Smokers thats been to their surgeon for consult

[dolly_lala 0]

So I am a smoker let me give you some background, I'm 24 i've been smoking on and off since i was 19, i know its unhealthy and i've tried to quit, and just like food its an addiction.

I smoked since i was 19, then quit when i was 22 when i found out i was pregnant with my son, picked it back up about a month after I had him, quit 4 months later.....And just recently picked it back up January of this year...Its a battle for me....

What i'm wondering is if the surgeon recommends you quit before surgery, I know theres risk with lung problems after surgery, when i had my galbladder out i smoked and my chest did hurt, but i made myself caugh and breath deep....and used that little blower thing they make you do to practice breathing....

On the other hand i read on a surgeons website if you smoke it can help you show the insurance company that you need the surgery since alot of smokers replace food with cigarettes, which is the case for me, I smoke so i dont eat as much...its a vicious cycle..any advice from those that smoke and has been to their consultation appt.

LaLa

[coltonwade 27]

My doc wouldnt touch me until i quit smoking !

Lots of docs wont. I suggest you go to your family doc and ask them to put you on Chantix , the new quit smoking drug.I quit cold turkey , chantix came out a bout 1 month after i quit . I looked at it this way , If im going to gain weight from not smoking I might as well do it before the surgery . And as for insurance companies Looking at smoking " Helping" for surgery , I have not heard of that before and I would not count on it.

Not only is smoking an issue for lungs it also causes you to bleed more. And increases healing time.

Smoking: Should I Quit for Surgery and Anesthesia?

Smoking and Surgery Don't Mix- Quit For The Sake Of Your Health

HTH

Mindy

[ssdown 0]

Have you asked for or tried Chantix? It's a fairly new prescription that has helped many people to quit. Ask your MD if you are a good candidate for the prescription.

[ghannouge 0]

OK, i am 26 WAS a smoker. I smoked my last cigarette the first day of my surgery, after the surgery, the doc said, i have to quit smoking , i was in shock, but my determination (also the amount of money i paid LOL) made me quit it.

Now i hate it, i cant stand the smell (only when i am pissed off i really need one, but dont get one)

So you should be determined to what you want and dont let a paper kill you!

[Jodi_620 37]

I think most doctors tell you to quit smoking, as a former smoker I don't recall ever seeing a doctor that didn't tell me that I needed to quit. My surgeon did not threaten to withhold surgery until I quit but I have read here that some surgeons do. I smoked right up until the night before surgery. I didn't have any complications with anesthesia. I also had hiatal hernia repair and due to the side affects of that, I was unable to smoke for three or four days after surgery, with the side affects of hernia surgery and the vicodin, I didn't even want a cigarette and didn't even realize until day three that I hadn't had one cigarette. I realized that I was lucky enough to make it through the chemical addiction without even suffering nicotene withdrawal and told myself that I would be a fool to go back, It has been 45 days and I am almost to the point where I don't even give cigarettes a thought.

[coltonwade 27]

I think most doctors tell you to quit smoking, as a former smoker I don't recall ever seeing a doctor that didn't tell me that I needed to quit. My surgeon did not threaten to withhold surgery until I quit but I have read here that some surgeons do. I smoked right up until the night before surgery. I didn't have any complications with anesthesia. I also had hiatal hernia repair and due to the side affects of that, I was unable to smoke for three or four days after surgery, with the side affects of hernia surgery and the vicodin, I didn't even want a cigarette and didn't even realize until day three that I hadn't had one cigarette. I realized that I was lucky enough to make it through the chemical addiction without even suffering nicotene withdrawal and told myself that I would be a fool to go back, It has been 45 days and I am almost to the point where I don't even give cigarettes a thought.

There are some WLS surgeons that will TEST YOU before surgery if you have nicotine in your system they will NOT touch you for surgery !

This is a SERIOUS Surgery , they tell you to stop because you can bleed to death from it .

Its bad enough if a non smoker gets their liver kicked during surgery but if a smoker does ! :smile2: This is nothing to mess around with . SURE docs tell you to quit . SURE some people have smoked and been fine. But you were lucky enough to make it through SURGERY FINE even though you smoked right up to it .

I am a former smoker and would advise ANYONE to quit before this surgery or any surgery !! I am not trying to be rude but I really do not think its a good idea to come on and say " OH I did it and I was fine !!! " Docs tell you to quit for a reason not JUST because smoking is bad for you !

Mindy

[Jodi_620 37]

There are some WLS surgeons that will TEST YOU before surgery if you have nicotine in your system they will NOT touch you for surgery !

This is a SERIOUS Surgery , they tell you to stop because you can bleed to death from it .

Its bad enough if a non smoker gets their liver kicked during surgery but if a smoker does ! :smile2: This is nothing to mess around with . SURE docs tell you to quit . SURE some people have smoked and been fine. But you were lucky enough to make it through SURGERY FINE even though you smoked right up to it .

I am a former smoker and would advise ANYONE to quit before this surgery or any surgery !! I am not trying to be rude but I really do not think its a good idea to come on and say " OH I did it and I was fine !!! " Docs tell you to quit for a reason not JUST because smoking is bad for you !

Mindy

I am sorry you took my post so badly. My statement "I think most doctors tell you to quit smoking" was in response to her question "Does the surgeon recommend you quit smoking?" I didn't say nor did I mean to say "All doctors tell you to quit, but you shouldn't listen. "

I know smoking is bad for you, surgery or not and I am sure that as a smoker, dolly_lala understands this too. I was not trying to downplay the affects of smoking, only telling my story. I KNOW that some surgeons will not do surgery if you don't quit and I said so in my post. I don't know about bleeding to death due to smoking, I was not told about this but with the anesthesia it can cause decreased carbon dioxide and breathing problems during surgery as well as increased infections and pulmonary complications after.

Edited July 14, 2008 by Jodi_620

[coltonwade 27]

:smile2: I am sorry you took my post so badly. My statement "I think most doctors tell you to quit smoking" was in response to her question "Does the surgeon recommend you quit smoking?" I didn't say nor did I mean to say "All doctors tell you to quit, but you shouldn't listen. "

I know smoking is bad for you, surgery or not and I am sure that as a smoker, dolly_lala understands this too. I was not trying to downplay the affects of smoking, only telling my story. I KNOW that some surgeons will not do surgery if you don't quit and I said so in my post. I don't know about bleeding to death due to smoking, I was not told about this but with the anesthesia it can cause decreased carbon dioxide and breathing problems during surgery as well as increased infections and pulmonary complications after.

One of the risks of smoking is smoking thins your blood , therefore can cause you to bleed more than someone who does not . (I think i posted that in the links above ) So that can lead to excessive blood loss . I was not jumping on you or anything but too many times people come on here and say " i did i was fine you will be too " and that's such a dangerous thing to tell someone . Not just on this subject but many others.

Just like anything w/ this surgery there are reason's why docs tell you to quit . And its not just becasue its bad for you . The pulmonary reason's along are enough .

HTH

Mindy

[boxerlover7 0]

I'm about your age (25) and I was smoking since I was about 10 years old (I know..ridiculous) Either way....I took chantix and haven't picked up a cigarette since August 2007 (almost a year!) I think it's a good idea to look into this if you are having a tough time quitting. It pointless to have surgery to be healthier if you are going to continue polluting your body with cigarettes. Good luck!

[CMTurner 0]

We were told at the first nutrition class we HAD to quit smoking at least 2 months prior to surgery. Not a problem since I don't smoke. They also said we would be tested for nicotine in our pre-op testing and surgery would be cancelled if it is determined we were smoking. Like I said not a problem for me but alot of others in the class seemed upset by this news.

[coltonwade 27]

I'm about your age (25) and I was smoking since I was about 10 years old (I know..ridiculous) Either way....I took chantix and haven't picked up a cigarette since August 2007 (almost a year!) I think it's a good idea to look into this if you are having a tough time quitting. It pointless to have surgery to be healthier if you are going to continue polluting your body with cigarettes. Good luck!

I have heard lots of people have been very successful w/ Chantix.

I know one girl who took it just to shut her husband up (LOL) and did not want to quit smoking , she ended up quitting anyway !

Also i was w/ you about quitting and surgery , i too started smoking early I would say "dabbled " when i was 12 or 13 and really started at 14. But i figured what is the point of getting the surgery to become healthy , live longer if Im going to smoke which can cause me to be unhealthy and die early . Sort of counter productive if you ask me LOL

Plus you get all that weight off and you can finallly breathe to only be out of breathe from smoking .

No brainer to me. Also if I can quit ANYONE can seriously I Have NO WILL power at all !! I have not touched a cig since quitting 2 yrs ago this Sept !

MIndy

[GramaLisa 0]

Hi,

I am a long time smoker and I know I need to quit, not just for the surgery but for a healthier life. Does anyone know if Chantix interacts with other medications? I am interested in trying the Chantix if it's that good. The last time I tried the Patches they stung my arms like crazy!

Thanks,

Lisa

[dolly_lala 0]

thanks for the responses, i knew and know that smoking is bad why else would i quit when i was pregnant, for the health of my son ofcourse, i seemto care about him more than myself and i know if i wan to be around to see himm grow up i need to qui smoking, when i go to my next weigh in at my pcp i will ask about the chanix