Smoking very dangerous for us

I just had to share. I am 2 yrs post op and about a year ago I picked up an old bad habit-smoking. On my recent visit to my surgeon I was told some very frightning information. My surgeon lost a patient whose life he was trying to save due to severe ulcers. She had the surgery around the same time I did and started smoking again around the same time I did. Dr Keith warned her that smoking can cause life threatening ulcers especially dangerous for RNY patients because symtoms are not always present until the uclers are really bad. He said this is because some of the ulcers can occur in our lower stomach and spread to the intestines before our pouch and upper digestive system is affected. He did four emergency surgeries this past year and this paritcular patient was so bad off that she did not survive the surgery. The ulcer where throughout her intestines and she bled to death. I have some food issues that my surgeion and dietician are concerned with but even with those issues they are more concerned that i stop smoking now before it is too late. My surgeon will not even do any form of WLS on a smoker and has a blood test performed the day of surgery. If the test shows signs that the patient has been smoking he will not do the surgery. He is broken hearted over losnig a patient. I am interested in hearing what others have to say about this. Michelle R OKC

I have been struggeling with smoking since 1 year after having rny...so I do sympathize....In Aug 06 had bowel obstruction surgery and had a partial obstruction again in Dec 06....my niece who is researching having wls says there is a connnection between smoking and what has been happening to me. Anyone out there have any information on this...Today is day 2 of no smoking..Wish me luck!!!