Surgery

[WDave40]

Bit of an odd one to ask...

Without any details necessarily, has anyone on the boards had surgery (relatively major) before? I'm scheduled in for 3rd October, and was wondering how long before/after people had stopped smoking?

I'm hardly really a regular anyway, probably works out about once a week. My last smoke was last week now, and I'm loathe to say "no more smokes/drinks til December", but I think this is probably best.

I'm going to a send-off for a mate on Friday night, so that will probably be my last drink before the op too.

Anyone else had any experiences with this sort of thing?


Dave

[the pondering moose]

I've had major surgery before but was a non-smoker at the time. So probably not helpful unless you want any "what is the experience like" stuff.

However, my wife had an op on her leg early last year, and they took a relatively hard line - that basically one must show reasonable steps to have quit at least a month before they would consider operating. She did quit, or at least turned to vaping, but they weren't hugely happy about even that.

This being said, it seems to be highly specific to where you're being operated on (as in which hospital) and where about your person. And the ultimate authority of the anaesthetist - some are more pragmatic, some are more "principalled".

Anecdotally from people I know either side of the scrubs as it were, unless you're having respiratory or circulatory surgery, have asthma (or similar), sleep apnoea, or have really poor peripheral blood circulation; they'll be narked (or privately highly amused) if you have a celebratory herf in the recovery room, but otherwise its a judgement call on risk that you and your doctor need to make. Balancing risk/reward of surgery in the first place and long term recovery. That is to say, is the problem so severe they need to operate without waiting on your smoking status; and/or are you going to ruin hard work done and long term recovery by smoking...

I hope that kinda sorta helps

[tommy_tucka]

I had my jaw rebuilt and couldn't smoke at all for 2 months but I guess it depends on what operation you're having and if you're allowed to have a smoke. I'm a firm believer that your mindset is important in any recovery and if you can do it and it's relaxing then do it.

[PeeJay]

I had my jaw rebuilt and couldn't smoke at all for 2 months but I guess it depends on what operation you're having and if you're allowed to have a smoke. I'm a firm believer that your mindset is important in any recovery and if you can do it and it's relaxing then do it.

Answered back to the wife?

[tommy_tucka]

Haha. No I was robbed then assaulted while walking home one night.

[PeeJay]

Haha. No I was robbed then assaulted while walking home one night.

In Ascot?! Bloody hell

[tommy_tucka]

In Ascot?! Bloody hell

I haven't always lived in Ascot. I used to live more into London.

[WDave40]

Thanks for the responses guys.

I think I'll leave it the recommended 2 months to be safe. Without going into too many details it's pretty major surgery, I'll need four incisions so want to heal up as quick as possible

[tommy_tucka]

Thanks for the responses guys.

I think I'll leave it the recommended 2 months to be safe. Without going into too many details it's pretty major surgery, I'll need four incisions so want to heal up as quick as possible

Well I'll be wishing you a speedy recovery bud.

[the pondering moose]

I do hope it all goes to plan and whatever they're doing works out well. In the end, absence will surely make the heart grow fonder for a smoke. Imagine that moment, picking something out, the smells and sensations, that first puff - totally worth the wait I reckon (with the proviso that not needing surgery in thr first place might be better, but we're not all that lucky...)

Some people wish luck, but on these occasions I wish medical science!

[WDave40]

Thanks for the well wishes.

Hopefully you're right Alex! I've got a few singles on the way for December that I've been meaning to try

[mcdee]

All the best for the op and your recovery Dave.