Smoking

Why is it so bad to smoke after having a BA.. I know it might make you heal slower but other than that is it really that bad? I am having SUCH a hard time not smoking!! I have smoked like 2 or 3 a day and I feel guilty but I can't help it!!

You are more prone to infections when you smoke as the blood is full of toxins as opposed to nice and healthy xx I think it puts you at greater risk of CC as well xx

It is hard hun xx I'm an ex smoker, but keep trying it really is worth giving up xx

Kay's right hun, smokers tend to have a higher capsular contracture rate, so to lower the risks it's best not to smoke sweetheart.

Smoking also decreases the oxygen in the bloodstream which can slow down the healing process and could lead to infection.

I understand it's hard for a smoker to quit, but it really is in your best interest to do so sweetness to get the best from your recovery - Good luck! xx

Im also a smoker hun, Im not planning on giving up but I will be cutting right down so maybe one day I will give up completly .... x

I also struggled with this. I used to smoke 30 a day until a year and a half ago. This was mainly due to a work colleague who smoked heavily so when she had a fag I just sort of went out with her. I realised this was getting out of hand so cut down to about 5-10 per day. 2 Weeks before my BA my ps told me to cut it out altogether and no nicotine (even patches ) for a week before. The week before my op all my best laid plans went to pot and so did my plans to cut out all ciggies!!! I managed to not smoke in the 36 hours pre op and somehow have not smoked since. I have had the odd puff, but it has made me feel so sick and dizzy I haven't even bothered again. I am now 10 days post op and yes I would love a ciggie but I',m not going to because of the complications that can occur.
The thought of giving up was worse than the deed of doing it. Try an inhilator and patches. My inhilator was my best freind for a few days lol

i used to smoke about 2 years ago, i know it is really hard to give up,( i just gave up as i wanted to improve health) i would tell myself that i had to give up at some point in my life so it mayaswell be now! i Am hopefully never going to go back to it, the worst thing for me to cope with i think is stress, unfortuantly for me i just replaced the fags with food maybe think of something u could replace it with such as chewing gum, or trying the patches,inhalers like julie suggested. good luck! mayb u could make a support thread for people giving up before their BA? !!

so even after the opp and recovery, does smoking cause a higher risk of CC?

i think i have read too actually not to have any nicotine replacement. here's a bit on it;
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That was interesting bexy ty x I will cut right back Im hoping it will lead to me stopping eventually x

I was advised to quit before my op, but if I couldn't then I had to cut right back for 2 weeks prior to the op and not smoke 24 hours before the op (to increase the oxygen in my blood stream) I continued to smoke after my BA but only a couple a day. Eventually this led to me going back to the normal amount of ciggies. It's a horrible habbit and I wish I could quit. I wish you all the luck in the world with quitting, it will be so much better for you, not just for your BA but for the rest of your life.

Hi hun

I was a smoker and loved it, although I never smoked infront of my kids. I gave up at the end of February in preperation for my op. It's possible I have CC so it's a real reason for me to quit. I was so lucky that my BF supported me and also gave up (although he misses it terribly). It wasn't easy and I used patches and gum and I only caved in once and had two sneaky fags after we'd had a row. I feel better, I look better and I'm sure I probably smell better. Everytime I miss it, I think of the high blood pressure I was suffering from (it's fine now i've stopped) and I think of the risk of having a stroke or heart attack. You youngsters don't even think about that, but when you hit 40 and you start getting pains in your chest...you think about it then!!!! I also know someone who may have to have their leg amputated due to smoking so I remind myself of all these things.

Good luck hun x