Wounds Talking Now
Her Wound – “Hey there I noticed you on the way in. I can’t believe what your person was doing! We walked right by and I could smell the smoke from his cigarette. “
His Wound – “I know, I know, he is up to a pack a day.”
Her Wound – “My person used to do that too. I hated it, we reeked and I always felt poorly. It took a very strong warning from our Clinician that finally convinced my person to quit. It was one of the hardest things she ever did. I suffered for a while longer, but lately I have been feeling empowered.”
His Wound – “I am so happy for you. I feel terrible. I know I am getting deeper and I’d bet money that I am infected.”
Her Wound – “It’s been a few months now and she still does not think of herself a “non-smoker”. It is especially hard because dealing with a wound is very stressful and smoking can be a crutch. But she knew that she was taking a chance that I might never heal, so she gave it up. I know it was the best thing she could ever do for us. Maybe the Doctor can scare your person too. Hopefully his provider will tell him that a smoker inhales carbon monoxide. This poison enters the blood stream and lowers oxygen levels. Healing wounds need oxygen. Smoke also has nicotine. This is like adrenaline; it causes blood vessels to tighten. Smoking lowers oxygen supply to the tissues as well as essential nutrients, and healing factors like Vitamin C.”
His Wound – “I really wish he would stop smoking. What else do you know about the results of smoking on wounds like us?”
Her Wound – “Just as you suspected, smoking can cause you to become infected. It can cause blood clots near the wound and treatments will not take well. Sometimes it can make stitches come apart and prevent skin grafts from taking.”
His Wound – “That is terrifying to me. What can my person do to quit?”
Her Wound – “That is the Big Question. But first the person has to admit that they are hooked on tobacco. They need to take control of themselves and take the steps needed to beat the habit. My person has a saying “I have an addiction and I’m powerless over tobacco” This helps to give her strength to say no to “just one” cigarette. She knows that if she can make it just five minutes that the urge to smoke can be controlled. She learned that she couldn’t do it alone. She tried many times but what did it for her was a mix of programs. Her Doctor helped her by giving a nicotine replacement and an anti-depressant.”
His Wound – “I am not sure this would work for him. Can’t he just try to go it alone?”
Her Wound – “Studies have showed that only 5% of independent smokers* are still smoke free at the end of a year. But there are lots of programs through the American Cancer Society, American Lung or Heart Associations. Some people have found help at Nicotine Anonymous.”
His Wound – “Oh, thank-you. I hope he learns that smoking is bad for wound healing and tries these ways to get help. I want to get better and heal.”
Her Wound – “And I want that for you too. Take care of yourself and your person.”