Hello all,

First of all a Huge Thanks to Everybody who has been submitting Answers/Suggestions to my previous posts.

One thing I for got to mention. I'm a Smoker, a Quitting Smoker. I've been taking this New Medication called "Chantix" for the past two weeks. My Doctor said that he wanted me to Quit 6 weeks prior to Surgery which is 3/27 (10days) But I thought I was going to have longer to Quit. My Paperwork was submitted to my Insurance Co. on 3/05. I was told it would take anywhere from 4-5 weeks to get Approval, fine. But it only took ONE Week for the Approval (which I'm grateful for) But now I'm kinda thinking that if I haven't Quit for the 6 weeks, not even close. It won't even be 6 weeks by my Surgery date from the time he told me to Quit for 6 weeks! I just don't want to fight through this all liquid Optifast Diet for 2 weeks to be told....Ummm Sorry, you needed to quit for 6 weeks! I've been fighting here for 5 days on liquids, and it is a Battle, one I will Win, but if I heard that...Man I don't know what I would do, I mean I got the Pedal To The Metal Now.

All your impute will be Appreciated.

Thank You All~~

-Rocko-

My doctor made me quite 2 months before surgery. I looked things up, although I didn't cheat, but I think some of the sites I checked said that it could be detected in your blood up to a month from when you quit. I'm not sure, it's been over a year since I looked it up. But some doctors will check your blood and if you haven't quit, they won't do the surgery. Good Luck.

I am thinking as long as you have done your part up to that point, it will all be okay. You don't have any control on when you get insurance approval and when you get scheduled. I would just call them and say,"Hey, I have been doing my part to quit smoking, but I am getting in faster than I thought and it won't be a complete 6 weeks. Is that okay?"

At least you will have an answer.

Rock, here's another thread (pretty recent) about this subject, maybe there is some more info for you there, too:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/smoking-and-lap-t31218.html

And it certainly isn't your fault the approval came so fast. That's a great thing! While smoking is not a great thing for healing, and for blood clots, plenty of people who smoke have surgery every day. I think you;ll just have to talk with your surgeon's office and ask what they think.

My fingers are crossed tightly for you!

Hi Rocko, Why don't you explain the situation to your surgeons office, and see what they say. Good on you for taking these twofold steps to regain your helath. It must be so hard for you both giving up smoking and being on the liquid diet right now. Your body will thank you Rocko.

All the best with it.

Susannah

Gosh now I am nervous too about the smoking thing. I started Chantix also but didnt follow through with my quit date because of other events happening in my life...always an excuse huh? But then stopped taking Chantix because it made my acid reflux worse and also made me so tired all the time. My Dr said I had to quit at least a month in advance and I was thinking like Rock that when my paperwork gets submitted I would have a month. My paperwork wont get submitted until the week of 3/26...but after reading Rock's situation I think I am going to use the patches starting Monday and just quit that way. Going out of town for business so I will be away from home so I think it will be a good time to start. Good luck Rock. I am excited for you! You can do it..we are all here for you.

Susan

I was told to quit smoking 2 weeks prior to me surgery. It has to do with the anesthesia. I cut back drastically however I had 5 cigarettes the day before my surgery, 1 the morning of. I passed the lung test prior to my surgery. It's basically for clearance to make sure your lungs won't fail you during surgery. Good luck quitting.

I'm a smoker and it didn't affect me with the surgery at all. I healed perfectly. Thanks for the tip on Chantix. I go into my doctor next week and I'm going to see if he will help me quit too. Good luck with your surgery. You will love being banded.

Thank you both for your support. I am going to quit just because it will be much healthier for me. Today I decided to go with wearing the patch and taking one of the Chantix since the Chantix does not have nicotine in it so it is not like getting too much nicotine. I am just not going to double dose so maybe I wont feel so drowsy during the day. So far its late afternoon and I am doing pretty good. Gosh its such a hard thing to give up isnt it. I hope the Chantix works for you. Again thanks for the positive support. Take care

Susan

I too smoked up until the day I had my surgery no problem for me.