Many of you know I had surgery today. When the anesthesiologist came in to talk to me, one of his questions was "Do you smoke?"

I answered, "Yeah, I smoke an occasional cigar, maybe 1-3 per week."

His reply: "Oh, come on man!" Followed by reading me the riot act and calling cigars "death sticks."

Granted, I am grossly overweight, and I have high blood pressure. But my General Practitioner (the one who put me on the high blood pressure meds) is perfectly ok with it, my brother in law is an emergency room doctor and a fellow BOTL, and one of my colleagues at work is an MD and agrees that the occasional cigar will not likely do me any major harm.

So, have any of you other guys or gals been given a hard time by your doctor(s) re: your smoking?
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Christian,

I'm not sure what to say on this but I'm glad your surgery went relatively well.
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:-)

No hassle here. Glad to hear everythings o.k. though.
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It's the way society is today. they've been brain-washed that a tobacco is B-A-D for you. They don't actually think for themselves, they just react in a "all tobacco types are bad for you" rmentality.

Sorry you bumped into this loser.

Glad the surgery went well! Have a smoke to celebrate bro!! :-)
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My Doctor told me that an occasional cigar was not a problem.
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Hmmm..... I guess that a guy about to put you under is not someone you argue with!

I hope indeed that all went well for you, and I think that unless one is an anti-smoking crusader it's generally thought(and studies seem to bear this out) that even up to two cigars a day(not inhaled) will likely not have a negative impact on your health. My doctor told me that a couple a week should be no problem, altho I'm now up to one a day- so we'll see what he says when I mention this to him in April when I have my AP.
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When I had surgery on my wrist it was preached that I don't smoke as apparently it constricts the blood vessels and makes healing longer. Good point so I cut back with the cold. When it warms up watch out! :-)
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My doc smokes a pipe. :-)

When I had surgery a few years ago, I told the anesthesiologist that I smoked at least one cigar a day and he didn't say a word.

Also, some of our best customers at the shop are anesthesiologists. :-)
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The same thing happened to me when I had my appendectomy.

I'm glad your surgery went well.
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Hey- you're a tenor. That's a prerequisite!

Image
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Ah, one of my idols. Rest in Peace, Luciano.
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As a GP, I have reviewed the evidence. It seems that the natural cut-off for ill effects vs lung and heart diseases is at about 1 cigar a day. Above that and you are accumulating risk. At or below that then you won't be increasing your risk in any great statistical fashion. The exception to that is larynx (a part of the throat) cancer (even many of the other head and neck cancers obey the 1/day rule). For some reason, any cigar smoking does increase your risk.

The assumptions are: you don't inhale. Other precautions I would include would be don't swallow your saliva while smoking (the researchers theorize that swallowing contaminated saliva may lead to this unavoidable risk, I find this precaution easy to follow, because frequent mouth rinsing does seem to improve the flavour of even the best tastiest cigars). Another modifier to the risk profile is whether you have ever been a smoker before; this may be because of previous accumulated risks "re-awakening" or may have to do with the whole inhaling thing again.

So, make no mistake, we are increasing our risks by using tobacco products. However, the amount of risk and the risk-to-benefit ratio that comes with choosing to do things you enjoy are probably leaning in your favour to have an enjoyable life. Someone on this board will die because of their cigar habit, but its not likely to be you (statistically :-) )

That all said, if I had surgery, I would hold off on the cigars for the time being. Something about tobacco does tend to slow the healing process. The last thing I want is poor healing after a surgery. Thus, in that circumstance I would lean to the side of caution. Once the surgery is completely behind me, then I would breathe a sigh of relief and then promptly inhale a stogie of relief.

Cheers

Cyanide
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Cyanide, thank you for your post. I really appreciate your input, especially given your qualifications. Your statements are based in science, truthfully acknowledging the risks, without being over-the-top. Thank you.

PS I will be laying off the smokes for a while, especially while taking Toradol and Vicodin for the pain.
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Told my doctor I smoked cigars and he said, "Ah ha I finally found something wrong with you" then he laughed....he didn't really care.
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I had a nurse at the doctor's office go off on me once about smoking cigars but my doctor said in moderation it was okay...That was when I smoked one a week. Now I smoke three per week. When I had surgery last fall they didn't even asked me if I smoked. After surgery it was a month before I even felt like smoking a cigar.

I figure that something is going to kill me someday...it might as well be something that I enjoy and has brought me pleasure in my life. I drink moderately and smoke moderately, but on the other hand, I do not skydive, bungie jump, deep sea dive, climb mountains, spelunk, surf, or live in Kansas so I think I have evened out the odds.
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Tell them you smoke cigars once a week, but smoke hash everyday. I bet they change their opinion on cigar smoking. :-)
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My VA Doc who I have had for 25 years gave me the :-) to smoke a cigar when I feel like it as long as I don't go crazy. Her attitude is that since I'm 60 + and even with a number of health issue's a person needs to have something they enjoy in life. Anyway it's "For The Children".
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:-):-):-)
I laugh because my doctor loves for me to go see him.
I always bring him a handful of forbidden land cigars and he smiles like a kid the rest of the day.
He particularly loves when I go on a Friday, as he golfs on Saturday.
So......from my doc? Never.
Change doctors.:-)
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I asked my doctor and he said it certainly wasn't healthy, and I think we can all agree upon that. We are lighting in tabacoo which has nicotine which isn't good for you, and combusting any plant creates tar. But the relaxation, comrodory, good times, and great taste of the cigar outweigh that.
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Blueface, next time you make it up to Disney World, or I go back home to South FL, we must meet up for a smoke and drink. My wife's older sister lives in Wellington.
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