Smoking..

I'll be having surgery in 1 week...3-1-04. My surgeon hasn't told me to stop smoking, I'm not a heavy smoker. a pack lasts me 3 days...but all the same I smoke. Had breast reduction 3 yrs ago a surgery that lasted 7 hrs..even then I wasn't told to stop smoking. I passed my PFT, ABG, Chest x-rays with no prob..as a matter of fact the tech said.."you don't smoke do you?" and was suprised when he found out i do. I'm gonna try my best not to smoke this week at all. Just for my own piece of mind. MJ

Hey Melissa, You really need to quit smoking. You're on a journey to give yourself a new life, a new life free from addiction to food...and....cigarettes. To do the PT you need to do to lose weight you must have proper lung compacity. My surgeon won't even consider doing surgery on a patient that hasn't been off cigarettes for at least a month. I remember him saying in the seminar, something about the level of commitment necessary to have a good outcome. (now climbing down from soap box) Talk to Kimmer, she's quit. She has some good hints. Happy thoughts, Va 9 sunrises until my new life begins Offishal Paper Monkey and Secretary Extraordinaire Offishal Squirrel Wrangler (willing to share this title)

Thanks for your reply Virginia. I know its a very yucky habit...but i have to admit sometimes I enjoy it...Hopefully post op I'll be too dang busy working out to pick them back up. Thanks, MJ

Hi Melissa, I'll be praying that you will be successful in quitting smoking You will have such a positive attitude about yourself, you won't need cigies anymore. 7 hours for breast reduction? Oh my, that's one of the first things I want after I lose some weight after WLS. I thought it only took a couple of hours, do they put you completely out or just the anesthesia(sp) that puts you semi out? Betty

Betty, I was over flowing a E cup when I had my reduction..The surgeon called what he had to do a "radical breast reduction" and you bet I was out...totally out. Woke up sat straight up in bed and begged for a 7-up. I walked out of the hospital 4 hrs later and went home. I'm a nurse and don't know if that made a dif, but I also knew the doc and he knew, that I know how to care for wounds. I did have some trouble healing..he took the drain tube out too soon and I leaked. (right in the middle of a Deposition with 4 attorny's ) I asked for a C cup and I"m borderlining a B-C..not bad really and with the weight loss I anticipate that I will be ok...except for one thing..I have alot of scar tissue in the right breast and have constant pain, I'm thinking that i might go back and have a mastectomy and implants. still in the thinkin process on that one. I want a healther lifestyle and one of the biggest things with me is REFLUX, and I know cigs aggervate that so that will keep me smoke free post op (i hope ) thank you for your response and PLEASE do keep me in your prayers. MJ

Hi Melissa My surgeon never told me about smoking either. however... on the television last week, he was being interviewed and he said "he will never operate on anyone who smokes. Must quit 2 months prior...... YIKES !!! also, I was in the chat room last week talking to Dr. Simpson about smoking and here is what that conversation went like: Needless to say.. I quit that night.. cold cold turkey and it is a bi*ch. Good luck Chat with Dr Simpson (I copied and saved it) Janet: My surgery is 3/4 - I am an on and off smoker. My pulmonary test were excellent, yet I worry. What effects will smoking have on surgery day. Dr. Simpson: If you were my patient you wouldn't have surgery until you quit..... Dr. Simpson: smoking increases the chance of a leak, it increases the chance of hernia formation.... Dr. Simpson: it increases the chance of lung problems after surgery..... Dr. Simpson: it decreases the ability of the body to heal well.... Dr. Simpson: and allows the body to scar worse. so, smoking is a good thing to quit, and if you gain weight Dr. Simpson: when you quit smoking---- Dr. Simpson: then think, you have weight loss surgery, and it is gone!

yeah, that has been a worry of mind...I can't gain anymore weight and i've been scared that if I quit smoking that I will, but with the WLS...it will be one less excuse for me to use..plus I'm gonna stop all methods of Birth control...think I might have the Hubby "fixed" Thanks for taking the time to post, it was very helpful. MJ

I quit on December 8, 2004. It was not easy but i did it and i know you can. The first week is the hardest and it is for the best. I pray that i dont start back up after surgery. Good luck to you. LaDonna 3/2

Thank you LaDonna...its always nice to know that your not out there alone. Good Luck on your up comming surgery. MJ

I quit right after I got back from all of the pre-op testing, didnt smoke for a week and then the insurance denied me and I started again. I have been smoking again for 5 days and today is the last day for me because I promise Dr. Labrie I would be 2 weeks smoke free. The first 2 days I wanted to murder someone and my son and husband kept a wide distance from me Now I feel stupid because I am gonna have to do those first 2 days over again! ~NIcole