Question:
Smoking and Surgery
Has anyone had surgery and was not able to quit smoking 90 days prior to surgery? I am in the process of quitting and my surgery is 28 days away. What problems did it pose? — Lynn I. (posted on January 27, 2008)
January 27, 2008
I dont smoke but when I did my online questionaire for the susurgery it
said it increases your chance of pulmonary embolism excuse my spelling if
its wrong
— shea9974
January 27, 2008
smoking can pose alot of problems postop: 1) it increases your chances of
having problems with the anesthesia-makes it harder for you to wake up and
makes your lungs weaker so when they intubate you (put the tube down your
throat into your lungs) you can have breathing problems after the surgery.
2) it does increase your chances of developing clots in your lungs called
PE or Pulmonary Embolism as well as clots in your other veins and/or
arteries that can travel to other places like your brain or heart and both
can be life threatening. 3) smoking decreases your body's ability to heal
properly and can lead to unnecessary infections/wounds. 4) smoking also
inhibits your body's ability to absorb certain nutrients that are essential
to your body especially after gastric bypass when you need all the
nutrients you can get. i know lots of people that have had surgery without
quitting smoking and they were fine, but being a nurse i also see lots of
people that have had problems. keep trying and good luck..... i hope my
imput helps...Holly
— RNlvnCARSON
January 27, 2008
Smoking acts as an irritant and can pose potential problems for ulcers
after surgery. My surgeon will NOT perform RNY surgery on any patient who
is smoking. 90 days seems to be his preffered time to stop prior to
surgery. Many who stop smoking, begin eating more (like I did), so stopping
several weeks prior to surgery and dealing with weight loss at the same
time should prepare you for post op daily routines.
— Dave Chambers
January 27, 2008
Hello, smoking is so hard to stop. I live in Portland OR and I had Gastric
bypass on 09/04/07. To get the Gastric bypass you have to be smoke free for
6 month. I never quit. I told them I did and never smoked befor my appt. So
the smell was never on me. There is no way for a Doctor to tell if you
really quit. They take your word. If you can stop you should, but I did not
and I still smoke. I never had any probs befor or after surgrey. Lieing is
wrong your Doctor should know the trueth, but it just was to hard for me.
Good luck.
— aluvzu2
January 27, 2008
surgeons pre op morning of surgery bloodwork can test for cotine, a
byproduct of smoking. many here have had surgery cancelled because they
didnt quit. besides WLS is all about getting healthy, why have WLS? smoking
puts you at high risk of leaks, where you cant have ANYTHING by mouth for a
month or more, is it worth the risk. Most surgeons refuse to do WLS on
smokers because too many have troubles, and higher risk of death. please
quit
— bob-haller
January 27, 2008
I did not quit smoking. I smoked until 2 days before the surgery and I
had surgeron on a Tuesday, came home on a Thursday and was at the ER on
Friday night and in the hospital Saturday morning. My intestines paralyzed
on me. I actually vomiting feces. It was horrible. Please quit smoking
before you do this surgery. I quit for 4 months after my surgery. Did not
want it. Then I lost my dad and started back and I am trying very hard to
quit. I felt so good with out it. I just went and got a script for
CHANTIX. Hope and pray it works.
— nellienormand
January 27, 2008
I am by no means telling you not to quit. You should quit for your health
as should I. I didnt quit before my surfgery. As I pulled in the parking
garage the morning of my surgery I was so nervous I had to have a
cigarette. Yes it increases the risks of surgery while in surgery. That was
my worry. I was afraid of the oxygen. I told my DR and he he said I was
ok.I woke up fine. I healed fine. and I am fine today. I am 4 yrs out and I
had no problems other than I have to take B-12 shots every month and I was
anemic for a while but I had another issue that contributed to that problem
and thats taken care of too. Should you quit? Yes. I didnt.
— Joanc
January 27, 2008
All I can say is try CHANTIX it is a prescription drug and I know of
several people including my son who used it and quit smoking with no
problems. Good luck
Linda G
— Linda G.
January 27, 2008
You really need to check with your doctor. My surgeons were so adamant
about not smoking that they told anyone who was interested in surgery to
quit at the orientation and they tested urine for nicotine at every
appointment and if you tested positive you were out of the program and did
not get surgery. After surgery, if you test positive, you have to finda new
doctor. I quit smoking ten years ago so this didnt effect me, but it must
be pretty important.
— [Deactivated Member]
January 27, 2008
You're getting the surgery for health reasons....at least that's why I did.
If you keep smoking you can look forward to being hooked on oxygen when you
get older. That's what happened to my mother. You don't realize how much
damage you're doing until it's too late. As they say...Quit for the health
of it. Also...if you tell your doctor your not smoking they already know
you haven't. The smell gives it away. When I quit smoking I had no
intentions of doing it. I acted like I didn't smoke and when people found
out I did I felt ashamed and quit so I wouldn't be lying about it any more.
You can do it!
— thecountrymouse
January 28, 2008
Smoking puts you at a much higher risk for everything, and this is very
serious surgery. Smoking after surgery can cause ulcers and a real problem
healing your surgery up. I strongly urge you to not only quit now, no
matter how hard it is, but to stay smoke free. I don't smoke, but our son
did, and we saw the agony of him quitting, and had the privilege to walk
with him, and he has been smoke free now for 1 1/2 years. I know it is
tough, but if you are going through with the surgery, get tough with
yourself and set yourself free from smoking. It will be one of the best
gifts you will ever give yourself. Take care. Patricia P.
— Patricia P
January 28, 2008
I quit smoking about 3 months before my surgery. I can't say that it was
easy for me but I knew it was important to do so I just quit cold turkey.
I am of course smoking again and need to quit so I can have a hip
resurfacing next month so I have given myself permission to quit on january
31st. I know it's really hard to think about giving up another habit when
we are giving up the food issues (which are usually emotional crutches) but
somethings are really important and this is one of them. Good luck with
everything and please let me know how it all goes for you.
Big Hugs
Joni
— jonicorona
January 29, 2008
Well, I was a smoker too. I did smoke the day before surgery but I had cut
down alot. And you know what, I haven't had a cigarette since the 20th of
December, 07 and don't even want one either. So, just keep trying and cut
down. Remember you are doing this to get healthy and live longer, don't cut
your life short because of a cigarette. Hang in there you can do it!!!!!!
— psmeshell
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