Why stop smoking? - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

LadyV · 12-02-2008, 04:38 PM

Today I talked to a friend of mine whose wife had the gastric bypass, unfortunately several months later, she died due to heart failure. I asked him if he thought her death was a result of the gastric bypass and he said no.

However, he did say that she was not very honest with her physician. One thing he mentioned was that she was a chronic smoker and only stopped perhaps a couple of weeks before the surgery and resumed smoking immediately following the procedure.

I am not a smoker but I was told in the initial seminar that one of the things they wanted you to do if you smoke was too stop. Since I did not smoke, I didn't question why? Does anyone know the reason why they do not want you to smoke?

I know this sounds dumb but I was curious. One thing my friend said, was that if I was thinking about having the surgery, that he thought it would be a good thing as long as I was honest with myself and with my surgeon. He said he would recommend having the surgery to anyone who felt they needed it.

nittinnana · 12-02-2008, 05:23 PM

Smoking can help clog your arteries, cause breathing problems and slow healing. I am sorry about your friend.

sherry7 · 12-02-2008, 05:23 PM

I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

I'm not sure of the exact reasons, but I know that smokers take longer to heal due to decreased oxygen absorption. I believe I also read that smoking can cause ulcers.

DENISEJOLEEN · 12-02-2008, 05:54 PM

I was a heavy smoker and dr c was very strict about quitting he took a blood test to be sure...at 8 weeks...i was told the reason is because it slows healing dramatically, as far as the breathing issues he said he would "put me on a respirator as long as i needed" but i had to quit smoking to heal properly....i too am sorry about your friend....but for me personally this was the best thing i ever did for myself!!

Baja Big Dog · 12-02-2008, 07:07 PM

OK Lady, since you dont smoke this wont sound like an attack on you which it isnt.
So, it amazes me that anyone would even consider performing this surgery on anyone that smokes, or have smoked for a given period of time, (something like 5 years).

Holy shit, is it not proven that smoking is somewhat hazardous to your health?
Ya lets perform a $40,000 procedure on someone that says they need the help, and they just quit smoking to get past a blood test? That is unfricken real, my god, you pound nails into your own coffin and want help loosing weight. Ihear this from time to time and have to really bite my tongue to not go off on people.

Its really sad that there are people out there that really need this surgery, cant afford it, or cant get approval, and then along comes someone that quits smoking to get past a test, and starts up again after they get out of the hospital, sad....really sad!!

Rant over....

Oh and yes, I did smoke!!

And I quit over 5 years ago!!

LadyV · 12-02-2008, 07:56 PM

Hey its ok, I was just curious as to whether smoking caused her heart attack or if the surgery plus the smoking caused it. I really did not want to go into details with my friend.

[QUOTE=Baja Big Dog;368639]OK Lady, since you dont smoke this wont sound like an attack on you which it isnt.
So, it amazes me that anyone would even consider performing this surgery on anyone that smokes, or have smoked for a given period of time, (something like 5 years).

Holy shit, is it not proven that smoking is somewhat hazardous to your health?
Ya lets perform a $40,000 procedure on someone that says they need the help, and they just quit smoking to get past a blood test? That is unfricken real, my god, you pound nails into your own coffin and want help loosing weight. Ihear this from time to time and have to really bite my tongue to not go off on people.

Its really sad that there are people out there that really need this surgery, cant afford it, or cant get approval, and then along comes someone that quits smoking to get past a test, and starts up again after they get out of the hospital, sad....really sad!!

Rant over....

Oh and yes, I did smoke!!

And I quit over 5 years ago!![/QUOTE]

BeanCloe · 12-03-2008, 03:33 PM

As it has already been said it does help the healing process where you can breathe better and such. But also after the surgery it can cause SERIOUS problems one being extreme ulcers.

Yes I did quit smoking so I can have the surgery...one month smoke free! But the complications I have heard of are so bad after surgery with smoking that I would not want to risk it. Even before the surgery it has been helping me because I have been able to get out and exercise more and this will help recovery after the surgery (so I am told)

That is what I know of it and I am sorry about the loss of your friend.

NewMel06 · 12-03-2008, 11:30 PM

My doctor required smokers to pass a nicotien free blood test prior to him performing their surgery. If they don't quit then he will not perform the surgery. His reason being...

......Smoking is the number one preventable killer and obesity is number two. Why is he going to save you from #2 if you are still at risk with #1. I never checked the statistics on this one.... but it sounds plausable!

Vikkator · 12-04-2008, 07:46 AM

I struggled with smoking most of my life. It was my crutch to lose weight until I aspirated something which caused pneumonia and major problems for one of my lungs. I had quit for 9 years and foolishly started up again when my kids were teenagers (it wasn't a very fun time).

My anniversary of quitting was 11/30/07, so I've been smoke free for a year and I'm very proud of that. I had quit before I ever decided to have this surgery, but I did gain a significant amount of weight after quitting, thus I opted for this surgery. I wanted to make myself healthy again and was tired of the yo-yoing and knew I could never smoke again. Because of my history of smoking, I was required to take a blood test to prove that I was smoke free prior to surgery. I don't ever want to smoke again and I hope that I can stay away from them for good. It's difficult when your spouse smokes, but he does it outside.

I heard a story about one of my surgeon's patients. As he wheeled her into the operating room, she commented that she was glad this was almost over. She told the doc she couldn't wait to have a cigarette. Well, he wheeled her right out of there and told her that he wouldn't operate on her and that she wasn't serious enough about making a healthy change in her life. After jumping through all those hoops, that woman lost a good chance in changing her life just because of a dumb habit and a stupid comment.

Smoking does so many bad things to your whole body, not just your lungs. And it does contribute to heart problems.

pnixon · 02-13-2009, 01:14 AM

There are a lot of problems associated with smoking which people face like problem with respiratory system, heart and many more. Chantix helps you to get over this smoking habit and it works on the body by giving you the same feel good effect and hence reduces the craving for nicotine. Person using chantix mainly encounter sleeplessness, change of taste and headache initially but these side effects diminish with time. So people should consult there physician before going for this medicine.