Question:
What if I don't want to quit smoking?
Do I have to? I enjoy smoking and I'm sure that through the stress of the operation and afterwards I'll want a cigarette more than ever. — Catheryn F. (posted on June 19, 1999)
June 19, 1999
I thought you wanted this operation to prolong your life? Why smoke? You
will not be able to smoke in the hospital so you will be cold turkey for 5
to 6 days anyway. It would be nice if you could use that boost to keep
yourself in a more healthful frame of mind.
— Deborah L.
June 19, 1999
I am amazed at the selfrightous sounding tone in the answers you are
recieving. Im not a dr so I dont know the medical implacations of smoking
after the opperation but I am a person and as such I feel for you.
— Damien N.
June 19, 1999
I am appalled!!! I too am shocked at the answers you have gotten with the
exception of the last one from Damien.
First of all Mr. or Ms. Annon. the complications you so clearly stated can
be had whether you smoke or not.
Secondly, I would think as someone who has lived in this world where you
faced daily discrimination, because of something that you really couldn't
help, I would think you would be a little more understanding to someone
ele's problems. How many times did you say you ate because you like or
enjoyed it???? You said you were a smoker once too, then you should know
that smoking is the number one addiction there is, and that for most people
it would be easier to get off of herion than the cigs. Maybe you didn't
have a hard time getting off of them, and for that I say you were blessed,
but to come off judging this person... you both are way off base. Just
like your food addiction, I am sure you lived with many defense mechanisms
to deal with your addiction. I think before anyone starts trying to judge
this person or any other person, they should sit back and remember how many
times they were judged, and how they felt.
Catheryn, I would discuss with your doctor your concerns about your
smoking. I am sure during your hospital stay, he will be able to give you
the patch to help with the withdrawls that you will suffer. As to smoking
prior to surgery, it is true that if you could give them up at least prior
to surgery for even three days would help a lot. And of course giving them
up for good would be wonderful, but that is ONLY for you to decide. But do
try to think about at least cutting down as much as possible before
surgery, if you can't quit all together. And please talk to your doctor, he
can help you, hopefully without the judgemental attitude that you received
here.
Be Positive and Keep the Strength,
Edie
[email protected]
Surgery Date: July 27, 1999
Dr. Baker/Little Rock, Arkansas
Benefit Administrators/First Source
$176 Month/Family Plan
"The best and most beautiful things
in the world cannot be seen, nor
touched...but are felt in the heart."
Helen Keller
— Edie L.
June 19, 1999
Oh and one more thing....How many times Mr or Ms Anon. and Deborah, did you
hear, " Why don't you just...loose
weight...diet....exercise...etc..etc." Weren't you just tired of
hearing those self-rightous people tell you what you "should just
do." How can you'll sit here with that same self-rightous attitude to
this person??? Think about it. I am really hoping you'll didn't intend to
come off this way, but you did.
Be Positive and Keep the Strength,
Edie
[email protected]
Surgery Date: July 27, 1999
Dr. Baker/Little Rock, Arkansas
Benefit Administrators/First Source
$176 Month/Family Plan
"The best and most beautiful things
in the world cannot be seen, nor
touched...but are felt in the heart."
Helen Keller
— Edie L.
June 20, 1999
Well ... hmmmmm ... in my humble opinion, the smoking can kill you just as
quickly as the excess weight might. You're going to have to be without
smoking for some period of time due to hospital regulations I am sure, but
if you truly don't want to quit, then, you need to talk with your doctor
about that. I do understand the feeling of needing that crutch ... but
perhaps instead you might consider counselling to help you learn more
effective ways to deal with issues and stress than eating or smoking.
— Sherrie G.
June 20, 1999
Smoking is a addiction the same as compulsive eating. I beg to differ that
smoking is the number one addiction. I think food is, I mean look around
you next time you are in public. I see way to many people go through this
surgery process without proper psc. counseling and it is a pity. You need
to be counseling before during and after this surgery. Like my shrink said,
just because you can't overeat, doesnt mean you won't want to, and so what
different addiction will you take up?
— JAN C.
June 20, 1999
I am not being self-righteous. It's a shame to see someone die of cancer.
My dad did and it was caused totally by smoking. He quit three times in
his lifetime but always went back. The fourth time he quit was the day
after he was diagnosed with cancer. He lived 5 more months. Nicotine is
the number one most addictive substance. It is more addictive than heroin,
as proven in laboratory rat studies. My dad LOVED his cigarettes, but
after he quit, he admitted that the enjoyment he got from cigarettes did
equal the value of his shortened life. He wanted to live. In other words,
he was short-changed. He did not want to die. We did not want him to die
either. I thought about the senseless comments made by others, "just
stop eating, blah, blah, blah". Food is necessary for life, cigarettes
(coffin nails) are not. Us fat people store fat improperly (genetically and
chemically proven in many different studies). It is a genetic disease.
Nobody is born with nicotine addiction. You are not comparing the same
things. I didn't say it would be easy to quit. But the surgery itself is
more risky with a smoker than a non-smoker.
— Deborah L.
June 20, 1999
Hello Again,
I think that probably all the answers you are recieving are in the hopes of
helping and not harming. Sometimes it is hard to be understanding about
personal crutchs/habits, ie; food, cigs, so forth. I think the point of
all of this is that we have decisions we all must make. Many are
difficult, indeed many are life shaping. The point that I was trying to
instill was that weather you smoke or not your question reguarding smoking
was as valid and deserving of compasionate consideration as any other.
Yes, Cancer is deadly it has struck within my family as well. Yes no-one
is born addicted to Nicoteen. That however does not make the addiction any
more handelable than if it where. If you decide to quite I wish you well.
If you decide to continue I wish you well. Reguardless,, I wish you well.
Damien C. Tackett
— Damien N.
June 20, 1999
Hi again too,
Very well put Damien. Thank you for showing the compassion, understanding,
and support that I think we all wanted to show Catheryn, but maybe came off
a little too strongly trying to show. Good luck Catheryn.
Be Positive and Keep the Strength,
Edie
[email protected]
Surgery Date: July 27, 1999
Dr. Baker/Little Rock, Arkansas
Benefit Administrators/First Source
$176 Month/Family Plan
"The best and most beautiful things
in the world cannot be seen, nor
touched...but are felt in the heart."
Helen Keller
— Edie L.
June 20, 1999
I am a former smoker. I had tried to quit several times before, thinking if
I just cut down then eventually I would quit, bottom line is it was not
easy, however worth it. What I heard you say is your willing to make the
biggest change in your life through WLS surgery, giving yourself a gift.
How about a second gift? No one said it would be easy. I know I struggled
with cravings for a cigarette. The biggest thing that I repeated in my head
was the minute I STOPED smoking is when my lungs started to healing. First
I went for 12 hours; then it was a day. Oh man I really wanted a cigarette,
but I didn't want to give in to how much my lungs had ALREADY healed. I
managed to get through it. It wasn't with out struggle. I can remember
holding onto a pack of cigarettes and holding one in my hand, rolling
between my fingers, obsessing on it. I had a pack of cigarettes in my
cupboard 'just in case' for 6 months. I finally found the power to throw
them away. I will say when I walk past someone who has just lit a cigarette
I enjoy the aroma. In a casino or where there is so much cigarette smoke it
is unpleasant now. The honest truth is even now when I feel very stressed
or unable to cope, I think gosh I want a cigarette. However I realize that
won't solve my problem nor make me feel any better, besides I REFUSE to
give up all my clean time! I am here and support your decision. My
anniversary date for smoking is 10-22-97. Whatever your decision I wish you
the best. [email protected]
— Becki M.
June 20, 1999
I enjoyed eating too, but am giving that up to save my
life. My doctor required anyone that was having the surgery
to stop smoking or he wouldn't perform the operation.
— dboat
September 11, 1999
Until 1983 I smoked over 3 packs of Marlboro each day; I quit
cold turkey, and it was tough (quit drinking at the same time).
Thoughts: although you don't seem to want to quit, try making a
'pro' and 'con' list about effects of smoking. List every
single reason you consider smoking to benefit you, as well as
every harmful effect. Don't forget to include financial con-
siderations. Make an objective conclusion based on this information.
If I was still smoking 3 pks Marlboro a day, it would cost me
around $9 or $10 bucks a day. Consider: $300/month for cigarettes?
or $300/month for new clothes? Just try looking at the big picture ...
being more objective
than just 'I like to smoke'.
As has been said, you are the only one to make the decision. However,
the doctor can react to your not quitting by not operating. This is
tough, but with careful research and consideration you'll get
through it just fine.
Cindy
— Cynthia B.
November 28, 1999
Excuse me??? If you don't want to quit, then don't. It's up to you to
make that choice. I don't smoke, have never smoked, and don't understand
why smokers smoke, and it is not for me to tell someone "why would you
want wls if you are going to keep smoking?" Maybe the two things are
entirely different, I don't know. However, I do feel if you are going to
do one thing this major to benefit your health, it seems you would do
everything else you could to enhance your health--but to each his own. You
know what you NEED to do, and you also know what you WANT to do. No matter
what any of us say, you already have the decision in your head!!!
— tipdawg1
June 27, 2002
First of all my mom just had a 4 Hour back surgery with 27 staples. Her
doctor knew of her 2-3 pack a day habit and still perfromed surgery. She
was absolutely fine afterwards.Not one complication. He even told her to
have someone rub vitamin E on her scar to aid in healing! She is a 53 year
old woman to boot!!!!! Cotine (nicotine) stays in your urine for 24 hours
and even shorter in your blood system (went to medical terminology) in
search engine to check out this fact. Good luck!!!!!!!
— Tammie A.
June 27, 2002
Catheryn, I, too, am a long-time smoker who isn't sure that she wants to
quit at this time. I am scheduled for open RNY with Dr
Hocking/Shands/Gainesville, FL on Aug 14, 2002.
I have read that smoking slows the healing process after surgery- it has to
do with blood circulation and tissue repair. Fine- I want to do what's
best, BUT...I also "spoke" with a WLS surgeon online (NOT my doc)
and he said that prior to surgery, when the BLOOD GASES TEST is performed
for the anesthesiologist, if any nicotine was found in his patient's system
that he would cancel the surgery then and there. That's enough reason for
me to quit, at least one month prior to surgery and hopefully after
surgery. Good luck to you in whatever decision you make! R. Towne
— Rebecca T.
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