Re: quitting smoking for surgery

January 4, 2004

Lia,

I'm not a smoker (never have been), but I do want to address the statement you

made about being in pain. I had upper and lower surgery and had very little -

almost no - pain at all. There are/were a couple of people on here (don't

recall who they were) who smoked and although they didn't/couldn't smoke during

their recovery (they were both wired shut), they actually planned on having a

cigarette once they were unwired. They didn't say it was hard not to smoke, but

neither had any intentions of quitting smoking.

I would think that if you really want to quit, this will be a good time since

you won't be able to. Try not to worry about the pain or the smoking - if

anything, it's more discomfort than anything else. The pain, if any, is not

really bad either...at least is wasn't for me and that seems to be the general

concensus around here.

Good luck.

Smooches

quitting smoking for surgery

I'm having a hard time quitting cold turkey because i'm constantly

thinking about the surgery and it's making me have one after the

other. I know i should quit cause it doesn't help me and that my

surgery is only 4 weeks away. I'm just worried i'll want to have one

after the surgery because of all the pain but then again i'm hoping

i'll be in enough pain to not even want one. I know NOT to smoke

right after the surgery because of the wounds healing. Hopefully

another plus that will come out of this is that i'll quit forever,,,i

hope. Anybody else been through this??

lia

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January 4, 2004

Even though I am only 16, I smoke. I smoked untill the day of my

surgury and don't have any intentions on quiting. If you WANT to

quit yes I think this would be ideal time. I tried smoking

yesterday... day 5 post op and it was really difficult. I managed a

drag... but that was about it. I'm just going to wait now till I can

feel my lips and am more healed. I kind of want a cigarrete, but I

don't because I really want to get better, so im fine not having one.

> Lia,

>

> I'm not a smoker (never have been), but I do want to address the

statement you made about being in pain. I had upper and lower

surgery and had very little - almost no - pain at all. There

are/were a couple of people on here (don't recall who they were) who

smoked and although they didn't/couldn't smoke during their recovery

(they were both wired shut), they actually planned on having a

cigarette once they were unwired. They didn't say it was hard not to

smoke, but neither had any intentions of quitting smoking.

>

> I would think that if you really want to quit, this will be a

good time since you won't be able to. Try not to worry about the

pain or the smoking - if anything, it's more discomfort than anything

else. The pain, if any, is not really bad either...at least is

wasn't for me and that seems to be the general concensus around here.

>

> Good luck.

>

> Smooches

>

> quitting smoking for

surgery

>

> I'm having a hard time quitting cold turkey because i'm

constantly

> thinking about the surgery and it's making me have one after

the

> other. I know i should quit cause it doesn't help me and that

my

> surgery is only 4 weeks away. I'm just worried i'll want to

have one

> after the surgery because of all the pain but then again i'm

hoping

> i'll be in enough pain to not even want one. I know NOT to

smoke

> right after the surgery because of the wounds healing.

Hopefully

> another plus that will come out of this is that i'll quit

forever,,,i

> hope. Anybody else been through this??

>

> lia

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

--------

>

January 4, 2004

Posted on site 2 too:

I'm an ex-smoker who weaned off cigarettes in the early 90s. Cold

turkey is hard, I know. Quitting is the best thing you can do for

yourself. Think of the 40,000 chemicals that are in cigarettes that

you ingest directly into your bloodstream. Think of the health risks

you are imposing on others in your household (second hand smoke kills

too). Here's a link that explains more if you're interested

http://airspace.bc.ca/DSRunsafe.html

Don't rely on pain post-op, I had major work done and no pain -

you'll be numb.

Have you spoken to your doctor or pharmacist about something to help

quit the habit?

Good luck,

> I'm having a hard time quitting cold turkey because i'm constantly

> thinking about the surgery and it's making me have one after the

> other. I know i should quit cause it doesn't help me and that my

> surgery is only 4 weeks away. I'm just worried i'll want to have

one

> after the surgery because of all the pain but then again i'm hoping

> i'll be in enough pain to not even want one. I know NOT to smoke

> right after the surgery because of the wounds healing. Hopefully

> another plus that will come out of this is that i'll quit

forever,,,i

> hope. Anybody else been through this??

>

> lia

January 5, 2004

It makes sense. I wish my mother and step-father would quit

smoking. I've only been smoking a few months but I might as well

have been for the past 16 (17 in 2 days!) years or so because of the

second hand smoke. I really can't avoid it living with them and all

and it used to really bother me untill I picked up the terrible

habit. I don't smoke were other people are the don't smoke, I don't

want them to feel like I do. I know this doesn't help much, just my

thoughts.

> > I'm having a hard time quitting cold turkey because i'm

constantly

> > thinking about the surgery and it's making me have one after the

> > other. I know i should quit cause it doesn't help me and that my

> > surgery is only 4 weeks away. I'm just worried i'll want to have

> one

> > after the surgery because of all the pain but then again i'm

hoping

> > i'll be in enough pain to not even want one. I know NOT to smoke

> > right after the surgery because of the wounds healing. Hopefully

> > another plus that will come out of this is that i'll quit

> forever,,,i

> > hope. Anybody else been through this??

> >

> > lia

January 6, 2004

Dan,

Have you voiced this to your mother and step-father? Such a terrible thing

that you took up smoking just because of them. I know that second hand smoke is

bad, but it doesn't make it better by getting the smoke " first hand " as well.

As a matter of fact, it just makes matters that much worse.

Please, if there is anyway possible, kick the habit before it's too late.

Smooches

Re: quitting smoking for surgery

It makes sense. I wish my mother and step-father would quit

smoking. I've only been smoking a few months but I might as well

have been for the past 16 (17 in 2 days!) years or so because of the

second hand smoke. I really can't avoid it living with them and all

and it used to really bother me untill I picked up the terrible

habit. I don't smoke were other people are the don't smoke, I don't

want them to feel like I do. I know this doesn't help much, just my

thoughts.

> > I'm having a hard time quitting cold turkey because i'm

constantly

> > thinking about the surgery and it's making me have one after the

> > other. I know i should quit cause it doesn't help me and that my

> > surgery is only 4 weeks away. I'm just worried i'll want to have

> one

> > after the surgery because of all the pain but then again i'm

hoping

> > i'll be in enough pain to not even want one. I know NOT to smoke

> > right after the surgery because of the wounds healing. Hopefully

> > another plus that will come out of this is that i'll quit

> forever,,,i

> > hope. Anybody else been through this??

> >

> > lia

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

January 7, 2004

Lia

I was a 40+ a day smoker and gave up overnight without regret. My

late mother was a 60+ a day smoker for 50 years and gave up overnight

when her surgeon told he she had stopped. No choice there! He added

that if she didn't she would not survive the surgery and nearly

didn't. She had major complications when a blood vessel to the liver

burst because they were so friable from the smoking. She spent 14

days in ICU and suffered brain damage.

Surgeons in Australia are advising smokers to stop at least 4 weeks

prior to surgery and some are even refusing to operate due to

unsatisfactory post surgery results - inreased healing time,

inadequate healing and increased patient mortality. General

anaesthsia is a problem with smokers and some are unable to have a

general anaesthetic because of the severe risk they face.

Smoking does place increased stress on the heart at a time when

stress on the heart is increasing from the surgery. Blood vessels

constrict and there is proof of this in a Scientific American article

that demonstrated the temperature of fingers dropped 2-3 degrees

celsius within minutes of smoking a cigarette. There are many

documented cases of lower limb amputations from gangrene due to

smoking.

There are chemicals in tobacco byproducts that ordinarily you would

avoid like the plague. Carbon monoxide (car exhaust gas) which

combines strongly with the blood and reduces the efficiency of the

blood at a time when you need it to be 100%. It also requires the

heart to work harder. Then there is cyanide gas (guess where they use

that!), formaldehyde, radon gas (radioactive), various pesticide

residues to name a few, none of which are at all nice and each is

found in tobacco smoke. Let us not forget that nicotine, a major

component in cigarettes, is a very toxic chemical.

There are some lovely conditions like emphysema which permanently

wrecks your lungs and you can end up drowning in your own lung

secretions. And there are those cancers - lung, mouth, larynx,

ovarian, breast, bowel to name a few - all linked to smoking.

Smoking actually adds to the problems off stress rather than solving

problems as there is a natural depressant in tobacco and to my

knowledge there are no chemicals in tobacco that actually reduce pain.

Sorry for this strong message about smoking but if it prompts you or

helps you (or others) give up then that is great for you. You have

everything to gain - your health especially. And your purse will be

fuller from not burning your money on this product.

Good luck in giving up smoking, good luck with your surgery too.

Rod

> Lia,

>

> I'm not a smoker (never have been), but I do want to address the

statement you made about being in pain. I had upper and lower

surgery and had very little - almost no - pain at all. There

are/were a couple of people on here (don't recall who they were) who

smoked and although they didn't/couldn't smoke during their recovery

(they were both wired shut), they actually planned on having a

cigarette once they were unwired. They didn't say it was hard not to

smoke, but neither had any intentions of quitting smoking.

>

> I would think that if you really want to quit, this will be a

good time since you won't be able to. Try not to worry about the

pain or the smoking - if anything, it's more discomfort than anything

else. The pain, if any, is not really bad either...at least is

wasn't for me and that seems to be the general concensus around here.

>

> Good luck.

>

> Smooches

>

> quitting smoking for

surgery

>

> I'm having a hard time quitting cold turkey because i'm

constantly

> thinking about the surgery and it's making me have one after

the

> other. I know i should quit cause it doesn't help me and that

my

> surgery is only 4 weeks away. I'm just worried i'll want to

have one

> after the surgery because of all the pain but then again i'm

hoping

> i'll be in enough pain to not even want one. I know NOT to

smoke

> right after the surgery because of the wounds healing.

Hopefully

> another plus that will come out of this is that i'll quit

forever,,,i

> hope. Anybody else been through this??

>

> lia

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

--------

>

January 7, 2004

Wow!

Rod, this is so powerful. I hope you don't mind, but I forwarded this to my

sister in California.

Thanx.

Smooches

quitting smoking for

surgery

>

> I'm having a hard time quitting cold turkey because i'm

constantly

> thinking about the surgery and it's making me have one after

the

> other. I know i should quit cause it doesn't help me and that

my

> surgery is only 4 weeks away. I'm just worried i'll want to

have one

> after the surgery because of all the pain but then again i'm

hoping

> i'll be in enough pain to not even want one. I know NOT to

smoke

> right after the surgery because of the wounds healing.

Hopefully

> another plus that will come out of this is that i'll quit

forever,,,i

> hope. Anybody else been through this??

>

> lia

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

--------

>

January 7, 2004

Wow!

Rod, this is so powerful. I hope you don't mind, but I forwarded this to my

sister in California.

Thanx.

Smooches

quitting smoking for

surgery

>

> I'm having a hard time quitting cold turkey because i'm

constantly

> thinking about the surgery and it's making me have one after

the

> other. I know i should quit cause it doesn't help me and that

my

> surgery is only 4 weeks away. I'm just worried i'll want to

have one

> after the surgery because of all the pain but then again i'm

hoping

> i'll be in enough pain to not even want one. I know NOT to

smoke

> right after the surgery because of the wounds healing.

Hopefully

> another plus that will come out of this is that i'll quit

forever,,,i

> hope. Anybody else been through this??

>

> lia

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

--------

>

January 7, 2004

etta

I am thrilled that you saw value in my response. I left some juicy

bits out. My brother-in-law died from combined mouth and pancreatic

cancers - smoking related. He had a multitude of metastased cancers

too - kidney, heart, testicular and brain (the latter the size of an

orange which grew from nothing in 6 weeks). The mouth cancer resulted

in half his jaw and part of his tongue being removed and is quite

common in smokers who drink alcohol. The post mortem showed he had

emphysema as well. His brother died the same way 18 months later.

Emphysema prevents the sufferer from clearing the lungs because the

cilia hairs that sweep the lungs clean are totally destroyed and the

carcinogens and other nasties stay there doing more damage. Hence the

persistent hacking and unproductive coughing experienced by smokers.

My mother died from the effects of emphysema and she drowned in a

hospital bed.

What is emphysema like? Imagine running 200 metres flat out

especially if you are unfit. Emphysema hits you like that but it is

forever and for just extremely mild exertion like walking 5-10 metres

on level ground.

Of course people will make all sorts of extravagant claims about the

lack of proof of smoking causing this or that. I ask them to go to a

pulmonery function ward at a hospital and ask the smokers to raise

their hands - 90% will raise their hands. Tobacco companies are good

at diluting the statistics into the wider population. Ask people what

they think about playing russian roulette and they will recoil in

horror (1 in 6 chance of " winning " ) but the risk of contracting a

serious or life-threatening disease is higher for smokers.

The trouble with smoking-caused diseases is they are like growing

old. They creep up on you and before you know it it is too late and

irreversible. Try telling young people they will one day be old. Life

is forever when you are a teen. But smoking took ten years plus off

my mother's life and the last seven years for her was one of constant

breathless wheezing.

I know this is a bit off-topic for this group but the message for

those who are facing this surgery and who smoke is to give up while

they can. To paraphrase lin on taxes and death is that

all smokers eventually stop smoking. The lucky ones are still around

to tell their friends.

Rod

> > Lia,

> >

> > I'm not a smoker (never have been), but I do want to

address the

> statement you made about being in pain. I had upper and lower

> surgery and had very little - almost no - pain at all. There

> are/were a couple of people on here (don't recall who they

were) who

> smoked and although they didn't/couldn't smoke during their

recovery

> (they were both wired shut), they actually planned on having a

> cigarette once they were unwired. They didn't say it was hard

not to

> smoke, but neither had any intentions of quitting smoking.

> >

> > I would think that if you really want to quit, this will be

a

> good time since you won't be able to. Try not to worry about

the

> pain or the smoking - if anything, it's more discomfort than

anything

> else. The pain, if any, is not really bad either...at least is

> wasn't for me and that seems to be the general concensus around

here.

> >

> > Good luck.

> >

> > Smooches

> >

> > quitting smoking

for

> surgery

> >

> > I'm having a hard time quitting cold turkey because i'm

> constantly

> > thinking about the surgery and it's making me have one

after

> the

> > other. I know i should quit cause it doesn't help me and

that

> my

> > surgery is only 4 weeks away. I'm just worried i'll want

to

> have one

> > after the surgery because of all the pain but then again

i'm

> hoping

> > i'll be in enough pain to not even want one. I know NOT

to

> smoke

> > right after the surgery because of the wounds healing.

> Hopefully

> > another plus that will come out of this is that i'll quit

> forever,,,i

> > hope. Anybody else been through this??

> >

> > lia

> >

> > --------------------------------------------------------------

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> --------

> >

January 7, 2004