Mum wants to quit-Doctors making it less than easy?

[bankhater10]

Hello! My 62 year old mother, who has smoked for 40 years, has suggested that she wants to give up smoking. I have been heavily involved in encouraging her to quit as, to be blunt, i dont want her to die soon being as she had a mild heart attack 13 years ago. She told me that when she mentioned she wanted to quit to her doctor, she was expecting maybe some nicotine patches but instead the doctor told her she first had to attend a meeting with similar smokers? Is this the 'norm' please? The problem is she isn't that comfortable in social meetings so a 'meeting' with other smokers would not be what she wanted!!

[huggys boss]

I am not too sure about different P.C.T's and their rules. But around here, the doctors do not issue NRT directly, we need to see a smoking cessation (? spelling) nurse who discusses the options available and then decides on the best plan for you. You then have to have regular follow-up appointments to make sure 1) that you are happy with your plan and, 2) you have actually quit (by way of a carbon monoxide test), so that they can then issue your next prescription.

 

Wish your mum good luck from me. If she manages to quit she is a better person than I am

[Old Cogger]

Yes you have to attend /contact NHS quit smoking, local directory listed, simple go along, no problem ask them time/where, discuss treatment (Champix) I found brilliant, get letter for Doctor , issues prescription there that was easy was it not???

[cosmicjade26]

Not all authorities require you to attend smoking clinics, i told my doctor i wanted champix (my mum is a stop smoking nurse for different authority), he asked me if i wanted to attend a smoking clinic or do it on my own, i requested on my own and he prescribed there and then, i have now been on the champix for 4 weeks almost and i haven't had a cig for 2 weeks now, if your mum is strong enough, because all NRT needs some will power, (if your GP allows) she could do it alone. Good luck to her.

[Conniff]

It's a good idea to attend one of these sessions as it can really push home why she should give up. You go with here, tea, coffee and biccies, will be an enjoyable hour or two.

[Mungypup]

I saw a smoking cessation nurse first (didn't think about seeing the doc at the time and a friend of mine had recently been and gave me the number) and found her very helpfull. When I called the number I was given the option of going to a group or going to a private meeting. I found her more than helpful, I'm also not one who likes to do things as a group so she was very happy for me to make an appointment as an individual. I didn't have to go back and see my doctor either, I worked quite far from where I lived and where my doctor was based and made the appointment for my lunch hour, so she wrote me the prescription for nictotine replacement herself. I continued to see her for some time, always making individual appointments. I would recomend giving them a ring and asking for this, as from what I found they very understanding. I HATE the idea of going to a group for something like that. We are all differrent and part of their job is to help tailor things to your needs. And in case you're wondering, it was bloody difficult, hardest thing I've ever done and still fight with it occasionaly even though it was a few years ago, but yes, I won

 

Ah, was bored and noseying through the forum. Just spotted the OP date. Why do I never look at that! Oh well. Still may help someone.

[Conniff]

There is one thing you should be aware of and that 'we' all have in common - you have to 'want' to give up.

 

This is entirely different to I'd like to give up. You have to be really honest with yourself as over 99% of giving up is willpower, something no tablets can give you.

 

The dates irrelevant as this is an ongoing topic and will never pass any sell by date.

[scylla]

I was reconciled to dying from smoking (and with my 50-year smoking history, I probably still will from related damage) because I couldn't face quitting - but I haven't had a tobacco cigarette for over 2 years thanks to the electronic version. Some people take to it from the first puff and never have another fag, others use it to cut down, most of them converting to "vaping" only after a couple of weeks or months.

 

It's really the only method that helps you stop when you don't want to but know you really ought to and feel helpless to do anything about it.

 

scylla