I was with dr Kirshenbaum but he retired so i decided to go with Dr. metz just went into see him for the first time and he talked to me about smoking and told me smoking causes erosion and that he wouldnt fill me until i quit smoking. WTF. Dr. K gave me a fill. I dont get it. I really need a fill i am eating way more than i should and i have gained 8lbs since the 15th of october. I am so mad and upset. i am a self pay patient and this band is not working.

Although smoking is bad for you, but so is everything else, i just don't see the connection. Smoke goes to the lungs.... how does that effect the band that is on the "outside" of your stomach? I do know that people that smoke have a harder time healing from surgery, but you already had the surgery.

Can you get another dr?

My friend Paula still smokes.... she got her band a year before me.

Because smoking causes an increase in stomach acid which will cause erosion If you still want a fill then dont smoke the day you go so you dont smell like smoke but all in all quitting will benefit you over all.

I am so depressed and basically upset with myself. 3 weeks ago i was on chantix to quit smoking. It says u can smoke for the first week so i did. then on saturday when it was time to put the smokes away i did. By mid day i needed a smoke so bad so i gave in. by the end of the day i had bought another pack. then the next day i bought a 5 pack. I continued taking the chantix for another week and during that week i tried everyday to quit but i needeed a smoke so bad. By the end of the week i had quit taking the chantix because it had not worked. I have gained 8lbs in the past few weeks. I contribute that to my band not being filled enough and my eating to many carbs. This is soooo hard. I paid almost 9k for this damn thing and i cant even get my ass in gear enough to exercise everyday. I have been making bad food choices and then getting upset with myself so then i am depressed. I have begun gambling again. like alot. It makes me feel good while gambling but then i lose and its like wtf was i thinking. Everything is going down hill. I am depressed about money and the band is not working. or should i say i am having a hard time working with the band. I decided it was time for another fill so i made an appt. I called the dr/s office yesterday to see if they had any cancellations for today so i could get the fill now and not in another week and a half. I am so depressed right now. I just want to go lay in bed and cry. I am not upset because i have to quit smoking i am mainly upset because i am going to be gaining weight in the next 4 weeks. That is how long the dr wants me to be smoke free for before he does my fill. I dont know if i should just quit smoking and gain the weight or if i should just cut back and work on quiting then go to the doc in 4 weeks aand lie to him about smoking. I dont think i am ready to quit just yet but i dont wanna gain the weight back and i dont wanna lie to him. I dont know what to do about anything anymore.

been doing research online about this smoking causing band erosion and i have found nothing to support this. Anyone find anything?

How strange as I remember going to a seminar and my surgeon saying if you smoke the only sugery he will do on you is the band. Interesting all the different information out there even between Dr's.

Start by doing something simple like walking 10 mins. you will feel so much better and atleast with me helps control the urge to smoke. Then work up to 60 mins. by adding 10 mins a week. By the time you get to 60 mins you won't want to even skip a day. It's addictive. I let myself have one day off a week but I look forward to it as that is MY time. It really helps control those addictions we are prone to.

There is another Dr. taking Dr. K. pts. .....sending you a message ....

Take this time to prove to yourself that you can make the positive changes you need to make the band work for you. Pick a realistic goal and stick with it but please don't try to change your whole life in one fell swoop. That would be a guaranted recipe for failure which would make you feel even worse than you do at the moment.

You can work the band for success and you can keep coming back here for support. Hang tough and best of luck.

Try another medicine Wellbutrin is suppose to help, also you will drop a couple of lbs when you start taking it. I take it for depression but it also works for quiting smoking. Just do it cold turkey my husband did 25 years ago and never touched another one. I am always on my son all the time to quit but he likes it. I told him your dad gave it up so you would not be around it growing up and now he smokes?

Cheri

My doctor knows that I smoke. He doesn't like it and wants me to quit but he has never denied me a fill or anything else because of it! Just tell him you quit and get your fill. I really don't see any connection between smoking and band erosion.

I smoked for 27 years I and I quit cold turkey it has been a year and its been hard not gaining with the band but now I dont want to smoke. If you dont want to quit you dont have to its basically your choice but at least get a fill and find another doctor who will do it for you so you wont be so depressed.

Glow... if i were in your shoes.... i would just tell him that i quit. How will he know the difference. Make your appt early in the morning. Spray your self down with perfume and rinse your mouth with mouth wash.

I don't smoke, but everyone in the house that i grew up in did... so i'm use to being around it and it doesn't bother me. Althought quitting would be great, some people can't. Smoking is a personal choice and if you want to smoke..... then smoke. I still drink my Mt. Dew (i'm not giving it up) and alcohol when i want too. its my personal choice.

Like i said before, my friend Paula smoked before and still does.... and she has been having her band for over three years.

My surgeon would not do surgery on anyone who smoked. They told us at the seminar, "if you smoke you will need to quit for 6 months before we even consider doing the surgery" I don't know why, I was not a smoker... I was more concerned with "no chocolate"!

I agree with most people on here. I would make early appt. Try not to smoke on the way there. Get your fill and light up on the way home. He won't know the difference and you'll be happier because you got your fill. Cheer up it will get better.

Our nurse navigator said; you have to be smoke free 6 months prior to surgery. The she said, We do a nicotine test just to be safe. WTF is a nicotine test? I have never smoked and my husband used the Chantix about 4 years ago. Maybe I look like a smoker; what does a smoker look like?

Wishing you success in you journey, and hoping you can KICK the habit.

I too am self pay.... and I smoke 1/2 pack per day and I had a fill this morning...... My Dr would prefer that I didnt smoke (one thing at a time doc...LOL) but he told me it will not hurt the band in any way.

As long as they do not test your blood they wont know you smoke.... you can go that route or just find a new Dr.