I was wondering of there are any smokers who have had the lap band done and if so, how was/has it been affected? I smoke about 3/4 a pack per day. that is the next demon to conquer. I am scheduled for this friday and i have a little anxiety about that. your input is suggested. please please please don't knock me for the smoking. i have heard it all before and am fully intending on quiting soon!

thanks!

K

I, too, am a weak, unmotivated, disgusting smoker!!! I worry about the effects everyday. I have quit--cold turkey-- twice for 9 months--I have two beautiful little ones, Devin 4 yrs. and Zachary 2yrs., but I can't seem to find the strength to quit for myself. I haven't really even started a plan to quit now, especially when I'm just learning to live with my band!!!! Smoking is one of the few things in life that I TRUELY enjoy, now that I eat to live, not live to eat!!!

Smoker also.

How's this for stupid?? I go to the gym before work. It's about a 35 minute drive there. I smoke two cigarettes before I go to the gym. I smoke about 8-10 total a day. Very rarely do I smoke when I get home from work and when I do it is always outside. The number of smokes per day directly correlates to traffic.

I keep practicing quitting. Someday it will stick.

Hi Karen,

When I was banded in 2003, I was still smoking cigarettes. My surgeon did not ask me about it and I didnt offer the information. I did have pre op testing and my lung capacity was fine, so no problems there. I smoked between 8-20 cigs a day with an average of about 12-15. I smoked for 24 years, so I didnt want to quit. Last year, I had plastic surgery and the surgeon said he would not operate on me if I smoked. I quit May 4th 2005 and have not picked up a cigarette since. I did have a prescription to Wellbutrin. I believe it helped me to quit, but I cant be sure since I hadnt made an attempt before this ever. The first two days were bad and then I was fine. I am still amazed that I was able to quit on my first attempt. I did gain about 10 pounds and I have not been able to get these pounds off my body. I really wish I would have quit prior to banding because once you lose the weight and regain some, it makes you feel very pannicky and if I was accustomed before banding then I would have been at goal and not fighting these pounds.

So best of luck to you, but if you cant quit before banding, then I would wait until you lose most of the weight before you attempt to do so because the cravings will kill you and you might be more tempted to eat crap you know you shouldnt eat because you need the oral fixation.

Babs in TX

334/180 ish

-150 ish

^^^^^^^ Smokeless for the last 3.5 years after burning up my paychecks for 27 years.