Mad at myself!

[VwGirl916 0]

I had my visit with the NP on friday. Let me back track by saying that I had my first orientation class back in Feb with Kaiser. So I finally get through my lifestyles class, my visit with the nutrionalist etc. So , I go and see the NP on friday and he is doing everything he needs to do. Taking measurements, weight, checking my O2 levels and asking 5 million questions. He tells me he thinks I am a very good canidate for the lap band and that they just had about 10 spots open up for the OR, and then he gets to the "do you drink or smoke" and I told him I didnt drink at all but I did smoke cigs. As soon as I said that he says....well thats going to delay your surg for another 4 months atleast. DAMN IT! I knew at some point I would have to quit smoking, but not durring any of the classes that I have been to did this ever come up. :thumbup:

I am SO upset at myself for not just quiting when I went to the orientation in Feb!! He scheduled me for a follow up with him at the end of Jan, and if I have been smoke free from now until he see's me again that I will have surg sometime in Feb. I was really hoping that it would have been sooner but I guess it is my own fault.

So I guess my question is...how hard has it been for people who have quit smoking? I smoked the last cig in my pack tonight and I am not buying anymore. Im hoping to go cold turkey, because I tried the gum before and it taste's like . Any tips or tricks from ex-smokers that will help??

On a plus side....I also saw the Psych the same day and he gave me the thumbs up, so I guess that means im not crazy!

Thanks for any info!!!

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I quit smoking in 1995 and for me it was VERY hard. I used the patch. They didn't have chantix then or I would've used it, too. Back then smoking was more "legal" and I could smoke at work so I smoked between 3-4 packs a day. (Now I couldn't afford that even if I WANTED to smoke that much!) just to give you an idea of my situation. Some say it's easy. For me, I cried, I yelled, I fretted, but I didn't smoke, and each day got a little easier, but it took a while. I am so glad I quit, though....because I did "come out" the other side and can't imagine smoking, now. People say "I still want one and it's been 5 years" etc...well, not me. Once I got through it, I was through. That was a big plus. I was scared I'd crave them forever, but it went away.

SO hang in there; use the patch, use Chantix, use whatever YOU think you need to, to quit. It's worth it!

[SillyGoose 0]

I'm so sorry that no one ever mentioned that you had to quit! I'm also going through Kaiser in Fresno, CA and that was one of the first things they mentioned when starting this process. I've been wanting to quit for years and have "tried" a few times. For some stupid reason, this surgery was finally my excuse to quit.

I went through Kaiser's Heath Education to help me quit. You go to their class and they give you ideas on how to handle cravings and help you pick a "stop smoking" date (mine was 10/4/08). Then they prescribed (if you want it) Wellbutrin and a patch. I tried taking them both for a week and my blood pressure got really high, so I stopped taking them and have continued to not smoke on my own.

Like the last poster said, it isn't easy at first - I too cried and felt like I was losing my mind at first. But, it really does get easier each day!! Each day I think about them less and less. Don't give up! Ask your doctor about Chantix if you need help. I hear it really works - that was going to be my next step if I failed at this attempt to quit.

Things that helped me through cravings was holding and chewing on straws (especially while driving). Small dum dum suckers and sunflower seeds. And, once in a great while if I'm really stressed and think I need nicotine, I suck on one of those commit lozenges (found them in the medicine cabinet from a previous attempt to quit!) and it does help. I just use them sparingly.

Good luck and don't give up!