Smoking Smoking-Quitting My Take On It

[NoneYa 380]

I smoked heavily for over 40 years, between 2-3 packs per day. I have had 5 major surgeries in my lifetime. With each and every one I have had postoperative pheumonia, extended hospital stay and slow healing.

When I was researching the sleeve I learned quickly that quitting was a requirement with most surgeons. I resented it for a while and actually almost didn't procede with the process over it because I thought I couldn't quit and didn't particularly want to try. I had tried/failed many many times. Truth be told I didn't want to quit. I enjoyed it and it had become a part of who I was. Maybe strange but true.

Then one day I thought about it on a deeper level. I looked at my pack of cigarettes and realized that it is what is standing between me and the opportunity to have a life changing-saving surgery. I thought " little rectangular box filled with chopped dried leaves has had more power over my health than I have and I have given it that power. I'm taking that power back today."

After long hard consideration I decided to give it another try with one difference this time. I would not give myself permission to fail. I wanted the surgery and this habit was the object in my way. I decided to try vapor cigs.

I purchased a kit with 4 vials of vapor liquid. I had the largest bottle made up with 25% less nicotine than full flavored. The 3 remaining bottles were made with 50% less, 75% less and 0% nicotine respectively. I puffed them in order reducing my nicotine intake until I was getting none. I puffed the 0% one for 2 weeks with the puffing spread out over longer periods of time. That was to break the hand to mouth habit we (smokers) all seem to have. That can be as hard to get past as the nicotine and can lead to weight gain because we replace food with the cigarette in the hand to mouth motion. It worked. I can say that not only do I not smoke, I don't even think about it. My husband still smokes and I am not bothered by it at all. I am not one of those x-smokers that spend my free time on a soapbox preaching the sermons of Hellfire and damnation to all of those that continue. I get that we are all adults and the choice belongs to each of us. I am one of those that knows very well how hard it can be to quit. I offer the method that worked for me to those of you that want to try it. If it doesn't work for you I encourage you to see your PCP for help with other methods. Its worth it.

The end result was that my surgery was 8 days ago. From the moment of surgery on my oxygen readings were consistenly 100%. There was no pneumonia to add to my recovery plan for the first time in my life. I can focus on my weighloss. I can take the walks I need to take without getting winded. I get a certain satisfaction from knowing that while my body begins to look better outwardly it is healing inwardly as my lungs work to return to their normal state. I have a sense of self-pride in completing a challenge that has eluded me thus far. The money I save in cigarettes will now be stashed away in my personal new wardrobe stash. My children's memory of me from this point on will be of healthy living practices that will hopefully be incorporated into their lives as well. I have no doubt there will be more benefits to come.

[kari61 128]

• Well said, I agree 100%...There is also a book that helped me that may help others, sounds crazy but it really did, called the Easy way to Quit Smoking by Allen Carr...worth a try..
  

[NoneYa 380]

Agreed. I don't think there is 1 right method. I think there are many methods and that we all must find the one that works for US.

[TwinsMama 483]

I've never smoked but I have heard it is tough to quit. That you not only quit but then also made the WLS life change is amazing. Congrats to you on quitting and your new sleeve!

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

I'm in awe of you - really. I smoke 20 a day, which can jump up to 30-40 if I've been drinking. My surgery is planned for the 2nd September. They know I smoke, raised an eyebrow on confirmation of it, but didn't say in direct terms 'you must quit'. Consequently and like any true card-carrying nicotine addict, I rationalised it in my brain (because, like you, I like smoking and it is most definitely part of my identify), that it's okay to continue. I, too, bought one of the e-ciggie set-ups, but it ended up giving me Bronchitis (probably because I was puffing on it so intensely) so its been languishing in my drawer ever since.

I hear though, that if you smoke after surgery, it's a sure fire way (other than slowing the recovery) to getting ulcers and excess acid? Did your Docs/nurses say anything about continuing using the e-ciggie after surgery at all? Again, absolutely well done you. It's truly a massive achievement and I am thoroughly envious of your levels of resolve and will power! All the best, Revs

[NoneYa 380]

Hi Madame Reverie. Thank you so much for your kind words. I stopped using the vapor cigs about 1 month before surgery. It wasn't due to my amazing will power. My battery stopped taking a charge that lasted more than15 minutes. I was too cheap to buy another setup at 75.00 a piece and i honestly felt it was in my head at that point. It wasn't difficult. He didn't asked me about it and neither did my anesthesiologist. In my paperwork it said i SHOULD quit and i SHOULD resolve not to pick it back up after surgery. He didn't do blood tests to check me and i don't think he would have refused me but I don't know for sure. " Should" is like strong advice and advice can be taken or left. The old me would have left it every time if i wanted to. The new me wanted to start my life over with a fresh slate. That meant losing weight and stopping smoking. i knew myself well enough to know i needed help with both.That meant having the sleeve and using any crutch I could find that would work.

Anyway, as usual i drone on and never really answered your question. I was not told anything about using the vapor-cig after surgery. Had things gone differently I would have used it with a very low or no nicotine level.