Terry Pulliam Burd wrote:
> On 4 May 2005 20:23:52 -0700, "Damsel in dis Dress"
> > wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
> > We have quit-smoking patches, but he won't quit
> >until after his surgery.
>
> OMG, Dams...I have back surgery in my future (putting it off until I
> can't stand the pain anymore) and my doc said smokers are the hardest
> hit by major surgery. I don't smoke, but the DH does and he told the
> DH that when I have to have the spinal fusion, even *he* has to quit
> smoking long beforehand, even though he never smokes in the house or
> car.

Crash was supposed to quit when I had my boobectomies, but that didn't
happen. The good part about him being so whacked out right now is that
he just sits there, holding an unlit cigarette in one hand and a
lighter in the other. Indefinitely. He's hardly smoking at all
anymore, so I'm hoping it'll be easier for him to quit. He's going to
be in the hospital for 5 days. Might as well get used to not smoking
before he goes in there.

> I know it's tough - I quit smoking 14 years ago and it was the
hardest
> thing I've ever done in my life.

>From what I've seen, I agree. Crash has quit about every bad habit and
addiction in the book, but he hasn't been able to quit smoking. Yet.

> You might get a temporary guardianship if his doc will sign off on it
> and you can find a willing judge to declare him non compos mentis. I
> don't envy you, but I wish you godspeed.

I talked to folks at the hospital today. The doctor flatly refuses to
perform the surgery unless Crash is totally coherant when he talks to
him. If he's still bleeped up, the surgery will be postponed. I'm
very hopeful that cutting back on his meds will improve his mental
clarity.

> Bless you both,

Thanks so much. You too.

Carol