Do you Smoke?...Be honest...Please

colleen10 · Jun 4, 2003

Kristi LOL!!!!!!

I agree that smoker's have lost a lot of rights - not allowed to smoke in bar's, restaurants, etc. When you see someone eating a Super Sized meal from a fast food place or downing a couple drinks in a bar you don't see anyone tell them that they are killing themselves. But when someone lights up watch out.

I know they do this because eating and drinking don't directly affect others the way smoking does, but come on. How can you honestly go into a bar and not think someone won't smoke? And then complain about it.

I have realized, though, how much smoking does smell. If I am in my car I can actually smell the person in the car in front of me smoking via the air ducts in my car.

My gram smoked for a long time back in the day when it was the cool thing to do. She even says that back then they didn't put nearly all the garbage in cigarettes that they do today and cigarettes didn't smell nearly as bad as they do now.

Jen2 · Jun 4, 2003

Colleen I'm about 50 miles south in Uniontown. Go to a branch campus of PSU. Made it a rule that I cannot have the tube turned on saturday's. I am gonna miss those games at Happy Valley.

maire, ASN, RN · Jun 4, 2003

I smoked regularly for 8 years, and quit when I got pregnant with my first child. Just quit. Didn't want to hurt the baby and that was enough to make me not want to do it anymore. Didn't smoke at all for the next 8 years, then became a "social smoker." :rolleyes: Basically, if I go and drink too much with my friends I light up, but never get the desire to do it on a daily basis.

My sister swore by the patch; if you are serious about quitting you might want to give it a try. She smoked for 20+ years and kicked the habit with that.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jun 4, 2003

I smoked for about 10 years (gee and I am only 29...lol) I started young needles to say. What really worked for me and my husband was the patch! Now nothing is a mircale and you have REALLY want to stop smoking but the patch relaly helped me and now I have not had a cigarette in about 2 years!! I smoked about 2 packs a day and sometimes I am still tempted to smoke but I just dont do it.

Good luck! But the patch really worked for me and a lot of other people I know. I smoked for over 10 years and was able to quit and my other friend smoked for about 15 years and was able to quit with the patch so I would give it a try.

M

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jun 4, 2003

Oh I wanted to mention that when you do smoke you have no idea how BAD it really smells! And I can say that cause I smoked for over 10 years myself.

But non-smokers can smell smoke anywhere, it is truly that bad. I live in an upstairs apartment and we have blacones and when my downstairs neighbord goes *outside* to smoke I can smell it in MY apartment!! It is aweful how bad it smells but you dont realize that until you quit, then it is a bit of a shock knowing how bad you used to smell....lol

I remember I had to Febreez my whole apartment after I quit, it just stunk.

M

toronto rn · Jun 4, 2003

I smoked for many many years. I quit with both pregnancys and restarted weeks after giving birth. The last few years, especially with my kids getting older, I started feeling a lot of pressure to keep my bad habit secret. I wouldn't go on field trips because I wouldn't be able to sneak away for a smoke. I would wash my hands and face frequently and change clothes to eliminate the smell so other parents wouldn't notice. The stigma of being a smoker was getting very uncomfortable so after many attempts I quit. It's been 1 year and 5 months and up until a few months ago I still craved it every day. It's like being an alcoholic. I will be a smoker until the day I die I just have to never have another one.

The magic combination that worked for me was Zyban and during non sleeping hours wearing a low dose nicotine patch. Zyban gives you the shakes for the first week but that goes away, the patch gave me technicolour dreams and I still have insomia but I don't smoke.

(forgive me but I do miss it still)

colleen10 · Jun 4, 2003

It's like being an alcoholic. I will be a smoker until the day I die I just have to never have another one.

- Toronto RN

True. True. I'm the same way. If I go out somewhere and smell smoke I get grossed out but if I have a few drinks and smell it I get a craving for one. Or, if I am socially around people (co-workers, friends, etc.) that are smoking I will want one because when I was a smoker that's when I would smoke.

NurseDixie · Jun 4, 2003

My husband quit smoking in Jan.'01, d/t an MI and CABG. He still craves them on a daily basis. I feel for him. I tried to learn to smoke years ago and coughed my head off, that didn't last too long for me. Good luck to those of you wanting to quit.

I agree, the instructor had no right telling you that you smelled like cigarrettes. Our instructors tell us to always have a mint or brush our teeth right before clinicals d/t drinking coffee, smoking, etc. (I guess that was a nicer way to say it).

LauraF, RN, ASN, CNA, LPN, RN · Jun 4, 2003

I am a non-smoker. I have a hubby who does smoke. I think what alot of people don't realize is that the tiniest bit of tobacco smell, or smoke can increase an asthma flare up. I'm allergic (yes by an allegist, never heard of it before) to smoke. There are alot of patients in the hospital with breathing difficulties and the smell of the smoke can exaserbate(sp) the symptoms. Please keep that in mind when you are caring for your patients. When I had my last baby she was 1lb and not expected to live, one of the nurses that was there for the delivery was comforting me. She put her arms around me and she smelled of smoke. I immediately went into cough spasms. I felt really bad(not ill bad, but embarrassed) because I could not stop coughing, and crying and all this nurse was trying to do was comfort me. She had no clue. They called respiratory therapy and got a treatment started. They almost didn't discharge me to go to the other hospital to be with my baby.

I'm not at all saying to stop. You might consider not smoking in your car on the way or find out if you can shower and dress at the facility(keeping your clothes in a garment bag a previously suggested). My husband is trying to cut back, he has a schedule, it was only 1 an hour and he is currently up to only 1 in 1&1/2 hours. He says it is because he was to see our son's son. Our son btw is 3, so he has a long wait(I hope). Good luck. But please don't let advisors, or instructors bully you. If you choose to quit or cut down that is your choice, not theirs.

geminikell · Jun 4, 2003

We all know it is hard to quit. I have tried several times to quit and always started again. I even quit for a year and started again. I went through my first year of nursing school last year, I smoked before clinical , A LOT after clinical, and every once in awhile on my breaks. I think it is your business what you do with yourself. I look at it this way, if a person says something about you smoking is it any different than calling a person FAT who obviously knows they are??!! Think about it!

BunnyBunnyBSNRN, ASN, BSN · Jun 4, 2003

I always hate to say that I quit because if I light one up then people look at me funny. I have cut waaaaaaay back. I wish I could tell you how, but I don't have a clue. I just don't get the urge and when I do - like last night - I usually end up taking about 3 or four drags and putting it out because I don't want it. I do smoke on the weekends when I drink, but even that is getting less and less. I've gone from having one beer and having to light up to having three before I want a smoke. Even then, I still only smoke 1/2 of it.

If you want to quit, good luck. If you want to cut back, good luck. If you don't want to quit, that's cool with me - smokers are people too and if anyone trys to tell you different, step on them! :)

KevinN · Jun 5, 2003

I am sure I am going get slammed on this, however I don't understand how as nurses and future nurses you can preach and promote health and at the same time smoke cigarettes( some of you actually sound like you are promoting cigarette smoking!). I have no idea how hard it is to quit smoking. Luckily I have never been addicted to cigarettes, however my wife and mother smoke constantly. Even though my wife doesn't smoke in the house or around the children I am always worrying about her and my mothers health. I grew up with parents who smoked and I hated it, to say the least. I never needed an alarm clock in the morning because the coughing of my parents and smoked filled rooms always woke me and my younger brother up. I am currently trying to encourage my wife quit. I will hopefully set an example for my children so that they stay away from this addicting drug. And yes it is obvious who is a smoker, the smell binds to the persons skin, hair and clothing.I think it is very offensive. I am sorry if I sound like I am preaching and being self righteous , but I hate cigarettes with a passion! I applaud anyone who is working on a plan to quit.

Kevin