Question:
I am SMO, pre-op and having a difficult time not smoking. I enjoy spending time with

my friends and we usually smoke cigarettes and listen to music or whatever. Everyone is supportive of my having this surgery but I can't seem to spend time with them before without wanting to smoke. I got some quit smoking aids from my doctor but my smoking is more social habit than anything. Does cutting back significantly help. Also I'm a nervous wreck waiting for the surgery scheduled for 7/8/03.    — Katie S. (posted on June 24, 2003)

June 24, 2003
Katie, I know just how hard it is to quit smoking - I did it nearly 4 years ago. This is a pivotal time in your life where you have to set priorities and stick with them. I'm not trying to be harsh, I'm just reminding you of the importance of taking care of yourself. This should be the absolute most important thing you've ever done in your life. After all, this IS the rest of your life. If you feel strongly enough to have the surgery - a major decision - then you should feel strongly enough to stop smoking. If your friends are truly your friends, they'll do whatever they can to help you stop, including not smoking around you. Talk with them honestly and earnestly and let them know just how important this is. I tell you, once I decided to have the surgery there isn't anything or anyone on this planet who would stop me - not smoking - not eating - not my family - not my job. I was completely focused on having the surgery and getting on with my life. Do I have any regrets? Not a single one, and this is the second time for me with WLS. Please looking into your heart and figure out what is most important. Once the surgery is over you can go back to smoking, but I can almost guarantee that once you really start feeling better and can move and do things you haven't been able to do before or in a long time, you won't want to touch the cigarettes. I still crave them after 4 years but will I ever put one in my mouth - NO WAY! It was too hard to quit and I have no intentions of putting myself through that again. Good luck and keep in touch to let us know how you're doing. We all care so much for you and will be praying very hard for your success.
   — Vicki H.

June 24, 2003
Katie, I agree with the previous answer. If you REALLY are committed to this surgery, it is important that you quit smoking ASAP. My surgeon will not operate on anyone who smokes - he is adamant about it. He feels that if you don't care enough about your health to quit smoking, you probably won't be compliant with the surgery after care either. Being SMO, you are at a greater risk for complications anyway (I know because I was SMO), but every day you smoke adds greatly to your risk of serious problems. And, the danger doesn't end once you've recuperated - it is important that you committ to quit smoking for the rest of your life.
   — Patty_Butler

June 24, 2003
Your surgery is right around the corner. Sometimes you really need to make a choice between what's easy and feels good...and what's best and healthy, and sometimes hard to do. I smoked for 25 years (clean for 5)...when my doc told me I had the beginnings of emphysema, that's what finally got me to quit. I was never SO GLAD to not have quitting smoking on my plate along with having to lose 10% of my weight for my surgery. I don't want to be rude, but by being SMO you're going to have your own special set of problems with surgery and after surgery...best not to add to it with lung and breathing problems, problems with the anesthesia, and a cigarette withdrawal cough, etc. I am surprised your surgeon didn't demand that you quit smoking long before now. This is really serious business.
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 24, 2003
Katie: I know it is very hard to quit smoking, but I was told only to quit the evening before surgery. I wished I would have stopped weeks before. I had such a hard time after the surgery with my breathing. I had no complications with surgery at all , it was all do to my smoking and the anistesia. I was on breathing treatments and on oxygen the whole entire time I was in there. They were going to keep me in an extra day also if my pulse oxygen hadn't of gone up. I was miserable, felt like I was trying to breathe thru a bent straw. So, I would suggest trying to quit a.s.a.p. Good Luck :)
   — Julie P.

June 24, 2003
I too am (was) a social smoker. I had an occasional cig here and there. OK a bit more than that...but anyway, I significantly stoped about 3-4 months pre surgery, but I did a few puffs a few days before surgery. I was also doing breathing excercises as well. I was fine, but I am a light weight. Just be careful and consider what is really important to you. Your surgery is sooo close... walk that nervous energy out, do some sit ups..something that will improve your surgery experience, not possiblly hinder it!! Best wishes..aims
   — chickiewickie

June 24, 2003
I am now 51 hours with out a smoke... I FEEL YOUR PAIN!!! Here is the thing, smoking increases the risk of pulminary embolism. Our being heavy in the first place dumps us in that scary statistic bucket from the start... Look at the memorials page and count how many poor souls on that list suffered from that... that is my motivation... I want to live long enough to be skinny. After all this I want to get to the results end of it all. You can do it.... we all can... besides if I dont my doc wont do the surgery... many doc's nicotine test and there are tests that can tell if you have burned one to 3 weeks out... be strong and be my new quit buddy!!!! Best of luck!
   — colette73

June 24, 2003
My surgeon has told me that he doesn't even want to talk to me about a surgery date until I have been quit for 3 months. That was May 1. I immediately called my PCP and screamed for help. He prescribed Zyban, and I have been smoke free since June 1. Make no mistake about it, even smoking socially, is still addiction, and this is a matter of life and death. When I had my hysterectomy last year, I quit smoking a couple of months before (one of my many attempts at cold turkey) and even then, when I came out of surgery, I had problems with breathing, and had to stay on oxygen for 24 hours. Please quit if you can.
   — misha