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Anyone else react badly to cigarette smoke?

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Posted 3/23/2008 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
I know this sounds like a weird question, but I'm guessing it's related to my lupus since I never reacted this way to second hand smoke before getting sick.  I notice that now I get really bad headaches and feel sick and all my symptoms seem worse for a while.  I have no idea if I'm just extra sensitive to the toxins in cigarettes now or what. Today we had Easter at my mom's and my 98 year old grandpa was there and he had about 2 cigarettes while he was there.  It made me feel so sick, I had to go to an upstairs bedroom where I closed the door and then opened the window to let some fresh air in (even though it was only 30 degrees).  Does anyone else have this happen with toxins or does anyone know why this happens? 
Posted 3/23/2008 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
I have the same kind of over-reaction to smells and sounds -- just like the lupus over-reaction to the sun or florescent lighting. There is a new linen store near me that uses huge florescent lights AND has a particular perfumed smell about it. I can spend less that 5 minutes in there and come out with a headache, a cough and an awfully bad mood. Takes about 24 hrs till I feel okay again. I think part of the lupus process is being hyper-reactive to all those things that our bodies normally (used to) cope with. A drag in many ways, but a sign of healthy-self protection in out ways. Cheers,
Posted 3/24/2008 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
My husband has always become ill when exposed to second hand smoke, when he was a teen his parents had him tested for allergies and turned out he is allergic to tobacco smoke along with a few other things including grass. You might want to check into it and see if you could be allergic.

Posted 3/24/2008 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Hippi,

Redrose has a good suggestion about testing for allergies. However, since my diagnosis, I do notice that I have less of an ability to handle second-hand smoke. I just cannot stand it. I get headaches and, like Lynnwood, I get really grumpy. Sometimes I also get sick to my stomach but this does not happen everytime. I think Lynnwood's idea about our system not processing things as well as it used to makes a lot of sense.

I hope all is well with you these days!
Posted 3/24/2008 4:09 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Hippi,

This is lupus, so no question is a wierd question. I get headaches also when I'm exposed to second-hand smoke. Not just from cigarrettes, either; I can't be anywhere near campfires or grills. I hate having to stay away from the campfires, I love them so, but I get migraines being around them. Like you, this started after my diagnosis, but not until about a year ago. I have yet to ask my doctor why this is happening. I need to remember to write that question down.

Robin
Posted 3/24/2008 5:49 AM (GMT 0)
Tobacco is a nightshade. Like I always say, nightshades are evil. It will cause the same reaction as tomatoes or peppers.

It's poison, but hey, who needs tobacco anyways! =)

Posted 3/24/2008 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
Everything all of you said makes sense. I didn't think of, or didn't know that tobacco was a nightshade plant. It probably a combination of my body not dealing with the toxins and it being a nightshade plant. It really is poison, so maybe it's not a bad thing that my body makes me get away from it - I'm just in bad shape if I can't get away from it. I react the same way to flourescent lights too which stinks because they are everywhere!
Posted 3/24/2008 7:56 PM (GMT 0)

Boy I hope you don't get sick from sucking up 30 degree temps! I don't have a lot of problems with the smell of cigerettes but don't get me in a cleaning isle of a store. Or even where all the bath soup is. I can't handle that stuff. So I guess that means you ain't taking up smoking with Gramps anytime soon?????????? tongue

love ya

carol

Posted 3/24/2008 9:59 PM (GMT 0)

I have noticed this as well. I recently attended a business convention in Las Vegas and had a terrible time just getting from Point A to Point B without going thru a casino filled with smoke. I end up coughing a lot, and it usually goes into the next morning until I feel as if I have gotten it out of my system.

Ti

Posted 8/31/2008 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
I just want to let you know that there are people out there who severely suffer from a second hand smoke. I found this forum when I was searching the web in the hope that I could find any answer to what my reaction to cigarette smoke was. I am not talking about a reaction to a direct smoke. It is the stagnant toxic air that I react real badly. My office building is, of course, completely a non-smoking place but I can tell that people smoke somewhere (either in their private offices or restrooms) and some time. Sore throat, chest congestion and red eyes are some of my symptoms. I also feel something is pricking my tongue. I am afraid of staying at any hotel room (Las Vegas was worst) even in a completely non-smoking building because there are always people smoking in their own rooms. I have been complaining and sending emails to our building manager but I know that there is nothing he can do about it other than sending an email reminder of non-smoking policy to occupants. I hope that you get a little solace knowing that there are people like me who react to cigarette smoke worse than you. Take care.
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