Question:
Why do you have to quit smoking when you have this surgery???

   — jengrz (posted on January 18, 2003)


January 18, 2003
to help lung function.
   — thekatinthehat

January 18, 2003
Hey Jennifer, you have to quit smoking because your esophagus will be prone to erosion. You don't want to worry about something that CAN be helped during your healing process. It's sort of like the coke thing. You can't have carbonated anything after surgery because it expands the lining of your stomach, possibly causing it to stretch and pull away from the staple line resulting in a BIG mess!! Just some advise, if your health is bad enough to have to have surgery, please quit smoking. I know that I will be e mailed all kinds of ugly things but, you are going to be healthier than you have probably ever and if you are gonna start all over with learning how to eat and develop new and healthier eating habits, why not heal the entire package? You will feel better. Good luck!!!
   — Leigh G.

January 18, 2003
well it NOT just for this surgery you realy should quit before ANT surgery...its not just lung function....smokers heal more slowly...and tend to scar easier ...it effect the anestshia...it is generaly harder to recover from any surgery when you smoke...i quit 5 years ago thank god!!! but i ahve had a total of 11 surgeries (8 before i quit)and with each one the doctors ask about smoking...and wanted a perode of a month or better before...(except in 3 surgeries wich were emergency and then they were conserened about healing)
   — bekka K.

January 18, 2003
So they can get you off the ventilator and breathing on your own, so you can cough and clear your lungs with enough strength and so your incision will heal. MY QUIT METER: Five months, two days, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 11 seconds. 7774 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,944.24. Life saved: 3 weeks, 5 days, 23 hours, 50 minutes.
   — Linda 1.

January 18, 2003
Why would you want to keep smoking, when you are trying to improve your health. My surgeon will not operate on any one that smokes,has an alcohol problem or drug problem. Because you are still ruining your health. Besides the fact you heal faster being a non-smoker.
   — Jennifer S.

January 18, 2003
The recovery process takes longer for smokers. I smoked very close up until my surgery and boy did I regret it! I am only 23, but had smoked for years. It was impossible to quit, so I cut back, but didn't quit entirely. As soon as I woke up from the anesthesia, I was coughing so much. Not to be graphic, but I coughed up blood for 2 days. I felt like my lungs were coming out of my mouth. It was horrible. I truly feel I would've had a better time recovering had I quit beforehand. I know it's so hard to do, but do anything you can to quit, it makes it so much easier! Goodluck to you!!
   — Lezlie Y.

January 18, 2003
You didn't say whether your surgeon requires it or not, but many surgeons will not operate if you are still smoking and will cancel your surgery if they discover you are still smoking. They can test you to see if you are still smoking. I'm not sure about the details, but I think the test will show if you've smoked in the last 30 days or so.
   — garw

January 18, 2003
Hi, Jennifer - I was a 20-year smoker and quit on 8/30/02 (almost 5 months smoke-free!!). As a nurse (yeah, I know, how could I smoke being a nurse?), I know that if you still smoke when you have the surgery, you are more prone to complications immediately postop--difficulty recovering from anesthesia, pneumonia, infection--plus smokers heal slower and have more pronounced surgical scars. I'm SO HAPPY I quit--my surgery is 1/27/03. I NEVER thought that I'd be able to quit. Never. Ever. I did it with Zyban (wellbutrin) and Nicotrol inhalers--worked like a charm. PLEASE quit smoking now so you'll be ready for when your surgery is finally approved and you're ready to go! Good luck!
   — Joyce C.

January 25, 2003
Jennifer, use the thought of surgery and the wonderful weightloss that follows as motivation to quit. I quit 8 months ago and that was a big motivation. I used Wellbutrin and also the though pattern that if you can make it through the first day, that is the hardest and the worst, so if you an make it through that you can make it through the rest. Gum and twizzlers were my "cigarettes" for the first 3 months. You can do it!!
   — mdjacobs

January 25, 2003
You need to quit pre-op so that you do well during surgery and in the post-op recovery period. From what I understand you do not want to be dealing with smoker's cough with a fresh incision either! I quit,on Oct 1st using Zyban (wellbutrin) and nicotine patches. You can do it too. Best wishes!
   — Linda B.

January 26, 2003
I quit, as soon as, I found out I was approved for surgery. I quit cold turkey! My doctor didn't require it, but he strongly suggested it. I did it to reduce my risk of pulmonary embolism. I did not want to quit, I smoke more for enjoyment than addiction. I go for a couple of days and realize that I haven't had a cigarette, I am mostly a social smoker. I quit for surgery and I am very glad I did, because when they make you blow into that incentive spirometer for the first time, uuuggghhhh!! I did start back about 3 months after surgery, but I was dying from malnutrition at the time, so I was going to have a cigarette and no one was going to stop me. I do advise you to quit for the surgery, you will be happy you did, whether you ever start back or not.
   — Karen E.




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