You know, Steve, it strikes me that I've had several other full anaesthetic operations in the last decade and I never was given that lung-exerciser. I think it's because the anaesthetics used these days are less severe on the lungs anyway ( maybe less gas or no gas and only pharmaceuticals to keep one 'under'...?) so, you may not have any trouble at all with your breathing after the discectomies. You should be home again in 4 or 5 days... Good luck...
Patrick
My Milage:
My Quit Date: 1/18/2008 Smoke-Free Days: 189 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 4,725 Amount Saved: $2,126.25 Life Gained: Days: 35 Hrs: 3 Mins: 13 Seconds: 2
I am having a herniated disc fixed and three vertebrae fused. Work is at L4,5 and S1 if I remember correctly. I am so ready to be done with this stuff. People don't understand how bad this is unless they experience it themselves.
It will be nice to be done with the back and leg pain and smoke free all at the same time.
My Milage:
My Quit Date: 7/13/2008 Smoke-Free Days: 12 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 180 Amount Saved: $25.20 Life Gained: Days: 2 Hrs: 4 Mins: 44 Seconds: 12
I had the eroded disc between L4 and L5 removed. There was no fusion. I was up and walking the next day. Several years later I had the eroded disc above that one removed in the same way and had no complications from that either.... after years of sciatica I was finally free of the pain that emanated from that spot on my body. So, I've had 25 years or so of no back pain!
The smoking side of things was not so bad because i had a great pair of lungs in those days (which I've since destroyed) and I only had to spend double the time after the operations of using the air-blower to clean out my lungs - That is, double the time it took most other people on the same orthopaedic ward after their full anaestetics... It still embarrasses me to think that I was blowing into that exerciser just so that I could get back to smoking the quicker!! Crazy to think that I was allowed to smoke at will in my ward - both in private and public wards!!
Not sure what you want to hear, Steve. Tell me what it is you're worried about in particular about your operation?
Patrick
My Milage:
My Quit Date: 1/18/2008 Smoke-Free Days: 188 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 4,700 Amount Saved: $2,115.00 Life Gained: Days: 34 Hrs: 23 Mins: 26 Seconds: 25
I think the post I am referring to was more recent than that but what the heck. What was involved in your surgery is the best place to start. If I am having the same lind I'll ask some more questions?
My Milage:
My Quit Date: 7/13/2008 Smoke-Free Days: 11 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 165 Amount Saved: $23.10 Life Gained: Days: 2 Hrs: 0 Mins: 24 Seconds: 33
Some days I think this is a piece of cake. Then there those other days, you all know what I'm talking about.
I have identified the times that are the hardest for me to not indulge. Right after meals and right before bed. I'm doing better with the slow times at work, I raid the mint jar, and really no urge when I first get out of bed. So, I'm making progress in those areas.
I have a question maybe someone can help me with. There is a thread where a member talks about back surgery and I posted some questions for him. Now I can't find the thread, I used the search but came up empty, any ideas?
My Milage:
My Quit Date: 7/13/2008 Smoke-Free Days: 10 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 150 Amount Saved: $21.00 Life Gained: Days: 1 Hrs: 20 Mins: 8 Seconds: 10
Good for you, Steve. Good on ya for not giving in to the urge!!!! This will eventually pass and you'll be feeling stronger every day. And then one day you'll experience another "day from hell"(as we all do), and you won't think about cigarettes. It won't enter your mind. Believe me, this WILL happen. Keep going strong,
Cheers,
Jan
My Milage:
My Quit Date: 1/27/2008 Smoke-Free Days: 177 Cigarettes Not Smoked: 4,425 Amount Saved: $1,460.25 Life Gained: Days: 20 Hrs: 4 Mins: 23 Seconds: 43
