Smoking and appointments......

Hello,

I was a smoker as well when I started the process.  I continued to smoke because my referral doctor told me not to quit because I was diagnosed with hypo-ventilation syndrome and it was because of my weight and he didn't want me to gain any more.  So i happily continued to smoke.  However at the orientation I was honest about this and they had me booked with my first appointments but when they found out I was smoking they took the appointments away and told me they would reschedule them in 3 months.  I was pissed at my referring doctor because I could have had 2 months under my belt.  However, because I was a smoker and it was in my chart I have been called in for 3 random urine tests to check for nicotine.  I have been smoke free since July 2014 and I'm just now having the surgeon appointment in May so smoking definitely delayed my process.

My nurse told me that they are very strict with not smoking for health and showing commitment so if you test positive they will close your file and you can not get back in the program for 1 year.

Keep it up...stay strong it will be well worth it in the end!!!

I had quit just a month or two prior to my orientation time myself. I wasnt asked my quit date until I saw the psychologist. and she made it very clear that if it was less than 6 months since my last smoke (even a relapse of 'just one') I would be delayed until it had been 6 months. This was through the Sudbury Assessment Centre

ETA: I was never tested for nicotine but I am good friends with the bariatric program co-ordinator here in sudbury and I asked her recently if they do or why they don't and they said they have the ability to if they suspect someone isn't being truthful

Just wanted to chime in to say congrats on taking that HUGE step towards getting healthy and preparing yourself for this amazing opportunity. Be proud!

Thank you everyone for the feedback and advice. I really appreciate it. I now know the the risks of smoking before surgery and after surgery so it gave me motivation to stop the nasty habit and not want to touch it again. This is the hardest thing I've had to do so far but if I can quit smoking it is definitely a good stepping stone for the next round of difficulties I'm about to face. I'm just hoping I have about 5 months from now until my appointments so I can actually say I've been smoke free for 6 months (I thinks that's what I read my program requires).

I smoked too...I only had 1 random cotinine test near the end of my apps because they realized they hadn't done it yet.  They knew I had just quit too.  I also know that depending on how much you smoke and if they are menthol or not, cotinine  (which is what they test for) cleared me in 10 days.  So if you've already quit and your appt isn't until the 27th you'll be fine.  Congrats!