Question:
how long can nicotine be found in blood test? Please help!

I have been quit smoking 3 months but I had a little wine on the 4th of July and stupid me smoked about 1/2 a pack now my surgery is scheduled on July 31st and my Dr. will test me on the 26th for nicotine is it going to show up 22days later. Thanks    — leeanne67 (posted on July 13, 2007)

July 13, 2007
I have no idea how long it will take to get out of your system, but I sure hope that smoking that half a pack did not trigger you starting up again! My husband quit for over 2 years once, and all it took was one to get him started again. (he's now my ex). It's a difficult addiction to break just like the food is. I wish you the best of luck and hope you can kick that habit forever. One of the reasons (although not the ONLY reason) my ex is now my ex is because he wouldn't take better care of his health even though he has heart problems and diabetes, among other health issues I was just so frustrated watching him slowly kill himself. You are on the right path to a healthier lifestyle keep it up!
   — Debra R.

July 13, 2007
Hi LeeAnne, nicotine stays in your system for 4 days!! I asked this question when I had my blod tests done before my surgery. Dummy me was so nervous the morning of my gastric bypass that I smoked 2 cigs, well that landed me on a ventilator with my wrists tied to the sides of the bed so I would not pull the tubing out of my lungs. BE CAREFUL!! You dont want to end up on a vent!! It is not fun.Had I not smoked those 2 cigs I would have been fine my surgeon said. Best Wishes, Mickey Craig...........
   — MCraig3

July 13, 2007
I promise I really am done I don't even think about it on a regular basis I just had way to much wine and there was a smoker in the crowd and ya know it happened. I really don't ever drink that much so it should not be a problem.
   — leeanne67

July 14, 2007
Hi LeeAnn. I do think it will show up, and I think it shows upto 3 months after you smoke. You would be very wise to speak to your doctor. You didn't have one smoke, but a half pack. What concerns me about this is that this will happen all too soon after surgery. If you smoke after surgery, it can do so much damage to the work they do. You need to be committed to quitting for your health sake. I know it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO muche easier said from a non smoker, but I encourage you to do what it takes to do this right so you are done for good with smoking and keep that after surgery. If you turn back to smoking, you can cause serious damage to your internal surgical site and also cause ulcers to form throughout your body that wouldn't be prior to surgery. It can cause damage that brings pain that is difficult to manage and it just defeats the work they do and the goals for health that you must have. It will be a fight, but please fight that fight and quit for good. Honesty with your surgeon is the best policy, better to be humble and honest that deceitful and made a fool. Take care, and I wish you well. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

July 14, 2007
How long does nicotine take to completely work it's way out of the body? Thank You very much. Medically, nicotine takes only 72 to 96 hours to leave the body. However, the physical and mental reverberations can go on for weeks
   — jasmine T.

July 16, 2007
Hi, It will not show up in your blood stream22 days later, but if you smoke even a few cigarettes in the time before, it will affect your vascular system and you may show the effects during or after surgery. I don't know about you, but to me although I may want a cigarette.............I sure wouldn't risk any problems.
   — bderuiter

December 14, 2008
ya it takes 72 hours for the bye product of nicotine to leave the blood stream. so what you had a set back! if your having a rny be carefull not to smoke! you can have a bleeding ulcer and die! if your having a lap band just dont smoke two weeks before surgery. you dont want breathing problems in surgery or to end up with pneumonia post surgery. you can smoke after surgery if you want. but why? your having this surgery to increase your health.......... right. chill out and try to quit again, you can do it!!
   — saraweeks