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Quit smoking for before WLS?



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Yes, I know that every doctor recomends that we quit smoking before the big day but has anyone not done what is recomended? It's easier said then done for those of you who do not have this terrible habbit!

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I hope there are some smokers out there, because I've been wondering this as well. I had my last *gasp* cigar for a while last night, 2 weeks prior to my surgery - just as the doctor ordered. So far, the urge to take a life isn't too strong. :angry

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I stopped smoking about 10 years ago. I know how hard it is, and I doubt that "doctor's orders" would have been the determining factor for me. Everyone has their own wake up call (true of WLS, too). For me, it was watching a beloved sister-in-law die from lung cancer.

I am VERY, VERY glad I quit, even if it's just to say that I no longer have that monkey on my back, but I don't know that I believe it will have a huge impact on your surgery.

I smoked thru all the things I shouldn't have...pregnancy, asthma, etc. I just hope no one has photos of me as a nursing mother.

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I'm a bad one too. I was advised at my initial consultation that I had to quit smoking after the consultation. I haven't bought any since then, but if someone is at my house who smokes, I will bum a couple during their visit. I think that counts as quitting, and as my time gets closer, I'll stop bumming them also.

Man, quitting is hard.

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I never quit. It is supposed to make recovery easier, but mine was easy anyway after the first 2-3 days. I wish I had've quit...I have tried over and over and never been able to put them down for good. My husband quit over a year ago and I am so proud for him, but I just cant seem to STAY quit. It is disgusting, it stinks, it's expesive, it's unhealthy, and still I havent managed get out from under it, lol.

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I quit about a week before my surgery. Unfortunately I picked it back up. I was told that recovery is much easier if you don't smoke. I wish that I had kept up with the quitting, it's just so hard.

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I tried halfheartedly to quit before surgery... it didn't happen. I am still smoking but hoping for some major stress to settle down in my life right now to give it up for good.

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As soon as I decided to do the band in dec of 05. I made it my goal to quit by January 06. I did it and man I feel so much better. I had tried many times to fully quit but always picked them back up. For a year or more I kept saying this is the last pack I am buying, then I would make sure I smoked the WHOLE pack and a friend would have some and it was just a cycle. I even stoped for 2 1/2 years while I was prego with my dd and nursing her but as soon as she was done nursing I picked them back up. Did the same thing with both me sons. I have always loved to smoke. Once my dd noticed I was not smoking(about three weeks after I quit) she said "mommy I'm glad you don't smoke anymore daddy said it was going to make you sick) I told her I know and thet I will never smoke again. Them she said "PROMISE?" so I have promised her I will not pick one up again and its a promise I plan on keeping...

I know its hard, it was one of the hardest things for me to do. But you are getting the band to be healthier.... Alow your lungs to be healthy too.... good luck!!!

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Carlene,

I hear you! "I smoked thru all the things I shouldn't have...pregnancy, asthma, etc. I just hope no one has photos of me as a nursing mother."

<!-- / message --><!-- sig --> I so regret smoking during pregnancy and nursing! i too eventually quit (17 yrs now) and recently started smoking when drinking... bad.....

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I don't smoke, and I'm only chiming in to say that I have heard of doctors who will run tests the day of surgery and if they find nicotene in your blood, they will cancel your surgery. Not all of them do this, but I have heard of it happening and thought I would share.

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My doctor tests for smoking and will cancel surgery. I had to quit 2 months before surgery. Unfortunately, I'm right back at it again.

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I stopped smoking 2 weeks before surgery and 2 weeks after surgery. Then my dog got sick and the stress just overcame me and I caved. I smoke a lot less now, but haven't kicked the habit anymore.

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My wake-up call came 5 years ago by way of a 5-way-bypass...Heck of a wake up call. I haven't touched cigarettes since that day.

Dody

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I did quit, on my own 8 months before my band surgery. I sort of had a plan of regaining my health and I knew I needed to tackle one problem at a time. I quit cold turkey, Sept 2002 and was banded May, 2003. It's been over 3 years now, best thing I ever did for my health. Not easy, but well worth the trouble. Good luck to you!

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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