Question:
has anyone smoked and had surgery?
I'm scheduled to have my tummy tuck next friday and i have tried and tried again for about 3 months now to try to quit smoking. I've cut way back but haven't fully quit. has anyone smoked and still went thru this surgery? Did you notice any ill effects from the smoking as far as healing or complications? Any advice? Thank you very much!! — Christie N. (posted on November 21, 2003)
November 21, 2003
Christie,
Probably the best thing to do is ask your surgeon what he/she thinks. The
surgeons that I work for won't touch a patient who hasn't been smoke-free
for a minimum of 3 months. They site many findings that show that the
smoking causes far too many post-op complications and tremendously impacts
the success of the PS.
Blessings,
dina
— Dina McBride
November 21, 2003
A smoker friend had to pack her TT incision daily for three months, each
time nearly screaming from the pain. Then, her navel failed and she had to
have that redone and that incision didn't close properly either. Yes, it
really does impact on healing!
— Chris T.
November 21, 2003
well, you've definetly scared me to just stop! but, do you think even
quitting for 1 week will help lesson the complication risks? Thanks for
your help!!!!
— Christie N.
November 21, 2003
Stop smoking as early as you can, a friend of mine recently had his WLS and
ended up in the hospital 9 days with Pneumonia and was placed on a
repirator. Good Luck!
— Saxbyd
November 21, 2003
Yes! Surprisingly, even a week can help quite a bit. While at the doctor's
this week I picked up an info sheet to post at work--coworkers in my age
range (I'm 55) are dropping like flies from smoking-related causes. It's
damned scary, and although it may seem like a long ways away, I can assure
you you do NOT want to die just before you get to enjoy retirement and
grandchildren! Anyway...the biggest factor in surgery is lack of blood
oxygen, and that starts improving within eight hours of stopping. Heart
attack risk drops after one day, and breathing improves after three. So, do
it now. I know it's hard! But just think--you'll have more money to spend
on clothes, you'll no longer stink, and you won't get those ugly little
wrinkles around your mouth. Eww.
— Chris T.
November 21, 2003
Smoking is extremely bad for surgeries. I have smoked since I was nine. I
am 54 now and stopped smoking August 28, 2003. Had too. I had to have 4th,
5th, and 6th, vertabrae in my neck removed, bones taken from hip for fsion
into my neck. That was in January. My surgeon told me it would take loger
to heal, I didn't listen, kept on smokinh. NO ONE WAS GOING TO TELL ME I
COULDN'T SMOKE !!!In August of this year 2003, I had to go back into the
hospital to have that surgery redone. The fusion didn't heal and I couldn't
move my head nor my shoulder and the hip wasn't getting any better. I QUIT
smoking the day of the 2nd neck surgery and I am not healed yet, but I am
doing MUCH Better and healing much faster. No More Cigarettes for me. Of
course, my husband still smokes but He refuses to stop, even for my sake.
My advice to you and anyone who is smoking and going thru surgeries is to
STOP SMOKING now after you heal and know you are HEALED, if you want to
start smoking, go for it. Good luck in whatever you decided to to.
— cindirella
November 21, 2003
A funny thing happened when I began taking Wellbutrin for depression. I
quit smoking gradually over about 6 weeks. I told my doctor and he said
that is often the case because Wellbutrin is the same drug as Zyban.
Insurance doesn't usually cover Zyban, but they will cover Wellbutrin--and
hey, can't we all use a little boost now and then. The effects of having
quit do not stop when you stop taking it either. Maybe you could ask you
doctor for an antidepressant and suggest Wellbutrin SR or Wellbutrin XL.
Just a thought--but good luck in quitting.
— Danyelle K.
November 21, 2003
The one surgeon in our area gives you a blood test. I guess he is testing
nic levels or something. He requires you to stop smoking before he touches
you. He will NOT do your surgery if the test comes back over a certain
level.
— Rebecca K.
November 21, 2003
I tried to quit smoking before my surgery & couldn't. I got pnemonia
& was in the hospital for 7 extra days. I felt fine after about 5
extra days but the Doctor's made me stay anyway. Probably a good idea to
at least cut down on smoking if you can't quit because pnemonia sucks. (I
started smoking again the day after I got out of the hospital & now I
smoke more because I don't eat as much.)
— KAT *.
November 22, 2003
Well here I am the one who can give you the reality of smoking before
surgery. I was one of those who smoked till I had surgery. Yes I smoked 17
ciggs the day before surgery. I went in not telling anyone that I smoked
because I knew for sure they would cancel it. SO a funny thing happened to
me well not so funny I ended up on the ventelator in ICU with lung
problems. I had to stay in the hospital for 9 days that is 5 more days than
most of the people I know. I am not going to tell you what to do but I am
going to suggest you quit now whaile you have the chance. Thanks for
reading
Dan
— D P.
November 24, 2003
My surgeon requires you to quit smoking prior to surgery, he said at least
8 weeks. He does a blood-test, and said if it comes back positive for
nicotine he will cancel surgery. My surgery date is January 14, and I have
been quit 4 weeks. I tried everything, but the best method for me was cold
turkey. Best of luck.
— DawnCotton
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