Smoking and Lap Banding

[Daisalana 33]

I have been a bit worried about this, but in a Before & After picture I saw someone with a cigarette so I know at least one person out there smokes and would have information!

I am a smoker, and though I plan to quit one day, I don't want to yet.

I haven't been able to find any information on smoking with lap banding. I read in gastric bypass you have to quit before having it for healing I guess..

Anyone who is a smoker that had lap banding, what did your doctor tell you about it, did it bother you to smoke having it in (I don't know how involved your stomach is when smoking?) and all that.

Any info please, thanks!

[HelenC 0]

I quit smoking from 11/1/06 to 12/25/06, fell off the wagon during the holidays when I was surrounded by smokers. I stressed very hard about this, because the rumor was, my doctor wouldn't operate if you were actively smoking. He asked me during pre-op and I confessed (it's not like a non-smoker can't smell it on you!), and he operated anyway. The infamous "they" say that not smoking promotes healing, but I don't think that my healing has been prolonged by my smoking.

I still intend to quit again, in fact, my quit day is right around the corner, but I'm doing it for me, not for impending surgery.

[Carlene 12]

A lot of doctors won't do the procedure unless you are smoke-free for six months. Same goes for plastics. Some people have posted that they even do pre-op blood tests for nicotine.

Check with your physician, as to his policy.

[faithmd 14]

It really does make a huge difference in healing. I was in a trauma and burn unit for a number of years and there was a big difference overall in the healing times of smokers versus non-smokers. Smokers lost grafts faster and had wounds dehisce more often (not always, but generally) than non-smokers. We would give nicotine Patches but that also slows healing, though not as much as smoking itself.

But it really is a discussion to be had with your surgeon. As Carlene said some do test, but as HelenC said, her doc was okay with it. Just as some docs require a pre-op diet and others do not. It is different depending on who you go to see. But ideally, stopping is a good idea.

Though I haven't really been in support of someone stopping smoking when they are under another stress in their life, it just adds to that stress. (Unless it is a burn patient, that is.)

[demsvmejm 5]

My Dr. said smoke free for 2 months prior, or NO band.....

it's been 81 days smoke free for me!

In 4 years my risk of having ANOTHER stroke will have declined to that of a non-smoker.

okay, I'll get off my soapbox, sorry.

if you do a search on "smoking" you will probably hear the same thing.

[lianna 3]

I will confess. I didnt stop smoking before my surgery. I dont know that it made any difference, I think I healed just fine. It is still a nasty habit and bad overall for your health, so if you can quit for the surgery by all means do.

[Carlene 12]

My Dr. said smoke free for 2 months prior, or NO band.....

it's been 81 days smoke free for me!

In 4 years my risk of having ANOTHER stroke will have declined to that of a non-smoker.

okay, I'll get off my soapbox, sorry.

if you do a search on "smoking" you will probably hear the same thing.

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!! I had a TIA (mini-stroke) in my mid-40's. It's amazing how much will power you acquire after a near-death experience. I had quit twice before, and relapsed both times. I'm 12 years smoke-free now. But I'm sympathetic to smokers. I didn't just smoke out of habit - I loved to smoke. I thought if I quit, there would be no reason for me to get out of bed in the morning. Oh, wait....there was still food.

Some disagree, I know, but I think getting banded and giving up cigarettes at the same time is perfect. You can't over-eat with the band, and that's what happens when you stop smoking. I switched to chewing gum. At first, I used the Nicorette about 10 times a day, but regular gum in between. I always had something in my mouth. Now I just chew sugarless gum - no nicotine.

[juliegeraci 7]

I didn't stop smoking before surgery and I healed up very quickly.

[Daisalana 33]

I don't want to undertake both of these at once. I don't think stopping smoking while giving up food.. at the same time would make for a very sane me. I also enjoy smoking, not only out of habit. I want to quit eventually when I decide to have kids, but I need my smoking crutch right now! And I have had surgeries since being a smoker, and they always say I 'should' stop smoking for healing, and I've never had any problems.. I am hopeful they don't 'make' me quit, as I KNOW I am dedicated to losing weight, but my whole heart would not be into quitting cigarettes right now, and I know from experience unless I'm completely on board with it, it won't work.

[kity 2]

I too was told the same thing...quit for at least 6 six before surgery or no band. I quit last year and cheated myself back to being a smoker. So on Valentines day I quit! I cheated yesterday (getting banded April3!), and felt sick and guilty. My doctor told me that he has had more removals w/ smokers due to ulcers. He has never removed a non smokers band. Be it true or not, that was enough for me. I think that since I am starting on a new journey...a new me...that I want to quit. It is tooo hard to exercise being a smoker. Cardio is best for weight loss...we all know that. So I now want to quit so I can exercise and get the most out of it. I don't want to stroll around the block, I want to get my heart rate up and benefit from the time I am putting into it.

I am using the patch, but there is a great pill out there, Chantix. I have my perscription at the pharmacy, and will fill it after the surgery. If your getting your mind around a new and improved YOU...I think really jump in and start to really feel better!

Good Luck!

[Daisalana 33]

I'm happy that some of you are as excited to quit as you are to lose weight I wish I had that same feeling!! Back in my yo-yo dieting, I got into cardio when I was going down and I did pretty well as a smoker. I'm sure I could have done better, but I don't think smoking was holding me back too much. Who knows!

As for Chantix, my mom and uncle both did that in the past month or so. My mom had a hysterectomy and she took Chantix just so she could stop smoking for the day she was in the hospital. She said it worked great for that one day, she didn't crave and panic a cigarette, but as soon as we checked her out and we got out of there, she had one and she didn't quit..

My uncle was gung ho about it, and thought Chantix was working for him, and after 2 weeks of taking it, you quit and he said he felt (actually my mom said this too) they didn't feel like finishing a cigarette. After 2 weeks on it, they would smoke but only smoke half and felt like they'd smoked a whole cigarette. Anyway.. my uncle is diabetic and has extremely high blood pressure, so he's been dieting, he was an alcoholic and he actually has not had a drink in 2 months now has lost weight, but he is still smoking.. :speechles

So I'm afraid if I'm told to stop smoking is mandatory for the surgery, what if I can't, since I won't be completely into it..

[stacy16 0]

I have my surgery on March 16th and I haven't quit yet. Dr. Ortiz said to stop 2 weeks prior, but it's so hard when I can't eat either. I am going crazy at it is. I hope they don't postpone my surgery.

Stacy

[Heather228 0]

I don't know if the quitting 2 weeks before surgery has as much to do with healing as it does with respiratory issues. I posted on another thread about my experience with a surgery last October, where I never stopped smoking beforehand. Although I came through just fine, there was an issue with me not breathing deeply enough as I was coming to. They had me on oxygen when I woke, and the nurse told me she'd take it off but I had to work at taking very deep breaths.

My surgery date, which I just moved up a day, is now 4/5. I am planning to start the patch tomorrow, but I am concerned about being able to do it and the pre-op diet too, so I have my reservations!

[stacy16 0]

It is so hard to be on the pre-op diet and not smoke. I am STARVING!

Stacy

[Carlene 12]

It is so hard to be on the pre-op diet and not smoke. I am STARVING!

Stacy

Stacy....try the gum. It really helps. I swear, if it wasn't so expensive, I'd still be chewing it.