Question:
Smoking
I have Blue crosss blue shield of alabama, and I know that we are supposed to quit smoking. I quit smoking a week ago and want to know 1 when will they test me and 2 how do they test you for smoking. Will I still be positive for nicotine — mandi82980 (posted on June 29, 2007)
June 29, 2007
Hi Amanda, it takes 3-5 days for nicotine to leave your body. They do a
blood test not just for smoking but a panel. I smoked up until that morning
because I was so nervous. So when you have your blood test is when I
smoked. WARNING, if you do smoke there is a chance you might end up on the
ventilator (I did) for 2 days. Was not fun either with yur wrists strapped
to the rails so you cannot pull the vent tube out of your lungs. They
warned me they might have to do a trache well in advance so when I awoke
from surgery I thought I was trached because I was hooked up to the
ventilator. My advice is to NOT smoke til you get home "IF" you
must, be careful you end up with a chance at developing tissue necrosis
which I did but a tiny area in my incision. I have seen them MUCH bigger.
Best of luck!! Mickey.........
— MCraig3
June 29, 2007
Wow, I dont smoke....so i dont have any advice but i read all posts, and im
amazed at just how serious that is...Please stop smoking completly ..Ill
pray for you!!
— ka11e
June 29, 2007
Hi Amanda, I also smoke, or should I say smoked! I used Chantix and have
had great results! I don't care about the blood work up because by the
time I get to surgery I should be good for a full 2 months. Some people
have said that they could even cancel your surgery! And I DON"T want
to be on a resporator I figured I have worked too hard to be canceled! I
am also doing this to get healthy so smoking wouldn't fall in that
category! Good Luck
— Pam S.
June 29, 2007
I also a heavy smoker, as a nurse I do know the risks and complications so
please dont bash me, I slowed down quite a bit before surgery, my doctor
said he would check me for nicotine but the fact is, it is a very expensive
test and they never did check, but i did fine, no ventilator and no
problems, you will know when you have your PFT test if you are going to
have a problem, I know how hard it is to quit, so did my doctor, I am 6
months post op now and he just gave me the script for chantix, because it
does cause nausea and did not want me to have it until now, it also can
cause ulcers so he kept me on pepcid twice a day post op. People who do not
smoke do not understand, at least my doctor did, so please if you cant
quit, slow down to one or two a day, you should be fine. and all you non
smokers please do not bash because you do not know what it is like unless
you are in her shoes, best of luck to you, I know you will do fine. Only 25
more lbs for me to goal, you can do it.
noboat4u
— noboat4u
June 29, 2007
You REALLY NEED to be completely smoke free. The test usually the morning
of surgery goes back at least a month, test positive surgery cancelled. My
surgeon started requiring this because smokers can have a terrible time.
They can end up on a vent, thats minor in comparision with some of the
other complications. In smokers blood flow is less, healing is slower,
leaks requiring NOTHING BY MOUTH sometimes for months, not even water, now
thats terrible. Besides extra coughing and pain, and all the other known
bad effects of smoking Look WLS is all about getting healthy, if your not
willing to quit, then why have surgery at all?
— bob-haller
June 30, 2007
Hi Amanda. I am so proud of your for quitting smoking. I know it is a
horrible thing to quit, and believe me you have my admiration and respect.
It is a tough thing! I personally do not smoke, but my mother has smoked
like a train most of her life, and our oldest boy got wrapped up in
smoking. My mother still smokes, but by God's amazing grace, David quit
smoking a year ago. It was a tough thing for him, but he wanted to move
home, and we said that is fine, no smoking, no drinking, no sex (we are
Christians, and he is 24). He agreed. When we drove to help him move back
(24 hours away), he had not quit smoking yet. We, in love, tore up his
cigs and reminded him of his promise to us. Again, by God's grace and
something he was listening to from a cd we gave him really strengthened him
to quit. He had a new resolve that only God could give him. On this cd, a
preacher was telling a story of a boy who came to Bible camp with his
raunchy cds. He turned them in, and during the course of the week, he made
many commitments to Christ and to clean living. Well, at the end of the
week, he spoke with the preacher and said he wanted his raunchy cds back
(foul language, etc). The preacher spoke to him for a time and reminded
him of all the decisions he had made that week, and why did he want them
back. The boys reply was "it cost me $20 man, I want my cd
back". The preacher told the boy to look into the mirror near by, and
if he would say that he loved his cd more than God then he would give him
back his music. The boy looked into the mirror and said "I love...I
can't do that". The preacher said, you are right you cannot. This
changed David's life. He now can stay smoke free, and has for a year by
God's amazing grace. You can too. I tell you this because I want to
encourage you to stop for good, not just for surgery. The direct answer to
your question is they can tell if you have smoked, I think up to 3 months
prior to surgery. It may only take a few days for all the nicotine to get
out of your body, but the blood test they take tells the bigger story.
Don't try and fool them, you lose when you do that. The other thing is
this, when you have wls, smoking will cause ulcers and severe damage to
your body if you pick them back up. Alcohol goes right to the liver, and
all those incisions and staples are affected by the destructive stuff in
your smoking products. PLEASE. I beg you, stop! Stop at all cost, and be
afraid of what it will do to you. It is for you. If you refuse to stop,
then reconsider surgery, you might regret it, and it could cost you some of
your life, certainly some of your quality of life. Take care. Patricia.
By the way, yes I have seen this result in other wls patients. It does
really happen.
— Patricia P
June 30, 2007
If you do not truly smoke you will be ok. Please stop they made me stop 3
months before my surgery,,,,,, I did not cheat once the doctor scared the
hell out of me by telling me that smoking could cause major problems. I
never wanted that to have to think about so i quit. I thought if i am going
to get healthy then i better stop. Do not worry about how long it takes to
get out of your body just do not do it,,,,, I know it is a worry but you
need to be true to yourself..... Good Luck
— M. Moore
July 1, 2007
They will not test you for nitcotine that I know of they will not need to,
if you do not quit for 6 weeks prior to surgery they will know when you end
up with pnemonia , or throw a clot . This is for your benefit not the
doctors they are not telling you to do this to be mean. Blood clot, bad
healing, lung complications and the worst not coming off a vent. I can not
stress enough the importance of stopping. It could be life or death.
— DonnaB.
July 1, 2007
My surgeon says it is required for you to stop soking prior to surgery.
Smoking increases risks of death during surgery (from anesthesia) as well
increases the risk of being put on a ventilator after surgery. My surgeon
also says that they will test your blood for nicotine levels prior to
surgery and if you est positive for nicotine they will cancel your surgery.
They do test through lab work. (blood) I guess it depends on the surgeon.
Most of your 'seasoned' surgeons follow that guideline. My Surgeon also
says nicotine can stay in your bloodstream up to 5 days. They prefer at
minimum you be off the cigarettes for atleast 30 days or longer, for less
risks and healtherier lungs during your surgery. Good luck!!
— [Deactivated Member]
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