Pre op Smokers

gyfts · February 6, 2007

A question for anyone who smoked prior to being banded. I know most surgeons want/require smokers to stop smoking at least 8 weeks prior to surgery. How did you stop? What tools did you use? was losing the cigarettes as hard as changing the eating habits? I am a smoker, and even though im still several months out from surgery, the thoughts of giving up my cigarettes scares me more than the food changes. I enjoy smoking, but I know I need to quit. I think what scares me most is the thought of failure. Of not being able to stop. what a horrible addiction!!

Thanks for any info.

Kat817 · February 6, 2007

I quit over 16 years ago, cold turkey. I had smoked for 15 years....so I do know what a difficult thing it is. There are several drugs available now to ease the cravings, no need to be harder on yourself, ask your PCP for help! It doesn't matter HOW you do it---just like the band----all that matters is that we ARE doing it. Start a thread in the rants & raves and ask for support as you rant and rve your way through the cravings. There are lots of us who have been there, or several who are there now, wanting to, needing to quit. Maybe put a challenge out, for someone to quit with you.

You will have my support however you choose to do it!!

Good Luck!

Kat

conroe · February 6, 2007

Hi,

I am due to have my band on Feb 16.. and am very excited. I just recently stopped smoking I'm on week - smoke free. It's not easy and I could not have done it without some help. there is a new medication out there called Chantix. It is great it doesnt make you feel tired or anything like that it just makes you think I don't want a cig. Alot of people I know have and are using it and it works. I loved smoking and I gave it up that made me realize if I could stop smoking I could lose the weight with a little help. Good Luck

Conroe

demsvmejm · February 6, 2007

I have said this a few times on the forum...I love Chantix! I totally agree with conroe. You take it for 7 days, on day 8 you QUIT, yep, cold turkey! And keep taking it for 12 weeks.

I actually quit 1 day b4 my quit date. I have been smoking for 20+ yrs and have "quit" many times before. This time I can truly say "It's for good!" In the beginning, I would think, I just got in the car, now I need to light up, but it's a habit thing, not a craving thing. I don't even have thoughts of smoking pop into my head any longer. I've been smoke free for 47 days.

There are side effects. I have had bloating and gas, and just an overall feeling of not being hungry. Maybe that's just me, but without trying I have lost around 5lbs. since the beginning of Jan. Don't get me wrong, the side effects are worth it!

Good Luck, you can do this!

gyfts · February 7, 2007

Congrats to all you non smokers!! Ive not heard of this chantix. Is it like wellbutrin? I cant take wellbutrin cause it makes me have nightmares. The pill worked great the week I took it, but the nightmares were horrible! Im assuming the chantix is prescription? Im definitely gonna check into it. Thank you all for the encouragement. I can stop smoking, and I can lose weight!

demsvmejm · February 12, 2007

gyfts

Yes, Chantix is Rx. The warning label lists these side effects:

vivid dreams, nausea, headaches, constapation.

I did have "vivid dreams" in the beginning, I also had really annoying headaches the first 2 weeks, and the gas is ongoing.

I take Wellbutrin XL for depression (same drug as Zyban) Perhaps these drugs in combination have helped my success.

travelgirl · February 12, 2007

I quit, but ONLY with the help of an accountability partner and the nicotine Patches. The patch didn't help that much except for keeping me from wanting to kill people, the accountability partner helped a lot more. I knew she was counting on me to not smoke, and I was counting on her to not smoke. There were times that knowing how disappointed she would be in me was the ONLY thing that kept me from lighting up. NOTHING else kept me from it.

Good luck. Just know that it CAN be done, it's hard, but not impossible. I smoked from the time I was 10 or 11 (inhaling!) until I was 28.

missy67 · February 12, 2007

i have used chantix.. its awesome.. aside from some strange dreams on occassion..

kity · February 12, 2007

I am picking up my perscription tomorrow. I am confused though, do I wear the patch as well? It is not a nicoteen replacement is it? So I think I should use the patch (which being a middle school teacher, helps me not "go postal"). I need to quit this week. I was just approved and scheduled for April 3...help?!

missy67 · February 12, 2007

The way my PCP explained it was to pick a date i planned on quitting- say sunday. so i started taking the pill(s) on sunday and laid the cigarettes down the following sunday.. by about the 4th day they started tasting bad.. so it was really easy.. there was no craving or anything.. if you arent smoking now try just using the patch for a couple of days then not wearing it.. the biggest challenge i have seen with people that also take chantix is that having the cigarette is more habit than want.. they tend to just burn up the cigs.

gyfts · February 13, 2007

I have said this a few times on the forum...I love Chantix! I totally agree with conroe. You take it for 7 days, on day 8 you QUIT, yep, cold turkey! And keep taking it for 12 weeks.
I actually quit 1 day b4 my quit date. I have been smoking for 20+ yrs and have "quit" many times before. This time I can truly say "It's for good!" In the beginning, I would think, I just got in the car, now I need to light up, but it's a habit thing, not a craving thing. I don't even have thoughts of smoking pop into my head any longer. I've been smoke free for 47 days.

There are side effects. I have had bloating and gas, and just an overall feeling of not being hungry. Maybe that's just me, but without trying I have lost around 5lbs. since the beginning of Jan. Don't get me wrong, the side effects are worth it!

Good Luck, you can do this!

Way to go Mary!! :clap2: :clap2: 47 days!! Thats wonderful!. Can you feel a difference in your body? Was it difficult to get past the habit things? The "last time" I quit it was the habit that was hardest for me to overcome. Id sit down to talk on the phone, Id immediately reach over for my cigs, or get in the car, think I needed to light up. Old habits die hard!! :nervous :nervous Keep up the good work and thanks for the reply.

gyfts · February 13, 2007

I quit, but ONLY with the help of an accountability partner and the nicotine Patches. The patch didn't help that much except for keeping me from wanting to kill people, the accountability partner helped a lot more. I knew she was counting on me to not smoke, and I was counting on her to not smoke. There were times that knowing how disappointed she would be in me was the ONLY thing that kept me from lighting up. NOTHING else kept me from it.
Good luck. Just know that it CAN be done, it's hard, but not impossible. I smoked from the time I was 10 or 11 (inhaling!) until I was 28.

Travelgirl- congratulations on your continuing smoke free life. It must feel great!! Im sure your lungs thank you too. Mine are begging me to quit!! (as i sit here and cough cough) .

Kim

Marissa424 · February 13, 2007

I Did Not Have To Stop But Supprisingly After I Got Banded Last Wed. I Have Not Even Thought Of Smoking A Cigarette - Mayne This Will Be For Good! Whoo Hooo

travelgirl · February 13, 2007

Gyfts, Thanks! Yes, my lungs thank me every day! I feel so much better since I quit. In fact, most of the time I think of myself as a non-smoker instead of an ex-smoker. Anyone who just quit will know what I mean.

For everyone wanting/needing to quit, the cravings DO go away. I haven't wanted a cigarette in a VERY long time.

demsvmejm · February 13, 2007

Thanks for all the congratulations. Today is 53 days smoke free.

The habit thing was hard for about a week.

I never smoked in my house (kids) and I rarely smoked with them in the van. I would smoke after dropping the kids off at school, work breaks, lunch, and outside. After I had my stroke two years ago, I didn't smoke infront of my DH. (really mad I couldn't quit!) So when he'd take a long bath, run to the store....bam! my heart would jump and my brain would think "cool, I can sneek another smoke before bed!"

But now, smoking doesn't even cross my mind. I NEVER thought I'd say that. I smoked for 20 years and quit three times, this is my fourth and final time.

I'm hoping the LB works for me and my eating like the Chantix did for my nicotine habit.

I really have been pushing this RX to everyone I know that wants to quit. I can put up with the gas and crazy dreams. I realized I could not put up with the prospect of having another stroke within 3 yrs if I didn't quit.

Marissa...keep it up, you can do it!~