smoking

[luckysgirl1 0]

Ok, so I just started my liquid fast today, and surgery is in 2 weeks...9/9. I know I should have quit smoking a month or so before surgery, but I didn't... I haven't smoked A LOT in past year or so...maybe 1-2 packs a week maximum... Is it ok that I will only be just over 2 weeks smoke free when I go into surgery?

[Tiffykins 672]

You really want to talk to the anesthesiologist and your surgeon. I know some surgeons won't perform the surgery if you haven't quit for 30-90 days pre-op.

I smoke, and I know how difficult it is to quit. I smoked right up to my surgery, quit, then started again, quit again, and just recently picked it back up.

[Malaika 50]

Bearded didn't quit until about 1 week before his surgery and it wasn't a problem for Dr. Acves

[MacMadame 81]

I agree about asking your surgeon. Some will test you and, if nicotine is found in your bloodstream, they won't do your surgery!

Your chances of leaks go up if you smoke too, so it's really in your best interest to quit. It's not just the doctor torturing you.

[Chancie 65]

Yep.. I'm a smoker too, but my surgen wanted me smoke free for at least 30 days, and i was so afraid I couldn't have the surgery, I QUIT. He wrote me a script for chantix and it was ez.

Yet, I went back to smoking, quit for about 3 months, the chantix kept making me vomit ( so I thought ) and my stress level was up, all bad excuses, but I went back to smoking.

I'm hoping to make that one of my next goals, but I gotta want to do it.... and I WANTED THE SURGERY!

[xbander 0]

Hi Chantie

Funny you should mentione chantix, I only heard about it yesterday. I am a smoker and I am dying to quit.

Are you allowed to take it before an operation? Does it have any bad affects.

A dr I saw yesterday perscribed it to me, but I forgot to ask if it is ok to take before surgery.

[Chancie 65]

Yep Xbander- My surgen is the one who perscribed it for me, and he let the anasthesoligist (sp?) also know I was on it.

The pharmacy told me that some people have suicidal thoughts, and that was one of the main concerns with chantix. I had no effects from it. But it did make it ez, I wish I had stuck with it. I'll try again when I'm ready....

[Jagator88 1]

I took Chantix in 2007 and quit smoking for 36 days. As soon as I quit taking it I started smoking again. I had no side effects from it then. I took it again in 2008, quit smoking after 7 days and have not smoked since. I had serious thoughts of suicide that time so I quit taking it after 7 days. Not sure why it affected me differently each time but it does work. Of course, as with anything else, it is directly related to your real desire to quit. It is simply a tool to help.

[DownInSocal 12]

Ex smoker here. Probably soon to be known as the smoking nazi of the board.

I quit a year ago. I had no idea a year ago I would be having WLS. I needed to have another surgery and my surgeon who I loved would not do it if I smoked. I promised I would quit and I did. This was about the 4 millionth time I had tried but I was dead serious and ready to quit. It was not easy. I still dream about cigs sometimes. The cravings do go away! The depression about not being able to smoke does go away! That is all I can tell you. It is pure willpower and want to change that gets you through the first 6 months. Soon you will start to feel and live as a non smoker. You will wonder why on earth you smoked in the first place! It stinks! It is expensive! I have better things to do with my lungs like a nice 5 mile walk and my money like a nice outfit.

My WL Suregon tests for nicotine. I don't know if yours does. If I was "caught" smoking by him I have no doubt he would have dumped me like a hot potato.