Smoking
 

Does anyone...sigh... smoke or am I the only fool on the block?

I quit over 25 years ago, long before MG

kathie

Another fool here. But I'm 73 so something else will get me now. I have really enjoyed it for nearly 60 years.
Mike

Congratulations, Kathie! I admire anyone who can beat an addiction. People all around me are quitting--it's amazing.

Well, Mike, thanks for your honesty. I confess that I have enjoyed it too for about 45 years! On one occasion when I was hospitalized, and I am still shaking my head, I left ICU to go for a smoke! Ask me how angry my neuro was. On second, thought, don't ask me! My argument was that during hospitalizations :Ponder: I'd get up, go outside and get a little vitamin D with my cigarette. I also said that it beats lying around and not getting any exercise. Lucky for me, he knew I was having a temporary moment of insanity.

Of course we all know that you only smoke for the acetylcholinestease inhibiting properties of the nicotine.............:wink:

:D:D:D Oh, You ARE an intelligent woman! Would you mind educating my Neuro?...LOL

Nicotine is actually a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist.


As far as what it does (I think most of this is brain research):


http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/co...53/5/950.short

http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/docum.../Svry36d00.pdf


(Mestinon is also a partial agonist -- if anyone wants to wade through this:

http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand...18.2.chap3.pdf )


Related:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14758171


A definition:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downreg...d_upregulation

Thank you for these, Heat Intolerant. :) I haven't finished reading but I did find this interesting.

"...In the case of exogenous ligand, modulation
of receptor numbers is considered
to be an important determinant
in the development of
drug tolerance, and may also contribute
to the withdrawal syndrome
that frequently accompanies
cessation of drug usage .

I've said for years, sometimes, I need a medical dictionary on my desk for
quit reference so I'm not back and forth on the Net!

I have smoked for about 15 years, I know I need to quit but I too enjoy it. The cardio thoracic surgeon said he would not remove my thymus unless I quit. I do not have a thymoma and really do not understand why I couldn't have it removed without them cracking my chest.

Well, WV, :) That makes three of us, so far, and here, we would be standing out in the snow/rain/and occasional heat :p at a regulated 5 metres away from a doorway, window or air intake, not to mention, a $250.00 fine for not using the city ashtrays...we get that.

As to the surgeon, it's understandable about the smoking because naturally, he wants the best outcome for you, and for him. He has all the stats and we don't deny that they are certainly legitimate. You can have your thymus removed via other procedures. It's a matter of finding a surgeon who is trained to do so.

I can also appreciate the pressure placed on you by this surgeon. I suspect a few patients will either quit or fib. (I'm absolutely not suggesting the latter.) I just know smokers.

We can't be denied here and I wonder what I would have done if it was the case here. Tap, tap....I know for certain that I wouldn't have lied...I also doubt that I could have quit. I dunno...:(

I quit 3 weeks and one day before my surgery because the surgeon would not do my transsternal thymectomy if I didn't. He claimed that they would do blood tests to make sure I had quit, not sure I believed that but couldn't take a chance. The first 4 days were the hardest, after that it wasn't too bad. So, 10 days in the hospital (5 for plasma x change and 5 for surgery) and I went home on Christmas Day. And.... 36 hours later I folded and foolishly decided I deserved a cigarette after all I'd been through. So, 1 1/2 years later I'm still smoking. You are not the only one!!!!

...make that 4 of us who smoke.

Hello Dolphin :) I almost broke out in a cold sweat when I saw the "first 4 days..." WOW! And you quit at time when the stress levels would have been exceedingly high. The surgeon must have frightened you, which was his intent, natch. Hats off to you for that attempt!

Speaking of frightened...Do they have a blood test? I don't know but I'm
going to find out, merely out of curiosity and interest.

Do they have a blood test for nicotine?....YES, and it can detect even minute amounts......no surprise, I guess. :lookaround:

I smoke as well.

When I am really rough its a ciggie and a diet coke to perk me up. Purely for medicinal purposes though!

I go for a good cup of coffee and a ciggie.
Mike

smoking issues
 

Thanks for great info! Have been able to quit, several times over years and this for good. Hub has done same but always comes back to it. Chantix not good for him for a variety of reasons. Some years back he used a spray called Nicotrol and it worked but don't think it's on market now. Hopefully all the pressure he has on him will help but he is having a hard time, like some of you posting, really enjoys the smoking. I will show him some of this info if I can get him to look at it. Thanx. He's under pressure from doc and work and money and health issues are crucial. So I'm hoping and praying. Thanks for all everyone's stories and info.


:)

Don't try CHANTIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That drug is dangerous and should be banned!!!!!

Well, thanks for NOTHIN', Mike! I stared at that...at 8:00 pm...! :D

My highly intelligent mother was respected and appreciated for her organization and incisive thinking at the firm for which she worked until she was 74 (they begged her to not retire several times). But she smoked about half a pack daily, except for one year or so when I made a bet with her to stop - 35 years ago. She just died, in her early 80's, totally wasted from COPD and congestive heart failure. The death certificate made no bones about it - she died because she smoked for 60+ years. Stop now, please!

Tealbingy, I am so very sorry for your loss.