Anyone smoke after surgery?

I am super duper surprised your surgeon has not required that you quit, IMMEDIATELY.  Smoking=ulcers.  End of story.  No lectures.

does the surgery make you more prone to the ulcers from smoking?  Also, for how long does nicotine stay in your blood and can be detected?  At what point has your surgeon tested for smoking?

Hi Sheryl,

I had the same surgeon you did! I had to wait 6 months for my surgery because of insurance requirements, Dr. Pierce required 4 months smoke free.  I also had to quit smoking after 20 years.  I went to my GP and she gave me a prescription for Chantix and it worked, I haven't smoked in 81/2 months.  If nothing else happened in this process, I am so glad I quit.  I didn't think I could do it, but it worked!

I had my blood checked 3 months before surgery and a month before surgery and then some blood work done the week before surgery.  I don't know if or at what point they actually test your blood for this, but they definitely ask you about it EVERY single time you see them.  If you can quit....do it.  And yes, I was told it can cause ulcers.

Good luck with your surgery.  They took good care of me at Fairview, I hope you get the same care.

PS - make sure you ask for anti-nausea medication, for if you need it once you get home.  My sister had surgery a year before me, so I knew to ask.

 

My surgeon did not require me to quit and they didnt do any testing for it. I like the other person above, had my last smoke on my way to the hospital when I was going in for surgery. After that I got on the patch. When I was about 6 weeks out I had one cigarette... or a few drags of one I guess you could say cause that was all I could handle. I started off on the 21 mg, went down to the 14mg after 1 week and have been on the 7mg for a week now. I'm just about fully done.

Yes it does.  As for testing I am a lifelong non smoker.  I have a friend and her Doc tested her 3 days prior to surgery.

My surgeon and all of her partners in her practice absolutely would not do the surgery on smokers. Period. I quit 12 years ago - best thing I ever did. I knwo how hard it is - but it is for the best. My best friend smoked for 20 years and quit using Chantix. I would definitely look into it - I've heard nothing but positive things about it and most insurances will cover Chantix - so it's worth taking a look at.

Good luck!

~Karen

My surgeon would not operate on smokers. He also shared with me that a majority of smokers and certainly folks that smoke again after the surgery have a much higher chance of failing at weight loss. Most of the failures he sees are related to smoking after the surgery. I didn't ask details because I'm not a smoker, but my mom is - she lost about 70 lbs and is stuck at 210lbs.

I know I'm going to get scorned for this...but I don't get it.  You are doing something to improve your health and you are going to eff it up by continuing to smoke?!?! 

Why risk it?  There are options out there...use them.  And if you don't need lectures than you know the facts and how it can complicate recovery from a complicated surgery.

I wanted to say this too, but for fear of flaming, did not.

I had my surgery to LIVE and have a healthy life.  Smoking is not a part of any healthy life I know of.

no its not!!! i agree with you. but some can quit alot easier than others. because we are all different . i enjoyed smoking and i wi**** didnt cause cancer and al the other illness it brings . but common scence tells me its so... so im trying . with gods help. im sure he will help me.. im sure if we all could throw them down and never look at them again . most of us would. i chose surgery over smokes . so yay me.