MARIJUANA & THE SLEEVE

Need some assistance. My BFF is going through Kaiser bariatric program and told her surgeon that she has used marijuana in the past. He advised her that if she provided him with a clean test, she can get the surgery. She did the test and it came back clean. However the case manager told her that she had to be clean for three months. She says is a regional rule and is not written down. Has anyone ever went thru this? Please advise.

Never heard about marijuana being the issue, but smoking is.  Most surgeons want you to be non-smoking and some test for nicotine in your system before they will operate.

Next they take soda away:( They don't want us to have any fun:(

it must be regional. I had kaiser and no one ever mentioned or asked about MJ use. 

I haven't heard of it.  However it could be for several reasons.. depending on your state laws, it may be an illegal substance or controlled substance and for legal cya or dependency issues, they may be testing for this reason.  It may also be along the lines of cigarettes.. MJ has more Tar than cigs.  So it could be for lung issues... lung capacity and function is a big issue during surgery.

And there could be a billion other reasons too.. but those are the first ones that come to mind, for me.

My surgeon did a full Urine drug screen twice and I didn't report a history of drug or alcohol use or abuse. It may be a requirement of insurance as well.

It must be northern ca kaiser. Yes, that is their policy. A person must be smoke-free for three months prior to surgery and they will cancel surgery, if the nicotine or drug test is positive . People who inhale tobacco or marijuana can be a higher surgical risk due comprised lungs. Marijuana smoke is not benign, as a friend of mine, who has been a long term pot smoker has developed COPD would attest. A surgeon has every right to refuse to perform surgery for those reasons. 

after sleeve and anesthesia, the first few days you have to use a breathing 'pump' to help inflate you lungs so you cna take in enough oxygen without the tube in your nose. if you are smoking cigs or maryjane, that will make it more difficult and dangerous for surgery.  makes sense that you need to be clean for 3 months prior, if not longer.

Whoah.............................you need a breathing pump after surgery? I have had two csections, a tubal ligation, a hysterectomy and my gallbladder removed and have never ever had a breathing pump. Is this just for the sleeve or for all wls?

 

I think maybe he meant these things:

http://alicehzyy.en.made-in-china.com/product/YMoEsSvPMecC/C hina-Triflow-Incentive-Spirometer.html

I was encouraged to use it for 10 days to exercise my lungs and prevent pneumonia. No biggie. Just lung exercise :)