Smokers

Ok so I am almost up for my pre op apt and I have smoked maybe one day out of the week. I need help how did u stop? How close to ur pre op apt did u smoke till. I know that if they find nicotine they are gonna make me wait another month so Im trying really hard not to smoke. I have about 2 weeks till then. Will the nicotine be out of my system by then? Please someoone help me!

i think it shows for 3-4 weeks and I've heard Dr. Garcia WILL cancel. You MUST be tough. I feel for you, honest, I had to do it too.

I just kept thinking that I did NOT want to reschedule my surgery. At this point you don't want to do a patch or something like that either as it will also release nicotine in the bloodstream.

I've heard Chantix works, can you get a prescription?

otherwise, keep your hands busy and your eye on the prize! hang in there, judi

Thank you for your kind words. I honestly have been trying I smoked half a pack a day and now Im down to maybe one a day so I m getting there. I havent really set a date yet so Im hopeing I can set one for 3-4 weeks out for my pre op. THanks again. You know I really didnt like Dr. Garcia. I thought he was kinda mean. I really dont want him as my surgeon.

here is the deal. you want a good surgeon who is going to make sure there are no leaks when he is done with you, and one who is experienced at making sure your stoma (the opening from your pouch), doesn't stretch.  Anything else can be handled by your primary physician.

My doctor does open so I wound up in the hospital for 5 days. Dr. Garcia was the one who had to tell me I was staying an extra day and he was really compassionate about it. Since I was there so long the nurses felt sorry for me and hung around and talked to me for awhile. They had nothing but nice things to say about Dr. Garcia.

I think nurses know who is good and who isn't. I don't think they'd say anything bad about a doctor they just wouldn't say anything if that were the case, does that make sense?

I'm not trying to talk you into anything, this is your body, your stomach, and a big decision. If something is putting you off on this doctor you should probably trust your gut (lol)

but if it is just nerves or because he was mean about the smoking, they've all seen people with complications. My doctor said the excess weight is already putting so much pressure on our lungs, that the anesthesia and the breathing are one of the main things they worry about. So yes, they are trying to scare us straight.

I obsessed about the stupid smoking test cause I was cutting the deadline close and since my doc was going on vacation, I wound up with a preop appt 3 weeks before my surgery. I had seriously only been smoke free for 4 weeks when they tested me and I was fine

sorry this is so long, hang in there and let me know how it goes!!

judi