I am no longer in service (it's been about 40 years), but I am a disabled vet, and I spend a lot of time at the VA Hospital. The VA treats vapes like burning tobacco. This is pretty annoying. I was a smoker for 50 years, but since I quit smoking, I can't stand to be around the things. They make my eyes burn and water, burn my nostrils, and give me a scratchy throat. How did I DO that for 50 years?!? Anyway, at the VA, to vape, you have to go to a smoking area, where I get to enjoy all of the aforementioned symptoms. I tried vaping in a non-approved area, outside and still way away from anyone else, and was threatened with arrest. There is no proven hazard to "second hand vape", and I am told there isn't even an odor (sense of smell is one of the things Uncle took from me). My (VA) doctor has even told me I probably saved my life when I threw over cigarettes for vaping. Just what gives? Where has sanity gone in this world?
I had some similar experiences at the VA in Ann Arbor, Michigan. While the place is immaculate and efficient, there are days when you have 2-3 appointments and some of them are hours apart. If I was a cigarette smoker like I used to be for 38 years, I have a special section for me outside where I can enjoy my vice.
HOWEVER, my "vice" is now vaping since I quit cigarettes cold turkey in 2011. I picked up one of those disposable cigarettes at the gas station, and haven't looked back. So when I go outside to partake of my vaping, I can count off the dirty looks, the nasty comments, and even harassment from a short, fat, black Security Guard with a superiority complex. I sat UNDER a "No Smoking" sign once, and was threatened with arrest. She ran and got the actual Ann Arbor Police who canvass the area often, and as they walked up to me, they saw no such activity. I'm not sure why people are so prejudice against Vaping. My sister-in-law sees me vaping and starts in on me about "the same ingredients as anti-freeze" going into my body, and I have to school her as she complains to my brother who is at the BBQ grill with a Marlboro Light 100 hanging out of his mouth.
I broke the news to my VA doctor about my vaping a couple of years ago, and at first, she was worried because a lot of my health issues stem from my Asbestos exposure from the U.S.S. England (CG-22/DLG-22) '78-'82. I was diagnosed with Asbestosis, and even though I said I quit cold turkey, I can also honestly say that cigarettes combined with Asbestosis can make you short of breath nearly 24/7. So I cut out the cigarettes and immediately felt better. Once I started vaping, my doctor noticed a significant healing to my lungs. Now I'm not saying that vaping HEALED me, but it certainly didn't make my condition worse. I had submitted a Disability claim so that Uncle Sam could compensate me for their error in using Asbestos as it harmed their sailors. DENIED. I applied again. DENIED. I applied once more.
It's the attitude toward vaping that I find borderline bigoted. These people know NOTHING about what they're watching me do, and AUTOMATICALLY, it's bad. Once I was in the Library reading a newspaper. I was in a private corner away from people. I snuck a few vapes here and there, and exhaled slowly as not to become noticed. A Librarian RAN up to me and just said, "NO!". I told her, "It's just water vapor and it......." "NO!" "But I'm not hurting anyb...." "NO! JUST NO!". I'm sure if we were such bigots about something in our daily lives such as Anti-Vapor people, we'd have a major issue getting along with everybody. What I do with my body is my choice, and at this point in my YOUNG 56 years, I don't want to put anything in my body that is harmful. DO YOU KNOW that my doctor actually started to talk to me about Medical M*rijuana for pain relief for my chronic back pain? YES! A V.A. doctor would rather me inhale that strong smoke, than to inhale harmless water vapor. Her excuse? "I'm afraid with your lung issues, that you may contract lung mold from the wetness of the vapor." Really. And w**d is BETTER?! I got NO issues with XXXX, but sadly, if I smoked some of that right now, I'd hack up whatever is left of the damaged lungs inside of me. I was told to keep quiet about the discussion about Medical M*rijuana because, of course, my doctor works for the Government, and while Medical M*rijuana is legal in Michigan, it's STILL illegal Federally.
So yeah. Screw the anti-vaping bigots. I get them back by doing the thing they hate the most, and that's to keep on vaping.
I started vaping at 24mg nicotine, and sometimes I could get my local vape shop to custom-make me some juice with 36mg of nicotine. I can proudly say that I am now down to 3mg's, and could seriously go to 0mg, but then what would be the purpose of vaping? I don't see it as a toy. I see it as a nicotine delivery system for someone addicted to nicotine for 44 years. And if that offends somebody, I don't know what to tell you. I won't stop, and you're not going to make me.
Oh, in closing, I now DIY my e-juice. Best decision I ever made. I swear that I could sell this shit and it would make me rich! The reason I went to DIY? So I could STOCKPILE my juice for when the ban comes, and you know it's coming.
Thanks for listening to me ramble.
God Bless America, and Thank ALL Vets for their service!