smoking and reconstruction

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TrinaCat
TrinaCat Member Posts: 5
edited September 2014 in Breast Reconstruction

Help? Anybody who smoked and had good results with reconstruction. I am less than 2 weeks into my diagnosis, and meet my sugeon Tues. I just learned they want you not to smoke 2weeks prior to reconstruction. I teach school and never smoked all day, but am off for the summer. This is an awful time to quit. I just read that it doesn't hurt much with the diep method. Please tell me if there are any smokers and your exp. I really need to know I can have breasts back, and want immediate reconstruction.

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  • DiDel
    DiDel Member Posts: 1,329
    edited June 2010

    I quit right before diagnosis. You really really really don't want to smoke when you are healing from your surgery. Not to lecture you at all as a reformed smoker but if your surgeon asks you and you say yes most won't perform your surgery until you've gone 2 weeks plus you don't want to smoke during your healing process. Not good for skin or blood flow to the newly constructed breast. My doctor offered me chantix but I opted for Ativan an antianxiety instead. It worked wonders and I haven't missed it at all. I would most definitely ask for Ativan it got me through until surgery after that I've only needed it for certain procedures like MRI and expander fills.

     Good luck!

    Di

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  • TrinaCat
    TrinaCat Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2010

    What if they want to set my surgey up before 2 weeks is up? I wouldnt have known to stop if I hadnt have been doing my own research, had you smoke within the 2 weeks prior to your surgery? I may not have that long to quit. Do I quit now and stay quiet about it as new research shows there is only a 2% difference in  complication between smokeres and nonsmokers.How much time did you have ebtween diagnosis and surgery. Did you have immediate recon?

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  • 2z54
    2z54 Member Posts: 261
    edited June 2010

    Hi TrinaCat,

    I had a bilat DIEP and my PS wanted me to quit for about 6 weeks prior and after surgery. I did chemo before surgery, so it was doable.  The reason it is so important to quit for DIEP is because it is a "microsurgery" process, where they actually reattach your blood vessels from your stomach tissue to the blood vessels in your chest/masectomy breast(s).

    My PS wouldn't even allow Chantix, which is a great way to quit, because it still caused blood flow restriction. Ativan may have been allowed.

    I'm very happy that I chose immediate recon with DIEP, and that I was able to quit prior to/after that very complicated surgery.  You should have more than 2 weeks to spare before surgery, without much risk.  Best of luck to you on this journey! It's not fun, but it's doable. And we're all here to help!

    sue

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  • TrinaCat
    TrinaCat Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2010

    So you think the bimast surg wont be scheduled for at least 2weeks and that will allow for time for me to quit. I just pray I can. I am also fairly thin. Is smoking a problem if they use implants. I won't have much problem quitting after, becuse I will get the nic. out of my system in the hospital. Has anuone experience with smoking before implants?

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  • sewescape
    sewescape Member Posts: 65
    edited June 2010

    I am not a smoker, but I have seen three different plastic surgeons, all asked about smoking and said quit if I was. None of them would do surgery on someone still smoking. My first reconstruction was implants, one failed and thus am going to have DIEP in August. The breast surgeon that did the bilateral mastectomy didn't ask, apparently for that it wasn't as important.

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  • TrinaCat
    TrinaCat Member Posts: 5
    edited June 2010

    So surely I will have 2 weeks before they schedule the surgery, how long from the time you met you bc surgeon til your surgery? anybody? And how in this world do I quit under this pressure? Help?

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  • hopeful34
    hopeful34 Member Posts: 1,569
    edited June 2010

    I am a smoker (trying desperately to quit right now)...but anyway, I smoked up until the day before surgery.  I had tissue expanders though, and my PS said 24 hours would be sufficient.  He did tell me after surgery though, that nicotine replacement was not an option for quitting as it would delay healing and increase risk of infection.  I am still smoking and I am four weeks out from bilat mastectomy and immediate recon with the TE's......that being said, I went to get my fills this past Friday and I am not healing properly and the incisions are not closing up like they should.  I also had necrosis(dying skin) and had to use medicated cream for burn victims to help repair the skin.  It is sad that as smokers we are willing to risk so much for a cigarette. As I said, I am trying hard to quit.  I have cut down to just a few a day, but I am hoping that I will be done before chemo starts.  One more point, I have heard that nicotine blocks the chemo as well, so if that is something you will be doing, it might be time to quit.  I am sorry you are having to deal with this.  I know now is the hardest time to quit, but from my experience so far, it is in your best interest to quit now, so you won't have to endure the potential complications.  Take Care and if you have any questions feel free to PM me.  Allison

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  • sewescape
    sewescape Member Posts: 65
    edited June 2010

    First time I met the PS about 4 weeks before surgery. The second PS I met 7 weeks before the scheduled surgery and I canceled. Third and hopefully final PS I met with 8 weeks before my schedule DIEP in August. Breast surgeon first time around about a month out and the second time about a month out. I have never had surgery scheduled for sooner than 4 weeks out.

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  • DiDel
    DiDel Member Posts: 1,329
    edited June 2010

    Trinacat

    I rushed everything to get it over with I met with BS several times but once a surgery was decided I was in surgery about 10 days later. I hadn't smoked for about 2 months prior and haven't touched or wanted a cigarette since. My BS PS and Onc sufficiently scared the H$ll out of me and I've kept so busy and had the Ativan for high anxiety days I just haven't looked back. Ask your doc for anti-anxiety pills, they saved me. Especially the day of surgery. I know its hard but once you get past the first hurdle it gets easier. I honestly don't even miss it a little.

    Good Luck, Stay strong.

    Di

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  • squidwitch42
    squidwitch42 Member Posts: 2,228
    edited June 2010

    My Plastic Surgeon told me no nicotine replacements as well.  I used the gum and lozenges for ten years after quitting cigarettes in 1999....(I guess quitting can be used loosely.) So when I learned I had breast cancer, I was told the party was over for me. It was tough, but I did it, and since I didn't quit before my mastectomy, I did have delayed healing on the side with the breast CA (had BiMX) I was just out of time and my surgeon pushed up the surgery.

    I strongly suggest getting as much support as possible...  I had a fake cigarette from ten years ago that I could "draw on" and have in my hand ( I think it was from quitsmoking.com if that still exists.)  I also had a "joke" cig that looks real from afar to help me when driving.  Twizzlers are excellent in that you and pull air through the center.

    according to my plastic surgeon, they found that the negative effect of nicotine exists whether you smoke or use nicotine replacement. It is not any better in terms of wound healing and tissue perfusion (nicotine acts to constrict blood vessels)

    I wish you all the best, you can do this!  there are online support groups, and all sorts of ways to reward your successes.  I tell myself I have now saved about 1,400.00 since October 29th.

    so I use it to pay for my medical costs...great.

    traci

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  • Lynne811
    Lynne811 Member Posts: 23
    edited September 2014

    have the same problem having double mastectomy on October 21st.  Smoking is hard to stop although PS did prescribe nicotine patches, but can't seem to quit.  Have also been put on xanax for anxiety attacks.  Having immediate reconstruction with expanders .

    I was honest told him I don't think I can,  I've cut down and told him after the surgery I'll be to sore to smoke.  So trying but extremely difficult. 

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