Question:
Will I be denied surgery for smoking?
My surgery is in 10 days and I have quit smoking for about 6 months but have smoked a few in the last couple weeks. I go for my pre-op this week - do not intend to smoke any more was just dealing with some pretty heavy stuff and since I could not eat (pre-op diet) transferred my addiction - please help - stressing more now! — varedhead1 (posted on September 25, 2009)
September 24, 2009
i don't know. it depends on whether your doctor does testing. mine
didn't. i didn't smoke before surgery though.
— greenpunchbuggie
September 25, 2009
I would tell your doctor you don't won't to risk complications of surgery.
There are reasons why they don't want you to smoke. I know you are
desperate to have the surgery, but it is important to be compliant. Your
doctor does not have to live with the complications you do. So be honest
and take responsibility for your actions.
— Faune W.
September 25, 2009
Your surgery should go as planned. You just need to be aware of the risks
involved. Smoking definitely causes blood clots. I quit smoking in April
and had surgery in June, with no complications. And have remained smoke
free.
— bigrigs01
September 25, 2009
I did not quit smoking (should have) and my doctor never asked me if i
quit. My surgery went as planned with no problems. Of course I didn't smoke
in hospital and actually was smoke free for about a week. Now I am smoking
again and wish I could quit.
— bikermama
September 25, 2009
My surgeon tests for nicotine prior to surgery and cancels surgery
accordingly! I quit one year prior to surgery after learning the risks
which are quite scary, especially the blot clots...It's been 7 years since
I quit...6 since surgery...and I have to say that quitting smoking was the
HARDEST thing I ever did...and I do know how hard it is after trying to
quit a 2 pack a day habit for 24 years...But I also know that you have come
too far to give up now! You can do it too! It's hard for over a year...but
those last couple of times that you did smoke set you back but you are
still ahead! So go for it! QUIT!!!! Distract yourself with a busy
hobby...That helped me with both quitting smoking and changing my eating
lifestyle so I don't start back old eating habits!! Good luck!
— .Anita R.
September 25, 2009
If you truly smoked only a few over a couple of weeks, then I say white
knuckle it so you don't smoke anymore, at least not before surgery,
hopefully not ever. And it's up to you whether you let the doctor know you
had some slips. I do know how hard it is to quit; nearly went INSANE for a
year when I did finally quit about 14 yrs ago, after 30 yrs of heavy
smoking. If you're able, it would be to your advantage to use this as a
permanent time to quit; otherwise you might lose the weight now but gain
some when you quit again down the road. Do your best with God's Help.
Dailystrength.com has a good quit smoking online support group. And please
always feel free to e-mail me directly if you need to freak out to someone
who understands. Wishing you best success with your surgery and other
endeavors!
— Janell C.
September 25, 2009
You will more than likely be asked to quit a certain time prior to surgery.
If they ask you to do that, don't cheat, they have a blood test they do
before surgery that will show nicotine in your blood, and it could delay
your surgery. I was 6 weeks no cigs before surgery, and still showed traces
of nicotine. Thank goodness it wasn't enough to delay my RNY.
— lesleigh07
September 25, 2009
I would not say a darned thing.
— Joseph Johnson
September 25, 2009
I know my own surgeon will not perform surgery on someone who is currently
smoking. In order to schedule the surgery you must have been stopped for at
least 6-8 weeks. I don't know what would happen if after the surgery you
start back, but why would you want to? Next month marks my 22nd year of
being "smoke free."
All the best to you!
— rkurquhart
September 26, 2009
I smoked up until my surgery, i was unable to quit even though i tried
about a million times. They did the surgery, but they did give me a lot of
flack about smoking and told me that i should try my hardest to quit....I
also ended up getting a blood clot in my arm
— grasstango
September 26, 2009
My Dr made it very clear he would not do surgery if I didn't quit for 10
weeks prior. He has cancelled several peoples surgery for not quiting. He
has had a few people say they quit but they have not, and the surgery was
postponed twice and then the third time the patients were told they need to
start the entire process over from the beginning. Good luck it is very
difficult!
— Supersize
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