Question about nicotine w/Dr. Kemmeter

I am currently in the process of trying to quit smoking in order to have surgery with Dr. Kemmeter.  I had a lapse last night and smoked, but have been back on the patch since this morning and am doing ok for now. 

My question is, I have an appointment with the internist on Sept 1st and was told they will do a nicotine test that day.  I told the woman over the phone I was on the patch but all she could tell me was that it will delay the process if you smoke, but I would have to ask the internist what the policy with nictotine replacement is.  My plan was to stop the patch about a week in advance to have no nicotine in my system...but I now know that is simply not possible.  I need the patch right now. 

Do any Kemmeter patients know what their policy is with nicotine replacement? I really don't see the point in driving that many hours to be told that I will have to wait ___months before they test me again and I move along with the process.  Or will they allow me to keep moving forward on the patch?

Thanks!

I don't know his policy but I wanted to say GO YOU!! for quitting.  I quit in order to have this surgery too so I know what you are going through.

I used the patches and the gum and I also got support at about.com's quit forum.  That place really helped me.

I know now, a couple of years smoke free, that quitting made a HUGE differece in not only my health but in my life.  I am SO glad I quit.

My quit date is June 3, 2009.

~Becky

Thank-you Becky!  It has been VERY rough, and last night there was just a lot of stress and I broke down and bought a pack.  I smoked 3 cigarettes and then threw them away! I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to rip through my trash and get them out....but I'm holding strong.  But the thought of getting delayed for surgery (when my 6 month diet isn't even over until mid-novemeber) because I'm on the patch now is really causing me even more stress!

I just don't believe this is the first time a person has asked about the patch, and I really wish she would give me a straight answer.  Ughh...just very frustrated right now.  I may be waiting a long time for surgery because right now I need these patches.

 Just letting you know you're not alone with the nicotene cravings.  God this is the HARDEST thing I think I've ever done....cigs are my nerve meds.  Keep up the good work and keep asking them....sometimes you get ahold of someone who actually KNOWS what they're talking about.  If she can't answer you straight....see if she knows who can.

You may also want to try the e-cigarettes...they worked wonders for me.  You can get them with or without nicotine in the various flavors.  I liked clove the best.

Best of luck to you and ASK somebody else...there has to be a rule about this somewhere.  My doc knew I was using e-cigs and he was fine with that.

B

I never thought about those!! If they really work I would LOVE to get one. I'm going nuts finding something to do with my hands.  I will call them monday and see if someone there knows the policy then.  Whoever I talked to the other day didn't seem to have a clue.

thank-you!

btw...is there a certain type or brand you recommend?

It's the Joy with some numbers after it.  Go online and research...you will find all the ecig stuff.  Also look for a box type thingy of ecigs...they are great cause you can put a bigger battery in and it holds a lot of juice...the clove stuff I was referring to. There are other flavors but I liked the clove the best.  The ones with fake cigarette stuff I personally think they are nasty. Try the ecig and I used patches at the same time.  It was a *****I'll tell you that.

Good luck...quitting for the DS is sooo worth it.

B

Nicotine (regardless of the route of entry into the body) can have detrimental effects for surgery patients.  Smoking can make the lungs more sensitive during surgery and increase the risk of developing pneumonia. It can also make extubation following surgery more difficult due to localized inflammation.  Nicotine can slow the healing process by restricting blood vessels and reducing the flow of blood to the healing surgical sites.

Many surgeons will refuse to operate on current smokers regardless of their insurance status and may even go so far as to require blood or urine testing for nicotine levels before scheduling a surgery date.  Medicare requires nicotine testing before surgery and can request tests randomly in an attempt to delay/deny surgery or impose further hoops to jump thru before approval.  Standard recommendations are no nicotine in any form within 30 days of surgery.   

I completely understand and appreciate what slim_shady has just said, but as a former smoker who is working with the team at GHP... I can tell you that THEY don't have a problem with nicotine replacement - I used the electronic cigarette myself to quit back in October, but if I'd needed a patch or anything else right up until that point, they'd have been fine with that.  I was told by the lab that they're able to tell the difference in levels plus smoking still introduces other toxins into the blood that they look for.

Good Luck, smoking's a serious *****!!

THANK-YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm soooo happy to hear this!!  I can't even imagine being totally nicotine free by sept 1st, but the very soonest I can even hope for surgery is the end of this year or early next year, so that gives me plenty of time to ween off of it. 

And I'm buying one of those e-cigarettes tonite...express shipping!

You have no idea how much stress you just took off my shoulders.  Thanks again!