Breathalysed before surgery

General health and lifestyle
1

Hi i am months away before gastric bypass surgery and was told i had to give up smoking, does anyone know if they breathaylise you before surgery ?

2

Are you saying that although they told you to quit smoking you haven’t
If that’s the case you are putting yourself at risk not only during the surgery but also after as the body does not heal well on smoker’s
Are you in the uk

3

They don’t breathalyse you but the anesthetic doctors will know as soon as they put you under. You a really should try to stop even if just 48 hours before. As a smoker I know it’s not that easy! But if you can stay off the fags you will heal quicker and minimise complications

4

I have to have spinal fusion surgery soon.My surgeon told me that when I am smoke free for 2 weeks to give his office a call to set it up. I am in so much pain-I need this surgery but can’t seem to stop smoking. I’m at least trying to cut down. I was wondering the same-if they can tell that you haven’t stopped smoking.

5

Yes they can tell by getting you to do a test that measures your oxygen levels, if they see you have continued to smoke then as the previous poster said you are risking your life on the table and afterwards you will have more problems because you smoke, your body will not heal as well as your counterparts who have quit or never smoked, I’m waiting for a hip replacement and so glad I no longer smoke, its a small price to pay for life changing surgery
If you are struggling ask for help it can be done

6

Thank You for the reinforcement. That’s what I need right now.How did you quit?

Good Luck with your hip replacement.

7

I got up Christmas morning and realised that the slight cold and cough I’d had for a couple of days was worse, I lit up had a coughing fit and put ciggy out, not easy but definitely the right way to go especially if it means you will be able to get a better quality of life.
I used an online forum which was invaluable and loads of fresh orange juice and other healthy nibbles, I did put on 3 stone very quickly which thankfully I managed to lose, eventually :joy:
Knowing you want to quit is half the battle