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If you have given up smoking in the last year, how would you have liked your GP to have supported you?

MarkPilling profile image
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MarkPilling
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19 Replies
pergola1 profile image
pergola1

Comment, Mark, and not helpful to you, but how would the GP help. I gave up on my own.

I don't smoke, but if I did, our health centre runs smoking cessation clinics which is nurse run. I would join that if I really needed too. Thankfully, I don't xx

Toci profile image
Toci

My GP was a waste of time. The nurse running the respiratory clinic at the hospital understood and LISTENED. She did not make me stick to one method or discharge me when I had the odd cigarette, but helped me to find my way through. She was completely non-judgemental and deserves a medal.

Just re-read the post - mine was not in the last year.

MarkPilling profile image
MarkPilling in reply toToci

That's OK - doesn't matter when you gave up - your experience and opinion is what matters.

longlungs profile image
longlungs

Hi Mark I have to say that my doctors have changed a lot in the last couple of years,They used to be very anti and very dismissive of smokers,whatever i had wrong would be blamed on smoking,one gp saying there was no point treating all the time I smoked! Iwas in there with a spasm in my neck.I came out angry and stupidly defiant and smoked heavily for the rest of that day!

I stopped smoking last september with the help of the smokey nurse and the same gps,what a complete change and turn around they have been nothing but helpful and supportive.I feel an equal despite the habit I had ,they have allowed me to continue with the inhalator,My gp shook my hand and put her arms around me! This new attitude has made me more determined.Short sharp shocks works for some not for me,I have been a slow learner it has taken me to feel breathless etc !! How stupid of me we are all individuals and hopefully be treated accordingly by our gps frustrating as it must be for them sometimes.Sorry a bit drawn out . Janex

lockjean profile image
lockjean

try an E cig

I dont want to give up smoking making my own choices is all I want. GP can do what they want their choice.

chrissie53 profile image
chrissie53

My Dr was brilliant,,,listened to me and i listened to him,,am now weed free but love my e cig,,especially the raspberry flavour,,,,what my Dr actually said was,,sure Chris carry on smoking,,i know you don,t want to see your g,kids grow up,,and i also know that next year you won,t be walking round the village with your dog or up in the hills, because you will be to breathless,,so go away and think about it,,,never smoked since,,so am still walking the dog, and playing with the kids,,,,and intend to carry on,,,and i was a heavy smoker,,,

peege profile image
peege in reply tochrissie53

Good for you Chrissie, well done :D

Toci profile image
Toci

There is a time for each of us, and yours will come. xx

I gave up smoking a year ago now, (and feel better for it.), I had agreat deal of help over the years from the nurse at my doctors surgery, she was a big inspiration to me, and although it was my own willpower in the end, she supported me, and I think each individual must do it their own way,i found it a great help seeing my nurse every few weeks, and she really was pleased when I finally said I wont touch another cigarette. I haven't and I wont. Good luck to everyone.

Please keep trying. Don't despair, you will get there in the end. I didn't think I would, but I did. I feel proud of myself and much better physically.You will too. I wish you all the best.

I also found Ecigs a help.

snow54flake profile image
snow54flake

i have given up smoking with the help of the stop smoking clinic at at the doctors surgery one year ago and i found the nurse a great help as i prefered it on a one to one i was on the champix and i always made my next appointment there and then. I can remember when i was still smoking and i had my second chest infection in about 6 months it was'nt my normal doctor and his words to me were "you people make me angry, come here expecting antibiotics and carry on smoking" and with this he threw his pen down on the table, i was completely floored went out and smoked heavily for the next 2 hours i was livid being spoken to like that , and it didnt make me want to give up smoking either marian xx

A think that is pricless really most docs have trouble surporting those with illness.

At my new pratice consultation times are less than 10 mins and thats when you crawl in.

Ad be intrested to here what doc's say about it

Most just refer you to some AA like class where you weep in a bucket hoping to have your life time of sins resoled pretty much like church or thats how i imagine them to be

Anyway yep a duly dismissed that idea from my doc as a bad idea .. But thanked him anyway as its asbestos causing my problems and not my smoking ..

As of yet am waiting for him to resolve that

Great post :)

Cheers all the best

onamission profile image
onamission

Hi Mark, I was diagnosed 10 years ago and went to a quit clinic the women I saw was fantastic she asked me when I wanted to give up smoking I said by none smoking day and then asked me how I wanted to do it I was in control at all times. I gave up with champex which had to be prescribed by my GP but the big thing for me the women was a x smoker her self so she knew what it was like the support I had was fantastic I would still be smoking now if I had not made the move and booked in at the quit clinic.

I gave up years ago because I wanted to stop look after myself it is personal you start smoking when you want and finish only when you want. A GP can lead a horse to water not make it drink.

jac493 profile image
jac493

Our surgery has a smoking cessation group that is totally useless . The people running it have never smoked they have no idea what u go through trying to quit. They waste so much money on nrt when they don't understand an individuals needs . They need ex smokers to run these clinics . It would be cheaper and i think would have a higher success rate .

laines profile image
laines

I really don't think it's the doctors that offer the support. My doctor referred me to the smoking cessation clinic and this is where I get my support from.

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