So the doc says I need to quit smoking...

[krash]

I also agree you should get a second opinion. Not that the doctor is wrong, but anytime a life-altering situation happens it's best to get a second opinion. The medical community has been known to make mistakes, and the next doctor may find something. Before your next visit, make a list of all the questions you have, and ask the doctor. I hope everything works out in the end.

[Mystophales]

Keep your chin up brother! I have seen it before when a doc is not sure they will try to grasp at straws and with everything that smoking gets blamed on it seems a pretty easy scapegoat...

Either way good luck brother...thoughts and prayers going out.

[JaKaAch]

You know what Willie Nelson said:
"My doctor tells me I should start slowing it down - but there are more old drunks than there are old doctors so let's all have another round."

Seriously thou Jimmy get another opinion or two. After years of testing and about 4 different doctors my dad finally got a cardiologist that did a couple test the others didn't and found the problem. It drove the family crazy wondering why the other doctors didn't do those test?

Cut back on the cigars like others have suggested. 1 or 2 a week and see if that helps..

Maybe its too much Popeye's chicken and Miller Lite..

Take care Bro.

[IHT]

tell him that studies show that pipe smokers live an average of 2 yrs longer than non-smokers.
hopefully tomorrow i can remember this topic and point you to the study.

here's one to tide you over until then.
the largest 2nd hand smoke study ever, spanned 39 years and 118k patients.
to quote the "conclusion" section:
Conclusions: The results do not support a causal relation between environmental tobacco smoke and tobacco related mortality, although they do not rule out a small effect. The association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and coronary heart disease and lung cancer may be considerably weaker than generally believed.

sorry, left off the final "conclusion"
Conclusion
The results of the California CPS I cohort do not support a causal relation between exposure to environental tobacco smoke and tobacco related mortality, although they do not rule out a small effect. Given the limitations of the underlying data in this and the other studies of environmental tobacco smoke and the small size of the risk, it seems premature to conclude that environmental tobacco smoke causes death from coronary heart disease and lung cancer.

[yayson]

man, I can imagine how you must feel, and I don't even like the imaginary =\

hope you get a better opinion, you know, the kind that says those purple dogs up and have a stogie

[Puffin Fresh]

Jimmy. Good luck with whatever road you take. I would recommend a second opinion, as well as cutting back for now.

I'll explain my situation from a couple months ago sometime. Suffice to say, there are some Dr's that are so anti smoking they'll blame anything on it, even going so far to miss what is actually going on because it must be the smoking.

I will share this bit about the Doc I saw. She kept saying cigarettes this and cigarettes that, and we I told her I don't smoke cigarettes she said same difference.

[tzaddi]

One thing to ponder as you embark upon this adventure of self discovery is that of all of the things that you/we/I enjoy about tobacco, smoking although seemingly at the center of this pleasure is only one facet of this "common-union" called the "brotherhood of the leaf". Keep your eyes & heart open and know that you are in our waking thoughts as we have been in yours.

[Will_S]

Is it possible for you to get a second opinion from a doctor who smokes an occaisional pipe or cigar? There must be some out there, and being dr's as well as smokers, they would be more expert on the effects of smoking.

[Smoked]

I would certainly get a second opinion but be smart bro. Not that I am one to talk. I smoke cigarettes. I truly hope that you don't have to quite smoking but I want you to stay alive more than anything. I would also suggest searching the internet for any herbs or plants that might help to improve circulation.

[ridmaster]

I couldn't read this and not say anything. I wish you the best.

[miana_silvius]

I would at least test his theory! It's worth a shot, right?

[boonedoggle]

Already made another appointment a month from now with another doc. I do plan on equipping myself better to defend my enjoyment of the leaf. I must let them know that it is careless of any doctor to rule smoking tobacco as the SOLE cause of any disease, disorder, or medical phenomenon. But then again, everyone here already knows that!

[Papichulo]

Originally Posted by boonedoggle

Already made another appointment a month from now with another doc. I do plan on equipping myself better to defend my enjoyment of the leaf. I must let them know that it is careless of any doctor to rule smoking tobacco as the SOLE cause of any disease, disorder, or medical phenomenon. But then again, everyone here already knows that!

It sucks that it takes a month to get an appointment. Good luck.

[cman78]

Not fair dude. Hopefully the next expert says something different. Keep going until you find one that agrees with you. Just kidding, although sometimes doctors seem that way. I hope you get to keep your feet and keep enjoying smokes.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by boonedoggle

Already made another appointment a month from now with another doc. I do plan on equipping myself better to defend my enjoyment of the leaf. I must let them know that it is careless of any doctor to rule smoking tobacco as the SOLE cause of any disease, disorder, or medical phenomenon. But then again, everyone here already knows that!

Glad you made an appointment for a second opinion.