Ann a very long time ago, in my youth I to used to smoke, two an once in awhile even three packs a day! Started when I was 14 or 15 and quit when I around 25, My incentive was when my then wife was pregnant with our first child, I did not want my children to be raised around smoking parents, like I was, both my parents were heavy smokers all their lives, and they both died of cancer, my mom at age 62 of colon cancer, (often said to be caused by smoking) and my father at age 75 of lung cancer! As a RN, I worked on an Oncology Unit, and Cancer is really really scary!!! Lung cancer is especially bad, and even with all the new advances, the mortality rate is still extremely high, and I can't not stress that enough! It attacks people of all ages!
I know how difficult it is to quit, I tried many times before I was successful! Personally I never would say I quit smoking until I went a full year without ever having a a cigarette! It doesn't matter how long you have smoked, that is history that can't be changed, what matters is when you quit! I know it is hard to do, but, there are so many reasons to stop, Besides all the health reasons, think of all the money you can save, now days it is a very expensive habit compared to when I was a smoker, ( back in my day when I was in the military they were only 19 cents a pack, cheaper if you brought them at the commissary by the carton!)
Please Please Please try your best to quit, smoking can affect the healing of your surgery and the ability of your bone graft in your fusion to take. I know I have had some neurosurgeons tell me that they insist that their potential patients, quit smoking for up to 90 days before they will do a fusion type surgery!
I really don't mean to sound like I am preaching to you, but this subject is near and dear to my heart! And I do care about each and every member on this forum, and only want the best for them, and that also includes you! I do wish you well and success with kicking the habit!
White Beard