*raising hand* I want to amend my earlier post!
Honestly, as much as I like threads like this, I've never felt there was any true importance of how we referred to ourselves...except TO ourselves. If you felt more proud to refer to yourself as a non, then by all means, call yourself a non. It was simply a personal thing with our own personal logics behind it. After all, not many people ask, "Are you and ex or non?", right? They'll simply ask if you smoke or not. And if we say we're non smokers, I can't imagine someone asking *with suspicious eyes* "are you suuuure you're not an ex?" lol (making myself laugh at that visual).. ok..sorry..back to the subject...
I mentioned this lightly in my earlier post but as things around me have changed, I really want to emphasize...
[b]There IS a time that it is VITAL that you be known as an EX-SMOKER[/b]
Your health care providers NEED to know that you are an ex-smoker, former smoker, somebody that used to smoke, whatever label you choose, EXCEPT...if you've smoked, you are not and never will be a non-smoker to them. Physicians don't mean for the term "ex-smoker" to be an insult. Most are full of praises when you tell them you've quit...but... It's vital you use the correct label with your health care providers because it makes a HUGE difference in diagnosis and treatments. Don't leave room for doubt. We can't ignore the fact that our bodies have battle wounds and scars...our physicians need to know why.
Otherwise, I think you should g'head call yourself whatever makes you feel great!
I've been home a week recovering from surgery with another week to go and a bad case of cabin fever ...can you tell? :)
N.O.P.E.
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/2/2005
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 590
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 11,817
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2106.3
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 62 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 28 [B]Seconds:[/B] 3
-
Quit Meter
$19,698.96
Amount Saved
-
Quit Meter
Days: 740
Hours: 20
Minutes: 28
Seconds: 54
Life Gained
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Quit Meter
5064
Smoke Free Days
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Quit Meter
101,280
Cigarettes Not Smoked
