fistula and smoking

[BRANDY]

Asking to see what others done in my situation. I want to know do we have to stop smoking when on dialysis  ,l I have been smoking for 34 yrs It is hard to stop. Havent succeeded yet .  I give up right now.  Can you have a fistula placed and still smoke. I know I need to quite but havent yet.  I dont have high blood pressure YET I am diabetic   double whamy   just wondering   

[Rerun]

You may smoke on dialysis.  You cannot be placed on the transplant list however. 


At least that is what I've been told.

[Run8]

Brandy have you tried Chantix, I smoked for 15 yrs. and after 3 weeks of taking it I am now smoke free. I cant even stand the smell of a cigarette burning. It really makes quiting easy if you are ready t quit.

[paul.karen]

Chantrix
I have had several friends who have used it and it worked well for them.
But i asked my neph and he told me it is bad for the kidneys??
I was like well my kidneys are already bad.  havnt seen him since this point.

But be warned i think they have put a new WARNING on the label.  Seems they have casued several people to commit suicide.

Hey Run8 did they give you wild dreams by any chance.
This is a side effect some of my frineds seemed to have had.

GOOD LUCK brandy.  I will be attempting to quit myslef AGAIN :-(

[Chris]

Asking to see what others done in my situation. I want to know do we have to stop smoking when on dialysis  ,l I have been smoking for 34 yrs It is hard to stop. Havent succeeded yet .  I give up right now.  Can you have a fistula placed and still smoke. I know I need to quite but havent yet.  I dont have high blood pressure YET I am diabetic   double whamy   just wondering   

Well exactly what Rerun says regarding transplant, but my center would do it if you quit for a certain amount of time before being listed.

If they want to do a fistula and your a diabetic, better ask the surgeon some questions or statements. Depending on how long you have had diabetes, calcification develops in the veins and arteries. Smoking doesn't help this either. So when you talk to the surgeon and he still wants to do a fistula after hearing your medical history and habits, tell him that when he looks at your veins and artery while in the process and sees calcification and doubts this will work, have him put a graft in instead to avoid surgery later to put a graft in.

I wasn't educated at the time to ask or state to my doctor concerns till I read my medical reports of the surgery. If my doc knew this and felt it wouldn't last, why did he do my fistula in the first place. My fistula only lasted 3 months after first use. My graft on the other hand is still working in my upper arm.

[monrein]

It's very very hard to quit as you already said but it is important to keep trying (perhaps with the help of a doc) because of damage to the vascular system which we need to rely on for access reasons. The  stress adds to the difficulty of quitting but I wish you luck and send you hugs as you try. 

[RichardMEL]

Yes, they will give you a fistula if you smoke. There may be issues with blood flow and all that depending on how your long term smoking may have affected your cardiovascular system - I don't really know much about that but it *may* be an issue.. but I don't see why they wouldn't try to give you a fistula. I've certainly seen smokers given fistulas.

As others have said you won't get on the transplant list while you smoke. I think down here you need to quit for at least 3 or 6 months before they will put you on the list.

The thing is you should try so hard to quit smoking for your own health. Smoking puts so much strain on the heart and lungs - and there will be even more stress on the body imposed by dialysis.. it's in your own interests to try and quit smoking ASAP because it will improve your overall health on dialysis and should you wish to go on the list it will aid you in accepting a transplanted organ both from the surgery point of view, and the longer term survival rate.

good luck!

[Wenchie58]

Chantrix
I have had several friends who have used it and it worked well for them.
But i asked my neph and he told me it is bad for the kidneys??
I was like well my kidneys are already bad.  havnt seen him since this point.

P.K-
  I used Chantix.  My neph put my on a half dose...it took a little longer, but after 4 weeks the cigs just didn't taste as good.  I had NO ill effects, no sleeping problems, no wild dreams AND as a bonus I didn't even WHACK anyone!
  Talk to your neph..it was so worth it to quit.

[BRANDY]

  everyone for your responses, I am still going to keep up trying but it is so darn hard,  My health is more important I know .  thanks again.

[Ang]

a  patient from  my  unit  got  a  transplant  at  the  start  of  the  month,he  was  a  smoker

when  he  came  to  visit  a  week  or  so  later  he  was  crossing  at  the  traffic  lights  with  a  cigarette

in  his  hand.

[RichardMEL]

Wow Ang on several counts - that he could be out and visiting IN A WEEK??? and that he's still smoking and they gave him a tx.. maybe it was a live donation. Still it's not smart of him to keep smoking but I guess it's his life and some people will do what they want to do. I wish him all the best.

[Run8]

Hey P&k, I didn't have any weird dreams. None that were weirder than i normally have.

[Ang]

Wow Ang on several counts - that he could be out and visiting IN A WEEK??? and that he's still smoking and they gave him a tx.. maybe it was a live donation. Still it's not smart of him to keep smoking but I guess it's his life and some people will do what they want to do. I wish him all the best.

not  sure  if  he's  still  smoking  cause  i  have  not  seen  him  since  he  came  for  a  visit

2 different  people  saw  him  smoking  so  who  knows,but  it  was a  cadaver  kidney

[Lucinda]

A friend of mine here in Australia was a heavy smoker all his life and was even smoking the morning he went for his transplant.  He did get a transplant from a living donor and he continued to smoke after his transplant.  When his kidney failed a few years later and he chose not to go on dialysis.  Evidently the doctors told him if he had stopped smoking just six months before his transplant he would have had a much greater chance of success with the kidney.  Try and give it away Brandy.  I know it is hard but it will be a huge health benefit in the long run. xx

[BRANDY]

Lucendia  Today is the day . I am trying to quite I have put them down as of about 30 min ago. I got to start somewhere  I have made up my mind  I cough all the time   I am ready to be able to breath.  I ll fill everyone in on how Im doing in a few days  Thanks for all of your responses to this matter.   

[BRANDY]

I am sorry to have to say it but Im still puffin,but Im still trying  I have not given up as I usually do. I guess I need to pray a little harder. If I could stay away from store I would be okl.  Surely I can think of something . Im dissapointed in myself  Maybe soon I just dont know. Maybe that will help just a bad joke







EDITED:Fixed smiley tag error-kitkatz,Moderator

[RichardMEL]

When you say you put down the ciggies did you like finish the last packet and had none left in the house? or did you still have some lying around (thus making the temptation too great?)... have you tried ridding ALL cigarettes from the house and whenever you feel like a smoke like chew on gum, or something like that? Have you tried the nicotine patches and gums and all that stuff?

You can do it!! Come on  

[Chris]

What comes to mind is a SNL skit  with  The Rock (Dwayne something). The fake product commercial was for Nicotrel.  Where The Rock would show up and beat you up or yell at you for smoking. Of course this was on a guy and his wife was interested in Nicotrel  due to the body. 

http://thetravisty.com/Saturday_Night_Live/wmv/Nicotrel_(The_Rock).htm

[BRANDY]

Richard -- Yes  I smoke the last one and get the temptation away from me.  But I have got it down to one pack  instead of two packs.  I do ok if my boyfriend doesnt leave me alone but  just as soon as he leaves  I go to store pretty quick.  By the way  he  also smokes like a freight train. Which doesnt bother me much it is more of a habit to  smoke  than the nicotien  I think,And chris-- I couldnt help but laugh as I read your coment. It was quite.   

[mikey07840]

I just saw the headline for this thread. I am not a doctor. But if my fistula started to smoke, I would get a new surgeon. I'm just sayin'.

[RichardMEL]

Richard -- Yes  I smoke the last one and get the temptation away from me.  But I have got it down to one pack  instead of two packs.  I do ok if my boyfriend doesnt leave me alone but  just as soon as he leaves  I go to store pretty quick.  By the way  he  also smokes like a freight train. Which doesnt bother me much it is more of a habit to  smoke  than the nicotien  I think,And chris-- I couldnt help but laugh as I read your coment. It was quite.   

That would make it that much harder if your bf smokes. Smokes would always be around, and the smell would be on him etc.. very hard to resist. That would make it very tough. Every little bit you do to cut down (eg: 2 packs to 1) is helping your overall health so well done on that... keep it up and try and quit totally!