Smoker refused operation on broken ankle

[IrishMist]

Well, I hope he doesn't live in pain. I don't see what the big deal is with him not smoking for a week or a month if he's in so much pain!

Do you think he could use a patch short-term for surgery? Or would that have the same effect as actually smoking?

I don't know. It just seems if you are in that much pain, you would do whatever it takes to get rid of the pain, even if it meant not smoking or drinking for a few days.

I hope you realize I'm using strictly conversational tone-it might not sound like that! :blowkiss:

I can't speak for this guy, but I can tell you that if I could quit for a week, I'd quit for good!

As far as the patch, I don't know to tell you the truth.

Thanks for telling me that. It's hard to tell sometimes, isn't it?

 

[IrishMist]

Smokers are put last on the list for elective surgery- smokers are getting penalised all over the place.

Maybe if the cigarette companies stopped making the damn things, people would stop smoking - but the government makes too much money off them, enough to spend millions on anti smoking campaigns and on medical and still make a packet

Noone should lie about smoking if they are having surgery, the anaesthetiest asks you if you smoke for a reason not just for the fun of it.
Just like your gp might ask you what prescriptions and or drugs you might take- you may as well fess, they can't tell anyone anyway-

Narla, I'm all in favor of the FDA taking over, and making the cigarette companies remove the nicotine. They have that ability.

I wonder how many people would "choose" to keep smoking then?

It'd be nice if consumer safety triumphed over politics and money.

 

[Opie]

To anyone who says they would lie about smoking:
It probably would not work anyway. Most smokers I have met (and I have met many over the years) don't have to tell anyone they are smokers. It is pretty obvious in most cases.

Not trying to sound righteous or start anything, just making a statement that is my opinion.

 

[bnhall]

The doctor made my mom quit smoking and lose some weight before her hysterectomy. She started again after she healed, but she smokes much less now. My grandpa has emphysema and that has scared her into cutting back.

 

[narlacat]

Narla, I'm all in favor of the FDA taking over, and making the cigarette companies remove the nicotine. They have that ability.

I wonder how many people would "choose" to keep smoking then?

It'd be nice if consumer safety triumphed over politics and money.

In a perfect world Irish.

 

[narlacat]

The doctor made my mom quit smoking and lose some weight before her hysterectomy. She started again after she healed, but she smokes much less now. My grandpa has emphysema and that has scared her into cutting back.

We see our friends die but we still can't give up- how crazy is that :doh:

I'm giving up when I'm 40 because that's when life begins

 

[hipmamajen]

My step-dad quit smoking because of his hip replacement surgery. Since he was stuck in bed for 3 days after, he figured the worst part of quitting was over and he just didn't start back up. It's been over 5 years now and he's still not smoking.

 

[southcitymom]

We see our friends die but we still can't give up- how crazy is that :doh:

I'm giving up when I'm 40 because that's when life begins

I always said that too, narla and now I'm knocking on 41!

Here's what I tell myself now - I'll stop when my parents develop a smoking related something. They are both in their early 60s and have smoked forever and are healthy as horses, so I figure if I stop when one of them gets lung cancer of COPD or whatever, I'll have a 20-year headstart against those things. Aren't I terrible!!!??

 

[Taximom]

My aunt-in-law (ha) was given a list of things to do by her brother after he died of lung cancer about 10 years ago. We all watched as he died slowly and painfully. She took him in and cared for him till his last breath came and went.

One of the items was "PLEASE STOP SMOKING". To this day, she still smokes. She just can't do it even after going through something like that. It's so hard!!!

The good thing is that her son witnessed all this as well, and he has vowed never to smoke...and hasn't! Yay!

 

[SeriouslySearching]

I can't speak for this guy, but I can tell you that if I could quit for a week, I'd quit for good!

As far as the patch, I don't know to tell you the truth.

Thanks for telling me that. It's hard to tell sometimes, isn't it?

There is a new drug called Chantix which seems to be working very well in order to help people quit smoking! I know five people who have taken it and quit with no problems!! They didn't have the issues people have with the patch, the gum, or the wellbutrin. They simply got to the point where they didn't NEED or WANT the ciggies and walked away without a second thought. I have followed them for months and none have gone back to smoking. The cost is about $120.00 per month, but well worth it since it works!! Check with your physician to see if this is an option for you!

 

[IrishMist]

There is a new drug called Chantix which seems to be working very well in order to help people quit smoking! I know five people who have taken it and quit with no problems!! They didn't have the issues people have with the patch, the gum, or the wellbutrin. They simply got to the point where they didn't NEED or WANT the ciggies and walked away without a second thought. I have followed them for months and none have gone back to smoking. The cost is about $120.00 per month, but well worth it since it works!! Check with your physician to see if this is an option for you!

When I'm ready to quit, that's the exact route I'm taking. I even have my first month's worth on hand!

 

[SeriouslySearching]

Me, too! My Doc has been trying to sell me on it for a month or so now. It is the reason I have followed the progress of my family and friends who have taken it. *Puff*

 

[narlacat]

I always said that too, narla and now I'm knocking on 41!

Here's what I tell myself now - I'll stop when my parents develop a smoking related something. They are both in their early 60s and have smoked forever and are healthy as horses, so I figure if I stop when one of them gets lung cancer of COPD or whatever, I'll have a 20-year headstart against those things. Aren't I terrible!!!??

LOL South, funny

I have friends that said it and are knocking 50!- best laid plans and all that
Still, sounds good in theory to me, I'm sticking with it

 

[southcitymom]

When I'm ready to quit, that's the exact route I'm taking. I even have my first month's worth on hand!

Good for you, Irish. Here's some experience from my home.

My husband used Chantix to quit smoking last year and it worked great. His desire to smoke declined as he continued taking the recommended course of the medication and by the time it was "time" for him to quit per Chantrix's method, he was ready and it was pretty easy.

He stayed clean from cigs for about 4-6 months and then started smoking again for a a few months. When he went back to the Chantix to quit again, it didn't work nearly as well and he wasn't able to quit with any ease.

I have several other freinds who have found Chantrix was very effective the first time they used it, but not so effective if they tried using it again.

 

[southcitymom]

I can't speak for this guy, but I can tell you that if I could quit for a week, I'd quit for good!

As far as the patch, I don't know to tell you the truth.

Thanks for telling me that. It's hard to tell sometimes, isn't it?

I had a friend who quit smoking using the gum and got hopelessly addicted to that. After a year of chewing gum (but not smoking) like a madwoman, her doctor made her go on the patch to get off the gum!! Hilarious.

I call all those nictotine-replacement therapies methadone for smokers, which they are. "Great - you're not inhaling cigarettes anymore" just like "great - you're not sticking needles in your arm anymore", but you're still addicted to the dope!

 

[pedinurse]

To anyone who says they would lie about smoking:
It probably would not work anyway. Most smokers I have met (and I have met many over the years) don't have to tell anyone they are smokers. It is pretty obvious in most cases.

Not trying to sound righteous or start anything, just making a statement that is my opinion.

we could do saliva testing for nicotine in some cases. but it is a personal and legal choice. a provider could just refuse to do the surgery if it is a non-emergent sitaution, and if he feels that you being a smoker is tipping point (basically, one risk factor too many) that would make it so unsafe for you to have whatever whatever surgery it is that it would be a liability on his part that if you got sick and died on the table or afterwards... it would be on his license. i could then see refusing. because then your family or heirs would come back and say... you should have told mom, you should have refused. you should have told her or made her quit smoking before surgery! its all a big circle. coulda woulda shoulda.

 

[gardenmom]

My aunt was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. She has been a chain smoker forever. She is about 65 yrs old. Her doctor told her she had to quit smoking 10 days before her surgery. I assume she did, as did the family. After she was out of surgery her daughter and my mom went to see the doctor and my cousin asked him "So, did mom stop smoking?", the doctor says "How would I know that?" My cousin says "Mom said you told her to stop smoking and if she didn't you would be able to tell because when you cut into her liver smoke would come out." The doctor says "I told your mother that to scare the out of her so she WOULD stop smoking"! My mom and cousin had a good laugh about that and swore no one would ever tell my aunt the truth.:crazy: