Hospital Story

[ca21455]

[SIZE=3]When I went for my pre-op check up for my disk surgery everything was going OK until they asked me if I smoked. Well being the honest fool I told them I smoked a cigar every now and again[/SIZE].

[SIZE=3]Well that brought on a numerous additional visits from the respiratory and physiological units at the hospital to portray the bleak and self destructive habit that I had chose! It was funny because I told them my doctor advised me to stop smoking a couple of weeks before the surgery since they would be working in my neck and had to move my windpipe. He wanted everything to be in good shape for the surgery so I complied.[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3]However they continued to barrage me with techniques to stop. I explained that cigars are in no way like smoking a cigarette (a habit I have been lucky to avoid) and smoking cigars was not an addiction but a chosen past time.[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3]I listened to them politely and accepted copious amounts of literature. I am convinced they all had my best interest in mind no matter how misguided.[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3]Anyway, when I awoke from surgery one of the nurses handed me my medication. Much to my surprise included in the batch was a nicotine patch. I giggled and handed the patch back to the nurse explaining it was not needed.[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3]While cigars are surely not the healthiest activity, I am convinced the medical profession is misinformed on the differences between enjoying a delightful smoke and being addicted to cigarettes.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Well, good heath to everyone and here's to staying away from hospitals![/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Buy the way, I am about 2 months post surgery, doing great and smoking a bunch of fine stogies![/SIZE]

[DriftyGypsy]

To the Anti-Smoking Coalition there is no difference between cigars and cigarettes, in fact some of them are so mis-informed they believe that cigars are worse because they are bigger.

[Razorhog]

They gave you a nicotine patch, that's funny! Great story that shows the collateral damage these non-smoking campaigns have on the world of cigars.
Glad you are doing well after the surgery.

[ca21455]

Originally Posted by DriftyGypsy

To the Anti-Smoking Coalition there is no difference between cigars and cigarettes, in fact some of them are so mis-informed they believe that cigars are worse because they are bigger.

You have a good point there!

Originally Posted by Razorhog

They gave you a nicotine patch, that's funny! Great story that shows the collateral damage these non-smoking campaigns have on the world of cigars.
Glad you are doing well after the surgery.

Yeah, I wonder if my insurance company had to pay for the patch!

[Lorglath]

Wow... My father is always getting on my case about how 'unhealthy this habit is' and how he wants me to quit.... Yes it is not good for the heath, but seriously, it isnt that bad! light-en up people!

[txdyna65]

Glad you are out and doing well John

[FriendlyFire]

zglad you feel better now,

[Twill413]

Here's my addition to this story. I have been having trouble breathing (and my GF says I snore like a wildebeast). She looked in my nose (she is almost graduated as a nurse so I respect her opinion), and said I needed to see the ear, nose, and throat guy. Had to fill out paperwork which included questions about my tobacco use. I checked and entered myself as "occasional pipe/cigar user". In the exam, the doctor said it was quote "pretty cool" that I smoked a tobacco pipe. No mention of the health risks, althought I told him I only smoke 2X a week. Not technically a lie, since there are some weeks that happens.

Kinda BS that they gave you a nic patch. Even with your best interests in mind, you made it clear that you had no intentions of stopping your "hobby", not "addiction". They gonna start giving near beer and sparkling grape juice to people that drink?

[qwerty1500]

My Doctor had been a military physician on Air Force One for Bush I and Clinton. Guess he didn't get the word about cigars.

Went in for my annual check-up a couple of weeks ago. He asked if I still smoked. When I told him about cigars, he smiled. We then had a nice conversation about all the great cigars he smoked whenever Clinton went on an overseas trip.

[Sisyphus]

Originally Posted by ca21455

[SIZE=3]I am convinced the medical profession is misinformed on the differences between enjoying a delightful smoke and being addicted to cigarettes.[/SIZE]

Fortunately, this is untrue about the entire medical profession. A LOT of doctors and other healthcare people are enthusiastic cigar smokers and even many who aren't still understand the difference between cigars and cigarettes. Too bad when we must deal with the people in the misinformed camp, though.

I found myself a BOTL doctor so I no longer must endure those lectures in the exam room. Well, at least he skips the cigar-smoking lectures. That still leaves plenty of other things to be lectured on.

-Ken

[c2000]

Good luck on your recovery...I just don't pay any attention to these hand wringers any more..They are under the misconception that they are going to live forever...Life should have no risks and everything should always go as planned....


Jerry in Minnesota.

[ca21455]

Originally Posted by Sisyphus

Fortunately, this is untrue about the entire medical profession. A LOT of doctors and other healthcare people are enthusiastic cigar smokers and even many who aren't still understand the difference between cigars and cigarettes. Too bad when we must deal with the people in the misinformed camp, though.

I found myself a BOTL doctor so I no longer must endure those lectures in the exam room. Well, at least he skips the cigar-smoking lectures. That still leaves plenty of other things to be lectured on.

-Ken

I agree. Had xrays taken awhile back and when they asked about smoking I told them about the cigars. They asked about inhaling and I responded I did not. The response was "cool"!

[Mr.Maduro]

I'm happy to hear that your recovery is going well!! Doctors....huh...what do they know?

Keep enjoying those fine stogies!!

[Budprince]

Good to hear you are doing well after the surgery, and that you're up and smoking again. . . Sounds like you handled the hospital staff's assault with much more patience than I would have - good job.

[discdog]

Great to hear your recovery is going well. I bet they did charge your insurance company for the patch though.