Drinking and Smoking

[maverick.ans]

I drink occasionally and smoke regularly. will these two habits cause any problems in having my surgery?? Please help because i am planning to have my surgery next month.

Thanks..!!

[hammer]

I don't know about smoking, but you will probably have to stop any alcohol a few days prior to surgery. They will go over everything to prepare you for the surgery.

I think that the day of surgery you will not be able to smoke, but someone can maybe jump in and talk about their experience.  Any of the surgeries that I have had, I would have needed to stop the day before, but I never had gyne surgery, and don't smoke.

[maverick.ans]

Thanks Hammer.

I shall wait for someone experienced the surgery for my answer.

Please somebody come in and help me.

Thanks.

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Obviously heavy drinking prior to surgery is to be discouraged.  Alcohol in moderate amounts is metabolized within hours, so I request my patients to avoid alcohol for one day prior to surgery and for at least several days after surgery.

As for smoking, nicotine works to narrow blood vessels and reduce blood flow -- this is not good for healing after surgery.  I generally request that my patients stop smoking two weeks prior to and two weeks subsequent to surgery.  And, if indeed you can give it up for a month, why not forever???

Dr Jacobs

[hammer]

It would be a great time to try and stop! I never did smoke, however, copenhagen  dip was my bad habit, and I stopped after 17 years of chewing on Jan 22 1995 (my 37th birthday) just prior to the 2nd Inguinal Orchiectomy (lost of testicle). I can't even begin to tell you how much money I have saved!

best of luck to any one who gives it a go!