vaping.
Has it helped you quit smoking for
good?
I hope so, but you can never say never.
Do you think that vaping has saved
your life or saved you from losing
your legs?
Only time will tell, but it has stopped me
from smoking and hopefully gives me
every chance.