First Class Medical/Smoker, can i get one?

[DenverDude2002]

Ive been smoking since about October now, cutting back but still doing it when I get the urge to, has my first 4 in over 3 days tonight. Im trying to quit but thats doubtful in the near future. Is it still possible for me to get a first class medical? Im thinking about finishing my pvt and playing the ratings game, and maybe trying to go corp/commercial in 5-10 years. Thanks

 

[I.P. Freley]

Yes, you can get it.

 

[TDTURBO]

Ive been smoking since about October now, cutting back but still doing it when I get the urge to, has my first 4 in over 3 days tonight. Im trying to quit but thats doubtful in the near future. Is it still possible for me to get a first class medical? Im thinking about finishing my pvt and playing the ratings game, and maybe trying to go corp/commercial in 5-10 years. Thanks

You're kidding right?

Why would smoking prevent you from a 1st class medical? Unless you have advanced COPD I doubt you'll have a problem.

 

[Rogue5]

I think a bigger concern for most of us in this career would be passing the "good moral character" requirement of the ATP certificate...

 

[Ted Striker]

Ive been smoking since about October now, cutting back but still doing it when I get the urge to, has my first 4 in over 3 days tonight. Im trying to quit but thats doubtful in the near future. Is it still possible for me to get a first class medical? Im thinking about finishing my pvt and playing the ratings game, and maybe trying to go corp/commercial in 5-10 years. Thanks

You can pass now, you're a young guy right? What about in 20 years when your dumb, smoking a$$ is hacking everything up, blood pressure is through the roof, can't pass the EKG, etc, etc. Stop now, don't be a moron. In 20 years a 1st class medical will be the least of your worries. Or you can keep going and just change your screenname to Iron Lung.

 

[MTpilot]

You can do it.

Quitting smoking is tough but it's worth doing, I smoked 2 packs a day for a decade and I quit. It only takes a year to really get over it, kind of a tough year though. Good Luck, Bill

P.S. You wont have a problem getting a first class until your first heart attack, or stroke, or maybe emphysma, or......

 

[qmaster3]

My old CFI is 65 smokes 2/packs a day, flew for US AIR for 30/yrs, looks like helll, but still holds a Class 1. In today’s world getting health insurance would be more challenging. BTW when I smoked I always laughed at some fat slob giving me a lecture.... Talk about the pot calling the Kettle black.

 

[eddie]

If you've only been smoking for 6 months, you should force yourself to quit Cold Turkey!

Use your self control...get over it before it really becomes tough to quit!

 

[bobbysamd]

First Class Medical and smoking

Smoking is not a deterrent to getting a medical and you've already been lectured above about quitting. I would second the lecture, however. I used to smoke. You'll feel better, look better and have more money in your wallet. How much does a carton cost these days??

 

[T-Gates]

Ive been smoking since about October now, cutting back but still doing it when I get the urge to, has my first 4 in over 3 days tonight. Im trying to quit but thats doubtful in the near future. Is it still possible for me to get a first class medical? Im thinking about finishing my pvt and playing the ratings game, and maybe trying to go corp/commercial in 5-10 years. Thanks

You've been smoking for less than 6 months, quit..... It only gets harder.....

 

[Dash8]

Ive been smoking since about October now, cutting back but still doing it when I get the urge to, has my first 4 in over 3 days tonight. Im trying to quit but thats doubtful in the near future. Is it still possible for me to get a first class medical? Im thinking about finishing my pvt and playing the ratings game, and maybe trying to go corp/commercial in 5-10 years. Thanks

why in the hell would you even start?????

i'll never understand why people who didn't smoke previously, start nowadays, knowing what we know about it....baffling...

 

[Lead Sled]

I've been smoking since about October now...Is it still possible for me to get a first class medical?

You're kidding us right? You've been smoking for 4 months. Guy, there's no reason physically that smoking will prevent you from getting a medical certificate of any grade. However, just how stupid are you? Sorry, I don't have a lot of patience or sympathy when it comes to smoking and pilots. The best way to quit? Cold Turkey.

'Sled

 

[CDVdriver]

Stop while you still have a chance.
I smoke of course.....but no troubles with a First class med.
Not yet at least.

 

[JB74]

The best way to quit? Cold Turkey.

Yep. Probably the only way. That is how I did it (just over a year ago). Hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life, but I feel 1000 times better having quit. My main motivation was my newborn son, I didn't want him to have to live with it.

DenverDude, 4 months? Just throw them away and don't look back.

 

[FracCapt]

Ive been smoking since about October now, cutting back but still doing it when I get the urge to, has my first 4 in over 3 days tonight. Im trying to quit but thats doubtful in the near future. Is it still possible for me to get a first class medical? Im thinking about finishing my pvt and playing the ratings game, and maybe trying to go corp/commercial in 5-10 years. Thanks

Ok....let me get this straight....you have been smoking for 4 months, and you're having a hard time quitting cold turkey? Bullsh!t. You can quit anytime. At 4 months it's not a physical addiction unless you were smoking 10 packs a day. It's all psychological. Just quit. Don't pick up another cigarette. Trust me, it's possible....I did it after smoking for 7 years....YOU can do it after smoking for 4 months.

If I ever end up working with you and you are still a smoker, you WILL hear it from me. Smokers in the cockpit stink. The smell doesn't go away because it's embedded in their clothes. As an ex smoker, I am worse about b!tching about this than somebody that has never smoked.

By the way, a little insight as to what CAN happen. My father had a severe heart attack years ago. He was in intensive care for almost 3 weeks. The problem was that the drugs they were pumping into him to save his life were being attacked/counteracted by all the chemicals in his system from smoking 2 packs a day for 30 years. They had to up the drug dosages, but were dangerously close to killing him from an OD of those drugs. He went into cardiac arrest at one point because of the excessive amount of numerous drugs...but they brought him back. Do you want this to be you?

Luckily...he survived...and never picked up another cigarette. 30 years of 2+ packs a day, with numerous attempts to quit...and all it took was a near death experience for him to quit. Is it going to take the same for you to quit?

 

[DenverDude2002]

I am working on quitting, cutting back a lot, going to go cold turkey in prob a week or so if i can go without none-2 in the next week. I started because i was going through some rough **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** in my life, stupid mistake i know, I'll for sure be cold turkey by the end of march.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

***. But for crissakes take that stinky-ass suicide sucker out of your mouth....

 

[FracCapt]

I am working on quitting, cutting back a lot, going to go cold turkey in prob a week or so if i can go without none-2 in the next week. I started because i was going through some rough **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** in my life, stupid mistake i know, I'll for sure be cold turkey by the end of march.

No excuses. It was stupid. Period. Just admit it and leave it at that. I was a total jackass for smoking even back when I did. We knew at that time that it was unhealthy. You definitely knew it. Take whatever cigarettes you have right now, crumble them in your hand and throw them away. Don't touch another one. Don't cop out and say "I'll cut back". Be a man, just quit. If you think you "can't do that"...then chain smoke(never stop, light one with the one you just finished) until you puke. If you get the desire for another, repeat. That's how I got a friend of mine(15 year smoker) to quit.

 

[jetalc]

If you don't quit and need a medical, just go see Dr. Joe Battersby in PHX - lights up one when he's talking to you, and then another while he's checking your heart, eyes, ears, etc. Phenomenal guy, been doing it for a LONG time, and always a lot of fun (as fun as a medical can be!)...

 

[qmaster3]

DENVERDUDE,

Hope you threw the smokes out. Now, before you hit the gym. You need that little heart of yours cured. ^^^.

 

[Typhoon1244]

Hit the gym and nail one of the chicks working out there.

(He's talking about sex, by the way...not sparring. )

 

[FlyChicaga]

Good ol' Hugh. Tells it like it is. It's true about the 40 year old though.

 

[Hobit]

Try the commit losenges, or the patch, or the gum.
But QUIT, you'll be thankful you did.

If you fall off the wagon, pick yourself back up try another method (patch, losenge, etc) and quit all over again.

Don't drink or go out to bars for a long while.

Don't hang with your smoking buddies anymore, not be unfriendly, you just don't need the temptation.

Realize that you'll have to relearn stress coping skills and that you'll be Mr. Grumpy for a couple of months.

You can quit, lots of folks do. It took me two attempts but I am very happy that it finally stuck.

Think of all the flight time you are wasting on the smokes. What is it now, three and a half bucks a pack now? JEESH!!!

I promise you, you'll be amazed at how nasty it smells after you get a few months away from it.

YOU CAN DO IT.... dont procrastinate (sp?) or you'll be 55 yrs. old in the doc's office with a cough that aint going away.

Here's another reason to quit besides the smell in the cockpit (... Good one BTW); A potential employer may look at your continued smoking as bad judgement. Do you want to lose a chance at a good gig because you didn't nip this in the bud now?

Some folks are harsh about it because they lost loved ones to cancer.

Good Luck

BTW, John Thorp really can design a plane huh?

 

[Vector4fun]

I probably shouldn't post this, but...

One side of my family all smoked. Just for the record, not one has died of cancer or other smoking related illness.

On the other hand, three of my immediate relatives on that side are dead as a result of alchohol. Drowning in your own vomit on the floor of a seedy bar is not a classy way to go.

Just something to think about next time you folks are opting for that third drink at the bar.....