Smoking before surgery nicotine test

MBallard
on 7/7/12 12:23 am - Fort Bragg, NC

RNY on 02/07/13

I was wondering if anyone out there quit smoking prior to surgery and if your surgeon gave you a nicotine test prior to surgery. I am having surgery in september andim trying my best to quit. Does anyone know how long nicotine stays in your system in order for it not to show up on my nicotine results that my surgeon will give me? Thanks in advance!

Surgery date - February 7, 2013

poet_kelly
on 7/7/12 12:29 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

Many surgeons give all patients nicotine tests before surgery. I've known a couple people that had their surgeries postponed because they did not quit smoking in time.

I'm not sure how long it stays in your system. Maybe just a couple weeks? How long before surgery did your surgeon tell you that you needed to quit?

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

Hollie313
on 7/7/12 12:34 am - MI

RNY on 05/09/12

I quit back in 2004, so it wasn't an issue for my surgery. Have you considered asking
your doctor about Chantix? I work for a family practice and we see alot of success
with it. I want to say it stays in your system for a month, but I'm not positive. Good luck!

Surgery: 5/9/12 HW: 302 SW: 287.6 CW: 158

MBallard
on 7/7/12 12:57 am - Fort Bragg, NC

RNY on 02/07/13

Unfortunately my doctor refused to put me on chantix because I have bipolar disorder, she said it could make my depression a lot worse.

Surgery date - February 7, 2013

Hollie313
on 7/7/12 1:34 am - MI

RNY on 05/09/12

We don't want that!! I know about depression. Zoloft girl, here.

What about Wellbutrin? I have a friend who is bipolar and is on Wellbutrin. I know
they sometimes use that for quitting. Just a thought.

Surgery: 5/9/12 HW: 302 SW: 287.6 CW: 158

MBallard
on 7/7/12 1:39 am - Fort Bragg, NC

RNY on 02/07/13

My doc has me on lamotrigine, Effexor and abilify... Quite the ****tail. I tried both Zoloft and Wellbutrin and neither of them did the trick :(

Surgery date - February 7, 2013

FinallyTime
on 7/7/12 3:31 am - WI

I too tried Chantix. It helped for about a year. My shrink put me on wellbutrin and I quit cold turke7y about a month later. I do know about depression, I was worried that they wouldn't do surgery because of that. I'm on wellbutrin, lorazapam, lamictal, risperidone. So I would be ok with taking Chantix (doctors supervision) and seriously think of maybe the side effects

Samonie
on 7/7/12 12:42 am - CT

RNY on 07/02/12

I quit 2 weeks before my surgery and I never got a nicotine test. Just quit a few weeks before your one on one with your doctor and when they ask about your smoking say you quit.

(deactivated member)
on 7/7/12 1:32 am - WA

RNY on 08/21/12

I haven't had my surgery yet but have now quit smoking. My last cig was on May 13th. I used nicotine patches for 6 weeks and am now done with those and feel SO much better! It's still hard, of course, but not nearly as hard as it would be to be denied my surgery. My surgeon said that I even need to be off of the patches for as long as possible because the nicotine can cause your fresh surgery site to ulcerate or bleed. I just keep telling myself that one cigarette isn't worth having to wait months more to get my surgery. Good luck to you!!!

MrsLitch
on 7/7/12 1:38 am - Morris, IL

RNY on 06/04/12

Mine let me wear a nicotine patch up until 10 days before surgery and then I needed to be off it all together. He told me he would test me but never did. Still glad I followed his rules though.

5' 3" - HW: 244 SW:234 GW:120 LW: 107 CW:110 Made goal 3/16/13!