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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