Smokers?! Started by: Michie

I vape and was told last week to stop any vape with nicotine from then – I’ve stopped today as I am two weeks away – how long have you got until yours? Did they say they would do a nicotine test on the day? That’s what they told me…I used to have 6mg of nicotine in my vape, gone to zero 🙁 hopefully will do this!!

I vape 3mg nicotine up to the day of surgery and after. My surgeon said it was fine and I’ve had no side effects at all and if anything healed very quickly xxx

I’m not booked in until 31st July and I stopped 4 weeks ago, I thought if I have to stop 2 weeks before I may as well do it now and save some money along the way. It’s been awfully hard but I’ve heard so many stories about girls being turned away until they stop I didn’t want to risk it x

Nikita where did you have your surgery – I don’t want to risk it, not sure if I can go without any nicotine at all struggling without but almost gone two days now!

Found this online… Food for thought!

Stopping smoking before your operation
If you are coming in to hospital for an operation, and you are a smoker, we strongly advise you to stop smoking as soon as possible because this will help you make the best possible recovery.

Stop-before-your-op
Why is it important to stop smoking before an operation?
After an operation non-smokers are less likely to suffer ill effects from an anaesthetic. They will usually make a quicker recovery than smokers, with less complications, and an operation scar is likely to heal more quickly.

Giving up smoking before your operation can reduce the risk of complications and improve your recovery

As soon as you quit smoking your body begins to repair itself straight away
The longer you manage to stay stopped the more repair work your body can do

What are the risks for smokers?
Smokers are more likely to develop chest infections and blood clots in their legs or lungs after an operation. Their wounds will be slower to heal and they will generally make a slower recovery. They may also be at more risk of infection than non-smokers.

Smokers have a one-in-three risk of post-operative breathing problems
Also, smokers are twice as likely to be admitted to hospital in the first place.

Smoking can also contribute to the development of post-operative lung and heart problems

Smokers are 12 times more likely to develop wound healing complications

What problems does smoking cause?

Chest infections
Our lungs are lined with tiny, hair-like structures called cilia. In normal circumstances these cilia move mucus up and out of the air passages. Smoking causes paralysis of the cilia so they are unable to remove mucus, dust or impurities from the lungs. This makes smokers much more likely to develop chest infections, particularly after a general anaesthetic.

Nicotine
The nicotine in cigarette smoke increases the heart rate and raises the blood pressure. During an operation it is particularly important that the heart rate, rhythm and blood pressure are kept at a safe level.

Blood clotting
Smokers tend to have a high level of substances in the blood that cause it to clot. This means the blood in a smoker’s body has a tendency to clot faster than that of a non-smoker. After an operation the risk of blood clots developing in the legs and lungs is increased – this can be potentially fatal.

Carbon monoxide
This is a poisonous gas found in cigarette smoke. It transfers from the lungs of smokers to their blood, reducing the blood’s ability to transport oxygen. This can have many effects on the body, including increasing the risk of serious heart attacks, strokes and gastric ulcers.

During an operation smokers’ blood carries less oxygen than that of non-smokers; this starves the heart and brain and may cause heart attacks and strokes. After an operation poor oxygen supply to the wound will delay healing and increase the risk of infection.
What you should do

The wisest thing for you to do is to give up smoking completely as soon as possible.

http://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/ForPatientsVisitors/ForInpatients/Stoppingsmokingbeforeyouroperation.aspx