Surgery date moved & Question about smoking - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

StephRye · 08-20-2005, 01:22 PM

Eeek...I just had pre-op this past thursday. Surgery was all set for the 23rd...then Lisa called me on Friday and said Dr. Callery had to move me to Wed the 24th. OK...one day...doesn't seem like a big deal right? So how come I was so bummed!!! I guess I was mentally prepared and now It's changed. Oh well, I guess I'll get over it.

So smoking...at my consult with Kelly in January, I listed myself as a non-smoker....well in the past 8 month I've picked up a nastly little habit of having a couple/few smokes in the evening to relax. Today is Saturday...surgery is next Wed. Should I say anything to them, or just hope for the best. I will not even get near another cigarette at this point...im not addicted to them, i just did it to hang out and be "social". I didn't realize it would have any bearing on my surgery until now.
4 days away...what should I do????

I am so worried.

elb71 · 08-20-2005, 02:57 PM

Hi-
Congratulations on your date. My surgery date is Aug 25, so we are practically twins! I will tell you what I was told about smoking--some doctors refuse to operate on people that smoke because it makes their recovery from the anethesia much more difficult. People that smoke ahve a harder time coming from under. I'm not an MD, but I would explain to them that you are a habitual smoker. I would rather see you have your date pushed back a couple of weeks and not have complications than to not tell the doctor and to have problems afterwards that might have been avoided.

Whatever your decision, I wish you all the best.

sUzYzPLaCe · 08-20-2005, 03:10 PM

If you are not a habitual 1-2 pack a day smoker then I think this might apply... Suzy

A recent study at the Medical College of Wisconsin has found that smoking before surgery can diminish blood flow to the heart. Harvey J. Woehlk, M.D., found that those who smoked during the 24 hours before outpatient surgery with general anesthesia were 20 times more likely to have episodes of inadequate oxygen supply to the heart than were non-smokers, ex-smokers, and even smokers who abstained during the same time period.

Overall, the take home message is to quit smoking or to at least abstain for the 24 hours before any surgical procedure involving general anesthesia.

Article Created: 1997-11-03
Article Reviewed: 1998-08-07

LizardQueen · 08-20-2005, 03:20 PM

If you weren't a heavy smoker and you aren't currently smoking, I wouldn't worry about it as long as you aren't doing it now. A couple of cigarettes occasionally shouldn't (my opinion) really bother things. However, what can start out at one or two here or there can turn into addiction quickly. I smoke and since my wls I smoke twice as much. I have transferred addictions. I wish I had never started and I haven't got a clue on how or when I'm going to quit. I'm not telling you what to do but if you don't feel the urge to smoke just don't. Not even in social situations. It's a hard habit to break and it is easy to get addicted. I hope you aren't offended by this I just don't want to see you end up with a habit that is so hard to break. Nip it in the bud now before it is too late.

Nikkiart29 · 08-20-2005, 04:20 PM

I was told to stop smoking because of the coughing issue. If you cough after surgery, it hurts like hell! I also had to quit smoking after 12 years of the nasty habit! I quit cold turkey and got though it only because I knew the surgery was more important to me than having that damn cigarette! And, boy, was I a nasty person during that time! LOOK OUT! Once I got the nicotine out of my body, I was fine! No cravings! It took a few weeks, but was well worth it! (They're too damn expensive anyway!) After surgery, I couldn't even STAND the smell of one anyway! YUCK! Actually, I didn't like the smell of anything..but that's another post....

veroniquetalk · 08-20-2005, 07:29 PM

If it were me I would tell my surgeon. I wouldn't want to take any chances with anesthesia.

Laura@BellaBabies · 08-20-2005, 07:58 PM

I had quit smoking when I was pregnant with my oldest 8 years ago. 2 weeks before my surgery my Nana passed away. I was very stressed and in much grief I was smoking a few here and there. I told the Dr before surgery and I told the anestesisologest(sp?) It was maybe 2-3 cigeretts a day but I wanted to make sure they knew. They said because it had been for a short period of time I would be Ok. He had cancelled surgery the week before on a patient that was smoking for a long time. I have not had one since.

StephRye · 08-20-2005, 08:32 PM

and it looks like I'll be ok. I'm not even close to half a pack a week...maybe a couple cigarettes in the evening during the week. I have no issues with withdrawl...I can take them or leave them. I plan on never picking one up again. I actually used it as an excuse to sit outside on my porch in the evenings and relax! Stupid...I know. I would have stopped completely, months ago, had I known it would be an issue with the surgery. Thanks for all your support you guys. I am just such a nervous nellie right now. I think I'm more worried about how much nicotine is in my system at the moment than anything else now. Do they test everyone for nicotine blood levels?

2Bhealthy · 08-20-2005, 10:01 PM

At the nutritional lecture with Kelly, I think she said they give everyone nicotine tests. Because of this my husband has just quit chewing copenhagen. Thank God!
He plans to persue WLS after I have it and he figured he better stop now. He's using the patch and is doing pretty well, he's had a couple rough spots. I quit smoking 9 years ago when I became pregnant. I just refused to start up again afterward. I am so glad. It is soooooooo hard to quit.

sdgrrl · 08-21-2005, 01:15 PM

When I went to the Kelly lecture, I was not able to hear everything she said. (yes, that was me--I can't sit for long due to failed back surgery and need to be able to lean against a wall and didn't want to disturb the meeting. But then she didn't give me a chance to explain, did she.)

So I wasn't able to hear the part about testing for nicotine. Do they do that test on everyone? Is that when she was talking about how we couldn 't burn incense in our homes? Both things seem pretty much like overkill to me, but if someone can tell me what she was saying when she turned her head to the right and left, when I wasn't able to hear her, that would be great. And please don't ask me to call her for info, because she shamed and intimidated me enough in public, I'm not interested in getting my own personal shame lesson in speaking with her. I fear that she will delay my surgery just because she can. Yes, I am an incense user, 8-10 sticks a week.... is there a 12 step program for it? Nag Champa Anonymous??