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operations and smoking

hello evryone, I've got a bit of a dilema. I'm having my tonsils out in June/July for which i have to go to a pre-admission screening where they will take my blood and stuff, and I've been told that i may be refused the operation if they find nicotine in my blood.
I'm not a heavy smoker, one or two a day if that so it shouldnt be too much of a problem to cut down but how long does nicotine stay in my blood for??
And is it even true that i will be refused?? Cos if i am i will invariably have to tell my parents the reason why and they will probably flip out :frown:

the tonsilitis isnt self inflicted through smoking, I simply never grew out of it (I'm 17) and the times I've had it over the last two years (when i wasnt smoking) have been really bad.

any help and advice would be much appreciated, my appointment isnt until late june so i have time if i really do need to quit but id like to avoid that seeing as im in the middle of my as-levels.

thanks

Reply 1

RetiredAccount89

1) you were probably told that nicotine rubbish by some HCA or something. its bull****.
2) the important thing is you'll be having an operation. smoking makes your blood more likely to clot up, makes healing take longer, and reduces the amount of oxygen in your body. If you totally cut out smoking from now until a few weeks after the operation (you wont be in the mood for fags after it anyway!) then that would be ideal. but you should make sure you don't touch a ciggy for at least a couple of days before the op anyway. thats how long it takes to get your blood clotting up to more normal levels.

obviously this advice is more for bigger ops rather than tonsil, but it still applies.

Reply 2

blissy

Top tip: don't pop out for a fag while the surgeon is waiting for you and noone can find you. Daveo told me such a thing happened a few months ago and when the girl was finally found the surgeon refused to operate on her.

Reply 3

technik

or be intelligent and stop poisoning yourself altogether.

end of issue. next.

Reply 4

Will they even test for nicotine in your blood? Wouldn't they just do a normal blood count for tonsillitus? Would that reveal the amount of nicotine in your blood?

Reply 5

Revd. Mike

They won't test specifically for nicotine.

Being a smoker does not mean you cannot have the procedure.

Don't smoke at least a few days to a week before the procedure to ensure normal recovery etc.

Don't smoke for a while afterwards.