Question:
I going to have sergury on 4/18/06 and I can't stop smoking?
my surgery will be soon. I slow down 3 sigarette a day but i need to quick soon, Please can anyone one give me a solution, becuse I tryed pach, gum and that don't work for me, I have a PAT on monday that mean all my blood test, x-ray etc. and i don't know if that will show that I am continue smoking, please help me !I WANT TO QUIT SOON! thanks janeth — janethjaquez (posted on April 7, 2006)
April 7, 2006
My surgeon requires a 3 month prior weight loss surgery quit date. She does
check blood levels of nicotine so I think you will be busted. Better 'fess
up now and see what they say or at least find out how strict they are on
their policy. Smoking decreases healing of your pouch, according to her,
besides the general health issues with smoking. Good luck.
— ocutieobiggsie
April 7, 2006
Get Hypnotized, it works!!! Rita
— Incredibleshrinkinglady
April 8, 2006
Blood work will definetely bust you, and most surgeons check again the
morning of surgery for cotine a byproduct of smoking. To help quit consider
the following... smokers get more leaks, requiring nothing by mouth
sometimes for months, not even water, they get everything by IV 24/7
indefinetely, smokers heal slower, some have to be kept on a vent longer,
get more hernias, are more likely to get bloodclots, since smoking makes
the blood sticky, thats why smokers stroke more, they tend to get ulcers
that are very hard to treat. All of this beyond the known risks of smoking
for a non wls person. Your surgeon will likely cancel your surgery, which
is better than risking your death. WLS is all about getting healthy. Please
give your body a chance.
— bob-haller
April 8, 2006
I hate to tell you this, Janeth - but as I an ex-smoker and an addictions
Social Worker - the only answer is to just do it. You make up your mind,
know that it is going to be painful and sad, and muster up your courage and
just do it. I quit 2 months ago. The worst was the first 4 days. I just
made a whole lot of plans doing things that were not condusive to smoking.
I took xanax to take off the edge, I had lots of sex, I just did anything
to keep my mind off of things. I was a bitch for almost a week. I cried
and got angry. Addiction is tough to kick.....you just gotta know that it
is hard, but that you are stronger than that little white cigarette!!!
Good Luck!
— MissKimberly
April 8, 2006
I struggled with trying to quit for years. I tried the patches, the gum,
prescription Zyban, etc... What helped me to finally quit was to buy me two
bags of sugar free candy-one gum and one hard candy. Also, buy me a box of
coffee stirrers. It's the whole hand to mouth thing! I kept a straw in my
mouth most of the day to begin with. I would chew on it, suck on it, or
just play with it in my mouth. I used hard candy or gum when the straw
thing got old or I had a stronger craving. I also went to a psychologist
once a week which helped too. This is the hardest addiction to break of
any. I should know I'm also a recovering alcoholic/drug addict. If I can do
this, anyone can. I don't know if you are familiar with the 12 steps in
different recovery groups, but working those with a sponsor is helpful too.
Good luck and you can do it!
— oksheltielover
April 8, 2006
I'm not sure what the real deal with the blood work is. I had my surgery
in Dec.05 & back in Aug. 05 I was told by my surgeon to quit & that
she'd do blood work to check etc. well unfortunately I never quit. The
blood work was done but the surgery went on. I read on a smoking line that
if you can go 2 days without cigs the level will be so low that it won't
matter in the blood work. Best of luck.
— mcksprtgirl38
April 8, 2006
Deborah some surgeons will operate anyway, from a business viewpoint the OR
is reserved, the staff ready all prep work done. Perhaps they look at it if
someone is willing to risk their life so be it. Although surgeons today
dont want deaths, it makes their numbers look bad. Perhaps your surgeon
felt your overall healthy was good enough to slide by. You probably should
ask but I personally know people who had surgery cancelled the morning of
surgery. The blood test will definetly know...
— bob-haller
April 8, 2006
Hi janeth,
I understand it is not easy to quit cold turkey and be so stressed out with
this new challenge and change you'll be facing soon. I think what could
also help you, is to try to eat/chew some licorice. The have him sugar
free in some drug stores and if you have some money to spend go have a
hypnosis session at a stop smoking hypnotist who is specialize in stop
smoking only. I know lots of people who where able to stop with the help
of hypnosis, but remember you should also have the desire and the
willingness to stop. Hypnotism alone without your personal effort will not
work.
I hope I am able to help you
Dani
— Dani96
April 8, 2006
Janeth,
If this surgery is what you really want then you know what you have to do
and know what is more is more important in life cigarettes or your health.
I quit cold turkey and dont get me wrong I had a fit after the first day of
not having one but I chewed lots of double mint gum and focused on my
healthy future and said my life and my kids are more addictive than a
cigarette.
Good luck
Tara F.
— Baby Girl 69 .
April 8, 2006
Listen to me janeth, I had my surgery on 3-28-06 and thought I would quit.
Well I didn't quite b4 surgery but got down to 3 cigs a day. Well I DAMN
near died in the recovery room. I stopped breathing and they couldn't get
me to take a breath. I had a breathing tube down my throat and I
distinctly remember looking at the nurse and grabbing his arm and pleading
with him to help me. I am fine now and have completely quite those damn
cigs. Pleae, Please stop.
— sueburn
April 8, 2006
I don't want to advocate smoking but I just had my surgery on 3-28-06. I
was smoking until midnight the night before and I had no problems. If you
are down to 3 cigarettes try your hardest because as soon as I got out of
the hospital I started back up again smoking twice the amount before. Good
luck!
— nygiantsfan1969
April 8, 2006
thanks everybody for your answers that was very helpful for me, I promise
myself that I will quit today 4/8/06 because I have three kids that i love
with oll my heard and I don't want to dead becuase they only have me, I am
a simgle mother and i don't want to live they alone. thanks a lot and god
bless you all. thanks, thanks thanks again. janeth
— janethjaquez
April 9, 2006
For me it was very hard, but harder than quitting was the thought that I
would not be able to have this surgery. Yes, I resumed smoking a few
months after my surgery, but I quit when I needed to. You can do it, think
of the reward!
— septembergirl73
April 14, 2006
Zyban (also marketed as an anti-depressant called Wellbutrin, which was
covered under my drug plan while Zyban was not) totally worked for me after
23 years of smoking. Might as well give up all the bad habits at once.
Try your best to avoid your smoking triggers!! -- Jennifer
— j_coulter
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