Pre-op Question about smoking

[HollyRnOh 0]

I quit smoking 6 months ago but honestly with this pre-op liquid diet I find myself wanting to revert to old habits. What is the boggest thing I have to worry about if I do relapse? Right now I am relying on willpower and prayer to keep me from lighting up.

[talkalot1981 5]

I am not sure how your doc does it but I have 2 be smoke free for 2 months before I can even have a consult with him. I know it has been a struggle and I have only been smoke free for 9 days. I still wanna smoke really bad. But the thought of being told I can't have the surgery has made me not even wanna look behind the counter at a gas station. LOL I have to have nicotine tests and everything. I will NOT risk it. Jennifer

[RestlessMonkey 7]

You know your odds of complications during the surgery SKYROCKET if you smoke. Couple smoking with obesity and many surgeons will not perform an elective procedure because the risks are too high. Just hang in there; it will pass and you'll still be a non-smoker!

[madduck52 0]

I just found out my surgery date is 6/10 and my pre op appts. are 5/28. Smokin is a peice of cake to quit compared to chewing. But i have been trying to get a surgery date since 11/07 and i know now its time to quit. So at 9pm on 4/15/09 i will not chew again. I will exercise and eat better also. If its to be its up to me. If theres nothing to lose by trying and a great deal to gain if successful by all means try,try,try. Good luck to everyone, Madduck52

[TSB 1]

My surgeon requires 3 months of non smoking prior to surgery will do blood tests for co2 levels. I quit Feb. 18, fell off the wagon Feb. 26 & 27. Quit again Feb. 28. Fell off the wagon again March 4,5,6,7,8 & 9. Quit again on March 10 and have not touched them since :sneaky: It is VERY hard. Frankly, when I get stressed my first instinct is I really want a a cigarette! I am using Chantix, which helps. It does not help with the "habit" per se. But it does something to the way the receptors in your brain react nicotine. Even when I fell off the wagon I kept taking the pill, because quite frankly they tasted really bad and didn't do a thing for me as far as that nicotine buzz you get. Good luck!

[Brockbabe82 0]

There are multiple reasons to stop smoking. Patients overall will have fewer complications if they no longer smoke. Smoking damages the lungs and this can lead to higher anesthetic risks and pneumonias following surgery. It takes about a month for the lungs to recover - so stop now! In addition, weight loss surgery is about improving your health. Smoking directly contradicts this goal.

**** This is what was given to me during my consult, although I am or never was a smoker. Good luck to all those quitting, just think of how much better you will feel being a non-smoking bandster!

[ClaudiaJ 0]

Just hang in there. You've done it this far already so take it as a motivation not to fall for temptation. You won't regret it once you've reached your goal. If you do relapse, you'll only waste the 6 months that you have worked hard not to smoke and of course your surgeon might just reschedule your surgery and it will only make your days longer.

Good luck! Stay strong.:sneaky:

- Claudia

[savannahsmommie 0]

Congrats on the quiting smoking! I know how hard it is. I quit on 12/3/08 and still struggle. It's totally worth it! Good luck!

[circa 0]

quitting smoking is so important for so many reasons. First, just your overall health. I've been off the stuff for over 2 years now and I will _never_ go back. *yaychantix* One of the biggest complications that smoking adds to is blood clots. The CO2 in your blood from smoking lowers your hemaglobin levels and causes poor circulation which can lead to blood clots, especially in someone who is overweight/obese and sedentary after surgery. Couple this with the lung issues that can cause pneumonia after surgery - it just doesn't make sense to continue.

I know how hard it can be to stop smoking - I did it several times in my life. Luckily, I did it for the final time because I never want to go through it again. I can say it was the easiest this last time. I've not had a serious craving for a cigarette since 2 days after I had my last one.

Bottom line, its important to quit smoking, not just for this surgery but for your health as a whole. And thinking you can fool the doc by just smoking a little won't get you anywhere but in deep Water with him - even if you lie about it because then he'll either just know you're lying or assume that something is even more seriously wrong with you and your surgery date will not happen.