Question:
Anyone a smoker before surgery? How long before surgery did you quit

My surgery date is Mar.8 but a pre appt with the Doctor, the nutritionist and anestesiolist is Feb.18th. I have to quit smoking and they will do a blood test. Wondering if anyone was a smoker/how long did you quit before surgery, anyone out there that quit two weeks and got a clear blood test?    — katheek (posted on February 1, 2011)

February 1, 2011
I had my surgery in Guelph On. Canada....we had to be smoke free for six months before we had our surgery, not sure if blood work would tell or not.... good luck hope everything works out ok for ya..... DEB
   — pumpkin57

February 1, 2011
I am not a smoker but my surgery time was earlier in day due to person before me was smoker and they saw it in bloodwork. Quit NOW!!!! I was doing laps in pool on one breath before surgery and had to be on oxygen 24/7 for 2 days after surgery. Don't take the chance....we did this for our health remember :)
   — caxb2009

February 1, 2011
I quit 3 weeks before surgery, and there was still a trace of nicotine in my blood test when I was tested. I was so afraid it was going to bump me off the list. But They went ahead and did it. Don't use the patch. It will cause you to have a positive reading. The earlier you quit the better. Hope this helps!
   — lesleigh07

February 1, 2011
I know it's so easy to tell people just to quit smoking but the reality is that it's tough to do. I quit smoking many years ago and am so happy I did. When I wanted a cigarette I just told myself that all I really wanted was that first puff - the rest was superfluous. Now I tell myself the same thing when I want to eat candy or chips - all I want is that first bite. Anyway, getting off cigarettes is well worth it. Good luck and let us know how thw surgery went.
   — Muggs

February 1, 2011
What they are testing for is nicotine. Once you stop smoking it takes approximately 4 days for the nicotine to be out of your system. So yes 2 weeks is enough. Remember you are doing this to be healthier, smoking is just holding you back. Let go :). Oh and btw I quit cold turkey 1 yr ago and haven't looked back, it is possible you just really have to want to do it. I see get cravings but I just think of something else or get my mind busy, the cravings are less and less as the time goes by.
   — Frostbite25

February 1, 2011
You need to get in your mind that you need to quit smoking for life as smoking post op is way more dangerous and can cause nasty ulcers in your pouch. I quit on Thanksgiving day, 1987 after watching my Mom die of lung cancer. If not for you, quit so your family doesn't have to watch you die of something so preventable. You are getting this surgery to save your life, so you must want to live and get healthy, right?
   — sfmini

February 1, 2011
I am not a smoker. I encourage you to quit because when you smoke it takes the body longer to heal from any surgery. I do not know about ulcers in your pocket but I would read into that for a little extra push. I also feel if you smoke it may mess with how you eat.
   — That_816_Princess

February 1, 2011
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN...... YOUR INSURANCE IS NOT GOING TO APPROVE YOUR SURGERY....THE DATES YOU HAVE WERE GIVEN TO YOU BY YOUR SURGEONS TEAM, NOT YOUR INSURANCE COMP. AND YES THEY DO CHECK AND CHECK WELL TO SEE IF YOU TRIED AND SUCCEDED AND HOW LONG IT TOOK YOU...THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL THEY AGREE TO VIEW YOUR CASE FOR APPROVAL. DO YOURSEELF A FAVOR AND DONT EVEN BOTHER WITH THE SURGERY....YOU OBVIOUSLY DONT HAVE THE WILL POWER TO KEEP YOURSELF HEALTHY OR WANT TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE....NEVER MIND HAVE A LIFE CHANGING SURGERY LIKE RNY AND EVERYTHING IT ENTAILS.
   — Jovanna P.

February 1, 2011
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN...... YOUR INSURANCE IS NOT GOING TO APPROVE YOUR SURGERY....THE DATES YOU HAVE WERE GIVEN TO YOU BY YOUR SURGEONS TEAM, NOT YOUR INSURANCE COMP. AND YES THEY DO CHECK AND CHECK WELL TO SEE IF YOU TRIED AND SUCCEDED AND HOW LONG IT TOOK YOU...THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL THEY AGREE TO VIEW YOUR CASE FOR APPROVAL. DO YOURSEELF A FAVOR AND DONT EVEN BOTHER WITH THE SURGERY....YOU OBVIOUSLY DONT HAVE THE WILL POWER TO KEEP YOURSELF HEALTHY OR WANT TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE....NEVER MIND HAVE A LIFE CHANGING SURGERY LIKE RNY AND EVERYTHING IT ENTAILS.
   — Jovanna P.

February 4, 2011
My surgeon required one year of not smoking. I'm not a smoker but I have a real sense that how difficult it is to stop smoking. Don't go in as a current smoker, it's not worth losing your life.
   — Corina C

February 5, 2011
Depends on your surgeon and surgery type. I am having the lap band next week and I had to go through 6 months of monthly testing. They can do this with a pee test or blood test. I had quit last December with the help of Chantiz and started my testing in March. By the time I got all the other tests required by insurance I am just now headed in to get mine. The one main thing I remember from my surgeon seminar is that the lap band will have a tendency to eat into the stomach wall with smokers and create only more extreme problems. Good luck.
   — MichRich

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