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

I am actually considering not going at all. Our trip is to a casino and they are filled with smoke and I don't want to get caught with nicotine in my system just because of second hand smoke. My friend is great. I know she would keep her distance with her smoking.

In that enviorment after just quitting i dont blame you for not going .

I think i would probably hold off in that case too

But do what you feel is best.

Mindy

I actually quit almost 8 month ago but my doctor requires it 2 months before

I was told 2 months prior to surgery to quit. It's a rough ride. Try your best for the two weeks prior to surgery, being a smoker limits your lung capacity and your healing time. It is harder for a smoker to be revived after surgery, and the chance of pneumonia is much higher. You should be given a breathing monitor- a hand held plastic contraption used for asthmatics- you need to use it 10 times per hour post surgery. It will help.

I was banded 2/4/08, smoked for 10 years, quit (again) week before surgery- had one on the way to the hospital, breathing HURT after surgery

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I was told 2 months prior to surgery to quit. It's a rough ride. Try your best for the two weeks prior to surgery, being a smoker limits your lung capacity and your healing time. It is harder for a smoker to be revived after surgery, and the chance of pneumonia is much higher.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You should be given a breathing monitor- a hand held plastic contraption used for asthmatics- you need to use it 10 times per hour post surgery. It will help</SPAN></P>

I honestly cant imagine recovery if i had been smoking still .

I had my gall bladder surgery and i was still smoking and it was not fun. from this surgery i KNOW It would have been much harder, i was a 2 pack a day smoker and smoked for over 15 yrs. I was 15 when is started smoking and until i was 31!

Its worth it to quit.

Mindy