I smoke about 3 smoke a day and I told my doctor but he didn't say that I had to stop, is anyone else the same and if not how long did you quite prior to surgery, please no arrogant people!

I'll try not to sound arrogant.

My surgeon refuses to operate on anyone who doesn't quit smoking (or dipping or whatever) and committing to remaining smoke free.

I don't know how long before surgery is required, but he does require a nicotine test prior to surgery.

Good luck with quitting. My hurdle was quitting caffeine and carbonation. I can't even imagine how hard it would be to quit nicotine.

I don't smoke but I do know that my surgeon would not operate on anyone that had smoked 6 months prior to surgery. She also required a nicotine and blood test just prior to surgery. She told me that she has actually refused to do surgery on a couple of her patients the day of surgery because they tested positive.

I would definitely be sure to discuss this with your surgeon. I'm sure you wouldn't want to find out that they wouldn't operate the day of your surgery. I can't even imagine what that would be like.

Best of luck to you along this journey!

ask if he is ok with vaping. tobeacco is hard on the stomach and delays healing, i quit chewing and smoking tobacco three years ago with the vape.

My surgeon will not work with candidates that injest nicotine from any source.

Mine says 6 weeks smoke free and I'm working on quitting now....it's tough!

I personally do not smoke, but my surgeon will not operate on anyone that smokes, he does a nicotine test, and if u do not pass it, he will cancel your surgery. He is not trying to be cruel, but it can be a problem if you still smoke with healing after the surgery especially.

I smoked 5 packs a week until a week ago. It is a requirement with my surgeon. I got patches and a Nicotrol inhaler to help, but I haven't used any of the patches and I hardly use the Nicotrol. It's not easy. Being on the phone and driving are the hardest for me, but today is Day 8 for me as a non-smoker. The whole idea of having WLS was to be healthier, so quitting seemed like a natural step in the process. I have only gained a pound. I gave myself a little leeway on the food this past week. My surgeon said since I'm pre-op AND quitting smoking, he'd just be happy if I didn't gain weight, but I'm still down a few pounds with about 80-90 days before surgery. I have already set up a weekly automatic withdrawal from my checking into savings that equals what I spent on cigarettes. That extra $$$ will add up quickly and I'm really stoked about it! Find a motivation that will keep you inspired, consider nicotine replacement, and good luck to you. You can do it!

Define "arrogant"?

People who tell you that smoking hinders healing? Or people who wonder why you would have this surgery to become healthier, yet continue to do something that is obviously unhealthy?

Congratulations, @@BeeHealthy2016 on taking such a big step to be healthy. That has got to be hard. I am rooting for you

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Define "arrogant"?

People who tell you that smoking hinders healing? Or people who wonder why you would have this surgery to become healthier, yet continue to do something that is obviously unhealthy?

Lol you!!!!

I smoked for 10 years and quit cold turkey a few months before surgery. The more you smoke, the more issues you will have after or even during surgery. The fact that you think it's okay to keep smoking, while having a surgery to make you healthy is foolish.

I smoked for 10 years and quit cold turkey a few months before surgery. The more you smoke, the more issues you will have after or even during surgery. The fact that you think it's okay to keep smoking, while having a surgery to make you healthy is foolish.

Excuse me who said I think it's ok my doctor didn't say I had to quite but I'm planning to before surgery was asking others how long did they quite before there surgery, why even comment if your going to be sour don't need it!

You clearly made it seem like you were going to continue smoking because your doctor didn't state it was an issue. And I'm not "hating" or being sour, I'm just giving it to you straight.

Oh clearly did I! Well keep your straightness to to yourself!

I've posted something similar to what I'm about to write elsewhere on here, but I'll keep posting it when I see one of these posts come up:

I loved smoking. I started when I was 15 and smoked through the next couple of decades without quitting for any real length of time. I enjoyed it, and I was pretty pissed at the idea of quitting for this surgery. I only smoked around 6-8 cigs a day, and technically was a light smoker... but after so many years, even light smokers experience issues with tiny capillaries dying off, cold fingers and toes and weird nerve issues, wheezing and coughing and are more prone to colds and flu and all the other horrible things that come with smoking ~any~ cigarettes.

So I quit.

Here is what I realized: I'm having this surgery to make my life better, to be healthy, to live longer and really enjoy the time I have left on this planet. Smoking is in direct opposition to all of those goals. Smoking - and I count vaping in there too since the early results on vaping are not looking good for long term health - is one of the few things that is guaranteed to do major harm to your body and kill you in the end if you use the product as intended. Think about that for a minute.

There is no reason to smoke. It is bad for you, it hurts your lungs, your circulation and hampers healing. Smoking before or after having major surgery is beyond stupid (I'm saying this as part of my own self talk, not calling you specifically stupid).

The ONLY reason any one smokes is because it is addictive. If you smoke or vape - you are an addict, same as an alcoholic or a drug user. Quitting is the only smart, rational option ESPECIALLY before having a serious, life altering surgery like a sleeve or bypass.

I miss it almost every single day, and I just celebrated (yesterday!) my one year quit anniversary. I tell myself that I can always smoke again someday, just not right now... and hope that I can keep telling myself "maybe tomorrow" for the rest of my life. But I am damned proud I took my life back and no longer depend on those evil things, even if I still miss them. It's part of being an addict. I know what I am, and admit I'm probably always going to have that struggle, but I'll be damned if they'll ever control my life that way again.

You are doing this to improve your life, so take that step further and really commit to giving your body the best possible chance, and quit smoking as well. You deserve to be the best you that you can be, and smoking should not be a part of that.

Edited October 12, 201510 yr by FrankiesGirl