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Aristus

(72,351 posts)

11. One of my smoking patients died just the other day.

Thu Nov 4, 2021, 11:24 AM

Nov 2021

Respiratory arrest. His larynx had been removed a couple of years ago, and he still smoked through his tracheostomy stoma. Every time I visited with him, he would tell me (in his voiceless whispery croak) that he didn't intend to ever stop smoking.

Well, he finally did. The hard way.

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Yesterday, a patient asked me the stupidest question I think I've ever heard. [View all] Aristus Nov 2021 OP

oldest medical joke I know lapfog_1 Nov 2021 #1

My Dad, a surgical RN, told me that one all the time growing up. Aristus Nov 2021 #2

My Brother in law, an ER doc in AZ lapfog_1 Nov 2021 #4

HA! Aristus Nov 2021 #6

Wasn't that a Henny Youngman joke? Mickju Nov 2021 #21

Well. How do you? Lochloosa Nov 2021 #3

Quit smoking. Aristus Nov 2021 #5

I imagine.... cannabis_flower Nov 2021 #34

Bleach, and trump says it protects one from CV19. Shine a light up your rear too. Hoyt Nov 2021 #7

I quit smoking years ago in a 12 Step program jmbar2 Nov 2021 #8

Dieting is hardest Marthe48 Nov 2021 #15

I interviewed a number of smokers after our office won a court case gratuitous Nov 2021 #43

Really good advice! jmbar2 Nov 2021 #44

This reminds me Ohioboy Nov 2021 #9

Good for you! Marthe48 Nov 2021 #16

Congratulations! jmbar2 Nov 2021 #17

Congrats Demovictory9 Nov 2021 #48

I remember looking out my hospital window packman Nov 2021 #10

One of my smoking patients died just the other day. Aristus Nov 2021 #11

That must be painfully hard for a medical professional to deal with that jmbar2 Nov 2021 #18

My husband had a buddy from the Army Marthe48 Nov 2021 #19

Seeing nurses smoke on break always amazes me at hospitals. czarjak Nov 2021 #42

I recall an intubated patient asking a nurse who smoked ... IggleDuer Nov 2021 #12

Intubated patients can't talk, if I understand it, because they are sedated & have tube in way. . nt Bernardo de La Paz Nov 2021 #25

I quit about 9 years ago Farmer-Rick Nov 2021 #13

I'm a never-smoker, but I really appreciate the help of former-smokers in getting the message out Aristus Nov 2021 #14

Started smoking Oct 26, 1965. Second day of boot camp. Two smoke breaks a day. Otherwise... usaf-vet Nov 2021 #20

I quit for the last time in 2017 LittleGirl Nov 2021 #24

Thanks for saying Chille Nov 2021 #47

My last cigarette was March 26, 2018 liberaltrucker Nov 2021 #22

After almost 60 years of smoking tavernier Nov 2021 #23

16 yrs quit for me onethatcares Nov 2021 #26

Never had an urge to smoke. LiberalFighter Nov 2021 #27

If you think fingers are bad, picture the interior of the house & car. Historic NY Nov 2021 #28

Painted commercial apartments for a number of years. plimsoll Nov 2021 #32

The dust cover of one of the used books I bought online looked like that: drippy yellow inside... Hekate Nov 2021 #36

Airplane mechanics used to talk about how checking for pressurization leaks was easy Ocelot II Nov 2021 #39

How did your patient respond? Devil Child Nov 2021 #29

He wasn't sure he heard me correctly at first. Aristus Nov 2021 #30

Messages that need repeating. Hope the pt took it to heart Devil Child Nov 2021 #33

In some countries, they still think smoking is good for health IronLionZion Nov 2021 #31

At least as long ago as the 1940s cigarettes were called coffin nails. PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2021 #35

I have both patience and compassion, as my late mother's struggles to quit were monumental... Hekate Nov 2021 #37

I think calling them "coffin nails" goes back over a century. I seem to have read an old cowboy book Hekate Nov 2021 #38

My mother was a nurse in the late '40s, before I was born. Ocelot II Nov 2021 #40

The funeral director may be able to remove the stains. hay rick Nov 2021 #41

This message was self-deleted by its author ExTex Nov 2021 #45

Yeah. Aristus Nov 2021 #46

I always liked Abraham Lincoln's comment DFW Nov 2021 #49

I'm sure you and I could regale each other 3catwoman3 Nov 2021 #50

I know that no names were mentioned, but... zanana1 Nov 2021 #51

Patient: Doctor it hurts when I do this. Hotler Nov 2021 #52