Long term quitters - what's your Dr's views?

[nsd_user663_5920]

Hello

Oh, bit plush up here .......... *distracted look around*

This weekend I spoke with a friend who gave up 31 years ago (first pregnancy, never took it up again, though at times still misses it).

Friend mentioned how she went to her doctor recently and part of the usual questions asked/going over history, was

Q: Do you smoke? - A: No

Q: Did you smoke? - A: Yes

Q: How long ago did you stop? - A: 31 Years.

Result - 'Ex smoker' and then almost as an afterthought (of 31 years) entered for her.

Her doc assured her that irrespective of how long ago she last smoked or her age, her medical notes will always classify her as an ex smoker and never a non smoker. She wasn't really surprised at this but just a little peeved.

Any one else come across this?

Thanks

Pol

[nsd_user663_5028]

Hello

Oh, bit plush up here .......... *distracted look around*

This weekend I spoke with a friend who gave up 31 years ago (first pregnancy, never took it up again, though at times still misses it).

Friend mentioned how she went to her doctor recently and part of the usual questions asked/going over history, was

Q: Do you smoke? - A: No

Q: Did you smoke? - A: Yes

Q: How long ago did you stop? - A: 31 Years.

Result - 'Ex smoker' and then almost as an afterthought (of 31 years) entered for her.

Her doc assured her that irrespective of how long ago she last smoked or her age, her medical notes will always classify her as an ex smoker and never a non smoker. She wasn't really surprised at this but just a little peeved.

Any one else come across this?

Thanks

Pol

Bit harsh that Pol thirty one years (huge round of applause btw ) i would have thought fo insurance reasons etc anything after 10- 15 years you would have been classed as never smoked :confused:

Think i will say after 10 years when asked by a doctor ....never smoked Doc

[nsd_user663_5401]

Actually a member of my staff died of lung cancer two years ago, and they classed him as an ex smoker and he gave up 28 years previous. It really annoyed him (bless him) as they kept referring back to his previous life as a smoker.

Maybe they say that to punish us!!

This is why I don't refer to myself as a non smoker, I'm an ex smoker and always will be.

Note to the Penthouse lot - loving what you have done with the place (I feel like I should bow and dock my cap at you wonderful 1+ people xx).

Edited to say - When it comes to life insurance, you MUST let them know you are an ex smoker (and if you start again you must tell them you are a smoker), because if they can they will get out of paying your loved ones, whether you die of a smoking related illness or not.

[nsd_user663_5920]

I'll always be an ex smoke too Christine.... I once smoked, therefore ......

Bradders what you gonna do? Move area, loose your notes and lie to the Doc Sorry, but I don't see the big deal in really wanting the non smoker bit, esp in medical notes.

Edited bit now thanks to Christine having edited.

I think my friend just wanted a 'smiley' after her Ex smoker entry , some recognition of 31 years maybe......

[nsd_user663_5028]

I'll always be an ex smoke too Christine.... I once smoked, therefore ......

Bradders what you gonna do? Move area, loose your notes and lie to the Doc Sorry, but I don't see the big deal in really wanting the non smoker bit, esp in medical notes.

For insurance purposes you may have a point to some degree but medically?

I think my friend wanted a 'smiley' after her Ex smoker entry , some recognition of 31 years maybe......

errm it was lighthearted as you can't get away with it as they have meters which you blow in which measure the nicotine and tar levels in your body for the sake of insurance reasons ..... apologise to your friend for me i did give her a huge round of applause as well as my upmost respect but youre right she deserves one of these as well 31 years is awesome

[nsd_user663_3633]

I have nothing to hide.

I used to smoke.

I decided I didn't want to anymore.

So I stopped. I'm very proud of being on of the very small percentage of smokers who has stopped and will stay stopped.

Something to be forever proud of, rather than wishing to change the past so it didn't happen.

[nsd_user663_4990]

I don't never want to be classed as a non-smoker.. ex-smoker suits me just fine.

What matters to me is how long ago i smoked as i measure my success for quitting by the time thats passed since... the title means nothing.

If i've done ANY damage to me while i smoked for 15 years and its not repairable then the only person i have to blame is myself. I won't moan about it to noone.. that was my doing.

but this whole ex-smoker/Non-smoker classification? whats really the difference to you really? You don't smoke! surely that is enough.

[nsd_user663_3282]

but this whole ex-smoker/Non-smoker classification? whats really the difference to you really? You don't smoke! surely that is enough.

Correct

According to my aged dictionary a nonsmoker is a person who does not smoke. Ergo, anybody that does not smoke is a nonsmoker. I guess when I think of myself I think I'm an ex-smoker, but then I also think I'm a nonsmoker...both correct. When somebody asks me for a light I say I don't smoke.

When I see my doctor and he asks me, like this morning, do you smoke? I replied I've been stopped for X months. And he says, "Excellent, that's the best health choice you have made." Having read this thread before going, I gave him an 'accidental' cuff in his ribs as we stood up as I was leaving. Well...the b'stard will no doubt write 'ex-smoker' in the future

[Cyprien]

Maybe we're 'non-smoking ex-smokers'?

Sue

[nsd_user663_5028]

Maybe we're 'non-smoking ex-smokers'?

Sue

I like non-smoker as i dont

[nsd_user663_4847]

Seems to me that medically I will be classed as x rather than non, regardless of preference. So peeved am I by the general smugness of a small minority of nurses and doctors that if they make value judgements (as is the wont of some of the medical profession) I will become the *most* resource intensive obstrepterous patient they've ever had; whilst smiling benignly. I shall be a lady of letters. A little pleasant conversation goes a long way.

The NHS in my opinion has been a hard won benefit to British society and is paid for by contributions from salaries, whilst I disagree with some treatments, on the whole I am supportive and greatful. I do not support a small minority of individuals employed by the NHS ridiculing and mocking the hand that feeds.

[nsd_user663_5028]

Seems to me that medically I will be classed as x rather than non, regardless of preference. So peeved am I by the general smugness of a small minority of nurses and doctors that if they make value judgements (as is the wont of some of the medical profession) I will become the *most* resource intensive obstrepterous patient they've ever had; whilst smiling benignly. I shall be a lady of letters. A little pleasant conversation goes a long way.

The NHS in my opinion has been a hard won benefit to British society and is paid for by contributions from salaries, whilst I disagree with some treatments, on the whole I am supportive and greatful. I do not support a small minority of individuals employed by the NHS ridiculing and mocking the hand that feeds.

Well said Mah. I agree with some of everyone's points or opinions I think Sue sums it up nicely we are non smoking ex smokers .....

and very proud to be as well

[nsd_user663_2040]

Hi

For what it is worth...I stopped because my Mum has just been diagnosed with COPD after stopping smoking 25 years ago and being told it was the smoking that has caused the COPD...

Becasue she stopped she has COPD at 72 and did not get Emphasema (spelling sorry) at a much younger age.

Made me realise that if I continued to smoke I would probably die early with a horrible lung disease....if I stop now I have half a change of improving my quality of lfe in the future but will probably still get some sort of lung probs hopefully in the distant future.

...Ex Smoker guys....always

L