TAH: Smoking

Hey Lilbit! I too smoke and am 1 week away! Great question, thanks for asking it....it didn't even dawn on me that it might cause complications.
Hugs to all! Hope to see you on here after our surgeries Lilbit, we can go through recovery together!

Esther

Hi there! I smoked right up to the night before my surgery. As life would have it, we were remodeling my kitchen at the same time as I was going for CTscans and MRIs etc. I probably smoked more in the week before my surgery than any time in my life! I was very nervous about it, you know, you hear all kinds of things, but I had no problems at all! When I was in Pre-op the nurse said if I felt I needed it, they could give me a nicotine patch after the surgery, but I was fine. Morphine helps . I haven't smoked since then (trying to make a life change) but if you are really concerned, ask your doctor.
Hugs!

i smoked up until the night before and was freaking out about anestesia (sp?) I had a long talk with my anestiologist (sp) and he assured me he had done this with thousands of smokers. 3 nurses came and talked to me, my gyno did too. I did not wake up coughing nor did I have any respitory infections afterwards. We are all diffrent, just posting what happened to me.

Lilbit3, good luck with your surgery. Unfortunately, I too am a smoker. They threw the patch on me after my surgery and I was in for 4 days and had no problems but did use the breathing apparatis often. Don't get all balled up abour your surgery. Yes, there will be good and bad but you will survive like the rest of us. It is so nice having an outlet to ask questions and get some advise so use it. I am thinking in a few weeks that I will forget most of the pains!!

I too am a smoker and like most everyone I have had no problems, I did have a coughing fit in the hospital, they put a nicotine patch on me and it was gone but.....it was so strong it made me sick to my stomach that pain was worse than the cough so I just learned how to cough. I did very well after that. Didnt want a smike the rest of the time, and was even sickened by the smell of my DH when he came to see me he smelled like cigarettes. But when I got home I was smiking like a chimney. Go figure, I thought I would quit.

Im also a smoker and my gyn just told me to cut back to half but i havent done that as yet.Im 6 weeks away from surgery.I had a colonoscopy 12 months ago under a general and had no side affects apart from waking up starving lol.Lucky for me i dont get squeamish.
Kayline.