Question:
Smoking and Surgery

Has anyone had surgery and was not able to quit smoking 90 days prior to surgery? I am in the process of quitting and my surgery is 28 days away. What problems did it pose?    — Lynn I. (posted on January 27, 2008)

January 27, 2008
I dont smoke but when I did my online questionaire for the susurgery it said it increases your chance of pulmonary embolism excuse my spelling if its wrong
   — shea9974

January 27, 2008
smoking can pose alot of problems postop: 1) it increases your chances of having problems with the anesthesia-makes it harder for you to wake up and makes your lungs weaker so when they intubate you (put the tube down your throat into your lungs) you can have breathing problems after the surgery. 2) it does increase your chances of developing clots in your lungs called PE or Pulmonary Embolism as well as clots in your other veins and/or arteries that can travel to other places like your brain or heart and both can be life threatening. 3) smoking decreases your body's ability to heal properly and can lead to unnecessary infections/wounds. 4) smoking also inhibits your body's ability to absorb certain nutrients that are essential to your body especially after gastric bypass when you need all the nutrients you can get. i know lots of people that have had surgery without quitting smoking and they were fine, but being a nurse i also see lots of people that have had problems. keep trying and good luck..... i hope my imput helps...Holly
   — RNlvnCARSON

January 27, 2008
Smoking acts as an irritant and can pose potential problems for ulcers after surgery. My surgeon will NOT perform RNY surgery on any patient who is smoking. 90 days seems to be his preffered time to stop prior to surgery. Many who stop smoking, begin eating more (like I did), so stopping several weeks prior to surgery and dealing with weight loss at the same time should prepare you for post op daily routines.
   — Dave Chambers

January 27, 2008
Hello, smoking is so hard to stop. I live in Portland OR and I had Gastric bypass on 09/04/07. To get the Gastric bypass you have to be smoke free for 6 month. I never quit. I told them I did and never smoked befor my appt. So the smell was never on me. There is no way for a Doctor to tell if you really quit. They take your word. If you can stop you should, but I did not and I still smoke. I never had any probs befor or after surgrey. Lieing is wrong your Doctor should know the trueth, but it just was to hard for me. Good luck.
   — aluvzu2

January 27, 2008
surgeons pre op morning of surgery bloodwork can test for cotine, a byproduct of smoking. many here have had surgery cancelled because they didnt quit. besides WLS is all about getting healthy, why have WLS? smoking puts you at high risk of leaks, where you cant have ANYTHING by mouth for a month or more, is it worth the risk. Most surgeons refuse to do WLS on smokers because too many have troubles, and higher risk of death. please quit
   — bob-haller

January 27, 2008
I did not quit smoking. I smoked until 2 days before the surgery and I had surgeron on a Tuesday, came home on a Thursday and was at the ER on Friday night and in the hospital Saturday morning. My intestines paralyzed on me. I actually vomiting feces. It was horrible. Please quit smoking before you do this surgery. I quit for 4 months after my surgery. Did not want it. Then I lost my dad and started back and I am trying very hard to quit. I felt so good with out it. I just went and got a script for CHANTIX. Hope and pray it works.
   — nellienormand

January 27, 2008
I am by no means telling you not to quit. You should quit for your health as should I. I didnt quit before my surfgery. As I pulled in the parking garage the morning of my surgery I was so nervous I had to have a cigarette. Yes it increases the risks of surgery while in surgery. That was my worry. I was afraid of the oxygen. I told my DR and he he said I was ok.I woke up fine. I healed fine. and I am fine today. I am 4 yrs out and I had no problems other than I have to take B-12 shots every month and I was anemic for a while but I had another issue that contributed to that problem and thats taken care of too. Should you quit? Yes. I didnt.
   — Joanc

January 27, 2008
All I can say is try CHANTIX it is a prescription drug and I know of several people including my son who used it and quit smoking with no problems. Good luck Linda G
   — Linda G.

January 27, 2008
You really need to check with your doctor. My surgeons were so adamant about not smoking that they told anyone who was interested in surgery to quit at the orientation and they tested urine for nicotine at every appointment and if you tested positive you were out of the program and did not get surgery. After surgery, if you test positive, you have to finda new doctor. I quit smoking ten years ago so this didnt effect me, but it must be pretty important.
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 27, 2008
You're getting the surgery for health reasons....at least that's why I did. If you keep smoking you can look forward to being hooked on oxygen when you get older. That's what happened to my mother. You don't realize how much damage you're doing until it's too late. As they say...Quit for the health of it. Also...if you tell your doctor your not smoking they already know you haven't. The smell gives it away. When I quit smoking I had no intentions of doing it. I acted like I didn't smoke and when people found out I did I felt ashamed and quit so I wouldn't be lying about it any more. You can do it!
   — thecountrymouse

January 28, 2008
Smoking puts you at a much higher risk for everything, and this is very serious surgery. Smoking after surgery can cause ulcers and a real problem healing your surgery up. I strongly urge you to not only quit now, no matter how hard it is, but to stay smoke free. I don't smoke, but our son did, and we saw the agony of him quitting, and had the privilege to walk with him, and he has been smoke free now for 1 1/2 years. I know it is tough, but if you are going through with the surgery, get tough with yourself and set yourself free from smoking. It will be one of the best gifts you will ever give yourself. Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

January 28, 2008
I quit smoking about 3 months before my surgery. I can't say that it was easy for me but I knew it was important to do so I just quit cold turkey. I am of course smoking again and need to quit so I can have a hip resurfacing next month so I have given myself permission to quit on january 31st. I know it's really hard to think about giving up another habit when we are giving up the food issues (which are usually emotional crutches) but somethings are really important and this is one of them. Good luck with everything and please let me know how it all goes for you. Big Hugs Joni
   — jonicorona

January 29, 2008
Well, I was a smoker too. I did smoke the day before surgery but I had cut down alot. And you know what, I haven't had a cigarette since the 20th of December, 07 and don't even want one either. So, just keep trying and cut down. Remember you are doing this to get healthy and live longer, don't cut your life short because of a cigarette. Hang in there you can do it!!!!!!
   — psmeshell

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