Question:
Has anyone gained weight pre-op due to quitting smoking?

Has anyone gained weight when they quit smoking as a pre-op requirement? If so how much? I know some doctors do a test to check for nicotine in the blood-how long must you be without this for your blood tests to come back negative and do the patches affect this result?    — Jan S. (posted on November 5, 2002)

November 5, 2002
Yes mam, I had surgery August 1, 2002 and had quit back in April. I ended up gaining 28 pounds before surgery. I was smoke free going into surgery and my surgeon said he would much rather me gain weight than be smoking. I hope this helps.
   — Egyptianeyesdiva

November 5, 2002
And wouldn't you rather gain the weight pre-op, than struggle with it post-op? I gained about 25 lbs. waiting on surgery although I wasn't a smoker and wasn't trying to quit.
   — Cheri M.

November 5, 2002
Ditto with the last poster. For months when I just smoked a few cigarettes a day, I did not put on weight. Nearly 6 weeks ago I stopped those few and have gained 10 to 12 lbs, depending on the scale used. The patches at first, then switched to the gum. I did better on the gum. My asthma Doc told me that they could pee test me, (his description)and the nicotine would show up from the patches. I assume it would show up from the gum also. With the nicotine gum, I have weaned myself down to just sugar-free gum as suggested in the insert. If your are concerned about the "test" maybe that would work for you. I saw the Surgeon yesterday, last visit before surgery next week. He did not mention testing for nicotine, yet. I don't know if you have searched for info on smoking and WLS, but it is not desirable for the patient to smoke for a least 2 weeks after surgery. It is my understanding that your body needs all the oxygen it can get for healing. I know there is another test that the Docs can use to measure certain gases in the lungs. Maybe someone wiser than me will post the name of that test for you. The nicotine in the patches would not show up on that test result, as the patches are not inhaled. Perhaps you could tell your Surgeon what aid you are using to avoid a misunderstanding if you are tested. I hope this gives you a bit of insight. Good Luck on Quitting, it really is the best thing you can do for yourself, with or without WLS. I breathe better than I have, well since the last time I quit...PS. I saved some of the nicotine gum, just in case.
   — Tricia J.

November 5, 2002
I gained about nine pounds pre-op. I quit smoking with a combination of the patches and a mild tanquilizer...and I was smoking 2 - 3 packs a day for almost 30 years! It was well worth it, I was breathing on my own in the recovery room...and I had been warned that because of my respiratory histoy I could be on a vent for 2 -3 days. Good luck!
   — Linda 1.

November 5, 2002
I quit a month ago (cold turkey, but i say do whatever you have to to stop before surgery). I have gained about 7 pounds but as expressed earlier i would rather deal with this pre op than post. Also, surgery is so much safer for a non smoker. I would imagine if your doctor knows that you are using the patch a test for nicotine would be silly. Though I have heard of some type of breathing test that measures the levels of certain stuff in you breath. I am not sure exactly what thiat is but I am sure someone else here will. Good Luck!! :) I know how hard it is to quit.
   — Carol S.

November 5, 2002
I quit cold turkey in January and I had my surgery in May. I gained about 25 lbs pre-op but I don't know if all of it can be contributed to quitting. I think I was just pigging out because I was having "last suppers" like every night. I would eat what I wanted, when I wanted. I highly recommend that you really do stick to quitting because I still had a hard time with my breathing after the surgery. I could never even imagine what would have happened if I had not quit.
   — MURRAY

November 7, 2002
Yes!! I've gained about 15 lbs since I quit smoking in August. I don't have a surgery date yet, but it probably won't be until the new year. I'm afraid I'm gonna be 50 lbs heavier by the time I get on the table! I just joined Jenny Craig (for the laaaaaaaast time----ha cha cha!) so I can lose those 15 lbs (and maybe more) prior to surgery.
   — Joyce C.