Question:
Does anyone know how long you have to be smoke free before a doc will perform surgery?
— SELENA G. (posted on July 9, 2001)
July 9, 2001
It all depends upon the surgeon. I smoked the morning of my surgery. I am
neither happy nor proud of that fact. My only misery post op was my
coughing. My hubby had to charge me like a football player for the pain of
coughing to be tolerable. I suggest you ask your surgeon what his/her
requirements are.
— [Anonymous]
July 9, 2001
I asked my surgeon this question because he strictly prohibits smoking
before surgery. He even told me he cancelled one patient's surgery when
the blood tests showed she had a higher level of carbon monoxide in her
system than she should have if she were not smoking. He said that, ideally
I would quit today, but realistically as long as I quit one month prior to
surgery I should be okay. I will stick to that. If I can give up ice
cream and candy for the rest of my life, I can surely give up smoking for
one month. It'll be worth it!
— PaulaM
July 30, 2001
Selena,
Firstly , the risks associated with smoking before surgery are tremendous.
I myself, am not going to have my dream of the surgery being performed only
to get a pulmonary embolism or post-op pnuemonia. People have died after
this surgery from post-op pnuemonia. I too, am quitting smoking. My surgery
is on Oct. 1st and I am quitting on Aug.1st. I have been planning to quit
for the surgery for 3 weeks. I have got my nicotine patches,plenty of
Trident and I am determined that I want this surgery more than I want a
cigarette.
Secondly, I have heard of surgeons postponing WLS surgery after having a
patient's pre-op blood gases come back with excess carbon monoxide in them.
Like I said, I want this surgery more than I want a cigarette. Best of luck
to you
and I hope that you decide to quit.
— [Anonymous]
August 12, 2001
Today is 8/12/01. I quit smoking on 7/30/01, thats 2 weeks cigarette free.
My surgeon refused to operate unless I quit 3 weeks prior to surgery. My
surgery is scheduled for 8/31, no problem. I want this more than I've
wanted anything in my life, cigarettes were another vice I can LIVE
without!
— WendyNVA
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