Question:
Does anyone know how long you have to be smoke free before a doc will perform surgery?

   — SELENA G. (posted on July 9, 2001)

July 9, 2001
It all depends upon the surgeon. I smoked the morning of my surgery. I am neither happy nor proud of that fact. My only misery post op was my coughing. My hubby had to charge me like a football player for the pain of coughing to be tolerable. I suggest you ask your surgeon what his/her requirements are.
   — [Anonymous]

July 9, 2001
I asked my surgeon this question because he strictly prohibits smoking before surgery. He even told me he cancelled one patient's surgery when the blood tests showed she had a higher level of carbon monoxide in her system than she should have if she were not smoking. He said that, ideally I would quit today, but realistically as long as I quit one month prior to surgery I should be okay. I will stick to that. If I can give up ice cream and candy for the rest of my life, I can surely give up smoking for one month. It'll be worth it!
   — PaulaM

July 30, 2001
Selena, Firstly , the risks associated with smoking before surgery are tremendous. I myself, am not going to have my dream of the surgery being performed only to get a pulmonary embolism or post-op pnuemonia. People have died after this surgery from post-op pnuemonia. I too, am quitting smoking. My surgery is on Oct. 1st and I am quitting on Aug.1st. I have been planning to quit for the surgery for 3 weeks. I have got my nicotine patches,plenty of Trident and I am determined that I want this surgery more than I want a cigarette. Secondly, I have heard of surgeons postponing WLS surgery after having a patient's pre-op blood gases come back with excess carbon monoxide in them. Like I said, I want this surgery more than I want a cigarette. Best of luck to you and I hope that you decide to quit.
   — [Anonymous]

August 12, 2001
Today is 8/12/01. I quit smoking on 7/30/01, thats 2 weeks cigarette free. My surgeon refused to operate unless I quit 3 weeks prior to surgery. My surgery is scheduled for 8/31, no problem. I want this more than I've wanted anything in my life, cigarettes were another vice I can LIVE without!
   — WendyNVA