Getting ready for surgery....have to stop smoking!

I'm having my pre-op class the 30th and will make my surgery date that day.  I have to stop smoking by then.  I have the patches and I tried using one today but all I could think about was smoking!
I ended up ditching the patch and deciding to actually pick a Quit Date--this Wed.  
I'm going to have to get myself mentally ready.  Not just saying "yes, I need to stop because it's not healthy", but I've got to figure out what to do/how to think when I'm feeling weird and shaky and thinking about a cigarette every 2 minutes!
Has anyone else had to quit smoking for their surgery?
Can you tell me how long you smoked and what you did to deal with the thoughts?
Thanks so much! 

I am not a smoker, but I do offer you support and to be a sounding board for you,  feel free to post away before starting to take another from the pack.  Need to find a distraction, change up your usual routine so you won't just reach for one.    I have faith thay you can get through this.  Walk around the block, listen to a song that inspires you, pop a breath mint, brush your teeth, anything but put the smoke between your lips.  There are others on the site who have made it to smoke free, they should be popping around soon.

Hope this helps a littlle.  Hugs, Kathy

 Hi! Thanks for the response!  So you just had your surgery on the 2nd?  What are you able to eat at this point and is it hard to deal with all of the drinking you have to do?
I've read so many conflicting things about what to expect after surgery.  My pre-op is the 30th, so I'm sure I'll learn more then.  It just helps to hear first-hand experiences.  
I was looking into the gastric bypass last year and I downloaded the post-surgery info and was shocked at the liquid diet for 3 months and the tons of vitamins,etc.  It seemed impossible, that's why I put it off.
I've asked my surgeon about it and apparently they've realized a multivitamin will do and the liquid is only for a few DAYS.
I bought a food steamer so i can eventually do a lot of vegetables in it.  I LOVE mashed cauliflower (I had it at Ruby Tuesday's instead of mashed potatoes), So I'm hoping I'll eventually be eating a lot of good veggies from the steamer since I love them that way and it'll make them nice and soft.  
Either that, or I'll be living on soup, jello, and pudding!!

Hello, I too have am a ex-smoker.  I started quiting last year cold turkey... went great for a whole year then I backed tracked... I have now been smoke free for 6months straight!  You have to have will power and in my case alot of gum! I chewed double mint gum all day long every time I thought about it!  You can do it!
Good luck with your surgery!

congrats on your six months. that is great!!!! i know it is hard to do. i had to do it, but for another reason. vick

Congrats on staying smoke free for the last 6 months.   Hugs, Kathy

My surgeon wanted me to stay on the shakes for the first 2 weeks post op, have my follow up appt on the 16th, advancing diet at that time.  The time did pass quickly, I had a bmi over 50 and needed 3 weeks of liquid to shrink my liver and lose some # before surgery.  I made a game of the shakes, counted them down at one point, whatever I needed to do to get through this to get to a healthier me.  I haven't had a 'hot' meal for 5 weeks and look forward to starting to cook some things again.  Each surgeon is different.  I am having success at this time, smaller than I have been in several years at this point, and the losing is just getting started in earnest for me.  I am looking forward to being normal.  I am looking forward to veggies too, I miss them these last few weeks on the shakes.  For fun and giggles, over the 5 week period before and after surgery, I had 175 servings of carnation instant breakfast (no added sugar)/ with protein powder supplement.  Yup that is 5 servings a day for 5 weeks.  If I can make it through that, you can do what you need to do for your health too.

As far as the veggies, make sure you get the protein down, then have the veggies.  Good for us after RNY.

I was pleasantly surprised after surgery, mine was laparoscopic.  I was off the continuous IV pain meds and on liquid pain meds the next morning.  I was up walking with in 6 hours of recovery.  No nausea, no appetite to speak of.  Not much to really complain about.  The program is working for me.  Best of luck quitting the smokes.  I did try smoking in college, never made it through a pack of cigs.

You coul start a cash stash of all the money you will save by not buying the smokes.  Use it for fun, a new wardrobe after your loss, vacation, the possiblilties are endless.  Hugs, Kathy

i think one key thing is deciding which do u want more. a cig or a healthy life.  i say this as an exsmoker, not as a smartbutt.  i had to come to terms what my life was worth. i just put them down after some heavy duty praying. i used werther's (they come in sugar free now) because the taste satisfied that urge for me.  please realize that we will be here for you, good luck. vick

 I've been thinking of stocking up on tons of gum and hard candies!

Hang in there Kmodek.  I quit smoking last February.  I did use chantix but I do know how you feel and it gets better.  I started working out at the same time I quit smoking.  I also kept things to keep my hands busy --some hand held games, and one of the surprising things I found to keep my mind off smoking was a language translator--I'm not into crafts that much but a lot of people use them, my hubby uses puzzle books.  We have also changed where we drink our coffee and have even started drinking things other than what we associate with cigarettes.  It is so worth it.  The improvement in how you feel and how you feel about yourself.  The time between times when you think about having a cigarette will gradually get longer and longer and one day you will realize you didn't think about a cigarette the previous day.  Good luck.