Question:
Does anyone smoke that has had surgery?
I am a smoker and I am trying to kick the habit but it is so hard. I am 3 weeks away from surgery. Why do they say you have to quit smoking? — Tracey B. (posted on January 3, 2003)
January 3, 2003
Tracey, I've been a smoker for over 15 years. At my consultation, the
surgeon told me that if so much as detected nicotine in my system, he'd
cancel the surgery, send me home, and refuse to even consider rescheduling
for two months. Smoking damages the lungs (we all know that), and damaged
lungs puts us at high risk during anesthesia. Also, the recovery period is
longer and more difficult for smokers. I know how hard it is to quit...I've
been smoke-free for almost 17 days now, and there have been times I felt
like I could've killed for a smoke! Please feel free to email if you want
to talk...I know what it's like. Best wishes!
— Dragon G.
January 3, 2003
I am a smoker, but plan on quitting when I get my insurance approval. I
quit last summer for 4 months, and gained 30lbs! At that time I just
couldn't stand to get any fatter so I decided to resume smoking. I used
Zyban and presciption patches, and quitting was really easy for me with
that method :) I know that for about 2 weeks after I quit I did quite a lot
of coughing, the doc said that nicotine inhibits your lungs ability to
clean themselves, so you end up hacking up years of tar, air pollution, and
all kinds of other awful stuff...definitly not something I wanna do
post-op! Good luck to you!
— badmaxxi
January 3, 2003
I've been seeing questions just like this one being asked ever since I've
been coming to this website. Now, before I go any further, let me say
this. I am a former smoker -- been smoke free for about 8 years
now.....well, as smoke free as I can be with a husband who smokes like a
chimney. Anyway, I was a three pack a day girl and, unlike most folks, I
don't claim that I'd light one, put it down and forget it........oh no,I
smoked every little bit of that cigarette cause I LOVED to smoke. In
August of 1994, I developed a respiratory infection. No big deal, every
smoker has probably had one. You take the medicine and keep on smoking.
Mine got so bad that it literally became a matter of do I smoke or do I
breathe. Obvious which one the answer was. Quitting smoking was the
HARDEST thing I have ever done in my life. I had headaches, I vomited, I
felt like warmed over garbage. 2 months later I had some minor surgery and
my lungs almost kicked my butt. Following surgery I was bedridden for
about 48 hours and fluid got into my lungs and they still had not recovered
from the smoking. I was on oxygen and was threatened with a respirator if
it got any worse. Luckily, it didn't get worse and I dodged that bullet.
I had my WLS in 12/01 and had NO RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS at all. It took me 8
years to get the big payoff from quitting but I did finally see it. I had
minimal coughing and had no problem with any of the lung function tests
they gave me. Now here's the big point to this soapbox lecture. Why are
you going to put your life on the line to have a surgery that we all agree
is a lifesaver, only to continue smoking? Trust me when I say that you
will not be hungry following surgery so don't use the excuse that you need
it to curb your appetite. Most of us say we needed this surgery to
maintain/regain our health which was deteriorating due to weight related
issues. But many people have posted questions just like this one. I KNOW
that quitting is HARD. I KNOW that you're under terrific stress just prior
to surgery. I UNDERSTAND all that. But why risk your life to get surgery
to help you correct one life threatening situation if you are going to
continue smoking? Smoking is a habit for some, an addiction for others (it
was for me, anyway). But this surgery is such a HUGE step in a positive
direction. If you're willing to change your entire way of eating why not
go the extra step and truly do EVERYTHING WITHIN YOUR POWER to get healthy
and stay that way? Please, do everything you can to comply with your
surgeon's wishes. If he wants you smoke free he has his reasons. Trying
to fool your doctor is not the best way to live a long and healthy life. I
pray that YOU will have a long and healthy life. Best of Luck with your
surgery. Everyone else may flame at will.
— Pam S.
January 3, 2003
I am a smoker. I just had a breast reduction and I developed a hematoma in
my right breast. I am sure that it was aided to my smoking. I am definately
not going to smoke atleast 60 days before surgery.Plus, why smoke after you
are doing such a healthy thing for your new body?? You will see the new you
starting to arrive and that will be motivation to NOT smoke. It also
increases the chances for blood clots, which is the leading cause of death
in this surgery. Think of how much everyone needs you and how much you love
yourself, if you did not love yourself you would not be having this
surgery. It will be hard, but you can do it. They sell smokeless
cigarettes. Try that you can buy them at a gerocery store. Good luck
sweetie. I hope that everything turns out well for you..
— Nickie C.
January 5, 2003
Tracey,
Thank you so much for putting this question up. I am also a smoker and my
surgeon said if I don't quit, he doesn't do the surgery. I have been
trying to quit for 1 week now and not having very much success. I want to
quit, because I think if I am going to have this surgery to lose weight,
then why would I continue to harm my body with cigarettes? But wanting to
quit is much easier than actually quitting. I am going today to get some
nicotine patches and see if that will help. I bought some of the gum and
it was nasty. I only chewed one piece and can't make myself put another
one in my mouth. I know that smoking makes risks from surgery go up. I
had my gall bladder removed about 15 yrs ago when they did it open. It was
pure HELL afterwards from the effects on my lungs. My surgery is not
scheduled yet, so I probably have a good 60 days or so to quit, but I want
to quick as long as possible before the surgery. Just keep trying and good
luck to you. Email me if you like.
— S W.
January 5, 2003
I also was a smoker. Then I started researching this surgery and told my
self that if i was going to do it i had to quit smoking. I was so afraid of
not coming off of the vent after surgery. So anyway i started researching
the surgery in oct 01. I quit smoking 2 weeks after checking in to this
surgery. i quit on oct 30 2001. I had the sugery this past sept 02 so i had
been smoke free for almost 1 year and i can honestly say if i had not
stopped i would of had a hard time after the surgery. I wish you the best
of luck in stopping this habit. It is very hard to stop but i have faith
that you can stop and you won't regret it afterwards. good luck
— shelly B.
January 5, 2003
Hi...I decided to quit smoking so I would do better with the general
anethesia,reduce the chance of clots, and avoid the pain from my 'smokers
cough'. I quit on October 1st 2002 and used Zyban (Wellbutrin)and nicotine
patches. I want to have a successful surgery much more than I want to
smoke.
— Linda B.
January 5, 2003
I am 3 1/2 weeks post op. While in the hospital, I swallowed some water
"wrong" and I coughed. I thought I was going to die. It felt
like my incision was splitting open and my guts were going to fly out.
Believe me, coughing only one time is way too many after this surgery.
Best wishes with quitting and with your upcoming surgery.
— Kim B
January 5, 2003
I am 3 1/2 weeks post op. While in the hospital, I swallowed some water
"wrong" and I coughed. I thought I was going to die. It felt
like my incision was splitting open and my guts were going to fly out.
Believe me, coughing only one time is way too many after this surgery.
Best wishes with quitting and with your upcoming surgery.
— Kim B
January 5, 2003
I am 3 1/2 weeks post op. While in the hospital, I swallowed some water
"wrong" and I coughed. I thought I was going to die. It felt
like my incision was splitting open and my guts were going to fly out.
Believe me, coughing only one time is way too many after this surgery.
Best wishes with quitting and with your upcoming surgery.
— Kim B
January 6, 2003
My surgeon required us to quit smoking 2 months prior to surgery. He said
it will not only make recovery easier and safer but it will prove your
commitment to the whole process. I quit smoking April 1, 2002, and my
surgery was July 3, 2002. The day I quit smoking one of my best friends
died unexpectedly of a brain aneurysm. It was one of the toughest days of
my life. However, like Linda Bates said "I wanted to have a successful
surgery much more than I wanted to smoke." I also knew my friend,
Cindy would have cheered me on because she had wanted me to quit smoking. I
have no doubt she was my angel throughout the whole quitting cold turkey
ordeal! There's no other explanation for it. But you have options, like the
other posters have said -- Please do try everything you can to quit! Good
Luck to you, I know it isn't easy but your health, YOU are worth it. - Anna
LAP RNY 7/3/02 -101 lbs.
— Anna L.
January 8, 2003
Please dont get me wrong, I am all for quiting the habit. but I am a
smoker and my dr. never said a word. I smoked on the way to the hospital
and as soon as I was relesed and got in the car I lit up. I did not have
any problems before, durning , or after. Now having said that, I do
applaude those of you who have been able to quit, I have tried a few times
without much luck. quiting is one of my goals after conquring this weight
thing. 2 months post-op down 48 pds.
— terri R.
January 8, 2003
I too smoked before surgery and have asthma to boot. However, I have very
good lungs and cut down a bit a week before. After surgery, they have you
do breathing treatments and the spirometer. I didn't even want a cigarette
until 10 days post op, and now I can't even finish a whole cigarette in a
day, I just stopped liking them. It surprised me because I smoked for 12
yrs too. Maybe it was due to all the tubes and breathing treatments but, I
still after a week of puffing on just one cigarette a day (which just burns
away really), I can't seem to get used to them.
They want you to quit due to increased lung infections etc. To be honest I
didn't even use that spirometer alot, due to the open incision pain but,I
am not here to tell you to quit or not, only you can make that decision. I
just wanted to let you know my experience. Good luck!!!
— victoria B.
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