help please

[rkayw]

Nicotine itself does present some possible health concerns...I don't recall the exact terminology but maybe something to do with constricting blood vessels??? I did a very quick web search...one excerpt is below. I'm sure there are many debates and other articles out there on this but, maybe this will give you an idea of possible valid physician concerns about nicotine in your system undergoing surgery.

"nicotine increases blood pressure and heart rate, causes you to breathe faster and less deeply and it constricts the arteries."

It is still my "juice" of choice. In moderation...of course.

Good luck to you with your decision, and your possible surgery.

It's my opinion that when you have an "elective" procedure...a physician has the...what's the word...right (if you will)...to set some rules and procedures for his medical practice, as well as for his patient. Just as you have the right to a second, third, fourth etc medical opinion....and the right to terminate any physician that you do not like. IJS.

I also agree with JenJen...taper yourself off to best avoid withdrawal symptoms that could occur.

 

[KrisBKream]

Hate to play for the opposing team on this one, but in this case nicotine itself, not just smoking, could potentially cause issues. Nicotine can narrow the blood vessels, cause overactivity in the stomach muscles, and cause an increase in the production of stomach acid.

That being said, I have to assume your doctor also gave instructions regarding caffeine. Otherwise he/she really is setting themself up to look like an anti smoking Nazi...

Honestly, if it were me, I'd direct these questions to your surgeon's office. There are some very knowledgeable people here, but no one here knows the specifics of your personal procedure like your surgeon and his/her staff.

 

[keelalagirl55]

You used a key word there Kris...."can". Yes....it "can" do many things....it's all very personal. Just like any other drug, how your body handles it is all very personal. But just like prescription drugs, any effect that anyone has had using it during studies has to be documented....whether it is actually caused by the drug or not

I am in no way advocating to snub the doc...especially if you really are comfortable with said doc. Just offering up an alternative. There are other surgeons to talk with if a concern is giving up nicotine. The stress on the body of not having nicotine "can" be just as bad as some of the "possible" effects of having it.

Just as an FYI...."nicotine increases blood pressure and heart rate, causes you to breathe faster and less deeply and it constricts the arteries." .....that site also should have used the word "can"...I do not get any of these symptoms....as a matter of fact, I am quite opposite and my bp is borderline low (my mom....nicotine user....is the same way)....always has been for as long as I can remember....and I am a coffee drinker too

 

[keyzygirl]

I just had a big complicated surgery and the docs said the same thing NO SMOKING!It was about breathing and anesthesia.Its more risky to put a smoker under because their breathing is erratic.I vaped right up until they took me into the OR.Im not saying its okay for you.Im just telling you about my experience.The risk during surgery is higher for smokers.

 

[KrisBKream]

I'm going to have to call the "can" pretty loose there. Just as benadryl CAN cause an allergic reaction in some people, the fact remains that benadryl still TREATS allergic reactions. Just as there are exceptions to that rule, there are exceptions to the nicotine rule. But the rule is still sound. Nicotine I a stimulant. Barring an individual's strange reaction to it, it does cause an increase in heart rate, as well as the symptoms I listed before. In the vast majority of people, this is how the body reacts to stimulants. So if the OP is indeed a special case, that is all the more reason to be talking to the surgeon.

 

[keelalagirl55]

Understand that Kris, but I am still unsure if it is actually the nicotine that is the surgeons issue or smoking....the impression I was left with from one of the op's posts is that they are using a nicotine test to "prove" that they have not "smoked"...there is a difference in the risks....that was my whole point in my initial post.....ALL surgeons would prefer NO SMOKING before surgery, and if this surgeon is using a nicotine test for that reason, it is very very flawed. Smokers are of much higher risk than just nicotine users.

 

[KrisBKream]

Aha! Agree with you 100%. That would be a great, albeit somewhat confrontational, question to direct to the surgeon him/herself, skipping staff entirely. Along with the very leading (and possibly dishonest hehe) follow-up question: Should I quit using nicotine replacement therapy cold turkey as well then?

Edit: And if the the answer to that is yes... then it really is a nicotine issue, not a smoking one. What a great learning opportunity that would present for the surgeon! Ok, even I'm not really that optimistic LOL

 

[keelalagirl55]

I'd love to know one more thing Kris....is this surgeon one that sneaks out the back door to get his nic fix too Drove me up the wall when I worked at the hospital to see those docs....and boy o boy did they get a hard time from the staffers Practice what you preach dude!

 

[Chesterwiz]

ot: Personal/personel was the one I could not think of.

Back to topic...

 

[Lisa66]

ot: Personal/personel was the one I could not think of.

Back to topic...

uuuuuuuh, Chester - that would be "personnel" rather than "personel".....