Smoking

Hello everyone, Well I have a question, I am just starting out on my journey, Surgery approved by my Ins, and just started last wk my 12 wks of diet counseling. But I am also in 2 wks going to try and stop smoking,( hubby is going to try also or he will have to pay more for his Healath ins at the new yr) I am very very anxious about this, I know it is alot to try and change and go through at this time, By please say a prayer for me. I know ALL the benfits of quitting ( have just has my 2nd heart cath in 20mos done 3 wks ago) (and I work in an Er so I see the bad copd people that come in that can't breath from yrs of smoking, and I teach CPR and so I know all the bad things of this addication) and my doctor tells me I have to quit, but as strange as it my sound, I think I will have a harder time giving the ciggs up than I will changeing my eating life style. I hate to admit it but I love to smoke, I find it relaxing,and a stress releife to forme anyway.I know I have alot on my plate over the next 12 wks and ashamed to admit I might not be able to quit, I have tried in the past after my 1st cath I did not smoke for 4 days, thought I would go stark raving mad!, and thus started again. I have patches and that so I do have some "tools" here to help, but it is my hands I don't know what to do with them if there not holding a cigg. I associate so many things with smoking, being on my computer, driving, my moring coffee,driving, so many things. Where I work we went smoke free last yr so I am not smoking 8-9 hrs a day and for some reason I can handle thatand it has cut me back some, but man do I chew ALOT of gum, I am afraid I might gain some weight while trying to quit and that will not look good to my surgeron when I go to see them, They want to see some type of weight loss during the 12 wks. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Thanks everyone

I want you to know something about myself. I was a smoker since I was 12 . I gave up smoking when I had a heart attack in 2003 at the age of 45. I just started back up after my surgery. I traded my addiction of eating to smoking and drinking beer. I had a cath last week. My heart has gotton worse. Trust me. You will benifit from not smoking. I cant breath when I sleep. I wake up all hrs of night to catch my breath. I sleep on pillows high up. I have quit smoking and drinking and feel better. You will be doing your self a favor to do this.. The sad thing is it is harder for a smoker to quite smoking cigs than it is for a herion addict to give up herion. You need to get help with this. And all the money you save. buy you new clothes. I am at 148 pounds and at goal. this surgery saved my life. You going to do great Hugs Barb

Barb, Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. I know this is what I have to do and it scares me more than anything else so far, The ciggs are like a security for me and I don't know why. But i am starting a support group next month (WLS group), and I am sure there will be people there who are dealing with the same addication as me and can give some support. I am 42 and just had my 2nd cath done 3 wks ago, and I work at a hosp (in ER) so I know what this addication can do to rob people of their lives, I just am trying to get my self some what mentally ready for it and I am sure I will have to take it day by day if not hour by hour. Thank You again for sharing with me it is nice to know that I am not alone on these journeys I am undertaking. Thanks Jan

Jan i was also a smoker since age 10 or so and like you i LOVED it quit when i was pregnant with my girls only to pick it back up again after they were born when i finally decided WLS for sure i knew most docs wont do the surgery if you a smoker so i bought my last carton told hubby (non smoker hated it soo bad ) when that carton was gone i was done ... well with insurance hassels and such i ended up quitting 14 months before i even got my surgery but it was the best thing i could have done for my pre surgery health and as it turned out the surgeon makes you take a niccotine blood test to make sure you quit now i still have days i want a ciggy and its was a year ago in may i quit but i just fight it .. and think how expensive they are and resist temptation .... good luck !!!! i know you can do it Missy

Missy thank You for your encouragement, Lord knows I will need all I can get. I know this is something I MUST DO!, and I keep repeating this to myself daily. I just know that it is going to be a rough road for a while and I will probely be *****y and short with people at work, but all I can do it take this trip one day at a time. Thank you again Jan

Jan, Good luck quitting, and I wish you the best of health. I've seen smoking ruin the health of 3 relatives. Just a silly idea, you need something to do with your hands? How about a new habit, crocheting blankets? It's that time of the year! brrrrr!!!

Jan, I quite smoking before my surgery like i was to do but right after i went back to it. I was so down about that. Then i heard about a clinic here in Cleveand that gave you a shot to stop smoking. No Nictine in your systerm to help you quit ( whitch i do not think work. I have many friends til on the gum years out) I went to the clinc and so many people where there from Michigan, all over ohio, PA. and Cananda. Needless to say after the shot I rally quit smoking in has been 11 months and i dont have the disire either. Pattioe

Patty, Glad the shot worked for you. What kind of shot did they give you. My son in law is trying to quit. I quit 10 years ago and there is still times I could have a cig.

Jan, I have never smoked but I have had my share of addictions so I think I can relate somewhat. I will most certainly send healing prayers your way that you wake up one morning with NO DESIRE to smoke ever again.. I hope and pray that this will help you through this. My mama smoked for many years and craved something to do with her hands more than the action of smoking. So she began crocheting little lap size blankets to donate to people in nursing homes. And she kept a supply of coffee stirrers handy. She would hold them in her hand as she drank her coffee, watched television and talked on the phone. She is 85 years old now and so regrets not quiting sooner. She is on Oxygen 24/7 and has copd and severe sleep apnea and CHF. So Please sweetie Pie.. Let us help you through this and quit now. YOU CAN DO THIS!!! We will all be rooting for ya.. Love and hugs Laura

Jan, When I quit smoking it was really easy for me. Whenever I got pregnant I couldn't stand smoking nor coffee. Both would make me so ill. Well, I quit for my first two children and started again afterwards. When I got pregnant for my third child I quit and made up my mind never to smoke again. Because I knew that, with the lousy will power I had, I would never be able to quit if I started again. That was 30 years ago. Take up crocheting, painting, embroidery, andything to keep your hands busy. All I can say is take 1 day at a time and good luck! You can do it. Peggy