wondering about surgeries etc.

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mpetva

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Apr 16, 2009
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I know that when you are a smoker and need any kind of surgery, they will not do the surgery unless you have stopped smoking/been off cigs for a while....not sure why.

Is it due to the nicotine consumption in analog cigs? or all the other stuff in them?

Does anyone know (from experience perhaps) if this is till the case when one uses just e-cigs?

I have a nephew who is having surgery and is having a hell of a time to stop smoking. They have changed his surgery date once already because of this and I was wondering if I should tell him about e-cigs to help him out?
 

Idahojo

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I had to postpone a surgery because I smoked. They said I had to be off cigs for 6 weeks. I haven't asked since I've been off the analogs and been vaping, 7 weeks now. Supposedly it's because of the nicotine and how it affects your blood circulation. If it is the nic, then vaping will not help unless you are vaping 0mg. You can ask but I think that's why. Let us know what they say.
 

Darlene7

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May 4, 2009
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I know that when you are a smoker and need any kind of surgery, they will not do the surgery unless you have stopped smoking/been off cigs for a while....not sure why.

Is it due to the nicotine consumption in analog cigs? or all the other stuff in them?

Does anyone know (from experience perhaps) if this is till the case when one uses just e-cigs?

I have a nephew who is having surgery and is having a hell of a time to stop smoking. They have changed his surgery date once already because of this and I was wondering if I should tell him about e-cigs to help him out?
I just had surgery 2 months ago and smoking was never mentioned - I was told not to eat or drink anything after midnight and only to take my bp pill, no other medications, but never a mention of cigarettes - and they knew I smoked. What kind of surgery is he going to have?
Darlene
 

mpetva

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Apr 16, 2009
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I just had surgery 2 months ago and smoking was never mentioned - I was told not to eat or drink anything after midnight and only to take my bp pill, no other medications, but never a mention of cigarettes - and they knew I smoked. What kind of surgery is he going to have?
Darlene

He is having complicated surgery on his shoulder and neck.
 

emsmom

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Mar 19, 2009
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Wouldn't hurt to tell your nephew about the e-cig and have him ask his doctor. My daughter just had surgery last month and switched to an e-cig for a couple of weeks and her doc was fine with it. Of course he would have rather had her stop all, but he felt this was a better option. I know analogs really interfere with O2 absorbtion, therefore the healing process. Her doc said that he was ok with the e-cig if she just couldn't stop and her O2 levels tested at 100% the entire time she was using the e-cig.
 

emsmom

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Not only is the healing process an issue, but anesthesia is too. That is why they want you to stop smoking prior to any surgery. I am surprised though, usually only plastic surgeons are so picky about not smoking analogs, as they are looking for the best possible result since it is totally elective surgery. The healing process is significantly slower for a smoker.
 

TropicalBob

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I had surgery for a blocked carotid artery two years ago and was told to keep smoking right up to the 6 a.m. admission time. "It will keep you calmer," I was told, and stopping for a short time before surgery wouldn't help anything.

In the hospital, I used snus and Stonewall tobacco pellets and did just fine. Resumed smoking after four days in the hospital -- then quit for good four months later.
 

Angela

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Mar 20, 2009
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That's probably it. Mine was back surgery. I was told it won't heal properly when you are using nicotine. Anything involving the spine area is more tricky with the blood circulation.

Not only is the healing process an issue, but anesthesia is too.
I have had general anaesthetics on numerous occasions - including for lengthy spinal surgery. Each time, I have been asked to stop smoking, but only for the same time that I was required to fast. I was advised that it was so that the oxygen levels in my blood could return to normal to make it easier for the anaesthatist to correctly monitor my levels and for them to accurately monitor my blood pressure.
 
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