Smoking?

[Sophie 0]

Ok i know smoking is bad and i should give up right now... but if ur a smoker u will understand how hard is is to give up both food and smoking at the same time.

My question is, not whether or not i should smoke (because i know i shouldnt) but im a week post op, what i want to know is, how much damage could i cause to have like 1-2 ciggarettes every couple of days.... because i am sooo stressed

I know this is more of a medical question, but if anyone else has been in this situation and can offer some insight it will be really useful to me :-)

[wannalise 16]

Neither a smoker, nor a medical expert, but as I recall it puts you at greater risk for ulcer and infection along your staple line. Might be worth waiting a couple more weeks. Can you patch it?

[NewMe2Bee 5]

Ok i know smoking is bad and i should give up right now... but if ur a smoker u will understand how hard is is to give up both food and smoking at the same time.

My question is, not whether or not i should smoke (because i know i shouldnt) but im a week post op, what i want to know is, how much damage could i cause to have like 1-2 ciggarettes every couple of days.... because i am sooo stressed

I know this is more of a medical question, but if anyone else has been in this situation and can offer some insight it will be really useful to me :-)

I know I am going to get hate mail for saying this but the doctor at my clinic that I manage said their is no true effect of smoking right before surgery because your lungs are already compromised and it takes at least 6 months of no smoking to start true reversal of compromise although after smoking they will never be 100%. My suggestion is that you do the best that you can and if you find yourself still smoking up until surgery just try not to smoke as least 24 hours before going under. You know there are risk with anesthesia no matter what but try to stop you don't want this habit to create more compromising with your respiratory system. you could need more oxygen for a much longer time because the lungs are compromised which by the way can happen to even a non smoker It is also possible that it may be harder to bring you back from under the anesthesia which also can happen to a non smoker , it is just that because as stated smoker lungs are more compromised as compared to healthier non smoking lungs. Also smoking also slows down the healing process because of it's restricting reaction to our vessels. Wish you the best in your journey. Hope this helps.

[Tiffykins 673]

Smoking inhibits healing because when we smoke (Yes, I'm a smoker), it causes the capillaries to restrict and blood flow to decrease to the injured area. You increase your risk for a leak because it slows your healing. I have quit 3 times post-op, and I always go back to it. It's the most difficult thing to quit, I didn't care to lose food, but cigarettes was an entirely different habit and addiction.

So, by smoking, you are decreasing your healing time, and it can cause ulcers early out because of the tar and nicotine that we inevitably swallow into a sensitive, healing, stapled off stomach.