Question:
Anyone struggling with stop smoking before WLS ?

Hi, everyone I love this site and all its members I read it faithfully and it help me on my WLS Journey. But the problem I'm having is trying desperatly to stop smoking on last month of preop program for Aetna. This is one of the hardest things I have to do but its well worth it need support please.    — domino1123 (posted on May 4, 2006)

May 4, 2006
I'm sure a lot of people struggle with quitting. your not alone. I wish you the best of luck!
   — phranny19

May 4, 2006
I have been struggling with the same thing. I feel your pain, I am going to try a hypnotist(sp) I have the gum and it takes the edge off when I am dying, but I guess after the 1st few days fo withdraw it is in our heads. I didn't sleep for the 1st 2 days, I have stopped and started which is stupid, even though I am only smoking a couple a day , I still have to go through the withdraws again, I guess my brain wasn't working, anyhow just wanted to let you know someone is right there with you, I am on Wellbutrin as well, I guess I'm just really addicted. But we can do this!!!!! Best of Luck Jen Here's a sight that might help, it makes sense. http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_Index_03_Quitting_Smoking.html
   — jlflbf

May 4, 2006
Hi Edith: Congratulations on your upcomiing surgery and especially congrats for quitting smoking. I indeed know the terrilbe withdrawals and cravings that go along with getting rid of that evil little stick that we inhale into our lungs. I have been off of cigarettes for the last 7 years, because of no surgery or anything, but just because I knew how disgusting they were and how badly I wanted to get rid of them 4-EVER. But I was petrified at the thought of not smoking. I smoked for 23 years straight. Well, anyway, let me tell you what I did OK? The first thing i did was I would take all ashtrays or anything having to do with smoking, and get them out of the house. Have you actually quit yet? Or are just working up to it? If you have not actually given them up yet, take alll buts, ashes, half cigarettes not smoken and any cigarettes left in the pack. Put everything in a big big glass container like a big mayonaise jar. Add water to all that junk and let it sit and ferment for a couple hrs. I would keep looking at it and believe me it was nasty. Then I would even smell it once in awhile Sounds brutal but believe me the disgusting site and smell really turned my stomacah. I would have the mental image of it inside my body. I did whatever I had to do to realize what stinking, filthy, disgusting thing it was. OK this step should have been the first step. I don't know if you are a believer or turn to the Lord in prayer. But he knew how bad I wanted to get rid of those stinky things,so I prayed them away and put them in God's hands. Remember this is the very first step. I went on a retreat that weekend so I had allot of prayer time. The next thing I did was BUY NICODERM CQ 21.. REMEMBER 21 Well, I will tell you one thing and it was the BEST and I could not have done it without this help. And it was going to www.about.com, on that site there was a group of people who were all quittting cigarettes. Everyone would post there progress and there would be little icons, there were articles to read. I could not have quit smoking without that site and I stayed there all the time. The patch helped with the physical cravings but the mental cravings are hard too. Another good site I went to is called silkquit.com. I would program all my smoking stats in there like how much, how much they cost, how many cigs I smoked in a day. Well after giving the site all my info it then would go to my desktop constantly and for every pack I did not smoke the downloaded info would say how much money was being saved, how many years were being added to my life, and a total amount of cigs not smoked... Geez unbelievable. I think the biggest thing that helped is the fact THAT I WANTED SO BADLY TO QUIT. That is the number 1 thing. And if I were you I would quit and stay quit, not just because of the surgery. Your new pouch will be more sensitive and smoking will definitely irritate the lining of that small 2 oz little baby tummy. I sure hope any of this info could help you.... Let me know how your are doing and you can email me if y ou need any support. It is so hard but remember a craving only last's for a minute or two, if even that. God Bless and Take Care.
   — Denise H.

May 4, 2006
Edith, I quit smoking over a year ago.I know it is hard ,hardest thing I ever did. I used Wellbutrin, used that for 2 weeks and set a quit date and stuck to it. On the day I picked for my quit date I started using the Nicotrol inhaler (perscription) and the rest is history.I continued the Wellbutrin for a while after. It wasn't easy but now I can't stand the smell of it. It is the best thing I ever did for me (in addition to WLS) and for my family. Once in a while I crave it but I know I CAN'T ever have it . I would be right back full force. Good Luck it will improve your health so,so much.You will feel so much better and look better too!!!Take Care Pam
   — sunnie

May 4, 2006
EDITH I use to teach a stop smoking workshop and these are the things that I would teach the class brush your teeth first thing in the morning use a cinnomen mouthwash, this will prevent you from wanting to smoke, the combo of tabacco and the mouth wash is like drinking oj after you brush your teeth -if you aren't on the liquid fast eat a good breakfast, something healthy. -make sure you brush and floss after every meal. It's normal for people to smoke after eating so flossing and brushing will elminate any food particles in your mouth and the desire to smoke. -eat small amounts of healthy snacks throughout the day. - eat 3 healthy meals a day. - i find sucking on on sugar-free candy works to keep your mind off of smoking. -VITAMIN C works wonders, it pushes the nicotine out of the system take it throughout the day and you can use the highest IUE you find. -remember to brush and floss reguarly. THESE things have worked in the past with people that i've worked with. I'm not a doc or a nurse, this was designed as a now over the counter drug alternative. p.s. remember to get rid of anything that makes you want to smoke, old cigs, ash trays etc. wash your linens, clean your house and if you have the time wash you clothes. good luck
   — Jenney

May 4, 2006
I had to quit also for my surgery last January. Keep an ashtray near you, suck on Dum Dum suckers. I would lay it in the ashtray like I would a cigarette. It was the hand to mouth nerves. It really helps and takes the craving away to eat something. Best of luck, Kathy Newton
   — Kathy Newton

May 5, 2006
Edith, Denise has some great advice. I had a lot of trouble quitting myself after 15 years of smoking. I found that not only was there physical and psychological withdrawal, but a large part of my social life involved smoking, I would take my breaks at work out in the smoke shack and my husband too smoked. I think it's very important to address these issues and create a plan of action. #1 is if you have a significant other, roommate, ect, make sure they are quitting too. It is so much easier when you don't have to be around someone who smells like smoke and/or smokes in front of you. #2 Just like planning alternates to eating for wls, you should plan alternates to smoking. If you have specific times during the day when you always had one, make sure you plan for that and have other activities lined up (ie: going for a walk, taking a nap, knitting, ect). The process does get easier with time and YOU CAN DO IT! Like so many others, I get sick when I'm around smoke now and it's only been three years since I quit. Set small goals, reward yourself when you achieve them. Set one long-term goal and give yourself a big reward when you achieve it. Whenever you feel weak, just look at so many others who have done it and know that YOU CAN DO IT. Take people up on their offers of support, email/call someone when you feel like giving in, they're not offering their support just to look like nice people, they really can help. Include me on that support list, email me anytime. This is one of the few gifts that you can give yourself that will truly keep on giving for the rest of your life. Becky p.s. nicorette gum helps too. :)
   — onmiway

May 9, 2006
Hi Edith......I am 3 weeks post-op gastric banding...I made the decision to quit smoking 2 weeks b4 my banding.....I got the "patch" and it really helped taking away those cravings...now Im much better since its been over a month...I smoked for 30 plus years and I know how terrible the addiction can be....you can do it!!!!!....i just keep telling myself that I wont gain any weight from it this time of quiting!!!....see there is a positive side to it....i also did a lot of talking to myself about how long I wanted to live....i had a chronic cough and i knew exercise was going to be hard for me if I kept smoking now Im walking and doing some light weight lifting.....i dont think i could keep up with that if i was still smoking.....good luck you can do it.......if a 30 year smoker can you can too!! Good luck with everything Terry
   — nurse911