Question:
My surgery date is 4/12/04 and i can't seem to quit smoking!!!!
Has anyone smoked up to the day of surgery and beyond??? My surgeon says i need to quit but he won't make it mandantoy that i quit. Please Help — HerShe (posted on March 9, 2004)
March 9, 2004
I know it is not easy to quit...but at least quit before you have surgery.
I had my surgery 6 months ago and I was suppose to quit for 6 weeks prior.
I did quit for two weeks and they did not know the difference...BUT I did.
After surgery, you have to do the breathing treatments and you won't
believe how much your lung capacity goes down after surgery. I did start
smoking about 2 weeks after and I am doing fine. However, if there is
anyway you can cut out the habit...this would be the perfect time.
— Schtina J.
March 9, 2004
Hi I am now a year post op, but before surgery I wasn't smoking, and if you
can quit then please try your best I know how hard it is to do. You need
your lungs in the best shape you can get them in for after surgery because
they have you do those breathing tests and treatments in the hospital for
yor stay! So just keep trying! I started up again about a 3 mths after
surgery and am doing fien so far, but I wish I could quit again, I know
though stress can be a bit--!!! good Luck to you and congrats on your
upcoming surgery!
— Melodee S.
March 9, 2004
I smoked but I had cut way down b-4 WLS and had quit for a while after
cause while in the hosp just thesmell of smoke on someone else made me very
sick I have quit 2 different times for 2 mts at a time but then something
bad happened causedallot of strss and I was right back at t again I am now
tryingto quit again I have found some cigs to help they are called Quest
they have 3 statges of them I am on stage 2 now stage 3 just has a trace on
nictione in them they do seam to be helping I haft to quit now cause my bf
hast to have a liver TP and if I dont quit they will not do it for him so I
am have to work very hard to qut now It is much better for you if you can
Take Care Hugs
Beth
— wildbrat
March 9, 2004
Why would you have this wonderful weight-loss surgery to extend your life
(and enhance the quality of that life), yet continue smoking? If you
don't stop, you'll wish you had when you start hacking and coughing post-op
and you are in pain. I have also heard that smoking is associated with a
higher risk of ulcers in the post-op RNY patients.
<p>
Do yourself a favor and stop smoking before your surgery. The physical
addiction to nicotine is gone after 3 days. The psychological addiction
can last much longer, though. But if you stop smoking before your surgery,
you'll be through that physical addiction when you get out of the hospital
and it'll be much easier to stay smoke-free...JR (open RNY 07/17/02 -204#
since surgery, -217# total, 10# til goal!!! - and smoke-free since
10/13/86)
— John Rushton
March 9, 2004
I've been smoke free since 10/7/88 1:00pm! Prior to that I smoked 3 packs
a day for 16 years. I think you need to ask yourself if you really want to
quit smoking. If you really want to quit get a patch or chew the nicorite
gum but quit and do it for good, I still get the urge to smoke ---I dont
think it will ever go away I loved to smoke! It's just like eating sugar or
drinking diet Coke --I'm afraid if I start I will never stop again. Stop
smoking and have your surgery and start your new life. There are things we
will have to do for the rest of our life---vitamins, exercise, good eating
habits. God has given me a chance at a healthy lifestyle and after losing
130 lbs , I am so thankful. Sorry about the lecture we former smokers are
the worst but I remember how much better I felt, for three weeks after I
quit I coughed up black junk out of my lungs. Best wishes to you on your
upcoming surgery!
— debmi
March 9, 2004
Did you know that smokers heal slower, tend to be intubated longer, develop
more leaks and other serious complications?
— bob-haller
March 9, 2004
I quit 2 weeks prior to my surgery 10/6/03 ... I have been smoke-free since
and it is an amazing feeling. First, you have to remember that your
chances for serious complications increase when you smoke up to your
surgery, this includes the anasthesic; it has something to do with blood
flow and oxygen in your blood. You will heal much better if you quit. It
is still hard, sometimes I want to light up but I keep telling myself that
I did this to be healthy and extend my life; I don't want to ruin that with
cigarettes, I've come too far. Just keep thinking that you want to be
healthy, life is so fragile; don't risk complications during your surgery,
quit as soon as you can. Best of luck to you. Tammy
— Tammy P.
March 9, 2004
i had the same problem you did. i loveddddddddddd to smoke as much as i
loved food. they were my two addictions. i really had to think to myself.
why was i having wls to get healthy if i was just going to continue to
smoke??? when i really thought about it, it just didn't make any sense.
also smoking makes it even harder for your skin to shrink back. even if
your doctor didn't make it mandantory you should. i also thought to myself
if i can't give up smoking how will i even have the willpower to give up
food. my advice is to smoke your last one at night and make sure you don't
have any in the house when you wake up. this way your body has all night to
get rid of the toxins in your blood and the cravings won't be as bad. you
could also try the patch or gum.
— franbvan
March 10, 2004
I smoked up until the night before my surgery. That was my last cig until
about 6 months after the surgery. I am trying to quit now, and have been
smoke-free since Sunday. I should mention, that prior to my surgery I had
no health problems or comorbidities other than being overweight. I did
prepare for the surgery by doing the frequent breathing exercising through
that machine. Also, after the surgery, the respitory therapists do come in
often and make you do the breathing exercise. I was not a heavy smoker
either, probably around 10-12 a day, plus was 32 yrs old at the time. Your
best bet is to quit. Try the patch, that's what I'm doing now & it
seems to be working. Sure, I get the crave, but it passes after some
3-second breathing exercises, or having a mint and brushing my teeth after
a meal instead of the smoke. Good Luck too you! I know it's very hard, and
I too am hoping that I can stick with it.
— stacjean
March 11, 2004
My Surgeon did not actually require that I quit either. And I smoked even
on the trip to the hospital on the morning of my surgery. I did have a hard
time breathing after surgery. I was on 3 litres of oxygen for the full 3
days I was in the hospital. The evening I was getting ready to leave the
hospital, when I got my clothes out of the closet, the smell of smoke about
made me sick! I did not smoke for 7 weeks after surgery, at first I was
scared to because I had so much difficulty breathing.
I did have a small leak that was discovered 3 weeks after surgery. But it
sealed up on it's own.
I am now looking into having a TT... and I will definitely quit smoking at
least 3 weeks before this procedure. Even though the Plastic Surgeon did
tell it it really made no difference if I quit because if I was still
around second hand smoke, I would still be in the same amount of risk!!!
And my whole family smokes. I work in a hospital, where I have to take
clients outside to smoke, so regardless of where I am, I am involved in
second hand smoke!
swoods
lap rny 12/17/02
245/138/140 ( below goal!!!)
— Sheryl W.
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