TLH: Anyone else a smoker?

I smoke a pack a day and I have heard you should try to stop smoking before surgery my doctor hasn't said anything to me about it and my nerves are goin 90 to nothing my surgery is sept 9 any suggestions?

I smoke - and I won't even attempt to stop smoking - because I know for me this is just not realistic. I am a basked case as it is.

I did discuss my concern about withdrawal with my Dr which is also my surgeon and she said they could give me a patch while I am in the hospital if needed.

My plan is to see how things go - I am hoping that I don't even have the desire to smoke for the first 72h (I will be in the hospital 3-4 days) at which point I am going to give it my best to quit.

Smoker here. My Dr. also knows but never mentioned for me to stop before surgery. However I have heard that smokers have a longer healing period then non smokers, but dont quote me on that.

Sophima, I'm with you on the basket case - so me. I thought about the patches since I'll be going a day or so without anyhow - its just the mind set is not there.

Was a smoker and my surgeon said No smoking 24 hours before surgery. It was soooo hard but I followed my instructions and didnt smoke the day before. Happy to say I didnt start up again surgery. Good luck and I wish you a speedy recovery.

Tracy

I smoked up to the last minute. Like others, nerves were bad.

I didn't have any problems but they were concerned about my lungs afterward and I had to do breathing exercises. I was under anesthesia for over 6 hours and that would be a concern for anyone but worse for a smoker. But I was fine and I'm a heavy smoker.

I was in the hospital 6 days and I honestly didn't even start to want a cigarette until maybe the 3rd day. They said I could have a patch if I wanted but I didn't.

I'm certainly not saying it's OK to smoke. Just sharing my experience.

Best wishes to you!

Thank y'all I have been curious on what to do I didn't know how it would affect me being put under.

I smoke.

My doc told me to quit at least two weeks before surgery, of course.

I tried but my nerves wouldn't allow it. I didn't smoke the morning of surgery though.

I was in the hospital 2 1/2 days and didn't even think about a cig.

Started back as soon as I got home.

I did read that smoking constricts the blood vessels and that does slow healing down since blood flow is important to heal.

It also puts high levels of carbon dioxide/monoxide? in you, which can affect your oxygen levels while under anesthesia. It can also have an impact on developing pneumonia afterwards.

So there is a health risk with smoking, surgery and recovery, along with the other health risks just on a daily basis.

I plan to quit again. I am getting to the point of disliking the taste and smell.

I truly feel, if I wasn't smoking, I'd be feeling even better than I do right now.

I'm a smoker too! My doctor never mentioned quitting before the surgery and offered to get me a patch while I was in the hospital. I spent 4 days in the hospital and never once even wanted one! I told the nurses how shocked I was that it was that easy for me.....they had no idea I was even a smoker...didn't have any irritability whatsoever!......

However, the minute I got home, the first thing I did was light one up....I told my DH, "I just want to try it to see if I still like it"....

It tasted terrible and I told myself I was done for good....but then a few hours later, found myself outside again lighting one up!

I wish I would have just walked right past them, I already had the hard part (first 72 hours) done, but it didn't happen. There was NO WAY I was quitting before the surgery...I was a mess....had to have my nicotine!!

Anyway, best of luck to you if you do decide to quit! If not, don't beat yourself up....it's not easy!

i am a smoker and i didn't have a cig the day or my surgery. i was in the hospital for 1 day and i didn't smoke until the end of the week. I did start smoking again but now i am feeling that this is the reason my makeshift cervix is bleeding. I am not sure though. i haven't really got this confirmed from my doctor. I have been spotting since last thrusday and the doc say i am okay as long as it's not a flow of blood, but i just want this to go away so that i can get back to my life pre-op minus the blood flow. i am not sure if my smoking is causing this blood flow or if this is normal. i am just tired and depressed. i want this over with NOW!

My info said to at least cut down...doc wanted me to quit and of course, I wanted to too. I can happily say that I've been smoke AND nicotine free for 5+ days now, and no nicotine fits in sight!

I'm using Allen Carr's "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" program and it's really amazing.