Question:
SURGERY APRIL25/2002--JUST QUIT SMOKING-HELP!!
IM A VERY LIGHT SMOKER--I WILL BE QUITING ASAP. MY SURGERY IS THIS WEEK 5/25/02. BECAUSE I EXPECTED A LONGER WAIT I WAS COMPLETLY BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER WHEN I GOT MY DATE 3 DAYS AGO THATS NOT EVEN A WHOLE WEEK NOTICE--IM 25 AND HAVE ONLY SMOKED FOR THE PAST 3-4 MOS--IM WORRIED NOW,CAN ANYONE WHO SMOKED AND LIVED THRU SURGERY GIVE ME SOME KIIND WORDS--BESIDES "U SHOULDA QUIT"?? — NANA H. (posted on April 23, 2002)
April 22, 2002
I smoked up until the day before my surgery, however, I only smoked 1 to 2
cigarettes a day because I suffer from asthma. I had no complications due
to smoking. After your surgery just make sure you breath in that little
machine they give you to keep your lungs strong and healthy. You should
not have any problems at all. People have told me that they were moderate
smokers and smoked their last cigarette on their way to the hospital and
they still had no complications or problems. Don't worry, you will be
fine! At least you are not a heavy smoker and after the surgery your
desire for cigarettes will diminish! Good luck with your surgery!
— Shirley M.
April 23, 2002
Nana - No one should tell you "u shoulda quit" because you
already KNOW you should have. I have my surgical consult on Thursday, May
2nd. I quit smoking on Monday, April 1st. It has NOT been easy. One of my
dearest friends passed away the afternoon of April 1st. I did take one drag
off a cigarette immediately after her funeral. Didn't care for it,
fortunately for me. You're going to hear from many people who did smoke
until they went into surgery...some never smoked again post-op, others
smoked again but cut down. I just want to tell you a few things (in my
opinion, of course). 1)You've only smoked for a few months and say you're a
light smoker. Believe me, if I'd quit shortly after starting at age 16, I
would be a whole lot better off. It really is sooooooo much harder to quit
the longer you smoke. Just like dieting is so much harder the longer you
are obese. 2)Why risk even the slightest possibility that you'll have a
harder time in surgery? For cigarettes that now cost nearly $4 a pack?
3)Just think of how much more appealing you are going to be to all those
handsome young men after not only losing the weight, but not smelling like
an ashtray! Some men won't even date a woman who smokes. You'll have more
possibilities! :o 4)Think of it as the first big change you can make to
show yourself how committed you are to WLS. :) As I said, I know it's hard.
Some days I'd love to have a cig after dinner. But instead I either have a
Tootsie Pop, a wintergreen Lifesaver or a Cinnamon Fire Jolly Ranchers. I
of course won't have the candy option as a post-op, but for now I'm doing
whatever it takes!!! And as the days go on, I'm finding I need the candy
less and less. Good Luck to you - Anna p.s. I know I'm not someone who
lived through surgery...but I believe I will be someone who does.
— Anna L.
April 23, 2002
I smoked until my surgery. I quit when I got out of the hospital. I think
that this helped my recovery---- Good Luck
— Robert L.
April 23, 2002
Get the patch. It helped me quit my pack a day 15 year habit exactly one
month before my surgery. Of course, I am ashamed to admit that I have
taken the habit back up. I look at it this way...I can't eat, so I gotta
have something!!! There really are no excuses! Booo to me, but good luck
to you.
— rebeccamayhew
April 23, 2002
If it helps...I was a 2 pack a day smoker when I got pregnant. I quit
completely with my first, so-so with my second. I was back up to 2 packs a
day when I had my hysterectomy. The doctor was not happy with me, but I
lived through it, and a subsequent appendectomy and hernia repair. I quit
11 years ago and it was the hardest thing I have ever done, but I did it.
Play a game with it - put that money you would have spent on a pack of cigs
in a jar. That money will be for the new clothes you'll need after
surgery!! You can do it!!
— Janelle G.
April 23, 2002
I was also a smoker and the doctor told me to quit in January and my
surgery was April 5th. I tried and tried but never quit. My last
cigarrette was the day before my surgery. I didn't smoke the night before
and haven't smoked since. Just try the best you can. The Doctor told me
the reason he wanted me to quit was so I wouldn't get a hernia from the
coughing. You cough alot more after surgery if you are a smoker. I did ok
but I had a problem with my oxygen level being low. They put me on oxygen
while in the hospital but not when I came home. I'm still not smoking.
Yipee! So, just do you best and you'll do fine.
— Peggy D.
April 23, 2002
I was 26 and a light smoker when I had my surgery almost ten weeks ago. I
smoked 5 or 6 ultra-lights a day and 2 the very day before surgery. Yeah,
I should've quit...but I just couldn't. Not only did I live through
surgery, but I didn't have any problems with coughing, or phlegm, or oxygen
levels, blood clots. My surgery and recovery were each a teriffic success.
Now, I wouldn't go around reccomending people keep smoking, or defy their
doctors orders before surgery...that would be stupid. But, in your case I
wouldn't panic. You should be okay. Right after your surgery make sure
you use your incentive spirometer (for breathing exercises) as often as
directed. Only two more days to go!!!! Oh, yeah...one more thing: The
day of my surgery was also the day I quit smoking. Down 51 pounds as a
non-smoker! Best wishes to you!
— PaulaM
April 23, 2002
I am a non smoker so I can not help but I wanted to wish you luck on your
up coming jouney --- God be with you
— sallie P.
April 23, 2002
I just wanted to let you know that I am in the same boat. Yesterday was my
first day in 11 years that I haven't had a cigarette. I will admit I had
one, and I promise only one, drawl off of my boyfriends before we went to
bed. My surgery is scheduled for May 23rd so I, too know that I am down to
the line on the 30 days smoke free date. Mine all came about soooo fast
that I wasn't prepared for this. My first consultation was April 2 and I
had an approval with a surgery date two weeks later.
I know that maybe I shouldn't think this way but I think that I will
continue to maybe have a drawl here or there since I live with some one who
smokes but I don't think I will smoke a whole one until after surgery, if
ever!!!
Best of Luck~ Candi
— Candi B.
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