Question:
What happens if you haven't totaly quit smoking before surgery?
— Marla B. (posted on April 13, 2002)
April 13, 2002
It is possible that nothing could happen. But worst case scenario is that
your lungs are not strong enough and you could 1. have a lung collapse
after surgery and wake up with a breathing tube down your throat 2. wake up
and realize they couldn't even do the surgery on you because they found
that your body wasn't getting enough oxygen while you were under anesthesia
3. end up dying because your lung collapsed or you didn't get enough
oxygen. It is really better not to take chances with these things.
— Jennifer Y.
April 13, 2002
I agree with Jennifer and want to add. When a person chooses to smoke it
causes constriction of the blood vessels all over the body and reduces the
amount of Oxygen in our blood. Our tissues need extra blood and oxygen to
heal. Wound healing and clotting can become an issue. You care enough
about yourself to have the surgery Please care about yourself to choose not
to smoke. Good luck....
Hubbard
— Carolyn H.
April 13, 2002
I am 53 years old and smoked 2 1/2 packs a day for 34 years. When I
finally decided to get healthy and try to get approval for WLS, I asked my
PCP for Welbutrin. I'm on Cigna and I knew it would be hard enough to get
approved much less finding a doctor to operate on an old fat lady that
smoked. In all my years I really have tried everything even
accupuncture....don't let anyone tell you it doesn't hurt...IT DOES. I'm
happy to report I have not had a cig since Labor Day of 2001. With the
help of Welbutrin I don't even miss smoking (REALLY). Good luck to you, I
know it's difficult but remember, when you really, really want WLS you can
do it. Sylvia
— Sylvia A
April 13, 2002
I wuldn't advcate continuing smoking, HOWEWEVER, my surgeon did not even
ask about my smking history. I smoked for the past 15 years. On the
advice of other WLS patients, I quit smoking for 4 weeks before my surgery,
with the help of Wellbutrin. The day of surgery, I was so stressed, I
smoked 4 cigarettes on the way to the hospital. Nothing happened, and I
have been smoking since then. I do remember that I had to have breathing
treatments every 4 hours while I was in the hospital, and I was very honest
with my surgeon and my anestesiologist. They both knew I was smoking.
NOW, my surgeons attitude has changed and he will not perform any plastic
surgery on me until I quit. That has to mean something. Good luck, and my
best advice is to quit.
— enjo4
April 14, 2002
The very first thing listed on my prospective surgeon's list of things to
do to prepare for surgery...QUIT SMOKING. So I did. I miss it, I will be
honest about that. But I try to remind myself that I don't miss that heavy
feeling in my chest every morning when I wake up. Plus, I was diagnosed
with sleep apnea in 1998 and most certainly had it for several years before
that. Untreated sleep apnea is bad for the heart! I figured I've screwed
around long enough here, making excuses not to quit for good. I also
figured that quitting smoking is a good indication to my surgeon that I am
highly motivated and ready to begin a healthier lifestyle. So many of us
talk about giving up our "best friend"...food. Cigarettes were my
best friend. Although I miss them from time to time, I have to view it as
losing a friend who was a bad influence on me. Have you ever had a friend
like that? Maybe in high school? You know the kind...fun to hang out with
once in awhile, but often scary in the way they approach life? I figure if
we are making a commitment to a healthier life, number one on our list
should be to stop smoking. Number two should be drinking more water. Now
I'm working on number three: exercise! Good luck to you! - Anna p.s. Sorry
if I got preachy here :o
— Anna L.
April 14, 2002
in the words of my surgeon SURGERY CANCELLED if you have smoked within 2
weeks before surgery. She actually cancelled a surgery on a woman who was
already anesthesized because of the readings she got that indicated this
woman smoked a day before. Needless to say, this woman was very
disappointed and had to get rescheduled from Feb and due to the wait list
now has to wait til Jan 2003!! My best advice Don't chance it, quit now
while you can....Please
Rita
— vt_rita
April 14, 2002
If you can quit do it now. I couldn't but I smoke the weakest cigarette
(carlton). But the good news is I have been smoke free since my surgery in
Dec.01 !! Yep, 4 months without smoking. My surgeon never said a word about
my smoking. Yes every surgeon wishes all their patients be smoke free but
if everyone had to be smoke free these surgeons would be standing around
twilling their thumbs! So if you can quit, try to do it now. Hope you got
nerves of steel!!!! Best of Luck to You!!!
— Laura G.
April 14, 2002
I admit, I didn't quit. I tried, and was sucessful for about a month, but
went back. I made a small effort by only smoking five a day (and they were
ultra-lights). My lame theory was that people have unexpected surgeries
all the time, and smoking doesn't kill most of THEM. Well, like I said, it
was a lame theory. In anycase, I went through surgery with flying colors
and smoker or non-smoker, I'd say there wasn't a doc or nurse in that
hospital that was any wiser. HOWEVER, I haven't had a cigarette since that
last one the night before my surgery 8 weeks and 3 days ago. Considering
cigs just went up to almost $5.50 a pack here, my timing was perfect. :)
Do yourself a favor, if you absolutley, ABSOLUTELY can't quit before, cut
down significantly (the lesson in self control is worthwhile), and tell
yourself you won't smoke at least until you are fully recovered. You may
be surprised when your are fully recovered and find you don't miss the
cigs. Good luck.
— PaulaM
April 15, 2002
Like some of the others, I tried to quit smoking pre-op, but wasn't able
to. My surgeon never required it of me. I had promised myself that I would
at least not smoke the 24 hours prior to the surgery, but between only
liquids that day and my nerves, I wound up smoking more than usual. The
morning of my surgery, the nurse didn't like the sound of my lungs, and I
was required to inhale Preventol (an asthma medication). Apparently, that
did the trick, as surgery went ahead as scheduled. I didn't even think
about cigarettes while in the hospital, and was hoping to stay off them
once I got home, but my Mom, who was staying with me, smokes, and after a
few days, I wound up lighting up. Now, at 4 months post-op, I am really
beginning to hate cigarettes, and am psyching myself up to quit again (I
quit for 6 and a half years after 19 years of smoking, only to start again
2 and a half years ago). If you can quit now - DO IT -but don't beat
yourself up if you can't.
— Cyndie K.
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