Danger of Fast date for smoker

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CA Pigg

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 8, 2009
Messages
290
Location
Alabama
I just found out last month of my valve issues and when I saw the surgeon on the 27th he said to stop smoking... I was smoking a little over a pack a day but had cut down to 4 or 5 cigs a day from the cardio appointment knowing in my head I needed to. The surgeon said stop now on the 27th, I'm going to be honest, I keep having 2 cigs a day and now I'm so scared it is going to mess me up for my surgery on the 18th. I've read they like you to be smoke free for 2 weeks, I've had 2 today if I don't pick anymore up do you think I'll be ok? It is so hard with finding out all the valve news and smoking being my crutch.. I guess I'm just saying Help!!!! Tell me No More Cigs!!!!! Also will I be alright for the surgery with me being a couple days shy of 2 weeks, anyone else out there been in my shoes getting all the news so quick and how long had you quit before the surgery????
 
Sounds like a good Question for Dr. McGiffin.

You could probably get a relay through his office manager or Physician's Assistant (is Linda still there?), or his Nurse Practicioneer (is Dave still there?)

'AL Capshaw'
 
Yes, Linda is still there. So I might have really screwed myself up??? Why am I such an idiot??? I know you can't answer that question!!! Just venting.....I just kept thinking one can't be that bad.... Now I'm KICKING myself!!!!!!! So you do think I should ask Linda, it could be a big deal, it was less than 3 weeks when they scheduled me????
 
I think they want you smoke free for when they put you under for the surgery. Lungs as clear as possible ? I quit 11 years ago so I didn't have your concerns when I had my surgery. I would make sure your surgeon is away of your situation.

But the bottom line is you gotta stop....NOW ! Check with your surgeon maybe you can go on the nicotine patches leading up to your surgery. I used them to quit and there were absolutely no cravings. The only concern I would have with patches is they do put nicotine in your bloodstream, that may also be a pre-surgery concern.

Either way, you gotta stop !
 
The whole idea is to have your lungs as clear as possible. If your a smoker, your almost a sure bet being hard to get off the ventilator. If it were an emergency, they'd operate nontheless, smoker or not. Also smoking increases healing time, so I'm sure that's part of the answer also.
 
The whole idea is to have your lungs as clear as possible. If your a smoker, your almost a sure bet being hard to get off the ventilator. If it were an emergency, they'd operate nontheless, smoker or not. Also smoking increases healing time, so I'm sure that's part of the answer also.


Agree ... I think you have done a wonderful job ... it's hard, very hard .... I used nicotine gum but still had a few right up until I walk through the hospital doors ... don't feel bad about yourself when it come to this ... "never smokers" do not understand .... you will be fine:)
 
Al's got a good idea . . . get an answer from the surgeon's staff.
I am a former smoker, so I understand the difficulty in stopping. However, the farther away you can get from a daily cigarette, the better you will do during the replacement and subsequent recovery.
 
there's lotsa reasons for stopping smoking prior to surgery.

it increases recovery time.
increases risk of chest and wound infections.
increases co2 in the blood.
reduces effectiveness of heart pumping.
narrows small passages in lungs, making more prone to collapse.

and the important one....especially for cardiac surgery...
it shrinks small blood vessels.

i believe you are supposed to be smoke-free for six weeks prior
to heart surgery.
 
To answer your question, I don't think they'll delay surgery, unless they are really, really concerned. Anything else going on? do you get bad chest colds? congested? infections? bronchitis on a regular basis?? knowl lung problems, or are they OK?

Now for my story : I am a smoker, for over 30 years now; I got 6 months to quit before surgery (and lose weight, try doing both at the same time, talk about Mission Impossible!), but still was having 2-3 a day (really light ones at that!) immediately before surgery - DH is a smoker, too, and that made it really hard! I was using patches, but nothing, absolutely nothing, but a cigarette will do when you can smell them on someone else, and they are in the house! I wen to the hospital, did the admin check-in stuff, was told to "go through those big peach-coloured doors" over there, but no, we went out and had a smoke!

I did develop a spot of pneumonia, and was kept knocked out cold for 2 days while on the ventilator, but other than that, the only really annoying thing was that whenever anyone new came to see me, the first words out of their mouth were : "... smoking up until admission, I see!" or some such. It must have been written in 6" high flashing neon letters on my chart. Staff were great, I was patched every morning with my other meds.

I lasted for 2 weeks after I came home, even though I knew DH had cigs in the house (garage, actually) until I went outside one day and caught him smoking. I had a puff... and we all know what one puff leads to, eh!
 
I'm not a smoker, but I'm the daughter of an anesthesiologist. The most important thing is to not to be discouraged because you didn't stop smoking at the perfect time. Every smoke-free day helps.

Throw out your cigarettes immediately, and until surgery, don't go anywhere that you will be tempted to smoke. Make someone else shop so that you aren't tempted to buy an cigarettes. And don't hang around with anyone from whom you can "borrow" a cigarette!

Some people have suggested nicotine patches. These can be very helpful, but be sure to tell your surgeon and anesthesiologist if you are using them within a day of surgery. It's not a bad thing, but it's the sort of thing they should know. Nicotine leaves your system much faster than the other chemicals in cigarettes (as quickly as 24 hours for nicotine as compared to a few weeks for carbon monoxide and other substances) so the best situation would be to use the patches to help quit, and see if you can even stop the patches 48 hours before surgery. But as I said, waaaaaaaay better to use patches up until surgery than to inhale smoke and all the substances in that smoke.
 
Well, Hubby got up with me at 1:00 this morning and we broke up all my cigs and then put them in water so I wouldn't try to get some of the broken ones out, LOL! I know, not funny!!! But smokers know what I mean!!! Anyways so far NONE today!!!!!! Yep, I want one so bad but I'm trying not to think about them, I think the darvocet I'm taking for the root canal yesterday and zanax for nerves is helping, so I'm drugged up but not smoking, LOL... My sister is coming in tomorrow and she smokes I told her she can't smoke around me because Im having- such a hell of a time quitting, hopefully she will listen!!! I'm not going to call surgeon until Monday or Tuesday to tell on myself and see what he says. Then at least I'll be 4 days off of them and he will see I am not smoking. Kinda hard to tell him I quit today when he said to do it last week. I really want to be a non-smoker because I sure hate how doctors blame EVERYTHING on smoking and of course for my own health and I don't like the way they smell. But I have to be honest I sure like inhaling them, yep, I'm warped but had to share! I'll post after I tell surgeon. I want my valve fixed now but I don't want any lung complications, the ventilator part scares the heck out of me!!! I know they would operate if it were an emergency it just scares me of the complications, I've been smoking for 22 years, of course I've tried to quit bunches of times but haven't been successful so I'm praying this is the time!!!!! When they did a lung test a month ago she said my lungs looked fine but she could see some signs starting to show that I was a smoker....Ok, I'm done writing my book,LOL... THANKS TO ALL!!!!!!!!
 
Not sure if it would work for everyone but what worked for me nine years ago this week when I discovered that I was diabetic and my GP suggested smoking and diabetes were not a good match was not to give up smoking, instead I delayed having the next one. I am still delaying, nine years later.

When I was smoking if for some reason I couldn't, perhaps I ran out, I would be desperate and would think of nothing else. This is why I didn't tell myself, or others, that I had quit then if I wanted to have a cigarette I wouldn't have failed.

I still have my half used packet of cigarettes in the cupboard together with a lighter - I bet they are totally gross but I do know that if I want one I can - so I don't.
 
I too, smoked my last cig right before we pulled into the hospital parking lot on the day I had my OHS. My surgeon never said a word to me about smoking, either to stop or not and to be honest, even if he would have, it would not have done any good. My entire family smokes, DH, all three kids, all my friends, my dad and brother. I had a really hard time in the hospital because everytime my DH would go outside to smoke, he would reek when he came back in and it drove me nuts...the smell was GROSS and I told him so. He started using breath mints, gum and washing his hands and face BEFORE he came back into my room just so I did not yell at him. I lasted 2 weeks at home not smoking until my parents left and I took the dog out one day and there was a half in the ashtray outside.....no one smokes in oiur house. Needless to say, I was stupid and lit it. Of course, did not taste good and made me really dizzy, but it did not stop me. Quitting is the hardest thing you can do, but it is the best. They say it will prolong your life, but sometimes I wonder if it is worth it! Not smoking when your entire family smokes is really hard, but if you have the right mind set, you can do it. Good luck!!!!
 
Throw that pack in the garbage & walk away. I decided one day I was going to quit, threw them away and nevEr looked back. YOU CAN DO IT!
Good luck & best wishes to you!
 
I am proud to say I am also a NON-SMOKER now. I am only a little over a month but I did it. Smoked for 20 years, and over a pack a day as well.

Did you find out if you can do the patches? Thats what I am doing. They have helped so much. I dont know if they nicoteine in the bloodstream can affect the surgery, I wouldnt think so but I would found out.

The patches really take the edge off and also cut back the urges...Believe me, if I can do it,so can you. I smoked doing EVERYTHING!
 
I smoked doing EVERYTHING!

Oh really?
wth.gif
 
today is day number 3 and I'm doing good!!!! In fact a lot better than I thought!!!!!My sister is here and she smokes and I thought that would really mess me up, but I've always been a weird smoker I hate the way it smells and don't like being in a really smoky place but I love the inhaling!!!! Well her coming in from outside (never smoked in the house) I can smell her big time and I think ewwwww..... SO keep on rooting for me!!!! Thanks to all!!!!!! Jo JO, I too smoked all the time and have been for 22 years, I used the patches before and they did't seem to help me so I'm just going to use the zanax which im taking because of the nerves anyways and keep thinking I can do this!!!! I want to do it for my hubby too because I hate when someone tells me I have to do something, My rebellious spirit, LOL!!!!!! Hubby keeps telling me I smell so good and that is helping too!!!!!!!
 

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