Smoking!

Hello all, First of all a Huge Thanks to Everybody who has been submitting Answers/Suggestions to my previous posts. One thing I for got to mention.  I'm a Smoker, a Quitting Smoker.  I've been taking this New Medication called "Chantix" for the past two weeks.  My Doctor said that he wanted me to Quit 6 weeks prior to Surgery which is 3/27 (10days) But I thought I was going to have longer to Quit.  My Paperwork was submitted to my Insurance Co. on 3/05.  I was told it would take anywhere from 4-5 weeks to get Approval, fine.  But it only took ONE Week for the Approval (which I'm grateful for) But now I'm kinda thinking that if I haven't Quit for the 6 weeks, not even close.  It won't even be 6 weeks by my Surgery date from the time he told me to Quit for 6 weeks!   I just don't want to fight through this all Liquid Optifast Diet for 2 weeks to be told....Ummm Sorry, you needed to quit for 6 weeks!  I've been fighting here for 5 days on liquids, and it is a Battle, one I will Win, but if I heard that...Man I don't know what I would do, I mean I got the Pedal To The Metal Now.  All your impute will be Appreciated. Thank You All~~ -Rocko-

Rockn: I am the "rebel" I guess. I know several men smoked up until the day of their surgery.. I do not recomend it....  My observations have been that once surgery date is set..... do everything your DR. advises... a week or 4 difference in smoking... does not seem like a big deal... I would be more concerned about asprin and blood thinners... The advice to be frank with you Dr. is well given... just don't use this as an excuse to put it off... The fact that you got insurance approval so quickly... it a sign that now is the time... Please do not take anything I say as medial advice... I am not a Dr. / AND I don't play one online.. just observations from a guy...... no more no less.. I only smoke cigars... and had a few up until the day of my surgery... and was not  affected... Other men here may know better than I Kev-

My 2 cents: I think the reason for quitting smoking is the recovery. It takes longer for people who are smokers to recover from surgery and less complications. The doctor is pushing for you to stop NOW so after the surgery you will be more willing to exercise. Smokers usually do not exercise the amount they should. I smoked for 16 years, 1 & 1/2 packs per day, I stopped cold turkey (no meds or patches) but I could not put down the OREO cookies & Ice cream. I quit smoking a couple of years ago. Cograts on the approval. Good Luck to you.  

Rocko, ABout smoking, I am not familiar with "Chantix", but my father had great success quitting with "Zyban". I'd suggst being completely honest with your doc about the timeline. I doubt they will hold you back if you have been compliant for 6 weeks. About the pre-op liquid diet, it was without doubt the hardest part of the entire experience to date, for me. Hang in there, it does get easie.  JP

oops, just caught that the stop smoking was less than the 6 weeks. DO you have any other comorbidities? What is your general health like, other than your weight? JP

I'm Over weight, and a type 2 Diabetic.  Everything else is on the Money, even my Blood Pressure, 116/70

I am a light smoker, maybe 5-6 cigarrettes a day, both my sister and I went into surgery as smokers and I am sure I smoked the day of. There were no complications what-so-ever. maybe we were the lucky ones, I am not sure. Smoked the the day I walked out of the hospital too. I am a bad man. Our Dr. told my sister he wanted her to quit, and she tried with the patch, she let him know that she was still smoking and he continued on with surgery. That is just our story and others could be very different. When I quit smoking 2 years ago (I had just started back again 3 months ago), nothing would work for me so I went to a hypmotist, worked beautifully for two years. I started smoking as a social thing when we went out to bars and it progressed to 5-6 smokes a day from there. Well, I would call my Dr. first thing and ask him what difference is a couple or more weeks going to make as long as you have taken the step and stopped.

Thank you all very much,
I will speak with my Doctor next week and I will tell him exactly the situation.  I've had 2 major Surgeries in the past and had no complications from Smoking.  On a good note, I went for my Pysical, Blood work and Chest X-Ray.  My EKG was Perfect, Blood Pressure 116/68  My PCP said I have the Green Light, and outside of being Diabetic (which is under control) I'm Healthy as an Ox!  So I will discuss everything with my Surgeon this coming week.
Again thank you as always for the different points of view.  That's why I ask, and you deliver!

God Bless,
Rocko~~ PS - I also checked with my local Vitamin Shoppe, and they do make a Nicotine Toxen Cleanser witch takes 3 days to work.  So I will wash as much out of my system as possible, I believe any little bit will Help!