Have to quit smoking before surgery???

Hello all

I have been reading the posts on this site for several weeks now however, this is my first. I had my psych eval today and was told by the therapist that I had to quit smoking at least 2 months prior to surgery. Has anyone else been told this? I was aware that the surgeon I am seeing requires you to quit at least 2 weeks prior to surgery in order to reduce the risk of complications during surgery. I was prepared for that but 2 months?? Arrgh. I am on my 6th month of the weight loss program that I am required to complete and if this smoking thing is true my hopes of having the surgery by the end of March aren't looking to good. Does anyone know if they actually test your nicotine levels as part of the pre-admission testing? I know this may seem to be a trivial thing but qutting cigs isn't an easy task.

Thanks

2 weeks is the standard "before surgery" bit.

The therapist might be a rabid non smoker trying to reform the world. Its ultimately your surgeons call, if he says two weeks, then two weeks it is.

Thread Starter

I was thinking that myself but am worried the therapist won't give me a thumbs up for the surgery if I don't go along with it. My insurance and surgeon require a psych eval prior to surgery.

Thanks for the response.

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Surgery date: 04/16/08
H. 247/S. 233/C. 198/G. 135

I normally don't condone it .. but in the case of the therapist tell her what she wants to hear, even if its a bald face lie right to her face. She is NOT your surgeon, and if he says two weeks ....... so be it

I'm not a smoker (actually I'm huge, adamant non-smoker) but anyway...I have a friend who had to have reconstructive surgery on her breasts from a masectomy (I know this is a completely different kind of surgery) but was told that she needed to quit 6 weeks before her surgery but couldn't/didn't. Long story short, she never healed properly so it was almost like her surgery didn't "take" I guess having to do with smoking constricts blood vessles, hinders healing, etc.

Same thing with my mother-in-law at the time she had one or two knee surgeries and didn't quit like she was supposed to and has had trouble with her knee and the healing ever since. She finally has quit for good (at least that's what she's told us) but it didn't do her knee any good at the time (before she quit).

You're a grown-up so ultimately it's your decision but just thought I'd pass that along. Good luck with your process whatever is decided!

My doc would NOT operate on me if i was smoking !
There are docs that will not operate if your smoking and some go as far as test you to make sure. They are telling you this for a reason though . People who are smokers that have surgery heal slower and bleed more.
Your taking a risk of not being approved and your taking a risk with your health by not doing it. Insurances will LOOK for reasons to not approve you and i can see this as being a reason ! So i would not give them one ! I quit months before my surgery . I did not want to have to try to do it right before surgery .I quit cold turkey , well i had patches . But there is a drug out there now called Chantix that from what I hear is EXTREMLY affective, I think there might be some threads on it around here. Everyone i know who has used it has quit on it. Even peoploe who smoke 3 packs a day .
So my personal opinion and this was my reason of thinking, your having this surgery to become more healthy , why do that AND continue to smoke .
YOu will not belive how much better you feel from quiting smoking alone add that on top of getting weight off , ITS AMAZING !

HTH
Mindy

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Well, even though my surgery isn't for months yet (go insurance hold ups and hang ups *growls* March 1st (or more likely Feb 15th) I am starting the Patch. If that doesn't work I am going to my doc about a prescription for Chantex (sp???). It worked amazing for my dad and he was a 40yr smoker (off and on, more on then off though). So, patch first .. prescription next ...

But I also WANT to quit for good. My hubby and I both do.

That is one of the first things they told us at our seminar. I believe it was six months of no smoking before they would schedule surgery.

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[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wU2DpsD/]
surgery 10/26/07

The program I am in tells you to quit smoking for 6 months prior to having the surgery. Their theory is that they are not going to give you surgery to remedy the second biggest death contributor in the country if you continue to engage in the first. Good luck. They did mention they check though I'm not sure how. Hope you get your surgery soon.

They can check from a cotton swap test. just like insurance compaines do .
I forget how long it stays in your system in the short term but it CAN show up for up to a yr .
HTH
Mindy

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View my Blog http://skinnyintexas.blogspot.com/
250/130/125 Banded July 16 2007 By Dr Jorge Rincon
8/27/07 1.4 cc 10/5/07 2cc Fill *10/30/07 .5cc Unfill 12/10/07 1cc Fill *12/17/07 .5cc Unfill * 02/14/08 .5cc Fill 4-22-08 .2unfill Total 2.6cc 6-10-08 Total Unfill 7-31-08 Fill 1.5cc 8-25-08 .50 cc fill Unfill 10-7-08 .50cc 11-6-08 .50cc Total 2cc

I quit smoking way back in Sept. b/4 I went to my initial program meeting on Oct. 1. I have a silly ? My dr. is pushing for a Feb 19 surgery date (still waiting on ins. approval). He wants me to start the 10 day liquid diet as soon as I hear if I am approved (I am supposed to hear tomorrow). Last week my husband had a conference at a casino. I spent a lot of time just playing and sitting in a lot of second hand smoke. I am just hoping that it won't affect me if my dr. happens to test for nicotine. That would be just too much. Does anyone have an answer for that?

I had to quit smoking atleast two month before my surgery. I was exposed to second hand smoke and it didn't show on my test so you should be fine. They do a blood test to make sure there is no nicotine in your blood stream. There was a lady that was sceduled the same day as me and they cancelled it cause she didn't quit smoking so it does happen. I thaught it would be really hard to quit but i wanted this surgery more then those stinky smokes. When I quit i was up the two packs a day so it can be done. You just have to get in the right mind set like with any other life style change. Let me tell you quiting smoking is one of the best things i have ever done for myself. I can smell,breath and taste food again its wonderful. Hope it goes well for you.

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Gillian

Gilliebean...how long b/4 surgery did you quit? Like I said, I have not smoked since Sept. but only smoked about a pack a week but if I had a drink, I smoked more. It was easier just to quit. I have a two day trip planned with a friend who smokes and we are sharing a room. Maybe I will just ask her to smoke outside so the second hand smoke does not affect me. At this point I a soooooooo paranoid about anything stopping this surgery.

Oops..Gillibean....saw that you said you quit 2 mo. b/4 surgery. Thanks for the reply

I would simply ask your friend out of respect to smoke out side.
eventually it gets easier to be around people who smoke, I no longer have any desire at all to smoke.
But if your friend is your friend she wont mind a NON SMOKING Hotel room and she wont mind not smoking around you .

HTH
Mindy

__________________
View my Blog http://skinnyintexas.blogspot.com/
250/130/125 Banded July 16 2007 By Dr Jorge Rincon
8/27/07 1.4 cc 10/5/07 2cc Fill *10/30/07 .5cc Unfill 12/10/07 1cc Fill *12/17/07 .5cc Unfill * 02/14/08 .5cc Fill 4-22-08 .2unfill Total 2.6cc 6-10-08 Total Unfill 7-31-08 Fill 1.5cc 8-25-08 .50 cc fill Unfill 10-7-08 .50cc 11-6-08 .50cc Total 2cc