Did anyone quick smoking like just a few months prior to surgery? - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

zkiekie · 11-02-2007, 10:51 AM

Need to be honest. I had quit smoking back in July for this process and to better my health. Messed up, starting sneaking in a cigarrette here and there at night after about a month. Then I started "sneaking" in more during the day, never really went over 5 smokes a day.. until, about 2 weeks ago I went to a Halloween Party, adult only. That night I smoked about a pack!! Geesh! I started loyally taking my Chantix again and now haven't had a drag, puff or single smoke... I don't want to get an infection because of those stupid things, but I am SCARED!!

My doctor said they wouldn't preform the surgery on a smoker and I had to not be smoking for 6 months prior to the surgery... Did I blow this? They are supposed to be schedualing my surgery now and I was informed to look forward to it being sometime in January.. Do the doctors test you to see if you have been smoking before the surgery? Did anyone quit around 2/3 months prior and still have the surgery and were fine? I am truly not asking this to start smoking again.. I have a daughter and DO NOT want to smoke for SEVERAL reasons other than the surgery and AM NOT allowing myself another stupid risk of starting up again... Can someone be straight up with me and tell me if they relate and their personal outcomes?? Thanks.

Teenieleenie · 11-02-2007, 11:49 AM

http://www.anesthesiologyinfo.com/articles/12012003.php

This link tells you all you need to know about smoking and anestesia. If you are several months away from surgery, you should be fine. However if your surgery is less than three weeks away, you might want to postpone it.

LORIL · 11-02-2007, 12:21 PM

and had just been turned down twice for gastric bypass. I was frustrated and thought "what the hell" and started smoking again. Not much - maybe 3-4 cigarettes a day. I was told to quit before that surgery, so I did. After recovery, I thought "what the hell" again and started up.

In April I found I was approved for gastric bypass. Surgeons office asked me immediately if I smoked or not (they knew from before that I had), then told me to quit immediately. If I were not smoke free for 2 months, they would not do the surgery.

I quit that day, and have not ever looked back. For my pre-op appointment, they did a blood test to check to see if I quit or not, so they did verify what I told them.

I have no doubt the surgery would have been canceled, but their requirement was 2 months prior to surgery.

Jeri · 11-02-2007, 12:52 PM

I didn't quit for the surgery (I quit 6 months prior for other reasons) but my dr told me, too, that they do test for nicotine & won't operate if there is any in your system. You need to quit now so your surgery isn't in jepordy.

SweetSouthern · 11-02-2007, 04:21 PM

I smoked almost a pack a day until 2 months before my surgery and my doc told me that he would not do surgery if I had been smoking and he did a blood nicotine test on me the day before surgery to make sure I was not lying. He told me does this routinely on ALL of his patients whether they report being a smoker or not because it is a very LARGE health risk when dealing with anesthesia. First, you want your body to have the capacity to heal itself after surgery and cigarette smoking restricts blood flow in arteries and veins and slows the process of healing because it takes blood flow to health properly and in the case of diabetics gives them problems in triple fold causing wounds to actually not heal and get worse. (Don't know if you are a diabetic, but that is good info all the same) Secondly, you WANT your lungs to be clear and healthy for this surgery. You do not want to wake up on a ventilator (breathing machine) because you stopped breathing during surgery and wouldn't start back on your own. You do NOT want to develop pneumonia after this surgery because your lungs are so full of crap that you can't do your deep breathing exercises afterwards to keep your lungs clear. I know this sounds harsh, but the truth is that the results of smoking is harsh! Don't risk it and be healthy. You are having this surgery to be healthy, no? Then why would you kill yourself in another way by polluting your lungs and running the risks of giving yourself cancer. Won't do that small body much good if it can't breath and live after the surgery due to something you could have controlled! I know you think I am being mean, but I'm not. I'm just being honest. I have people on this board that I love dearly and have helped me through this long process and they have started up smoking again after surgery and if I could be with them and see them lighting up, I'd grab their cigs and break every one of them in half and give 'em my stink eye......cuz I love 'em of course. LOL You guys know who you are..... (aheemmmmmm.....clears throat) hehehe But seriously, you are having this surgery for your health. Put those nasty things down and NEVER look back. I did and you can too. I'm not saying the urge is not still there sometimes, but it is SO not worth it now! Good luck to you and do what is right, k?

AriesGirl78 · 11-03-2007, 07:21 PM

I stopped smoking in June. Surgery was in Sept. I had to stop because of blood work for my surgery and because I know I needed to stop for my health!

Hoping and praying · 11-03-2007, 08:57 PM

It is hard to quit. How is the chantix working for you?

marine · 11-04-2007, 02:51 AM

1 or the reasons why you should really quite smoking b/f surgery is that nicotine is increasing the risk of thrombosis, pulmonary or veines(legs). And you certainly do not want to get any thrombosis. Therefore it would be wise to quit smoking.
I was a heavy smoker (about 2 packs a day) for many years, and quited. It took me 6 months to definitely divorce with nicotine (I went from cigarettes, to patch and then to chewinggums). A lot of sport, and avoiding being with smokers helped. After couple of months, my breathing capacities had considerable increased. Now I am happy w/o and cannot stand smoke or smokers. Try again, you tried already, and continue trying quitting for all good reasons:
Your health
Your skin (smokers have a lot of wrinkles)
Your fingers (yellowish)
YOUR KIDS AND FAMILY (being maybe passive smokers)
Your smell (mouth smell is uggly, clothes, all is smelling)
YOUR BUDGET (you will save directly money from matches, lighter and cigarette, you will save Quality of Life and Health by avoiding all risks from smoking)
NEW LIFE you might discover new friends (non smokers)

Any other reason? And last but not least you will increase the chances of no complications after your WSL

Good luck and hang on

A previous smoky head

Jeri · 11-04-2007, 05:31 AM

Someone asked about Chantix. It worked extremely well for me & I know LisaM used it sucessfully as well. It shuts off the nicotine receptors in the brain. Now I cannot stand cigarette smoke it makes me gag because it smells sooooo disgusting. Any though of a cigarette is fleeting. I have never successfully quit before & I guarantee you I quit miltiple times before tying the Chantix. Patches, gums, etc...did not work for me.

It probably doesn't work for everyone but if your insurance covers it it's absolutely worth a try.

Hoping and praying · 11-04-2007, 10:42 AM

My insurance does not cover it but I have the perscription and am willing to pay the 150 for the perscription to be filled. I was wondering as I have heard it takes months with the chantix. How long did it take for you to see a differnce.