Smoking before surgery

[Wolfy]

I have to go tomorrow for surgery to remove a cyst. The booklet for outpatient surgery says that I am not supposed to smoke for 24 hours before the surgery, however, I am a very regular smoker. So far I've had a couple cigs but I am trying to pace myself to only smoke like 5 ultralights today. I was just wondering if it would be safe to take a few hits of the good stuff today or not. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Wolfy Reviewed by Wolfy on 03-15-2007. Smoking before surgery I have to go tomorrow for surgery to remove a cyst. The booklet for outpatient surgery says that I am not supposed to smoke for 24 hours before the surgery, however, I am a very regular smoker. So far I've had a couple cigs but I am trying to pace myself to only smoke like 5 ultralights today. I was just wondering if it would be safe to take a few hits of the good stuff today or not. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Rating: 5

[UTD Toker]

I wouldnt advise to take more than 1 or two hits smoking, Vaporizing should be ok....I'm not a doctor or anything so don't just listen to me haha

[CannabisCrooz]

If i were you I would just lay off it for the day. You can last 24 hours without it :thumbsup:

[birdgirl73]

The clearer your lungs are before surgery, the better you'll handle the anesthesia and the fewer potential complications you'll have. Both weed smoke and cigarette smoke are irritating to the lungs and contain a lot of crap. And both of them can dimiish the elasticity of your alveoli, the little air sacks in which the gas-exchange of oxygen occurs. In the hospitals in the area where I live, if they find out you've been smoking before surgery, they'll sometimes reschedule you for another day. That tends to happen a lot more when it's going to be big surgery involving intubation as they anesthetize you, and I'm guessing a cystectomy (depends on where the cyst is, though) might be simply sedation anesthesia. Take as many deep breaths as you can to clear your lungs and give them some exercise for the rest of today and don't smoke anymore. Ask your anesthesiologist when he calls you tonight if you're going to be intubated. Because if you are, you really need to try and remain smoke free afterwards, too, for 48 or more hours. Do a Google on "Smoking and anesthesia" and read what you find. This is fairly common medical knowledge (lest I be charged with giving medical advice).

[Wolfy]

Thanks for the advice guys. I've already had a 3 or 4 hits and smoked about a half pack of cigs (i know i shouldn't have but it happened). Do you think i should just try to reschedule my surgery?

[KingsBlend420]

No, don't reschedule, but perhaps contact the doctor that is taking care of the surgery and let him know what you have done. It is your life and you don't want to take a risk that could seriously injure yourself.

[birdgirl73]

Just be up front with your anesthesiologist and your surgeon tomorrow morning and let them make the call. Seriously. Tell them how much you've smoked--and that it's been both weed and tobacco. They need to be able to make a fully educated decision about what's going to be the best for the procedure and your health.

If they do reschedule you, then you'll know that was for the best. If it's a relatively minor procedure with only sedation anesthesia and, knowing what you've told them, they elect to move forward, then you can feel very certain that they don't think it's risky enough to reschedule you. But if they do choose to schedule you for another day, you need to plan to follow the no-smoking directions for next time. Smoking not only complicates your pulmonary health, both during and after surgery, it also prevents your capillaries, the smallest blood vessels you have and the ones that need to knit themselves back together so you can heal from an incision, from mending like they should. Surgical patients who smoke have wounds that don't heal as well. That's why everyone who smokes cigarettes needs to quit. Because the truth is if you're out in the world and, say, your appendix ruptures or you're in a car wreck, you might need emergency surgery. Happens to folks every single day of the year.

[Wolfy]

I just got back from surgery about an hour ago. I did tell them when I went in and they said it would be fine and everyhting worked out. Now my problem is my nether regions hurting like an sob, but I'll get over it with the help of some vicodin. Once again, thanks for the advice everyone.

[birdgirl73]

Glad to hear they went ahead so you could get it behind you (No pun intended!). Real pleased to hear you were up front with them about that, too.