I'm thinking maybe you should address the problem of getting headaches so bad that it lands you in the hospital before you move forward with surgery. What do they say at the hospital ? Surely you're not doomed to smoking the rest of your life!

There are valid reasons your surgeon wants you nicotine free before surgery. I wouldn't recommend trying to cheat the requirements. This surgery is serious business. Give yourself the best chance at a good recovery that you can. Blood clots can kill you.

OMFG. You are NOT ready for this surgery!

From a former smoker....Just keep trying. It took me 1 year after being diagnosed with COPD (emphazema) to be able to quit.keep going back to your doctor for different ways to assist your quitting. Their are alot of tools and drugs you can try.

I tried everything from hyptnosis, cold turkey (usually would last just a few hours), prescription drugs, over the counter remedies, etc. Finally 2 1/2 years ago, instead of going on vacation I stayed home for a week. I quit that Monday morning on the patch ( which I tried many times before). During that first afternoon I had to do something or I was gonna fail once again. The best thing I ever did was grab a putty knife and start peeling wall paper. I now call it "MY WALL PAPER THERAPY". It gave me something to focus on and kept my hands busy. Oh, and by the way....the best wall paper remover is 90% warm water and 10% liquid laundry softener.

If you really want to quit, you just have to keep trying to find something that works for you. Good Luck, I wish you the best.

I know your struggle..I had to quit as well before the surgery and I too have tried numerous times before..I quit on Jan 2nd but my question is, I was using the patch and the ecigs, which still have nicotine in them, so will this be accepted when I get tested the day of the surgery? I'm so nervous about that...

PS, I know it will sound crazy, but get a book called, The easy way to quit smoking, by Alan Carr..It was very helpful in my quitting..

I quit 2 1/2 weeks ago with Chantix and a nicotine vaporizer (basically an ecig, but rechargeable & refillable). I saw my surgeon last week & asked if the vaporizer would be a problem since it is A) inhaled and still nicotine. He said he didn't think so, that his main concern was lung capacity, not nicotine itself. He hasn't mentioned a pre-surgery blood test, either. To be on the safe side, I will probably transition to nic gum if needed a month or two before surgery. I'm hoping it won't be necessary, though...I didn't even touch the inhaler yesterday til almost 6:00 pm, so I can really tell I'm needing it less & less each day. Don't try & cheat the requirements...they are there for a reason. Good luck to you!

This post has been on my mind since yesterday-- I just had a hard time accepting that it is better to not quit than to quit, under ANY circumstances! ......so I goooooogled it! This article makes a LOT of sense about the headaches, and it gives good tips on how to succeed. This topic is close to home for me, because I quit only about 8 wks ago after smoking for 25 years! I've used the gum. It is HARD but I didn't get headaches when I tried, so I'm sure it's that much harder for you. But you CAN do it if you want to. There is nothing redeeming about cigarettes -- they are so bad for you, expensive, make you a social outcast, make you smell bad, stain your teeth, stain your fingers, and did I mention they are SO bad for you ?!?! Like poison. That you are addicted to repeatedly inhaling into your lungs. There is help available to stop if you want it. No one is going to say not to quit because you get headaches initially. Except you. You can do this!

OK check this article out: http://www.livestron...hout-headaches/

I wish you the best of luck!

OMFG. You are NOT ready for this surgery!

This is very harsh!

I am a former smoker and I feel that if someone is truly looking to be helped and want to stop, then your input is unnecessary:

1. You don't know what its like

2. Being insensitive

I never open my mouth on this board but this is so out of line for you to tell someone else that they are not ready. Shame on you

I quit smoking before I started the process for surgery. It was hard- but I was serious about having the surgery. And your willingness to cheat a nicotine test may prove that you are not willing to adhere to a strict diet and lifestyle change. It is NOT harsh to say that you are not ready. It is reality. If you smoke after surgery- you will get painful uclers in your new stomach. And you risk serious complications related to the surgery.

This is very harsh!

I am a former smoker and I feel that if someone is truly looking to be helped and want to stop, then your input is unnecessary:

1. You don't know what its like

2. Being insensitive

I never open my mouth on this board but this is so out of line for you to tell someone else that they are not ready. Shame on you

That really is not insensitive. People need to hear the truth.

I am down to 2 cigs a day. It is very hard but I notice If I cut it our completely then that is when the headaches start. For all of you who have shown compassion with this post I thank you. For those of you with negativity or using foul language please do not post on my blogs again.