Question:
How hard or easy is it to kick the habit of smoking after the surgery
Not only do I have a eating disorder but I also smoke and would like to kick the habit. I want to change my whole life if approved with the surgery, I want and need to stop smoking. I have medication that I am trying to stop but can I take it after the surgery? HELP — lyn K. (posted on March 22, 2001)
March 21, 2001
Hi Lynn,
I too smoke and have heard how much harder it makes the surgery and it also
affects the way we heal. I have told myself that if I want this surgery, I
have to sacrifice the smokes. As of today, exactly 2 months prior to my
scheduled surgery I am a non smoker. Ok so its only been 3 hours since I
got up. Some surgeons won't do the surgery if you are a smoker and
actually test you the day before surgery to make sure you aren't fibbing.
If you need me you can email me. (my address is on my profile) Good Luck.
Karen Rachford
— Karen R.
March 21, 2001
I smoked and after two days in the hospital pumped full of morphine and not
eating I do not smoke anymore. I don't even crave it. You are so
emotional and snappy from the surgery for about 10 days, you might as well
quit since you would act the same. I not once even thought about having a
smoke after. I know my experience is rare, but that is how it worked for
me. I did try one about 1 month post op, and it tasted so nasty and gave
me a headache. I smoked a total of seven years.
— [Anonymous]
March 21, 2001
My doctor requested that I quit smoking, but he didn't push it. He did my
surgery anyway. I had quit for a month, and then as the days to surgery
got closer, I couldn't take it and ended up picking up the habit again. I
had quit using Wellbutrin (which worked great. I didn't work with it).
Since surgery, I have started on Wellbutrin again for other reasons, and I
can take it just fine. The first few months, I just cut it in half. Now I
take it whole. Good luck. I am finding now that I am taking the
Wellbutrin that I don't smoke as much either. Maybe soon I can quit for
good!
— enjo4
March 22, 2001
— Sherrie G.
March 22, 2001
Lyn - it sounds like you are really taking control of your life and are
ready to make some changes - good for you! It will really help you get
through surgery and recovery more easily (and with less risk of breathing
problems) if you can quit before surgery. I know how hard it is to quit -
I quit smoking last April after being a heavy smoker for 26 years! I used
Wellbutrin and the nicotine patch together and was finally successful. My
surgeon was sooooooo glad that I had quit smoking ... some docs even insist
that you quit before surgery. As far as taking medication after surgery
... you should ask your doctor about that. Good luck!
— Lynn T.
March 22, 2001
Half of the battle is WANTING to quit smoking. So, you're half way there
if you're serious about quitting. As of today, I'm 27 days smoke-free and
11 days away from surgery. I used Wellbutrin and found that it worked
GREAT for me. It made the cigarettes taste SOOOO nasty that I couldn't
wait to quit! Honestly! I only took it about a month, ($120), and I had
thrown the cigs away. I wish you great success with the nicotine habit,
and with your WLS!!!!! Just always remember.... you've gotta' do it for
YOURSELF, and nobody else!!!
— Laurie L.
March 22, 2001
Before surgery about 3 months I started taking Zyban and it
naturally cut my 2 pack a day habit in half..so then I was at
1 pack a day and then I stopped smoking in the house and had to
step out side to smoke and let me tell you this cut me down even further
then I added patches the same time i was taking the Zyban
I had read that really addicted smokers should use both
and I had smoked for over 30 years..
I was down to 2-3 cigs a day which I felt was really good considering
where I started remember 2 packs a day ..
on the way across the parking lot of the hospital i lite up and had a
couple puffs
after getting out of the hospital i naturally lite up a cig
only to find the taste was so bad i immediately threw it down
and on the next few days I lite up a few times scared of the thought
of smoke on a open incision in my stomach
and the taste was so bad i threw them down right a way
Don't ask me what happened during surgery but since having surgery almost 5
months ago
I have had absolutely no desire to smoke ...its like I have never smoked
cigs in my life
I don't cough, wheeze or snore any longer...
a Miracle happened to me and I hope this Miracle happens to you also
Kathy
— Kathleen M.
March 22, 2001
I think this is so hard to do because naturally stress and excitement from
pending surgery trigger the desire to smoke. I had decided last year that I
wanted to quit as of Year's and pretty much did, with a few small lapses.
When I had consult with surgeon it came up, and he really encouraged me to
completely sever this habit. So hard as it is, I don't dare smoke at this
point. Simply don't want anything to cause a problem. It's a small price
to pay for such a huge reward.
— danirat
March 26, 2001
I have the same problem. I have been researching WLS for 2 years now. When
I made the final decision to go ahead with surgery I decided to quit. My
consult was originally scheduled for Aug 2001 and originally quit in
February, so I figured I'd have a good 6 month head start! HOWEVER, My
friends and I go out on Thursdays to karaoke, and we have always smoked
there. I was weak and gave into this only on Thrusdays. I soon found I was
going out on Tuesday nights too, just so I could smoke! LOL It went this
way for a while and I got a call from my surgeons office and they moved up
my consultation date to March 6th! I was a little stressed and actually
found myself smoking a little more here and there. I finally got my
insurance approval last week and decided to quit again. Of course my
husband was stressing me out (He's a smoker too!) I decided to wait until
he left to go out of town to work so I didn't have to deal with him! Poor
Guy. LOL Anyway I am on day 2 w/ no cigarettes and he isn't going to be
back til Wednesday so I'll have a good 4 days under my belt by the time he
gets back. He is supposed to have quit too these few days, but we'll see.
I'm going cold turkey, and I am just hard headed enough to do it! I smoked
w/ my girlfriend at karaoke last Thursday and told her that was the last
time I would be able to go out until I was feeling good and post op. I'm
figuring about 3 months or so. And believe me, we had a celebration! I
think it is well worth quitting if it will cut the risks of recovery and
blood clots. I just pray that I can stick with it, before and after the
surgery. Please let me know how it goes for you.
— Kim B.
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