Smoking Pipes With a Chest and/or Head Cold

jim102864

After what I can only describe as a nightmarish end to 2018, I've been blessed with a knock-down, drag- out head and chest cold.  I am a walking, talking petri dish.  The whole bloody mess went full viral (if you will) two days ago.  I had expected to enjoy two weeks of mental bliss after being laid off in November and then finding a new job which doesn't start until January 7th.  Instead, I'm reduced to a sneezing, hacking mess anxious to smoke a bowl and celebrate happier times.  I'm threatening to fire up one right now, most likely a bowl of Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired... or not.  What are your thoughts regarding smoking a pipe with a significant cold?  Does it simply make your condition worse or does it have little negative impact? 

motie2

Just say no. We're enthusiasts -- hobyists -- not addicts. 

Danfriedman

Hi @jim102864, I am sorry you are under the weather. I agree 100% with @motie2. You do not need to push extra work on your lungs when your body is stressed. 

jfreedy

@jim102864 -- I had something similar back in November.... awful. Pretty much ruined my Thanksgiving. I REALLY wanted to smoke a bowl after Thanksgiving dinner. It was a warm, wind-still Texas afternoon, but all I could do was nap in a lounge chair soaking up some sun. So I hear ya, brother! But like the others... I'd probably hold off. Plus, this proves to yourself that you're NOT addicted to anything. You can pick it up & lay it down whenever you want!

Michael308

@jim102864 I'm with these guys on holding off. Obviously one of the best parts to pipe smoking is the wonderful flavors, and if your like me when I'm sick I can't taste squat. So I would just wait until I could taste again. Hope you feel better soon!

RockyMountainBriar

@jim102864
     I can't be of much help on the subject.  I have not been sick since before I started smoking a pipe in 2012...heck, I can't even remember the last time I was sick. Hmm, I was sick for a day or two over a weekend the first winter I got this job in 2004.  I was still able to go home after work and ride my Harley Sportster to "Church" that night (read local micro-brew). I had a route that required me to be in nasty casino/bars and clean gross stuff off of our gaming machines. Luckily, I don't do that anymore, I have a 25'x50' shop all to myself (it gets lonely sometimes).....plus...I'm immune
     I have only missed one (sick) day of work in 14+ years.  Unless you count the two motorcycle wrecks I was in, still only missed two days on the second wreck....the first was only a Semi-Tractor that pulled out in front of me on my lunch break.  I just bounced my Harley Road Glide off of the front truck tire and flew into the side of the sleeper (fiberglass is actually pretty forgiving and soft compared to other things .  The second one a year later some @$$h0!e pulled out in front of me with a Buick Rendezvous and I slid under the rocker panel...that POS didn't stop, had I been unconcious, he would have crushed my head like a melon. I was able to raise my head out of the way of the oncoming tire, as it was the Buick's rear tire left black marks on my forehead, cheek and nose.  I should have beat the $h!t out of that guy.  That wreck laid me up for a couple of days.  It takes longer to heal at 50+.
    

Londy3

Nope, nope, no.

riobrusa

Everybody are right. You will not be able to taste nothing, so why waste a good tobacco. 

jim102864

I didn't take the "plunge", and haven't still, though I clearly thought about it.  I get one of these damn chest colds every few years.  My patience is wearing thin.  

jfreedy

I will say the second I felt better I smoked a bowl OUTSIDE so there was no chance of inhaling any second hand smoke.

ghostsofpompeii

I tend to agree with the masses ... and say no. It's actually the best thing about being a non-addictive pipe smoker ... the ability to "just say no" when you're feeling under the weather. Why waste a good bowl when everything taste like snot and mucus.

Winton

I have a meeting with the officers of the Chicago Pipe Show today. But I have called in sick. Can't describe how much I wanted to go and smoke in a warm place. Smoking in my unheated garage is OK at 40 degrees, but once the sun starts to go down, it gets miserable. If you are using your pipe as a source of heat, you are doing something really wrong. BUT, since I am sick, I wouldn't smoke anyway. 

motie2

@Winton -- SWMBO won't let me smoke in the house. So, I bought a dual window fan (two fans; exhaust and intake positions; fits right in window). I sit in a rocking chair next to the window and it sucks (most of) the smoke right out. Cost me $30.00 on eBay. Now I can smoke in the house.......

mapletop

I concur with the others, you will just be disappointed

PappyJoe

With the weather fluctuations here in SE Louisiana of late, my sinus have finally reached the point that they are seriously clogged on minute and draining the next. I haven't had a pipe in two days. Hoping this goes away soon.