smoking

I quit on April Fool's Day .  (I also used Chantex)  Took Chantex for 10 days before my "quit" day.  I smoked over 40 years, and I do not miss it.  I will admit every once in awhile, when I walk by someone who is smoking, I enjoy the smell.  But... I do feel so much better and so worth it !

I just had to come back and post. Not many postings on cigs.....believe me..I thought I was the only smoker on this whole website thinking I was the only one suffering from trying to quit.

Anyways, I quit on Dec. 30, 2012. I had surgery on 1/24/13. I made it. And yes, they did test my urine twice before surgery. Once 2 weeks prior and once right before bringing me in. I was not scared because I knew that I didn't put one in my mouth. What a victory for me......and if I did fail it there was no one else to blame but me. 

It was difficult. It felt as though I should have been in some kind of rehab clinic....wanting anything short of sucking on anyone's butt  just to taste a little bit of nicotine.

Remember this. Remember that there is nicotine in that "last" drag. If you cut down to just one...you will still test positive on your cotinine test. If you chew the nicotine gum or suck on the lozenges you still test positive . I quit cold turkey. it worked. the first 72 hours was the WORST!!!!!! It  gets better, I promise. I went to the candy store and got Hotlix.....cinnamon tootpicks.....they SAVED ME!!!!!!!!! Do what you need to do. 

I had my DS on the 24th. If any of you are getting switched I promise you the smell of the smoke will make you SICK. I do not have one inckling to have a drag off anyone's smoke. I hope this helps anyone who is getting surgery and needs to quit. I have only been smoke free a little over a month...my lungs thanked me for it. I was in surgery for 4 1/2 hours.....was on 2 liters for a few hours after....you can do it if I did. Good luck to you all;)

I'm glad you posted again. Many people demonize smokers (perhaps with good reason) but the fact is there are many of us addicted to the darn thing and hate ourselves for it. I initially hesitated to post for fear of being judged or dismissed. The reality for me is that  this is a true addiction that makes me feel like a second class citizen. I feel we should be more open to discuss without the accompanying condescending self righteous remarks that are often made. I was so glad that this forum is so welcoming and judgement free. Thanks for the encouraging and inspirational stories posted by all.

I'm still waiting for a surgery date so this whole surgery thing is surreal. I plan to quit the day I get the call of a surgery date.

thx all!

Becoming an ex-smoker pre-op was not debatable for me.  My surgeon, Dr. Margaret Inman, will not do surgery if you smoke, because of its negative effects on healing and respiratory issues during surgery. 

In fact, she tests for the presence of nicotine on the day of surgery.  if it is in your system (allowances are made for exposure to second-hand smoke), your surgery is canceled on the spot.

As a post op, I picked it up again, but quit again, using an e-cig with 0mg nicotine cartridges.  (they are available mail order)  I used to smoke menthol, and the e-cig menthol has just a minty taste.