Did your surgeon tell you that you had to quit smoking or did he recommend that you quit?

My surgeon requires you to quit at least a month before surgery. He also does a nicotine test at the last pre op appointment (2 weeks before surgery) and if you have been smoking, he will reschedule the surgery for later.

God I hope that's a vice I don't have to give up.

Souled, It is a vice you must give up. Smoking, especially after VST, impedes healing of the sleeve, makes skin reabsorption more difficult, and can cause ulcers in our sleeves. Drop them now. It's tough, but why have life-saving sleeve surgery if you're going to continue to smoke?

FTR, I'm an ex-smoker as well... and it nearly killed me pre-op.

Im an ex smoker and My surgeon would absolutely not do the surgery if I smoked

Its been just over 48 hours since my last ciggarette. I have been using an electronic ciggarette, but its nicotine free. It is helping with the anxiety. I am hoping in the next 2-3 days I will be off the electronic cig too. Doc put me on Wellbutrin last week but I dont notice a difference. It has been SUPER stressful at work too.

Lissa, what do you mean it almost killed you?

SleeveMe, Smoking aggravated my pre-op pneumonia, diminished my lung capacity and caused asthma. I've had a good bit of improvement in my lung capacity, but I'll never be 100%. My pulmonologist is hopeful that my increased cardio will undo some of the asthma damage. Oh, and I also now have allergies to pollen, etc that I did not have before smoking.

But, why give your life to smoking after going through this to save yourself from obesity?

Oh my!!! Im glad you pulled thru and I will pray that you continue to see improvement!

I have been wanting to quit smoking for years.I quit for a few months awhile back, but stress got me. This time I am praying it sticks.

Yes I agree with Lissa. The best gift you can give yourself is to drop the fags. I smoked for 25 years and could never imagine life without them. I planned trips around cigarette stops - it was ridiculous. Apart from that cigarettes make you smell BAD and literally rot you from the inside out. You will succeed in quitting if you really want to. If you put an equal amount of energy into quitting as you do weight loss you will win! Every time I lit a smoke I used to mentally picture the toxic smoke being sucked into my lungs and imagined what those chemicals were doing to the poor little pink cells in there. Eventually I just hated the sight of them and tossed the packet. I used patches for a week. It was tough for two weeks, but I just kept saying "I CAN have one,but I don't WANT one." That was two years ago. Haven't had one since. Good luck. Remember, it is a gift to yourself of quality of life.

I quit on Saturday lol it's been 4 days that I've been smoke free. I really want my surgery. It's freaking hard with stress piling up but I'm doing it. I wasn't a heavy smoker just a socializing smoker. I can't say I don't miss it. But I will say I want a longer healthier life and I love perfumes!! My addiction but how can someone smell your perfume when you smell like smoke lol. My surgery is June 4th. I hope my system will be cleared oh nicotine by then. Anyone know how long that takes?

Nicotine is out of your system in 3 days. Drink lots of Water. After that, it's all in your head rather than being because you "need" nicotine. I got myself through by promising myself I could have a cigarette in 2 days, or a week, or next month. IMO, cold turkey is the only way that really works. Patches and ecigs just deliver more nicotine, which is the major addictive substance in cigarettes.

Good luck!!

I too had to quit smoking or I couldn't have the surgery, but I'll tell ya, I didn't quit for the surgery.....I quit when I could barely walk into the ER when my oxygen sats dropped soooo low. I ended up being admitted with bilateral pneumonia. At that moment I looked at my husband and said " I will NEVER smoke again" I know that anyone can get pneumonia, but it was the not being able to breath that scared me to death.

I work in the ER as a secretary and I have seen people come in on high levels of oxygen and bi pap and still struggle to breathe, it didn't click for me. My father died of lung cancer and it still didn't click for me. It took not being able to breathe myself to make it finally click. i really thought it would never happen to me. I was up to a pack and a half a day after amoking for 26 years. I have been 100% smoke free for 8 months.

I was sleeved 1 month ago and that was my gift to myself for giving up smoking. I gave it some tome between giving up smoking and getting sleeved because I knew I would need to replace the smoking with food for awhile to get past the addiction (my primary care Dr. supported that he would rather have me eat than to smoke to get me thru the hard days). I also used Ativan as needed for the hard anxiety days (Wellbutrin & Chantix don't agree with me).

So I ate for a couple months then spent the rest of the time jumping thru the usual hoops with my insurance company to get the sleeve done. I feel so good about both of my life saving decisions and you will too. I think giving up smoking was the hardest thing to do but if I can do it, you can too. I never thought I could call myself a non smoker! It also allows me to work out without feeling like my lungs want to explode too.

You are in for alot of amazing changes, but you will enjoy life so much more!

The best of luck to you..............You have my support!

Ok so imma attempt this whole quitting smoking thing. Im giving myself Monday as my last day to smoke. My employees are gonna hate me for awhile I'm sure lol

I quit smoking 5 months ago in preparation for this surgery. I used chantix and would highly recommend it. I joined another support group called quitnet.com and they were great! Spent a lot of time on there in the beginning. I also gave up drinking alcohol, and caffiene. The smoking and caffiene were the hardest for me. I quit smoking early because I knew I had to also quit the others, and for me to do it all at once would have been just crazy. I was not happy about it, but now so far its the best thing I have ever done for myself! The sooner you quit the better off you will be when your surgery date comes. Also it was not an option for me. I have had 2 nicotine tests and will probably have one more the day of the surgery. My surgeon will not do the operation if I have smoked in the last 8 weeks.

Lori

I quit 2 1/2 years ago after 20 years of smoking. Basically cold turkey. I did use a zero nicotine electronic cig for about 1 month. The 1st 2-3 days were a little rough, but manageable. Just a tip...caffeine and alcohol will trigger cig cravings, so avoid both for a couple of months if possible.

My surgeon suggested that I quit but didn't demand it.