New Here Has anyone here had to Stop Smoking Too?

Hi guys, I am in the process of quitting smoking so I can have the surgery, (Want to quit as soon as possible to avoid complications, Im terrified of a clot.) Even though i have quit 3 times before, Im finding it hard this time, Anyone have any qords of wisdom?

Just set your mind to it you can do it. Just think about the long term benefits of quiting smoking and some doctor won't operate unless you have quit for a certain amount of time. Just remember that you may not get your surgery if you don't quit. Tina

"Do, or do not. There is no 'try'." - Yoda ('The Empire Strikes Back') nuff said.. Hugs, Chrissy

HI, jus tto le tyou know, you are not alone, i am in the process of quitting too! my doc (well, one i heard of at a seminar i went to) said 3 weeks, but it is easier said than done! I have heard (on here-lap band board i think?) that putting all your cig paraphernalia into a jar with water, gross, i know, then shake it up, and look at it when you want a cig, or smell it every once in a while, i know, gross-er! haha. but hey, it is worth a shot if you really are committed to health, and quitting! Good luck and feel free to reach out for help, e-mail me, or whatever! keep us posted on your success! i know you can be a "quitter!!" lol karly

I DID, I DID!!! I quit smoking in March (3/1 with a 3/4 minnor slip). My doc has a 90 day rule. They wouldn't even schedule my first apt until 5/19... And you have to pass a nicotein drug test to boot... My advice... Cinnamon gum, helped me in the car and in other key smoke times like first thing in the AM, after dinner, etc... I also kept a bottle of Dear Park water, the kind with the sport top for when I went on breaks with friends or was around other smokers, that replaces the hand to mouth function. Then I also replaced some work smoke breaks with walking 15 minutes of exercise (even light exercise) did wonders to help me break the habbit cause it releived the stress that the smoking would have. The other thing that helped me was second hand smoke on occasion... you know just breathing around other smokers (possibly drooling) I have been assured by the doctor's office that it does not count on the Nicotein testing. The hard time for me now is at parties or at the bar... At the bar, I hold and chew on a drink stirer. That helps when will power is low due to drinking and the sheer amount of people around you that are smoking freely. I still want one now, but not as often and I fight the craving with thoughts of wearing sizes from NORMAL stores and chasing my 2 year old for more than 5 minutes. (we never smoke around him) GOOD LUCK... REMEMBER YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! And you have one person who is a reformed smoker to lean on. (me) And you may want to consider never picking up once you do quit cause not only does it cause surgery complications... but later I've read that it can cause ulcers in our tiny post-op pouches. HUGS, Krista

I was having a hard time quitting before surgery but I'll tell you this, after surgery, I haven't had the urge to pick up another one which is strange to me. But before I was smoking rather than eating ,now i'm never hungry, so I guess they go hand-in-hand.

Hi, I'm new to this board, but this smoking and nicotine testing has been bothering me. I have a question, I quit smoking back before Christmas. I have slipped up on 3 occasions mainly when I was out drinking with friends. I dont have the urge, but its just habbit. Once in February, once in March and most recently on 5/25 I was celebrating my B-Day. I just recently starting looking into the WLS surgery and have my 1st consultation tomorrow. I dont want the smoking thing to be an issue and when the lady at his office asked on the phone if I smoke, I said no. Because I dont. However, I dont want my slip ups to come up on a test. Does anyone know how long nicotine stays in your system. If I had known there might be a test or that this would have jeopardized the timing of surgery I never would have done it. I was thinking oh well, one cigarette isnt going to hurt. Since I knew I dont crave it and have totally kicked it. I am so worried though. My mom is going with me to the appointment tomorrow because I asked her to go and I told her I quit a long time ago, even though it was only Christmas. If I am asked do I smoke, do I say no? or tell them I used to? I just dont want to mess up with my chances and I am freaking out about. The surgeon I am using will not perform the surgery if you smoke and I dont, but that one little stupid decision on my part could mess things up because I didnt know then, what I do now. I would appreciate any advise.