Question:
Will it be long enough?

I quit smoking 2 weeks ago. Yeah for me! My surgery is scheduled for December 19 and I am now afraid that I waited too long and I am going to end up having MAJOR complications. I dont know why I am obsessing about this, but I am. I am scared of dying on the table with the responsibility falling on my own shoulders because I did not quit soon enough!! Any input/assurances would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks! P.S. I also have mild asthma - I am not currently having any problems, but this just ads to my fear!    — MissKimberly (posted on November 21, 2003)

November 21, 2003
Kimberly, Your surgeon is probably the only one who can answer that question for you. However, that being said, there ARE a few things that you can do that will help you out! 1. Go to the store, buy a bag of little balloons. Start blowing those puppies up - every day. It's a great work-out for your lungs. And it really does help you recover from a respiratory standpoint much more quickly. 2. Increase your mobility. I.e., even if you have limited mobility due to your MO, try to push the limits - gently - a little. Walk through the house once an hour. Or walk to the end of the driveway and back. Or around the block once. 3. Up your fluid intake. Water really does help your body flush out impurities. And it's great practice for post-op life! Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

November 21, 2003
What did your surgeon recommend? Did he want you to quit weeks before this? Does he have a specific requirement for the length of time you have to have stopped before surgery? Check with your surgeon's office to see if they feel you should be concerned.
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 21, 2003
I quit smoking about 3-4 weeks prior to my surgery and was just fine, no problems whatsoever. But your surgeon knows best. Actually, I think (not sure) that the smoking (or problems because of it) has more to do with the anesthesia than with the actual surgery.
   — Dawn P.

November 21, 2003
I know that this is bad but I had to quit 3 weeks before my surgery I cut down about 2 weeks before surgery and Quit smoking 3 days before surgery. I was real scared that I was going to be in the 2% of people who die or that I was going to have bad complications and actually after surgery they took the oxygen monitor off because my oxygen level was above 95% since surgery I did great I stayed smoke free for about 3 weeks after surgery and have started since then... Good luck with your upcoming surgery :) I know it's not easy but relax some times we tend to scare our self's more thatn we should be worried.
   — Maribelle C.

November 21, 2003
Im BAD!!! I stopped smokeing at 8:00 am on the morning of surgery and had no complacations. Luck I guess!!!Don't tell my Doctor... Every one is different. Don't take the chance I did and you'll have a safer chance of sucsessfull surgery..
   — joe R.