Question:
How long do you have to be smoke free to pass the ABG test?

I've seen conflicting responses to this question, and just wanted to see if anyone else out there had some insight.    — [Anonymous] (posted on January 19, 2002)

January 19, 2002
You will continue to get mixed answers too. I am a smoker, and I want this surgery also. I made a decision...and perhaps you should look upon it this way too: You are making a decision to change your life for a healthier you. Smoking anyway you look at it. is bad. I know, I smoked for 28 years. You need to STOP before your surgery, the sooner the better. Many Surgeons will not operate on you if you smoke, point blank. I had a hysterectomy 14 years ago. Recovering from that was horrible because of my smoking. Now bear with me here...my incision was pubic lined. Everytime I cough my insides screamed!!!! This is a vertical incision...can you possibly imagine when time comes to cough how that is gonna feel because of smoking? I am not even scheduled, less known approved.. so you really need to lessen any possibilities of limiting your healing and recovery time. I used the gum, trust me, I smoked 2 packs a day and the gum works!!! Besides there are tests they can run to see if you are smoking and what your nicotine level... if I were you, I'd quit today... immediately... pronto... this very instant!!! You'll be grateful you did when that tube come out and you are coughing unnecessarily due to smoking..plus you really don't want to go there...trust me!!!
   — [Anonymous]

January 19, 2002
I agree with the previous poster, I was a chain-smoker for more than 20 years, never even tryed to quit smoking before, when I made my first appointement with my WLS surgeon I quit (it's been 8 months) I took his has a test that I was serious about my new beginning and doing this for my health. But gosh it's no piece o cake...
   — Diane B.

January 20, 2002
By the way I did not mean to post in secret to fuss at you. LOL My Surgeons assistant reads these daily. They have a policy that we must be smoke free for EIGHT months. Now I quit but eight months is stretching it to the extreme. So to safeguard me possibly getting in earlier...I posted in secret. Good luck and BUY THAT GUM!! Walmarts brand is $30 for 108 pcs and I was literally free from the jitters after 4 days of it...seriously!!!
   — [Anonymous]

February 4, 2002
I quit smoking 3 years ago by using the drug 'wellbutrin' aka zyban. It is a miracle drug to help quit smoking. I smoked 2 packs a day for 25 years. You need to take it about 2-3 months. So now I join you all here for WLS since I have gained another 100 pounds (already obese to start with) after quiting smoking.
   — Janet S.