Question:
Smoking and the LapBand
Has anyone NOT stopped smoking but said that they did and had the LapBand? If so did you have any complications maybe with the Anestia (I know I spelled it wrong :) — AngelKay34 (posted on August 28, 2007)
August 28, 2007
They might be able to check that by your labs. But as far as lapband don't
know yet.....but I did have other surgeries and I had a real hard time
breathing after I came out, so I will not smoke this time! Use Chantis
to quit!
— Pam S.
August 28, 2007
Don't do it. My friend also said she stopped smoking with another
operation and it was very hard for them to wake her
up. Her doctor was very upset after her surgery and explained what a
dangerous situation she put herself in. Try to stop if POSSIBLE. I KNOW
IT'S HARD I did it. They have that new pill out called (chandreX) it it by
perscription only. it works. GOOD LUCK
— shadow1102
August 28, 2007
Ok well I had RNY sep 9 06, I smoked up til the morning of my surgery. I
tried to quit but had a REALLY hard time even on zyban and the patch. I had
complications, not with anesthsia but I had bleeding so they went back in
and fixed it then I had a kinked intestine which in turn blew out my entire
surgery so back in again. Well they never woke me up from that one I was in
a iduced coma for 2 weeks. Heres the important part~~ in that time from not
smoking your lungs actually start secreting this stuff which is not good
when your under. I ended up with pnemonia collapsed lungs, they had to
actually stick tubes in my lungs and suction them out SEVERAL times from
the secretions which in turn lead to the pnemonia and being on breathing
machines. I could go on forever. Anyway hope I'm not freaking you out. I
was in Critical care for a month. I REALLY think if not for the smoking I
wouldnt have had all those lung problems with my surgeries. Which not
exxagerating almost killed me. They said on a scale of 1-10 ten being death
I was an 8. I am only 29 well 28 then weihed 278 at my highest with no
heart problems diabetes nothing I was active before surgery kayaking ect.
So it can happen to anyone you should really just lessen the chances of all
that by just quiting. Its hard but Life is much more valuble. Hope I helped
sorry I ramble lol Aloha Shannon
— Shannon J.
August 28, 2007
my surgeon said he does a nicotine lab test to see if you are smoking. if
you are positive for either surgery they wont do it.well he does Rny and
Lapband,
Even on the show dr.90210 they are so against smoking , last week a girl
had surgery and they had a hard time waking her up and he said he thought
she might be a closet smoker, she also had a lot of phglem, I know it
sounds gross. She said no but he said he had to wonder. anyway It's not
good for you. I hope you can over come it I use to smoke a few years ago.
Finally quit cold turkey. yep its very hard good luck
sabrina
— sabrina S.
August 28, 2007
I'm not proud of this nor am I boasting but I smoked (probably more than
usual due to nerves and I'm a heavy smoker to begin with) until the last
possible moment before surgery. I had no complications, no difficulty with
anesthesia and no problems with post op healing.
I do still intend to quit and even got a prescription for Chantix which my
husband and I will try soon. I am 10 weeks post op and doing wonderfully.
— Stacey D.
August 28, 2007
CHANTIX!!!! It is a GOD send! I tell I have been smoking since I was 13 yrs
old...yeah I know bad habit! But my Dr. told he would know if I was lying
and said my surgery would be cancelled if I did not quit...and if surgery
is cancelled I still had to pay for the hospital OR because it is
booked...for me specifically!!! But anyway....have not smoked for 5 days
now and it is all thanks to CHANTIX and well of course will power...it is
hard but remember it gets easier after the 3 rd day....It is like being a
drug addict but not quite that bad....it takes 3 days for nicotine to clear
the system and that 3rd day IS HORRID!!! But after that you get better and
will enjoy it much more!
— bridgadean
August 28, 2007
I did not have the lapband, but stopped smoking prior to my RNY surgery 4
mos. / however i started to smoke again @ approx. 6 mos post-op....I just
had a tummy tuck and smoked until my surgery date (i did not have any
problems when waking up from the anesthesia (I spelled that wrong too ; )
I do know some doctors will do a urine test prior to surgery in your lab
work up to determine if nicotine is present; my surgeon did not, more than
likely your surgeon will know if you are smoking anyway...especially if he
does not smoke himself, no amount of perfume or cover up will mask the
smell. I do know personally that some peoples surgeries have been cancelled
due to this (depending on how strict the surgeon is) when i quit the 1st
time...i would have to agree w/ the previous poster that the first 72 hours
are the hardest to deal with as your body detoxes from the nicotine ! after
that it will get slightly easier. I used only the patch when i quit. The
purpose not only for having complications while under the anesthetic is
that nicotine restrict blood vessels from producing oxygen which in turn
can cause poor / slower healing. (although the band is a less evasive
procedure so this may not be a huge deal for you) But i would definetly
give it a try..it is worth the effort,@ least you can say you made the
effort to do it.best wishes !!
— tiffany E.
August 29, 2007
I echo.. CHANTIX.. I quit on 5./15 and it was a breeze! I also saw on DR
90210 that doctors can tell if your smoking by the amount of saliva/phlem
that is produced while you are under and how long it takes you to wake up.
For your lifes sake, quite smoking. It's really not worth it.
— Amanda K.
August 29, 2007
I am a nonsmoker so I won't even try to understand how hard it must be to
quit. If it was easy I am sure alot more people would be nonsmokers. I just
want to say two things. 1. smoker's cough-even though your surgery is done
via lap, coughing after makes you feel like your guts are going to fall
out! 2. smoking decreases the body's ability to heal and circulation in
general. Good luck and best wishes!
— tazthewiz23
August 31, 2007
Angel - you can do it, just QUIT! I quit smoking after 5 years because my
surgeon told me he wouldn't do the surgery if I continued to smoke. I
won't lie to you, it wasn't easy. I smoked because I enjoyed
it...something I've found non-smokers have a very difficult time
understanding. I was able to do it because I wanted to have the surgery
bad enough and I new the doc was serious about not doing it if I didn't.
He told me smoking could seriously affect the healing process, not to
mention hinder your breathing.
Good luck and take care,
Angela
— purplebutterfly
Click Here to Return