cigarette smokers

Well forgive me everyone for being weak but I am so struggling with not smoking before surgery. I KNOW i cant smoke after my surgery because it causes ulcers and I am dedicated to not smoking once my surgery is done but I'm having the toughest time not smoking beforehand. Anyone else go through this prior to surgery or have a outcome changed by smoking before surgery?

PLEASE do not smoke, before or afterwards! I just heard about a patient last night that smoked and drank the first week after surgery; SHE DIED!!! Please don't do it. I used to be a smoker and totally understand the addiction. It's hard to manage but your life is WAY more important.

Blessings-

Mary Kate

Thanks Mary Kate.

When is your surgery? I would think that the dr would make sure you were quit for a while before doin surgery. Do you have time to take Chantix or go through a quit program?

I quit 10/16/10 and had the surgery 1/11/11. I made it my condition on myself to allow myself to have the surgery. Like you, I didn't want to battle the urge to smoke after surgery. And I haven't. :)

Good luck to you - you can do it. It sucks, I know. Just do it.

I agree.  I think the last thing you need is to go through is nicotene withdrawal while recovering.  Not to mention that it takes a while for your body to flush all that cigarette crap out of your system.  It really is better for healing and your heart if you quit well before surgery rather then waiting until the day of.

I have been a smoker for 31 yrs, I stoped a month before surgery and I havent picked up a cig since, its been 6 months now! So if I can do it, then anyone can do it!!!
im glad I did cause I wouldnt be able to exercise and I feel soooo much better being able to breath...
It wasnt easy but it does get better, now I just dont think about it no more..
Good luck to you!!!

Question - never smoked but one of those people who may have a hand ful of cigars a year.  Have not had one since surgery - but if I did would that be harmful (again cannot stand cigarettes, but my cigar is one of those once in a blue moon things)

i am a smoker. i quit like 1 day before surgery and then started like a week after surgery. i had read that quitting abruptly was actually worse for you because your body would freak out. i dont know. everything went just fine.

I've smoked for 16 years, I had a cigarette at 4 a.m. then another when we landed in CA at 11:30 a.m. had surgery at 8:30 p.m. and didn't smoke again till 2 weeks later, to be honest i didn't want a cigarette.