What's better pre-surgery - flare or smoking?

I am scheduled for a hysterectomy on December 14.  I decided to quit smoking this week in preparation for my surgery and recovery but I am starting to flare worse today (most likely due to quitting) and now I don't know what to do. I was just nicely getting my August flare under control the last week or so.  I am using the nicotine patch to help me quit but I don't think they are having the same impact on my UC as actually smoking cigarettes did.  

I wanted to quit smoking so my body would be as healthy as possible going into the surgery but now I don't know which is harder on my system: smoking before surgery and during my recovery or a 2 month flare prior to surgery.  I could use some help with this one. 

That's a good idea. It is worth a shot to hear what my GI doc says. The part that really frustrates me is the tunnel vision I find many doctors (particularly specialists) have. Of course the doctor doing my surgery (gynaecologist) says the answer is to just quit smoking because that's always a good thing to do and especially before major surgery. But he does not have UC and I don't feel he really understands how unhealthy I could be at the time of surgery if I spend the next 2 months in a major flare. I lost 10 extra pounds I didn't have to begin with in August and can't afford to lose any more.