Doctors Records

[gaura]

Like others here I guess my doc put me down as a non smoker after getting patches off her some years back. I never told her I had quit, so it must just be that. Makes you think about the stats for quitting smoking from patches, I wonder if they collect data from drs, as if so the stats are probably way off.

[Bluefish]

So if you go to the docs and get some patches they put you down as a non smoker, I reckon there stats of number of people quitting are way off.

[alvoram]

May 24, 2012 7:28:09 GMT Tetsab said:

May 23, 2012 23:51:15 GMT Anne (fuzzy) said:

There's a point. If you're going to have surgery, you're told, if you smoke, to give it up. (Just like that )
Why is this? If it's because of nicotine, then we're no better off in that respect.

Don't quote me on this as I could be wrong, but I imagine that having carbon monoxide in your bloodstream might well affect your requirements for oxygen support and so forth as it does affect the body's ability to absorb and transport oxygen. Vapers (of course) do not have CO in their blood because they are no longer inhaling any combustion products.

I've had two customers who have been into hospital for procedures under general anaesthetic and in both cases I advised them to make sure their anaesthetist was aware that they were using an electronic cigarette. I'm pleased to say that both times they came back and told me that the anaesthetists were absolutely unworried by it, and (almost best of all) neither of them said "Electronic cigarette? What's that then?" which I found rather reassuring.

I would still recommend that anyone here does make sure that the medics are aware that you are vaping as nicotine DOES have some effects on the body. You are always asked about any medication you may be taking prior to any operation and that would be the time to mention it.

After I'd explained what e-cigs were and how they worked to my GP (who DID say say "Electronic cigarette? What's that then?"!) he changed my records (unasked) to show me as a non-smoker probably over 2 years ago, which I must admit suprised me. I was totally open about the fact that I was still using nicotine and had every intention of continuing to do so. He couldn't care less, as long as I don't smoke tobacco.

I accompanied my partner to the hospital about 6 weeks ago, for surgery, under a GA, she vaped in the hospital, both on the ward waiting for her to be taken down, and after she had come round in recovery. The doctor was fully aware of this, as were the nurses, who we vaped in front of (although one nurse was her friend, the other my sister, who also vapes.) No mention of any problems with nicotine and a GA. Come to think of it she was told both by the doctor the day before, and an information leaflet that there were several things she couldn't do starting the night before, such as no eating, only clear fluids etc, but no mention of no smoking.

[Anne (fuzzy)]

That's unusual Alvo. I had surgery with a GA in 1989 and at the pre-op assessment I was asked if I smoked, which I did, how many a day etc. and was told to give up, which I didn't. I remember (vaguely) there was a balcony with french doors at the end of the ward and I went out there to smoke. They said something about smoking before anaesthetics constricting blood vessels. I was too scared about the op. to care what happened and was practically chain smoking.

[scooter]

I would register as a non smoker, I do recall something in a newspaper years ago about a widow getting a reduced life insurance pay out as her husband had smoked.
I dropped the better 3/4's at the American hospital here last week for her annual work medical, pouring with rain I waited in the car, it was tragic to see a constantly changing small group outside in their dressing gowns smoking.
I'm not being condescending, I remember doing the same thing myself the first time I was in with malaria, now I realise how I too must have looked, sad.

[Perpetua]

Ex Smoker is what my Doctor's have me tagged as.

A term I personally prefer, as I am indeed an ex tobacco cigarette user, at present.