Smoking

[FrankyG 1,450]

I've posted something similar to what I'm about to write elsewhere on here, but I'll keep posting it when I see one of these posts come up:

I loved smoking. I started when I was 15 and smoked through the next couple of decades without quitting for any real length of time. I enjoyed it, and I was pretty pissed at the idea of quitting for this surgery. I only smoked around 6-8 cigs a day, and technically was a light smoker... but after so many years, even light smokers experience issues with tiny capillaries dying off, cold fingers and toes and weird nerve issues, wheezing and coughing and are more prone to colds and flu and all the other horrible things that come with smoking ~any~ cigarettes.

So I quit.

Here is what I realized: I'm having this surgery to make my life better, to be healthy, to live longer and really enjoy the time I have left on this planet. Smoking is in direct opposition to all of those goals. Smoking - and I count vaping in there too since the early results on vaping are not looking good for long term health - is one of the few things that is guaranteed to do major harm to your body and kill you in the end if you use the product as intended. Think about that for a minute.

There is no reason to smoke. It is bad for you, it hurts your lungs, your circulation and hampers healing. Smoking before or after having major surgery is beyond stupid (I'm saying this as part of my own self talk, not calling you specifically stupid).

The ONLY reason any one smokes is because it is addictive. If you smoke or vape - you are an addict, same as an alcoholic or a drug user. Quitting is the only smart, rational option ESPECIALLY before having a serious, life altering surgery like a sleeve or bypass.

I miss it almost every single day, and I just celebrated (yesterday!) my one year quit anniversary. I tell myself that I can always smoke again someday, just not right now... and hope that I can keep telling myself "maybe tomorrow" for the rest of my life. But I am damned proud I took my life back and no longer depend on those evil things, even if I still miss them. It's part of being an addict. I know what I am, and admit I'm probably always going to have that struggle, but I'll be damned if they'll ever control my life that way again.

You are doing this to improve your life, so take that step further and really commit to giving your body the best possible chance, and quit smoking as well. You deserve to be the best you that you can be, and smoking should not be a part of that.

Edited October 12, 2015 by FrankiesGirl

[JudeaJordon 25]

I've posted something similar to what I'm about to write elsewhere on here, but I'll keep posting it when I see one of these posts come up:

I loved smoking. I started when I was 15 and smoked through the next couple of decades without quitting for any real length of time. I enjoyed it, and I was pretty pissed at the idea of quitting for this surgery. I only smoked around 6-8 cigs a day, and technically was a light smoker... but after so many years, even light smokers experience issues with tiny capillaries dying off, cold fingers and toes and weird nerve issues, wheezing and coughing and are more prone to colds and flu and all the other horrible things that come with smoking ~any~ cigarettes.

So I quit.

Here is what I realized: I'm having this surgery to make my life better, to be healthy, to live longer and really enjoy the time I have left on this planet. Smoking is in direct opposition to all of those goals. Smoking - and I count vaping in there too since the early results on vaping are not looking good for long term health - is one of the few things that is guaranteed to do major harm to your body and kill you in the end if you use the product as intended. Think about that for a minute.

There is no reason to smoke. It is bad for you, it hurts your lungs, your circulation and hampers healing. Smoking before or after having major surgery is beyond stupid (I'm saying this as part of my own self talk, not calling you specifically stupid).

The ONLY reason any one smokes is because it is addictive. If you smoke or vape - you are an addict, same as an alcoholic or a drug user. Quitting is the only smart, rational option ESPECIALLY before having a serious, life altering surgery like a sleeve or bypass.

I miss it almost every single day, and I just celebrated (yesterday!) my one year quit anniversary. I tell myself that I can always smoke again someday, just not right now... and hope that I can keep telling myself "maybe tomorrow" for the rest of my life. But I am damned proud I took my life back and no longer depend on those evil things, even if I still miss them. It's part of being an addict. I know what I am, and admit I'm probably always going to have that struggle, but I'll be damned if they'll ever control my life that way again.

You are doing this to improve your life, so take that step further and really commit to giving your body the best possible chance, and quit smoking as well. You deserve to be the best you that you can be, and smoking should not be a part of that.

I really loved the 6th paragraph was kinda poetic I loved it thank you!

[sarahh2.0 14]

Just the place I was looking for! I just quit smoking after being a pack a day smoker for 6 years. It isn't and wasn't easy but in order to better my life with WLS I had too show myself i could Do it and I'm surprised I actually did it, I never would have imagined me to stop. My problem now is the 5 lb weight gain! I really didn't think I was eating to substitute the smoking

[ojibway 203]

I smoke a cigar once or twice a month when I play golf, My Doctor says that is ok.

[ojibway 203]

cigarettes are a no.. I haven't had a cigarette in 20years

[OKCPirate 5,323]

@@FrankiesGirl - "I count vaping in there too since the early results on vaping are not looking good for long term health"

Not looking to pick a fight, just curious what you've seen on this. I've been looking at this for a while and have not seen anything that has scared me off of vaping. But I'm always ready to change if there is a compelling reason.

[Leesa926 72]

Thanks @@FrankiesGirl I needed that!

My quit date is Wed so fingers crossed!!

The hard part to understand is how all ex-smokwes say how they miss is every day. Surely it gets easier no? Lol. I'm same as you smoking since 15 scary but I can do this!

[Fabiana87 18]

Its hard! But DOABLE! I smoked 5-6 cig a day..and about 2 months ago i cold turkey quit! My surgeon will not operate on anyone that is currently smoking and he does a nicotein test before. Now let me tell you...i feel better it was hard at first but after 2 weeks and coughin up the mucous i can finally breathe and stop coughin up a lung. It is better for u to quit now while u can. Good luck to you.

[justaboutme 42]

I have quit smoking since my doctor does the nicotine test before surgery. I miss it but I want to get the surgery to get healthy, so why smoke? I will continue to be a non-smoker as I re-start my life and do most things differently so I don't end up making the same mistakes that got me to where I am now.

[sarahh2.0 14]

I'm now on day 6 since I quit smoking cold turkey! The first day was challenging and I slipped but when I smoked the half cigg it was so gross and I had so much disappointment in myself that I said okay I will NEVER do that again. Urges have settled a little, but I've already gained about 4 pounds! And I am hungry all the time now, I don't get it

[chuck415 89]

God bless all those who are trying to quit tobacco. It is a hard thing to do, but this road we are taking is full of bumps, just consider this one you have to pass. My surgeon requires you to take a nicotine test prior to surgery.

[con con 142]

My Doctor had a patient that started smoking after sleeve. Her staples leaked immediately and had to go back into the hospital.

[SleevePerry 248]

I had to quit smoking three months before my surgery. The surgeon said that nicotine negatively impacts the healing process and, post-op, leads to stomach ulcers. So I had to be nicotine-free for several months, so no nicotine Patches, gums, vapes, etc. No forms of nicotine allowed.

I'm now 8 months smoke free and am going strong. Best thing I ever did, with this surgery being the second best thing.

Edited October 13, 2015 by SleevePerry

[sarahh2.0 14]

What about the weight gain pre op? Since I've quit smoking I put on 6 pounds in just a week! How that even happened I have no clue will it set me back??

[newmebithebypass 713]

@@sarahh2.0 nicotine is an apatite suppressant you gain weight because your body doesn't have that suppressant anymore. Actually one of the biggest advertisements for cigs back in the day was they kept you thin