Friend surgery and smoking

 I have a friend that is also having bypass surgery. I quit smoking a year ago and she still smokes. When we both went to the seminar the Dr. said to everyone if you smoke you need to quit.

My friend refuses to quit and I don't want to sound like a reformed smoker with her. Has anyone gone through the bypass surgery when you were still smoking? I am very concerned for her. Maybe if she sees it in print from others I can get her to quit.

Thanks 

Quitting smoking is a good idea before surgery but for some it's just not possible. If we didn't have addictions we wouldn't need this surgery. If she can't or won't quit right now, she needs to tell the anesthesiologist that she's a smoker. Her level of anesthesia will differ from a non smoker and they will be more watchful for lung congestion,  etc. I know a few who have gone through surgery that smoked, Not fun when you have to cough afterwards but with the right
doctor and help in surgery it's possible to come out ok. Hope she decided to quit when she starts losing - it's hard enough dieting but to quit smoking at the same time is really rough. It's easier if you quit before hand so you don't have that extra worry when going into surgery.
Have her tell the doc she's still smoking and see if they want to help her out with a program or
change surgical dates.

Jen 10 yrs post op

If you are a smoker, my surgeon makes you quit, and performs nicotine tests on you to ensure you have quit before she performs surgery. Maybe she has a surgeon that does the same. Smoking will create a more dangerous surgery, as well as delay healing if she continues to smoke afterwards. 

Ditto. The do a test here to see if youve had nicotine in the past ,I want to say 30 days, maybe 60? If you have, they won't do surgery.

In Hamilton they will do blood work and can tell if your a smoker. I just had to wait 4 months after I quit for my appointments to move along. Hope she can quit for herself, whats the point in bettering yourself in one way but not another? They will also cancel her surgery if they find out she still does. It kinda bothers me that because I told the truth and actually quit I had to wait but some people lie about it and get it done faster...no offence but I don't think that's fair to the ones that are doing everything they are supposed to be doing. Again I know you can't tell my tone but no offence to you.

i have no advice for you. but i am also going for surgery and i quit smnoking on 8-1-11. and i know a girl who is also going for the surgery who says shes suppose to have it done before me and she still has not quit smoking. i dont know what to say to her either. but i think that the drs' are gonna know when they see her and probably delay it for some reason or another until she comes clean about it and quits. thats what i think is happening with me. i suppose to go for surgery sometime mid october. waiting on insurance approival right now, and the other girl was supppose to have it done this month and is yet still stuck a couple steps behind me at a step u need to get past before you can even be seen by the surgeon... best of luck

My surgeon is very strict about the no smoking policy! Everyone has to have a nicotine test and he said that if he even senses that you are smoking prior to surgery, we will cancel surgery immediately. I would be surprised if there is any surgeons who would do surgery if one is a smoker.

Your friend should check her insurance.  I don't smoke but my insurance explicitly says: 

"Patient has not smoked in the 6 months prior to surgery." In addition, my surgeon requires the patient to have quit smoking and he does a blood-gas test the day of surgery to ensure compliance.  His bariatric program manager said he had canceled surgeries because of positive tests for smoking.  Tell your friend she is risking not being able to have her wls.  Its her choice.

 

 

 

Post-surgical survival rates (for ANY type of surgery) are significantly lower for smokers than non-smokers. 

 Thank you all. I'm showing her all these replys hope it helps her