Question:
Do you think I should try on my own to give up coffee and cigarettes?
I LOVE my coffee and cigarettes...I KNOW I KNOW...I'm pre-op of course...Maybe I should try & give these 2 horrible habits up BEFORE surgery. I haven't even seen the Dr. yet. My first appt. is June 6 unless there's a cancellation. Would love to hear from you. HUGS — beachesgal (posted on March 29, 2003)
March 29, 2003
Yes! Some surgeons will not operate if you are still smoking and there are
tests they can run to find out. If you are having this surgery to improve
your health, then wouldn't stopping smoking be a logical thing to do? It
will also help you immediately post-op. You want your lungs to be in the
best shape possible. Your risks of being under anasthesia are less if you
are not a smoker and it will be a lot easier to cough to help get the
anasthesia out of your system, if you have quit. I do know how hard it is
to do. I quit 16 years ago after having smoked for 20 years. There are a
lot of things out there now to help you quit, patches, gum, stop-smoking
classes that the American Lung Association provides.<p>The thing
about giving up caffeine is that caffeine withdrawal can be pretty awful.
Some people have severe headaches for several days. If you start now, you
can do it gradually and that will probably help prevent the withdrawal
symptoms.
— garw
March 29, 2003
I have a consult date april 25th and they told me on the phone that i had
to quit smoking so I went to my doctor and got on Wellbutrin and it has
helped me more than if than when i tried cold turkey. just an option. It
really helped me though.
— harleigh2002
March 29, 2003
Coughing after OPEN RNY surgery HURTS like HELL and my biggest fear while
in the hospital was that I would develop Pnumonia and being constantly
coughing. Do yourself a favor and quit smoking well in advance so you can
get rid of all the phlem before surgery so you won't be hacking that stuff
up afterwards.
<p> Take Care, Be Well, Be Happy!
— John T.
March 29, 2003
Donna, don't mean to sound rude, but, why not? Obesity will kill you if
you let it and cigarettes will kill you also. If you are going to continue
to smoke, you shouldn't bother to have the surgery! You will kill yourself
anyway, its only a matter of time. If you are willing to make a healthy
change in your life, go 100% not 50%. QUIT NOW, it will make post-op times
so much easier.
— heathercross
March 29, 2003
I think you already know the answer to your question. My surgeon will not
operate unless you are a non-smoker. It's a win win situation for you to
quit. Good Luck.
— shbama
March 29, 2003
yes and yes!!
my dr will not even consider a smoker for surgery. that was not a concern
for me but...i was probably a diet pepsi addict!!! soda is a huge no-no
post op, so i did give it up pre op...also coffee i cut down prior to the
surgery. post op i did not even miss it..i am 3 months post op and
recently took back coffee...just about 4 oz in the morning and i totally
enjoy it...good luck!
— nan K.
March 29, 2003
Absolutely!
— Sue A.
March 29, 2003
I quit smoking five months ago and my surgeon was leery about doing surgery
because of my long smoking history. You may want to check with you surgeon
and find out if he/she will do surgery on a smoker.
— gail nelson
March 29, 2003
Smoking increses the risk of leaks. A great reason to quit.
— bob-haller
March 29, 2003
Dear Donna- I am not a coffee and cigarette person-BUT I WAS a diet
mountain dew and cigarette person. I have quit the cigarettes with the help
of a class and patches- I am required to be smoke free for at least 8 weeks
prior to surgery- So I quit in November and I am having surgery on the 3rd
of April. I, however, am not able to give up the pop yet. I have cut back
dramatically but can't quit it all together- I love it .I know post op I
can't have it so I will deal with it then- Good luck- I would say stop the
cigs as soon as possible to get the gunk out of your system. I know it is
VERY hard- but I had a goal of WLS so that helped me alot. Good Luck
— Jan S.
March 29, 2003
I'm not a smoker so no advise there, but I do HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY
recommend giving up caffeine..you WILL have caffeine withdrawel and you
really don't want to be dealing with that while you are trying to recover
and stuff.
— thekatinthehat
March 29, 2003
Ummm, if you don't try, who will?
Seriously, get a Rx for Zyban, quickly. Kick those nasty suckers, and
QUICK! Then worry about the sodas, after the cigs.
Caffeine withdrawal is a breeze compared to nicotine!
Former smoker here
— RWH G.
March 29, 2003
I never smoked, but I did sure love my coffee. About 6 weeks before my
surgery, I had my husband, who makes the coffee every morning, slowly
substitute the regular with the decaf. I never even noticed it. After a few
weeks, I was entirely on decaf. If I had given up the caffeine quickly, I
would have had a horrible headache. Good luck!
— Yolanda J.
March 29, 2003
Hi Donna...Take it from a 2-3 paxk a day ex-smoker...Stop before surgery.
My surgeon refused to do the surgery on anyone who smoked and even checked
blood for nicotine periodically and even the day of my surgery. As he
explained to me, smoking is just as unhealthy, if not more than obesity and
if your going to have the surgery and get healthy, then why would you want
to smoke...I had to agree with him and decided to stop smoking...which was
back in November and this was the best thing I have ever did for myself. It
was actually cool cuz I could feel the health benefits before I even had
surgery and it was ongoing.
YOU CAN DO IT DONNA!!!! If I can, anyone can. I would however suggest that
you stop long before your surgery cuz once you have surgery, you'll feel
everything has been taken away from you. I stopped 3 months or so before
and since my surgery, I have really craved the old cigarettes. I will
nnever give into these cravings though.
Good Luck Donna and believe me, you won't be sorry. It's amazing how soon
you begin feel the benefits of not smoking. Good Luck Donna!
Josii*
— meltedbuttr
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