Question:
I have 50 days until surgery, should I quit smoking?
My doctor has not made me quit but I love to smoke. Will my lungs be better to handle this WLS? I am a social smoker but can polish off a pack one night out with the girls.Thanks for your help! — Kim B. (posted on March 26, 2002)
March 26, 2002
I have heard that quitting 2 months before surgery is the best, so you
should quit now if you can. I have been a smoker for almost 10 years, and
just quit a month ago because i got bad bronchitis. And now i feel great.
Besides the health issues, i think it is a good idea, especially because
you are serious about the surgery! goodluck!
— Lezlie Y.
March 26, 2002
Yeah, you should stop smoking if you can. BUT, I admit that didn't. I did
for a month before my first surgery date (which didn't go ahead as
planned). I started when I changed surgeons and getting a new date 2.5
months later, I just couldn't seem to. I will say that I didn't have any
discomfort or difficulty breathing at any point post-op. My recovery was
very smooth sailing. BUT, I am only 26 in very good health, smoked
ultra-lights and only 5 or 6 a day. Oh, yeah...I said "smoked"
as in the past tense. I haven't had one since the day before my surgery
almost 6 weeks ago! It feels good. Good luck to you!
— PaulaM
March 26, 2002
Hi, I just received my information packet from the bariatric program I am
planning to use. The FIRST thing on their list of things to do NOW to help
the surgery process is to quit smoking. I had already planned on quitting
smoking this Friday myself. Now that I got my referral from my PCP today
and his office set up my surgical consult for 4 weeks from Friday, I figure
I'll be ahead of the game before surgery is even scheduled! (And I know it
will help with surgery, as I had sinus surgery a few years back and quit
for that...but dumb enough to start up again after surgery because I had
gained 15 pounds) Just some suggestions, in addition to nicotine gum or the
patch for withdrawals: have hard candy and gum on hand, particularly
cinnamon; also get some Twizzlers to chew on while you talk on the phone or
watch TV; make sure you're taking your multi-vitamin as quitting smoking
will cause you to feel less energy (lack of nicotine fix) and drink plenty
of water. Good Luck! - Anna
— Anna L.
March 26, 2002
My last ciggerate was on the way into the hospital.
Good Luck
— Robert L.
March 26, 2002
YEP. Anything that you're doing that can lengthen your life if you
stopped/quit would be a good idea. I finally quit coffee, tea, sodas,
sweets. Cig's were the hardest thing I ever had to quit though. Good
luck!
— Betty Todd
March 26, 2002
If you are just a social smoker, then why not give it up.It stinks, makes
your clothes smell and your hair. You can't smoke at the hospital. And the
money you save not buying cigs, you can spend on new clothes and
accessories! It will add up. You are starting a new life. Why not start it
clean, air wise you know.
— Laura E.
March 26, 2002
Hi...This is a question I had too because I am also a smoker. I had gone
to see 2 surgeons before making my decision on which one I will go
with...the first surgeon said that he will not operate on people that smoke
and I would have had to quit a least one month prior to surgery and he
would be doing tests to see if I was still smoking and if so, he would not
operate - even if they were wheeling me into the OR, and he found out, he
would not operate. The other surgeon did not require it, but strongly
suggested it. He said if I could do even just 10 days before, it would be
so much better for me. Once I do go for the surgery, I will try my best to
quit. I'd like to go for a month, because I know that it will help me so
much more afterwards. And besides, if I really want to start again, I
can...I just have to look at it that way. But if there is one thing that I
can do to make my recovery easier, I'm definitely going to go for it. I
know that its going to be so hard, but I want this surgery more than
anything so quitting smoking for a little while is not going to do me any
harm at all and in fact will help me out! Just wanted to give you some
feedback on this. Take care and good luck to you.
— Giovanna G.
March 27, 2002
I'm not a smoker, but I believe it would be in your best interest to quit.
— dolphins94
March 27, 2002
I'm schedued for open RNY on 4/10/02. My surgeon requires you to quit
smoking at least a month before surgery. Since I know darn well how risky
this procedure can be, I figured I'd do everything I could to help it go as
smoothly as possible, so I quit in January. I did it cold turkey, and miss
it like hell - but getting through the surgery safely and having a fast
recovery are more important to me than the cigs are. Please, please quit,
now - give yourself every edge you possibly can.
— Linda B.
March 27, 2002
I think it would be best for you to quit. I am also a social smoker. I
quit probably about 2 before surgery after I had went for a day of tests.
I didn't have a month left before my surgery date. My surgeon didn't
require it but strongly suggested quitting. It helps you recover better.
Hopefully it won't be that hard for you since you are just a social smoker.
It wasn't bad for me, but I can quit just as easy as I start because I
don't smoke that much. GOOD LUCK!!!
— Bethany F.
March 27, 2002
With all the other complications that patients with WLS have to worry
about, having trouble breathing would not be one I would want to encounter.
I would do my best to quit. I have not had WLS, but have had several other
surgeries. When I came out of surgery, it felt like I had cotton in my
throat and was really uncomfortable to breathe. I sure wouldnt want to make
it more uncomfortable than that. I wisk you the best of luck
— Michelle H.
March 27, 2002
Yes! WLS is justified by improved health. Being in the best shape
possible before surgery only makes sense. Quit.
— Ellen J.
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