Medical question?

[billethkid]

I am a 20 ++ year smoker of cigars. They are the signal to my mind and body it is time to shut dow, escape, relax and enjoy good company.

I recently had to have a couple of lower abdominal aneurysms repaired with two stents being used. I am now on Plavix for 90 days which means no alcohol. I am not happy with that but I am content knowing that 90 days will go by quickly.

The real snag is my cardiologist and vascular surgeon saying no cigars.....EVER. Not one a day or one a week or special occasions....NEVER!! Supposedly the nicotene tends to affect the serum/thickness of the blood i.e. making it "sticky" and attracted to stents. Potential for clotting and or blockafe of stents or both.

I have been unable to research anything anywhere that specifically points to these risks as they pertain to cigars....all usually about cigarettes.

I have read a little that "ocassional" cigar smoking one per day or less most likely will have no noteable changes.

I would like to think of it like salt...I know it is bad for me, but I do use it sparingly.

I would love to converse with a cigar smoking physician/surgeon for their opinion on the matter.

Anybody have anything encouraging on the subject?

btk

[Devil Doc]

No.

Doc

[Eville]

I say smoke all you want. What are the odds of 2 doctors being right about anything medical related?

[ggiese]

I have to give you my Doc's number. He believes cigar smoking is therapeutic, if done in moderation. According to him, if it causes you to sit down, relax and contemplate - nothing could be better for the heart. Of course, he doesn't say that too loudly or his staff will be all over him...

But - I have been recently been given the same advice after my surgeries. I've heard from multiple medical professionals (including the Doc that lets me smoke) Nicotine is known to slow healing and promote infection. I've laid off of cigars until my wounds are well healed - I've been giving my body everything it needs to heal.

But... Lookout end of March!

[billethkid]

I appreciate the sharing of information.
I amnot looking for a free pass or collaboration to give me a green light to smoke.
Without any medical issues, we all know the risks of smoking cigars and we all make our independent decisions to smoke them or not....many or few.

I am a 3-5 cigars a week person. At cigar events maybe two in an outing.
So I categorize myself as an ocassional smoker. Mid 70's, excellent health, 3 mile a day walker at 3 miles per hour every day, eat healthy and have been doing this for more of the 70 + years than not. Father dies at 55 and brother at 39 of heart problems as a result I have lived a heart health life.

Me, my body, my mind are just so tuned to that hour or so of complete relaxation and disconnect from the day to day and the companionship of others like me....when smoking that ocassional cigar.

I understand the medical professionals especially cardiologists and vascular surgeons being dead set against "smoking".

The new big issue for me is that I now have stents in my body....not in the heart. I acknowledge my system even with one cigar a week would not be as clean/good as the non smoker...that is a given.

If I use a different example like taking a prescribed medication. For it to work one has to take it as prescribed, consistently for it to work. To take it ocassionally 2-4 times per week....most likely will result in little or no effect.

I am trying to educate myself to the point where I am convinced (or not) that an ocassional cigar will not result in a catostrophic event. I also subscribe to the notion that my ocassional cigar smoking is of therapetic significance and is therefore good for me. I know that has nothing to do with the chemical reactions of nicotene and resultant effect on stents......but how much does it take....or how little to not matter.

I am following doctors orders to the letter until my 90 day check up with cat scan etc. May 1st is my day. By then I should have garnered enough info to make my personal informed decision.

Thanx again for the input.

btk