Question:
Does anyone smoke cigarettes
i smoke now and the dr. said i have to quit befor surgery. i totally understand that and i will but has anyone gone back to smoking after surgery-thanks maureen — Maureen A. (posted on December 3, 2002)
December 3, 2002
My doctor required you quit smoking at least 30 days prior to surgery. I
quit 2 months before ( I left extra time in case I slipped!) using the
patches. I had smoked 2 -3 packs a day for about 30 years....I am 6 weeks
post op and still smoke free. I am sure that quitting helped me
tremendously, and I highly recommend you quit prior to surgery! GOOD
LUCK!!
— Linda 1.
December 3, 2002
I'm naughty and went back to it after almost 3 years off it. Sometimes I
have no will power.
— Gremlin Q.
December 3, 2002
Good luck to you! I know that quitting smoking is tough. My husband
smoked over 20 years but was finally able to quit 5 years ago with the help
of the patch. It worked well for him, so I give it two thumbs up. Now
tee hee - if HE quit smoking - which I thought would NEVER happen, that
gives hope to everyone else;-) HUGS - good luck!
— w8free
December 3, 2002
I am proud to say that I have been smoke free for 7 months now!!!!!....I
quit when I first started looking into this surgery, and my surgery is
scheduled for next wednesday, Dec. 11! I started out trying the
wellbutrin, but I did not find it helped me very much. I quit that, and
went to the patch. I used the medium level patch for 6 days, and have been
smoke-free since. I kept the 7th day patch in case I ever needed it, but
finally threw it out the other day. I guess you have to want it bad enough
to overcome any addiction, and I like to think this is my testament to how
badly I wanted WLS!!!....Good luck to you in your journey, and just keep in
your mind that all that you are doing is "lifetime" changes.
Resolve to feel better in all aspects of your life, and maybe it will make
it easier for you!
— teresa H.
December 3, 2002
I smoked for many years, and with the help of Wellbutrin, within a few
weeks before I had surgery 09-18-02 I was smoke free, and still am to this
day. Good Luck Melody
— Melody D.
December 3, 2002
Um, me. I quit 30 days before surgery, and started again three days after.
I'm sure I'll get slammed on this board for being honest about it, but for
me, it was the right thing to do. And now, I KNOW I can quit again, and
will. But immediately post-op, when I was so darn depressed and miserable
with pain, it was what I needed. Don't get me wrong, I am not RECOMMENDING
that you do what I did -- if I had stayed smoke-free I'd sure be proud of
myself now -- but I'm just telling you that at least one of us has done it.
:) Good luck!
— Tamara K.
December 3, 2002
:::raising hand:::: Me. I stopped smoking for 5 months to have this
surgery. I started back up again about a month or so post op. I couldn't
eat, I couldnt have sex and needed SOMETHING. So here I sit puffing away. I
am going to make another attempt at quiting in Jan. The patches worked a
miricle for me. Good luck@!~6 mos post op and down 114
— Sassy M.
December 4, 2002
I quit 3 months before surgery, and I started smoking again about a month
ago. I too started again because I was stressed out and I couldn't eat or
drink, so I smoked. I am seeing a shrink now so hopefully I can learn how
to cope with stuff instead of smoking! :o) (8/7/02 -83)
— fropunka
December 4, 2002
I smoke - didn't quit for surgery. Probably wouldn't have. Thankfully
surgeon didn't require it. And I have no intent on quitting anytime soon.
I'm one of the wierdos that actually enjoys my cigs.
— [Deactivated Member]
December 4, 2002
Hello...I quit the required one month before my surgery (it was a great
carrot/stick effect) but then started back about one month later - like
others have said, I couldn't eat and I needed SOMETHING! I did recently
quit again when I turned 35...it's been a little over two weeks and
somewhat of a struggle. I am doing the patch and the gum. Although I miss
my cigs, I like not stinking and having my lungs keep me awake at night.
And I do have more energy. So even though there have been times I have
wanted to light my own hair on fire and smoke it, I am focusing on the
benefits. I just hope it gets easier. Good luck and huggs to you!
— rebeccamayhew
December 4, 2002
Good question Maureen!! I'm so glad you asked. I am preop and a smoker as
well. I've been debating on quitiing. I know I should for general health
reasons, although I really don't smoke that much to begin with. I enjoy my
after work cig!!! Sometimes it's only one a day, sometimes nothing... I
haven't had my appointment with the surgeon yet, although my PCP hasn't say
anything to me about my smoking. I have the Wellbutrin, but haven't taken
it yet. Sorry to ramble, as you can see it's a struggle to reach a
decsion. Thanks again for posting the question and to those who have
already answered. It's nice to get a cross section of answers. Best of
luck to you all...aims
— chickiewickie
December 4, 2002
My doctor didn't require it. I slowed way down and stopped a few days
before the surgery. I had no problems whatsoever. My husband smokes and I
couldn't stand it, so I lit up again on the way home from the hospital.
Will I ever quit? Probably. Try and quit now... the days in the hospital
will be smoke-free and will help you if you want to quit. I didn't even
want one while I was there. Best of luck to you.
— LM O.
December 4, 2002
I've never smoked, but I do know that other than the obvious health risks
that smoking poses, it is especially important to quit 8-12 weeks before
surgery. Smoking puts you at a SIGNIFICANT increased risk for
post-operative complications ranging from pneumonia and other breathing
problems to deadly blood clots. Please quit if you can. People are always
concerned and looking for ways to increase their chances of a smooth
complication-free recovery.....stopping smoking completely is probably the
best thing you can do to try and prevent complications. And when it comes
right down to it, is that cigarette worth your life? Like I said, I've
never smoked but I've had a food addiction my entire life.....so I know
what it's like to give something up. And as for going back to smoking
afterwards.....you've already done the hard part by quitting, why start
back up? Good luck to you.
— Lynette B.
December 5, 2002
I just wanbted to answer Lynette's question below: The hard part isn't
really quitting. Anybody on this board should know that. That's like
saying, "You've gone on a diet (no WLS) and lost fifty pounds, why go
back to eating poorly?". As for the original question: I cut down
but did not quit entirely before my surgery. I quit for surgery and five
or six months post op. Then started having a few here and there. I am
fighting it harder than ever now, still having just one or two a day, but
it's getting harder and harder. With cigs at almost $8 a pack here in NYC
though I only buy one once every two weeks or so.
— PaulaM
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