E-Cig - 12% - Fertility Treatment Referral

[FrillyPancake]

We have potentially been referred for the above, and they've told me to stop for 3 months clear my e-cig before any treatment can commence.

I am cynical about this, as there is nothing online that would indicate that Carbon Monoxide is found in E-Cigs. I currently vape 12% strength.

They (clinic) said on phone this morning that I'll have a reading of CM in my system when tested again at the end of August if I've not yet stopped, and they will not proceed with any treatment that may be required.

I am trying to stop and have till the end of May, although I know I am going to struggle. Guess my question is that if I struggle to stop entirely - can they tell if I've been vaping 12% E-cig or not?
They have told me they can by using the breath test....

Thanks in advance,
Frilly

[pixie374]

Apparently not...
//E-cigarettes don't burn tobacco and don't produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most damaging elements in tobacco smoke. E-cigarettes work by heating a solution (e-liquid) that typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerine, and flavourings. Using an e-cigarette is known as vaping.//

But I would clarify with a doctor what they are checking for, just to be safe. They sound quite bullying!

[FrillyPancake]

Thanks Pixie, this is what I read too - they are adamant! I find it quite intrusive, I've to lose weight, quit e-cig - everything!
The e-cig is all I have right now to keep me sane!
I may just check with my GP, as they are banging on about this a little too much I feel, andlike you I've seen nothing online about them containing CM - aye nothing!
I can't see where they are getting this from, and if they have a test that can tell then I can't see how it picks it up?!
She just said this morning " you'll still have a reading" if you're not stopped entirely. If this happens then all treatment will be pulled....... :/

[pixie374]

Can they check for nicotine? I don't want to mislead you- but that does seem to be the general online consensus.

[FrillyPancake]

Anyone else out there with 1st hand information who'd be kind enough to share?! :-)
TIS

[Buenchico]

The NHS website says that e-cigs don't produce carbon monoxide, so I can't see how any test for it would show that you've been vaping.

However the NHS website also repeats the advice of the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group (whose membership includes the Royal College of Midwives) that nicotine patches and gum are the preferred options for pregnant women who're trying to give up smoking:

https://www.nhs.uk/smokefree/help-and-advice/e-cigarettes

[FrillyPancake]

See this is what I don't know, when we went last time the breath test was on CM, and I had a small reading - even though I hadn't had a "real" cigarette for months!
It was only at 4 or 5 or something, but we have not choice - just need to blow into it and they decide!
I know I'm really going to struggle without my vape - I would be quite a heavy smoker if I was still on the cigs, but stopped all that thinking vaping was going to do me a few years - with the intention of quitting that eventually - although MY CHOICE and no-one elses preferably!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FrillyPancake]

But I gave up cigs over two years ago and went onto vaping! Smoking patches etc wouldn't be the answer as I am a non smoker!

[woofgang]

well.....it still is your choice....

[Sqad]

My information isn't "first hand."
The vapour of E cigs, contains nicotine and other obscure trace elements which may affect fertilisation. carbon monoxide is not the only villain.
I am not a scientist, but i am sure that nicotine from vaping can be detected.

[MallyJ]

I would think that if these are the things that you have been told to do in order to have the treatment you obviously want then do them. If the clinic can tell that you have still been vaping and haven't lost the weight they have suggested then you may not get the treatment and if you do you may not be giving it the best chance of success. Oh and I managed to give up a 40 a day nicotine habit after 40 + years so I know how hard it is...but you have a major goal that you want to achieve. Do what you are asked to do and good luck for the treatment

[EDDIE51]

You may not be a smoker but you are still heavily addicted to Nicotine. 12% e cigs are high nicotine.
Your best bet is to gradually move to lower and lower nicotine e cigs. You can eventually get down to 0% Nicotine e cigs. They still give you the sensation of vaping but no nicotine, makes it much easier to stop entirely. You are very unlikely to be allowed fertility treatment while you are addicted to Nicotine. It is the nicotine that is your problem not smoking or Carbon Monoxide (MO)

[FrillyPancake]

It maybe just is the fact that other elements can be traced in the percentage of vape I am puffing on, and this is what indicates the nicotine level...
It's perhaps not the CM gauge, but the nicotine gauge that appears on their reading. I would just love to know how they know what I've been puffing on. My friend who's a nurse is away to check with her work for me, but I am rather baffled as they mention CM one minute then nicotine free the next - I don't know which is the one they can tell from e-cig inhalation.
As I say, I wouldn't be typing this drawn out replies to you all if I wasn't sure that I was going to struggle, the whole thing about giving this up is really stressing me out if I'm honest! I honestly don't know if I'll manage! I rely on it like nothing else!

[MallyJ]

now where did I get weight loss from??? Probably my own doctor....apologies for that...brain simply not up to scratch anymore...

[FrillyPancake]

Mally I've actually only just over a stone to lose now - so am almost there - I found this mighty hard actually, but not half as blinking hard as getting my head around this 0% stuff!!!!!!!!!!!

[EDDIE51]

Carbon Monoxide MO can be detected in a breath test.It is commonly done to verify that someone really has stopped smoking. As e cigs heat / burn the vaping liquid there will be a small amount of Carbon Monoxide in the vapour. But much less than smoking. Nicotine can be detected by a blood test but not by breath test. So any MO detected in your breath would indicate that you are still vaping , but it won't tell what nicotine level of e cig you are using. A blood test for nicotine will do that.

[ToraToraTora]

In the current NHS climate, I'm amazed they are still doing fertility treatment so if I was you I'd do what they say.

[bednobs]

hi FP - firstly well done on giving up smoking, and well done on losing weight - neither of those things are easy are they? i'm afraid i don't know your answer, but i think there must be something they are measuring (rather than just pulling your leg!)
I would guess the only thig to do is try. If you can't manage you can't manage, and you'll have to delay treatment

[FrillyPancake]

I will TTT and this is not the question as you will see from my post. I am fully aware of what the NHS are offering us, I will struggle.

[FrillyPancake]

Thanks Bednobs, yes it's been hard, still losing my weight (don't have a great lot now to lose), but will get there eventually...
Such a lot to do all at once is all.... :-)