Dear Smoker, Please don't kill me

I am taking on a controversy here.  Some of you may smoke and some smokers are very upset by people saying what I'm about to say.  Yet this happens all the time now, and while I realize I have an extreme situation and that it's not truly the smoker's fault, smoke bothers many people to a lesser extent and therefore for people like me as well as most non-smoker's, at least please think about this.

The following is a letter, edited for privacy only, my dr. wrote to help me handle a situation in which an exposure to incense caused me to have a bad attack and the people who handled it were not very supportive with an attitude of "one person shouldn't get to change everything".  The person who witnessed the asthma attack was the only one who got it and I scared that person as the attack was bad.

Dear Jennifer,This letter is to confirm that I have diagnosed you with Chemical Sensitivites and Asthma, which may result in potentially life-threatening bronchospasm when exposed to chemicals such as cleaners, air freshners, incense, tobacco smoke, and strong perfumes. While you are able to take steps to avoid these, it is impossible to control those around you. Please take precautions, including having a working inhaler with you, and continue to immediately leave situations where exposure is occuring.  Dr. Body

It took a while to process that.  I'm well aware I have severe asthma, and the last few days would have confirmed that if I didn't know it; ever since my ER visit I've reacted to everything.  But the phrase "life-threatening" had not occurred to me.  You'd better believe an inhaler is on my person at all times pretty much (not when sleeping) all the time now.  Which is good since I seem to need a puff every few hours.  I knew it was bad; I did not comprehend completely until this HOW bad.  Which is good because it was another push toward letting Dr. Body send me to Dr. Everything Allergy and Asthma (Dr. EAA).  


Today I wsa on a ferry boat.  It was marked no smoking everywhere and the instructions clearly state this includes in your car.  I was in my car with the sunroof open and windows down, reading, when I smelled ciagrette smoke.  I rapidly sealed my car and searched.  A man a few cars back (and I think a woman with him) were half in and half out of the car smoking.  When i walked past to be sure they had left the cigarettes out in plain sight.  I tried hard to find a ferry worker to tell them, and nobody was accessible.  So I just put up with it.


The thing is that cigarretes are the hardest thing to avoid of anything because smokers tend to gather in doorways.  I am severely allergic to that smoke but if I want to do something as simple as buy food I generally have to hold my breath the best I can, use an inhaler, and hope for the best.  Life feels like a minefield right now.  Sometimes I know something will make me react.  Sometimes I am surprised.  Regardless it's a scary world and it is smokers who tend to have the least courtesy and cause the greatest trouble (smoke happens to be my worst trigger I think, be it cigarette, wood burner, etc.)  It makes me wonder if smokers realize exactly what risk some people are at from their behaviors.  And I suspect no. So, here's the word of experience:  I recognize adults have the right to smoke.  I also recognize my own right to breathe.  So, please, please don't risk my life by smoking where I cannot avoid you or by sneaking a smoke where it is prohibited.  If you smoke in a nonsmoking hotel room I can no longer stay there.  If you smoke too close to my car, even if I manage to seal everything that smoke can bother me for an hour.  If you smoke directly in front of me while talking to me I will tend to run away.  


There are other areas that are the same.  I haven't been to a mall in months, partly because of fear of perfume counters, and partly because I hate malls.  I can't go into cleaning or laundry product aisles and thank God for those stores that seperate the kinds I can use although mainly I have to use soap nuts and vinegar and baking soda.  


I don't want to control you, or anyone else who may cause an attack.  I HATE with a passion asking pt's to not smoke in front of me.  But, you could kill me.  Did you know that?  I didn't.  And until mowed grass put me in the emergency room I had trouble believing it.  Now, I believe....