Well, I'm not going to beat you up about the smoking thing! How much improvement will there be in 2 weeks? If it is marked improvement to your lungs, then I echo everyone elses?s cheer, but I?m not sure there?s enough time for you. I used to smoke many moons ago (25 years) and was able to quit successfully when I decided to have children. My husband smokes, not inside. Since the surgery I really hate it that he does. I hope you will hate it also. Personally I think you've got way too much to think about right now and you don?t need to pressure yourself to quit before surgery. If you can quit, for heaven's sake, DO IT! But don't beat yourself up if you can't.
Can you do this? Can you imagine yourself smoke free after the surgery? Can you truly visualize the new you, scar and all, making your way through the day without any cigarettes, day after day and forever. THAT would be a useful thing to do. Plan to have someone completely clear your home and car(s) of anything hinting of smoking. Use your recovery as a way to start new rhythms in your day. Get up and put your walking shoes on instead of going out on the porch for a smoke. I don't know where and what; only you know you. Just abolish all those places, moments, habits.
In the next 2 weeks before your surgery, find a place close by for a walk. It should be fairly level and have some interest?.. a viewpoint, nice shops, gardens, fun homes to peek into, whatever! Go there as often as possible without your cigarettes. Try not to even think about them. Then, after your surgery, you will be able to go there and re-experience your walks without the thought of your cigarette smoking. Non-smoking will be familiar to you there. Maybe there are other ways you can put this pre-experience to use.
As far as other preparations for recovery?.. I found that reaching, lifting, pushing, sliding, leaning over ?. All those moves were difficult for a long time! Move things that you are likely to want before surgery. Bring them to a shelf or hang them close to a standing or seated position. I couldn?t even open my ?safety? jar of pain meds that first week?.the twisting of the protective lid hurt too much!! I ended up putting the jar on the perpendicular edge of the counter, leaning full weight on it and then twisting it open. Things you just don?t anticipate!! It?s impossible to open a window. It?s not easy to open a sliding door, etc. etc.. Of course, being the cook and going right back to full-time housewife duties after 3 weeks, there was more of this kind of dilemma than there might be for you.
If you enjoy tv or movies and have cable, you might consider calling your cable provider (or those movie clubs) to see if they have any special deals going. I did, and mentioned that I was going to have open heart surgery?..the sweetie on the line gave me all kinds of things ?on trial? for 3 months (of course, at the beginning of the 4th month you start to pay if you don?t put a stop to everything!)
So! Make sure you have a stack of reading material by your bed or recliner that you won?t ever get to (we have all made this stack!), break in some walking shoes if you haven?t already got some, have a few silky button up shirts around (your wound and chest may not like fabric), prime up that recliner, accept all offers of food to be brought by, get a haricut, visualize yourself a non-smoker and breathe. Nice easy breathing. And deep exhaling. You?ll get through it all just great!!
Marguerite
