Aloha all,

I'm relatively new to this site and have just started my VSG journey, so I thought this might be a good first post. I've completed the informational session and have my initial consultation and NUT appointments at the end of March. According to the nurse at the info session, this doctor requires a minimum of two months nicotine-free (using the honor system) in order to be eligible for surgery. Due to some scheduling coordination issues, I plan to have the VSG in July, so I've got plenty of time to quit and still have two months before the surgery.

My question to you fine folks is this: is anyone else in this same position? Anyone trying to quit? I'm on my third quit attempt in four days, and each time I tell myself it'll be my last. I've read through all of Allen Carr's Stop Smoking the EASYWay as well as a lot of articles on whyquit.com. Despite all of this intellectual knowledge, I'm still finding it incredibly difficult to quit. I think right now I'm a victim of what the website calls "cue-induced cravings", and I'm trying my best to overcome them.

So, anyone else trying to quit and succeeding? Or trying to quit and need someone to chat with? I'm open to discussing our journeys here or via private messaging. Just wanting to throw the topic out there and see what others are experiencing.

--Josh

I will text my friend who is a nurse in Honolulu (are you in Oahu?) and see if she knows anyone.

Hey Josh....I just text her... she said her roommate knows a really good one and she said she would ask her when she wakes up. They live on Oahu though. Not sure what island you are on. She mentioned he books up quick so an advanced appointment is needed. Get back to you real soon.

Hey Josh....I just text her... she said her roommate knows a really good one and she said she would ask her when she wakes up. They live on Oahu though. Not sure what island you are on. She mentioned he books up quick so an advanced appointment is needed. Get back to you real soon.

Thanks for following up for me! Yes, I'm on O'ahu, so that won't be an issue. It's still mid-morning here, so give her some time to wake up! Ha ha!

Josh ~

Prior to surgery (I am almost five months post op) I heard many mixed things on Chantix, and decided to try it. I was very successful with it and quit smoking on day nine of being on Chantix. I will say it came along with side effects like very hard time sleeping, and nightmares but I found it well worth it. If you start to pick up the bad habit after surgery then Chantix will not work as post op bariatric patients usually can't consume enough food to take the medication. Hope this helped and best of luck to you! :-)

Josh ~

Prior to surgery (I am almost five months post op) I heard many mixed things on Chantix, and decided to try it. I was very successful with it and quit smoking on day nine of being on Chantix. I will say it came along with side effects like very hard time sleeping, and nightmares but I found it well worth it. If you start to pick up the bad habit after surgery then Chantix will not work as post op bariatric patients usually can't consume enough food to take the medication. Hope this helped and best of luck to you! :-)

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, my job doesn't allow me to take Chantix because of the side effects, so I'll have to find another method to get over the hump.

Just an update for all who may be interested and who contributed their insights to my struggle...

I'm currently 3 days, 9 hours, and 42 minutes nicotine-free. I knew my job wouldn't allow the use of Chantix and Wellbutrin, and I didn't want to wait to find an acupuncturist (but thanks for the info BellaDonna!). I smoked my last two cigs on Tuesday morning and decided to see how it would go. I was working for a while after those last two, so that helped kill some time and cravings. This time around has been a little easier than the last couple of times. I was doing good with cravings until the last few hours, but I know that this, too, shall pass.

So thanks for all your kind words and encouragement! I keep looking one hour and one day ahead, and so far I've been able to make it!

--Josh

At the health food store they have tea tree toothpicks which helped me control the physical habits if smoking. Good luck!

At the health food store they have tea tree toothpicks which helped me control the physical habits if smoking. Good luck!

That's a good idea. Thanks!

How's it going, Josh?

How's it going, Josh?

Thanks for checking in!

It's going! Haha. Sorry for the delay in responding...I've been at work which is both a blessing and a curse. It's good because it occupies my mind and time so I don't have as many opportunities to think about smoking or crave a cigarette. It's bad because there are parts of the workday during which I would normally smoke, so those triggers are still there.

According to my quitting app, I'm 3 hours shy of being 9 days nicotine-free! I'm still dealing with triggers and cue-induced cravings, but I'm slowly getting over them. It's been a process, but one I see as analogous to my upcoming weight loss journey. I'm trying to use this as a learning experience and trial run so I'll have an idea of what to expect when surgery gets closer.

You rock! Love the positivity, Josh! Rooting for you buddy!

You rock! Love the positivity, Josh! Rooting for you buddy!

Thanks! I appreciate it! I've had to spend a lot more money than I anticipated on fixing my car over the last week, so the urge to smoke was there. Each time I got more bad news, I wanted to run outside and light one up to calm down. Then I remembered that smoking doesn't really calm you down, and I told myself I could get through it. And I did! It was still tough, but I was able be good and not find one to light up. I'm hoping that it's gonna get easier the longer I've gone without smoking.

It's like this whole thing your going through now is just great practice for the even larger event if surgery to come after. Woot

It's like this whole thing your going through now is just great practice for the even larger event if surgery to come after. Woot

That's the way I've been trying to look at it. In fact, I had almost this exact conversation with a co-worker yesterday (who is a smoker but ironically a fitness trainer). Things were going well until she mentioned that I don't look that fat and that all I need to do is walk some more and watch what I eat for the pounds to come off. She's the second person I've spoken with who had that mentality, and I was prepared for it, but it's something I should've expected knowing her background. Oh well, I kept the conversation focused on me quitting smoking, and that seemed to help.

That's the way I've been trying to look at it. In fact, I had almost this exact conversation with a co-worker yesterday (who is a smoker but ironically a fitness trainer). Things were going well until she mentioned that I don't look that fat and that all I need to do is walk some more and watch what I eat for the pounds to come off. She's the second person I've spoken with who had that mentality, and I was prepared for it, but it's something I should've expected knowing her background. Oh well, I kept the conversation focused on me quitting smoking, and that seemed to help.

Your stronger than I. I would have said "yeah, you don't look that addicted. You should just smoke less and breath more." You can't understand someone else's addiction unless you are willing to confront your own. Not that I'm bitter. Lol