OT: Smoking...

Nicotine is 8 times as addictive as heroin! No wonder giving up smoking is so hard to do!

I quit for good 21 years ago with the nicotine patch, and haven't looked back since. In the beginning it was a ***** but after about a year I didn't think about it anymore.

I'm glad you will have 2 months lead time under your belt before surgery. You are tackling 2 tough addictions pretty close together.

You can do it!!! You will be so grateful once you are on the other side!

I thought I was gonna "get over" on them. I was smokeing all the way through the program. I had my surgery and the day after I couldn't breath at all. I felt like I was in my 90's. I was walking with 02 hooked into my nose and still couldn't breath. something about the anestisa and the stuff in cigarettes makes it a horrible few days in the hospital. On the day they released me again thought I was getting over, I started right back up still barely able to breath any short distance walking was winding me, but continued to smoke. 3 months later I had started vomitting, couldn't figure it out. the worse kind of vomitting all acid. was waking up at 3am vomitting. I called the surgeons office to make an appointment, I went in and the first question they asked me was are you still smokeing. I said yes. I went for an endoscope that revealed I had given myself 5 ulcers from the smokeing in 3 months. Now I live on my prilosec 3 times a day, no spicy foods at all, even the smell makes my ulcers want to dance.  I screwed my self.. Take it from me the pain it will cause is life long for me dont do what I did. Quit smokeing "for real"..

  Many hospitals have smoking cessation support.  You might want to check with those in your area. 

I was only a lightwieght smoker and quit a few years before surgery cold turkey, although I consider getting a very bad sinus/chest infection at that time as help.  I was sick for about 2 weeks straight then another 2.5 months(yes) with a painful chronic cough.  That was it for me.  I too was hand to mouth addiction.

I have a lot of friends who smoke and only 1 has been able to quit(about 2 years so far).  He used the e-cigarette and has been successful.  He had tried other things and they didn't help.

Good Luck!!!

Hi Jaade,

One of the best things about getting my surgery was quitting smoking.  I had smoked for 30 years and had tried to quit many times.

I used patches (take them off at night to prevent the dreams) and the gum and I relied heavily on support and encouragement at about.com's quit smoking forum.

I also lost 20 pounds during that time (also required by my surgeon.)

I am so glad I was "forced" to quit.  I will always be thankful that my surgeon required it.

~Becky

I quit smoking almost 2 years ago, and honestly think it was the best decision I have ever made.

I am curious if anyone has had the laser treatment or accupuncture to quit. My boyfriend wants to quit so bad and has tried all the meds, patches, gums, nothing works.So we are looking into alternative treatments.

As far as thos fake cigarettes, I question how healthy they are, you are still breathing a substance into your lungs that shouldn't be there.

Thank you guys so much! I really do appreciate all of your words of encouragement and advice. Before I was thinking I would quit for the surgery and end up going back. I NOW see that I literally cannot go back and will not. I feel like I am losing two friends: smokes and food. Really though, they are both my enemies and always have been holding me back. I am so ready to go on this journey. I meet with the surgeon tomorrow and I could not be happier about this ride I am about to take. Scary to think my world will change, but exciting because I have always wanted it to.
Thank you again. xo