Question:
I smoke & wasn't told to quit, now I'm scared. I have 1 week to go.

How might this affect what happens while I'm under or the healing process altogether?    — Pambylah (posted on June 18, 2003)


June 18, 2003
Hi there! I think the reason most surgeons want you to quit smoking prior to surgery is because they want your lungs to be as healthy as possible before surgery. The anesthesia and sometimes the pain killers they give you depress your respiratory system, and that is why doctors are cautious to make sure people don't get pneumonia after ANY surgery. Smoking up to your surgery just makes your lungs that much more succeptible to something like that. I would suggest that you quit right now, even though it may be hard to just put them down and not smoke until your surgery, you will be doing yourself a disservice if you don't. Also, you will be given an "incentive spirometer", a little contraption that you breathe into and make the little balls raise -- use it faithfully and give it 100% -- it helps your lower alveoli (air sacs in your lungs) inflate and move oxygen since they don't get exercised as much as usual while you are laying in bed. This will also helps to fight against pneumonia. Good luck!
   — beeda

June 18, 2003
I had a very hard time stopping before surgery and my surgeon told me to cut down to 3 a day in the last month or so before surgery and I did it for about 3 weeks and it was bearable. Smoking can definitely create problems and if you can cut down you should. I had no troubles with the anesthesia. Good Luck.
   — Carol S.

June 18, 2003
Why not call your surgeon and ask ... then it would put your fears to rest if he feels there is nothing to worry about. In the meantime, really try to quit or drastically cut back.
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 18, 2003
Pam, hello! From one smoker to another: don't fret unless you have other problems with your lungs. I smoked right up until my surgery. I stopped smoking when I was in for the surgery. I started up again about two months out. You actually heal better and faster if you don't smoke. The rat poison that is in the tobacco (yes, it is really there, arsenic!!), slows healing dramatically and actually causes your body tissues to break down even more. Try to quit. I quit again (do we ever stop quitting?) a few months ago, and have felt so much better. I can breath deeper, walk and exercise longer, and things taste and smell so much better. I actually discovered there are things I ate that taste yucky now, and they are all things I don't need to eat anyway! Also, it is a proven fact that nicotine is an appetite stimulant! WE DON"T need that!! LOL!! Need support to quit? Email me... I'll be your sounding board! :~) You CAN do it!! :~) Maybe we can keep each other from smoking again!
   — Sharon M. B.

June 18, 2003
Hello there... I know you can quit. I smoked for over twenty years and stopped two years ago. I used wellbuterin and inhalers but not for long. I have not wanted to go back yet even now at times I find myself having a craving...but not an overwhelming one. Just goes to show how addictive they really are. I quit because I just hated the fact that I had no money for special items I wanted but always found the money for cigs. In that I realized that I just hated my addiction being used to make them rich like any drug dealer on the street so I quit. and so can you if you want to. Good Luck!
   — Tammy P.

June 18, 2003
My surgeon requires patients to be smoke free for 3 months prior to surgery and this is to reduce the possibility of serious pouch leaks. Please talk to your surgeon and ask about the risks... better to be safe.
   — Happy I.

June 18, 2003
A friend of mine was in the same situation. She quit smoking as soon as she realized this was a good idea. She also started breathing exercises at home. You can either purchase an incentive spirometer from a medical supplier or do this on your own. This is also worthwhile for ANY pre-op to help prevent pneumonia after surgery. To do the exercises yourself, several times a day (or more often if your surgery is soon), take a very long, slow, deep breath. Hold it to the count of 10 and then exhale very slowly. Also cough during the day, even if you don't feel the urge. Force yourself to cough as deeply as you can. If you do this before surgery, it will be easier post-op. Also try and do some stomach (ab) strengthening exercises so that when you do cough and do the breathing, it will be easier. The ab exercises will also make you have less pain, heal faster and help prevent an incisional hernia if you have an open procedure. Good luck!
   — antiques55

June 18, 2003
Hi, Sharon is right, things do taste differently, I had a Frito last night that tasted like chalk. My surgeon told me if I was still a smoker, he would not even consider surgery. Good Luck, I smoked over 20 years, and I've been smoke free 2 months, you can do it.
   — Beckie R.

June 18, 2003
Whatever you do, do not hide the fact that you're still smoking from your doctor and especially from your anesthesiologist. It's very important that your smoking history be truthful for your own safety.
   — TMF

June 18, 2003
I am a very heavy smoker and was when I had my breast reduction done last year. After that, I saw some pics of a woman that smoked all the way thru her tummy tuck and the wounds werent healing and her skin became necrotic(died). She had so many problesm The nicotine keeps the body from getting enough oxygen to heal approrialy. I was actuall thinking about dong the Bariatric Chamber to speed up my healing.
   — Donna W.




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