Back with a warning

OK, THIS IS ALL CAPS I KNOW, BUT LISTEN UP...... ALL PREOP PATIENTS-----IF YOU SMOKE AND HE DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT YOU QUIT....... DO IT ANYWAY!!!!!!  AT LEAST FOR A FEW DAYS.
I made it through uneventful, until they removed the tube from throat, at which time, my esophogus(sp.) went into spasms, but I also have a lot of phlem from alllergies, but I know that cough and that type of breathing was from my smoking.  Dr. Luttrell was wonderful.  My nurse in post op was the sweetest man you will ever meet.  He was absolutly the best I have ever seen.  I am home, not too much pain, in fact I insisted on going into the pharmacy to get my meds, spent about 45 min in the store.  I am alive and well and glad to be on the loser's bench, in fact I need to update my ticker, I have lost 15 pounds by my scales

May I ask why you're home on the day of surgery? I thought I would have to stay in the hospital overnight. Thanks.

Hi, I actually made a comment about smoking in your other post.  LOL  I am a bit confused as to why your surgeon doesn't require that patients stop smoking before surgery.  Anyone who is having a weightloss surgery of any kind is doing it to A) Lose Weight and B) Get Healthy (I read it all the time on the different boards here about wanting to have surgery and get healthy) But how healthy can one get if they are still smoking?  My surgeon won't do any weightloss procedures on anyone who does not quit smoking for 8 weeks prior to surgery (and I am thinking he won't even see someone for a consult if your smoking).    Plus all the side effects of anesthesia and smoking, healing and smoking, the effects of smoking on new pouches (to those who have the RNY).  I am not saying this particularly to you but to anyone who is still smoking and wanting to have weightloss surgery.  I got dealt a raw deal in life because I thought I would be so cool to start smoking when I was 18.  By the time I was 20 I was already getting sick all the time with Bronchitis and Pneumonia and Asmtha attacks.   Right before my 24th birthday I ended up in the hospital and almost died from a COPD Exacerbation (from smoking).  I was 23 years old and diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and told I could never go back to work and that I would probably die in 2 years.  I didn't quit smoking.  Why should I?  They thought I would die anyway what was the point?  I tell you what, I wasn't so cool anymore at 24 years of age on oxygen and so full of IV holes from being in and out of the hospital continoulsly, not to mention the massive weight gain from daily steroid use and the 12 plus medications I had to take daily. But I got the awesome chance to have weightloss surgery, a second chance really.  Dr. Wellborn was my original surgeon, at the time he didn't require patients to quit smoking, but only to try to stop within a certain amount time before surgery so that surgery would be smooth.  I got all prepped, IV's epidural everything, anesthesia guy said I was good to go and I had an asmtha attack, was told to quit smoking and went home.  How sad that was.  I did quit smoking, still am smoke free.  It would be almost 2 years before I finally got my surgery.  Dr Baker performed my surgery, and I am glad I got the chance to be his patient.  Like I said earlier, I am not pointing this at you, but I am hoping that others who are going to have surgery and are still smoking will see this and maybe quit before their surgery dates. 

I can't believe that a reputable surgeon would not require that you quit smoking prior to surgery and commit to never smoke again.  Why would you take the chance of going under anesthesia knowing that you hadn't stopped smoking?  It seems irresponsible and dangerous. It looks like you're smoking in your avatar picture?!  Surely not.  Sorry to be harsh, but after all your body has been through, it seems disrespectful to not smoking.  Your doctor shouldn't have to tell you to stop smoking prior (and after) surgery, common sense should tell you that. 

Ok, so I also used Dr. Luttrell and I loved him. He did strongly suggest I quit smoking but he did not say IF YOU DO NOT QUIT I WILL NOT DO SURGERY. I have had other surgeries before and was not made to quit before surgery so why should this one be any different. I understand that we have this surgery to become healthy and smoking defeats that purpose to a great extent, but we are also adults and should not be forced to quit smoking 8 weeks before WLS. Not trying to flame anyone, just my opinion.

I will say that I do believe if I had quit smoking before surgery, I would have felt better right after and probably would have been able to breathe into that spirometer thingie better but hindsight and all that...........anyone who is addicted to smoking knows what I mean.

If you are still smoking, seriously consider quitting. I did quit....the day before my surgery was my last day to smoke.....and I do miss it but I also feel better. You gotta do what's right for you.

Jackie

He did mention that in his seminar, but not at my appointments.  I had never been put under.  It was the scariest thing coming out like that.  I was screaming.... I'm dying i'm dying......  I had been actually smoking more that I had before.... so I'm sure that made it worse.  Not to mention I never got around to ask them about my allergy meds, which i had been needing for a week, I just never thought about asking when I was on the phone or in the office.  Not to mention the pollenn around here is crazy.  Oh I will be quitting.....  I have to, I could never go  through that again!!!

It is not about good habits or being an adult.  I could use that "adult" thing to excuse anything before surgery.  I could say that we, as adults, should not be FORCED to do a 24 hour clear liquid diet the day before surgery.  But we are because it makes our WLS safer.  I could say that we, as adults, should not be FORCED to refrain from taking NSAIDS or "bleeder" medications/herbs 10 days before surgery.  But we are because it makes our WLS safer.   Smoking causes differences in the way our esophagus interacts with our stomach and the way our stomachs heal.  Smoking after WLS increases risks for all sorts of problems, some of which are life-threatening (not to mention VAST increases in the risks during the actual WLS).  (Such as ulcers, pnumonia, etc.) There is a REASON that 99.9% of surgeons require patients quit smoking 6 - 10 weeks pre-op.  If I was a surgeon and gave a crap about my patient death ratio (not to mention my actual patients), I would refuse to do surgery on anyone who had not quit smoking.   I believe it is irresponsible for a surgeon to do WLS on someone who has not quit smoking.  That speaks VOLUMES to me about what type of surgeon Dr. Luttrell is. 

wendy_fou.......I was trying to be encouraging to a new bandster and trying not to slam anyone's opinions or doctor in the process. Your opinions not only slammed mine, but also attempted to make feel ignorant for thinking the way I do and for liking my physician.

From now on I will lurk only and not respond to posts because obviously my thought processes are all wrong and I don't like being made to feel stupid.

I never accused you of not being encouraging.  I also never accused you of slamming anyone else's opinions or doctors. I stated my opinions which happen to differ from yours.  My opinions did not "slam" yours.  They are just different.  Just because someone replies to your posts with an opinion that is different than yours does not mean that they (or their opinion) is "slamming" you and/or yours.  It is also very presumptuous for you to assume what my "attempt" was.  My only "attempt" in that post was to state my opinion, which I did.  If you knew me, you'd know I don't really have any hidden agendas.  If my opinion happens to make your opinion (or something you have said) look stupid, that does not mean it was my intention.  Was it a byproduct of me stating my opinion?  Maybe - but not an intentional one.   I'm not going to stop stating what I believe just because someone might not like it or get offended or feel stupid.  I'm just not that type of person.   You were not "made to feel stupid".  You have obviously chosen to be offended and/or feel stupid.  That is not my fault, nor is it my responsibility.   There is really no reason to become so upset. 

I am sorry if my post made you think I was slamming you, but as I said in my post I wasn't saying this directly to you, but for anyone who is going to have any kind of Weightloss Surgery and is still smoking, will realize the importance of needing to quit smoking.   Please don't leave on my account. Your original post only shows how important it is to quit smoking prior to surgery, even if it is only to quit long enough for surgery (you would be surprised how many people quit smoking 8 weeks or longer before surgery and after surgery come home and start smoking again).   We just want to make sure people go in and have an uneventful surgery and come out of it okay without problems.  If we seemed harsh on the whole smoking thing, it's only because we wanted you to have a good surgery without problems then or in the future.  And we want you to be healthy in every way possible, this is what the whole journey is about.  To be a healthier person! So I ask you to please stay.  This post and any future postings by you or anyone else here will help new people on their journey as well.