Re: Doctors giving you a hard time about smoking
 

glad things are ok

Re: Doctors giving you a hard time about smoking
 

It was, the issue wasn't with your post at all.

Re: Doctors giving you a hard time about smoking
 

The way I figure is that cigars relax me.
Killing someone is going to be far worse for my human development than any cigar could possibly be.

Re: Doctors giving you a hard time about smoking
 

As many will correctly presume, I am on Mash's side.

What you may not realize is that, many things are occurring during an interaction with a doctor; many more things than you are aware of. They are assessing risks, doing statistical calculation, assessing what complications can be expected, what information should be gathered up front to make decision making easier/better/quicker when the possible complication does occur etc. But, also deciding what counselling to do at that time. Anesthesiologists can be pretty busy; many times their current interaction with you may be the last conscious/competent interaction you have with them (they will probably talk to you after you wake up, but amazingly most people completely forget this interaction). So, they have to guage what the chances are that you are "falling through the cracks" with getting appropriate counselling from other sources. And, with all doctors getting more and more pressured to work faster, alot IS falling through the cracks. Any time a doctor doesn't give you a hard time about smoking, might not be because they think it is fine, or they understand the APPARENT differences between cigarettes and cigars. It is probably as likely they just "can't be bothered" either because they are too busy, they don't think it is likely to result in you changing etc. Since they have limitted time and think they may never see you again, "scare tactics" might just be a way to make the greatest impact with the hopes that this impact continues. While this has not been proven effective, docs are human too and will jump at these options just like any other person who feels they have to get the "point across right here, right now" (how many times have parents here found themselves being more stern with their children just to get the point across eg:"child wanders away from parent at mall, but comes back when parent is starting to call out in a panic", "child steps out onto road of an otherwise vacant street but then gets heavily scolded" etc). If the doc didn't care, you wouldn't have gotten any grief at all.

But, I don't think they called you any names. "Leave it to some holier than thou delicate genius"; that's just simply an ad hominim attack for no good purpose.

Lastly, you probably won't find many doctors versed in the risks of cigars and how they differ from the risk of cigarettes. The only "specialists" of tobacco subtypes in the physician world are those docs that do have the occassional cigar and have gone out seeking the information in order to justify that its not going to harm them more than they are willing to accept. The rest of the physician population will be "generalists" in that information. Thus, they will know the risks of cigarettes, by far the MOST common form of tobacco consumption. Erring on the side of caution, they will lump cigars in with cigarettes. It seems the more reasonable/ less dangerous approach for the generalist.

Imagine a generalist deciding whether you need surgery for your prostate cancer, or whether it is safe just to "wait and watch" that cancer....you would probably want them to err on the side of caution and send you to the specialist who could cut it out.

But, I just got done a 24 hour shift and need to sleep. If the above rant seems meandering and deluded....just imagine how my last patient felt like 2 hours ago. ;)

Finally; "manufactured, mind-altering, legal but arguably lethal substances,"...the way you use it is nothing more than scare tactics as well. So now who's taking the hypocritic oath? Of course you realize that the use of those substances is to allow the surgeon to do what could never be done without those drugs...cut deep into your body, alter the anatomy in a controlled and skillful fashion and then get out without putting you through easily the worst pain in your life. Of course these drugs can kill you, that's why the anesthesiologist has to decide which exact concoction to use for you, control it every step of the way, know how long (to the minute sometimes) each drug will take effect, know what subtle signs your body gives that things are going wrong, and how to pull you from the brink of death if they do go wrong. That's whay it takes 9 years to become a fully trained (yet still green at that point!) anesthesiologist.

There is nothing delicate about a 36 hour shift either.


Cheers

Please take my comments with a grain of salt. I sound aggressive in digital, but I assure you I would smile and shake your hand even after this exchange


Cyanide (I know, ain't it just a deliciously ironic monicer)

Re: Doctors giving you a hard time about smoking
 

Regardless of which side you're on, any medical personell who doesn't counsel tobacco users about the risks are not doing their job. You still have the choice to listen or not, but that is, after all, their job. :2

Re: Doctors giving you a hard time about smoking
 

I had my physical a few months ago and I told my doctor that I occasionally smoke cigars and he did said that is fine. :ss :ze Everything in moderation is ok.

Re: Doctors giving you a hard time about smoking
 

You have lie lie lie about smoking and drinking with your primary. You don't want that on your medical record as it will come back to haunt you when you want life insurance.

My neighbors are in medical claims and recommended this to me. "Don't drink, Don't smoke" has to be your mantra when getting a physical.

Re: Doctors giving you a hard time about smoking
 

Ya, once again....in the case of cigars, everything in informed moderation is OK. You just need to know where the line lays vs the risk you want to take. And, with cigar smoking there IS a line for "minimal risk" that still involves some useage.

For completeness, the line of "minimal risk" has not been defined for cigarettes though. Recent studies show that even 4 cigarettes a day still noticibly increases your risk for heart disease. Remember, that's cigarettes.

Cheers out

Re: Doctors giving you a hard time about smoking
 

Excellent post John...and I couldn't agree more. :)

Re: Doctors giving you a hard time about smoking
 

I always like to read these debates.
With me it always gets tempered by the fact that life is progressive and fatal.
Odds are real good that I can be fat, smoke, drink, fight, eat bad things, and survive to a ripe old age. My family has done it for generations.
None of us eat sweet potatoes though. They make me gag just to think about them. As far as I know, I might be one sweet potatoe away from imminent death. It's probably my kryptonite.
"Carpe Diem" is the only defense I can muster. :)
If I'm lucky, I'll go out with a JJ maduro in my hand and a smile on my face.

Re: Doctors giving you a hard time about smoking
 

Glad you're ok, Christian, and sending thoughts for a speedy recovery.

I'm wondering: do you get grief from the opera community about your cigars and whatever effects they might have on your vocal cords?

Re: Doctors giving you a hard time about smoking
 

Humans are the only animals on earth concerned with circumventing what nature and God intended. That we are born, we live and then we die. While there are instances in nature where animals eat their young, they do not consciously abort the pregnancy. While other animals do not willingly let another animal kill and eat them, most do eventually lay down and die when they have grown too old to survive. The majority of humans do everything they can to stay alive and many even prefer being hooked up to machines that breath for them, pump their blood through their bodies and even extract natural waste to prolong life.

If God had intended for us to me immortal than we would all be gods.

Re: Doctors giving you a hard time about smoking
 

Thanks for the good wishes, Eddie. I don't smoke when I'm in opera mode. I might go 6-8 weeks without a cigar if I have a long run of rehearsals and performances. If I have to travel to sing or record somewhere, I don't even bring a travel humi. As much as I enjoy my cigars, I know that smoking when I have to sing at a high level is not good for my voice. If I lay off for a few weeks, though, my voice clears right up.

Interesting. I haven't found that cigars have any noticeable effect on my singing.







I suck whether or not I smoke. ;)
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Re: Doctors giving you a hard time about smoking
 

Luckily I haven't been read the riot act about smoking cigars. Instead, my doctor prefers to emphasize the benefits of maintaining a balanced diet and exercise.