Quitting Smoking While Preparing For Surgery

[irish1988 46]

So I am a smoker and have been for awhile. I know it is a terrible terrible addiction and has no place in my new transition in life. I guess the reason I am posting this, is did anyone else have to quit smoking right before surgery? I have "quit" before and went as long as a month, but to get there was hard.. and doing all that while preparing for surgery and then after when I am healing.. I feel like this may be a long journey for me but I know it's what I have to do, so has anyone else had to do this? Any tips or pointers for me? Could use all the advice you guys have to offer. I am dreading giving up smoking, but at the same time know it has to be done and is completely necessary. Plus if I am going through all of this for my health, then it would only make since do quit for my health as well. Plus I heard the sleeve may not heal right if I continue to smoke. So I need to quit and soon. I am scared and nervous because it has such a grip on me! I want to be free from it!

[FDclerical 318]

Gotta be cigarette free 3 weeks before and after surgery. It is hard!! Try chantix or e cigarette. I'm still struggling getting my surgery date in two days. There are tons of posts on here where people never stopped and are perfectly fine and had amazing recovery.

I am too scared to risk it so I'm gonna follow my surgeons orders LOL. Good Luck to you!!!!

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[delta_girl 931]

My doctor said quit 10 weeks before surgery to be extra safe. I quit two weeks before and it was not fun, but I just did it cold turkey. Now at three weeks post op, I have no desire to pick that bad habit up again. I really enjoy walking around the nearby lake and smelling the fresh air. I really like that my hair smells like Shampoo, not stale smoke. I really, really like that I am not spending money on something that can only be harmful to my health. Not sure if it is relevant or not, but I was a closet smoker and was careful not to do it much at all during the week, especially not around work, but I was a hell of a weekend warrior with the habit.

[hollirrose 249]

Ok..so no one here can give you any crap for smoking. *_* You quiting smoking is like telling an overweight person to just put down the fork and work out. Smoking is an unhealthy addiction just like food was for all of us. I quit a couple of months before surgery. I wanted surgery to go as smoothly as possible and not have complications from something I could prevent. I also did not pick back up the habit until a couple of months after surgery. I dont know why I lit up again... Well I guess I kinda do...I couldnt eat. Its amazing how eating is tied to your emotions. Im working on that now and will re quit by the end of the week. I wish you much success. My advice is to just stop. You have to want something more than nicotine.

[diedie 64]

I quit using ecigs its the only thing that worked and the surgeon said it was ok

[Jessielynn 112]

I totally get you on this one! Smoking was my "best friend" ...lol

The hardest thing I have ever done was quit,! I was a nervous wreck even thinking about it! So my pcp and me went at this one hard!

I was put on Wellbutrin for 2 wks, then started chantix, then had the e- cig for when I started freaking out! I know I was more mentally freaking out than physically;)

Well after being on chantix for a couple weeks I went off Wellbutrin. I only had to use the E-cigg about a totl of 10 puffs (literally)

It was the week from hell! But now I am almost 6 wks smoke free and by surgery I will be over2 months smoke free!

It was and will be the hardest and best thing I have ever done. And if I can do it anyone can!

It's not bad to need help, just ask! And if ya need anything I am here and have recently been there;)

[FDclerical 318]

I quit using ecigs its the only thing that worked and the surgeon said it was ok

Uggh I'm struggling trying to find a good cheap menthol e cigarette. I am cigarette free right now surgery in 21 days I can't handle chantix or the stupid patch.

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[irish1988 46]

Update: I quit smoking on the 1st of this month, and I have not had a cigarette since! I bought an e-cig and that works fine. I don't even smoke it that much as I used to smoke real cigarettes. So 17 days free of tobacco!

[Jessielynn 112]

Congrats!!!

[FDclerical 318]

kinda off subject

does anyone else have to do blood work and one more appointment with your PCP?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!

[Mickie Vest 29]

I'm hoping I can quit when it comes down to it. I don't have a surgery date yet so I'm still puffing away but I know the only way to really do it is cold turkey. It doesn't help that I live with 2 other smokers that have no intention of quitting.

[Jessielynn 112]

kinda off subject

does anyone else have to do blood work and one more appointment with your PCP?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!

I do also;)

[cher 16]

Yes, I have to meet with my PCP on 7 Nov surgery scheduled for 12 Nov

[cher 16]

I am using the patch and it has helped take the edge off. I still would like to smoke but not more than i want my surgery on Monday.