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Smoking....need advice please!



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I knew I wanted the best outcome after surgery, and I knew I wanted to be healthy and live a long time, so I quit one year prior to my surgery. Cold turkey. I read a book by Allen Carr "The easy way to quit smoking", smoked while I read it, and then when I was done with the book, I threw away any cigarettes that had not yet been smoked. I have not had one since. Its all about wanting to quit. The surgery and weightloss and good health meant more to me than cigarettes and cancer.

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My surgeon said no smoking for 30 days. He wanted to make sure his patients quit. I hope you will use this opportunity to stop smoking and start your new life nicotine-free.

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Nicotine slows the healing process.

It's rough... but just quit.

I did it 10 years ago and I've saved myself $23,240 as well as probably a stroke and or a heart attack.

E-Cigs are a great tool to get you off of smelling bad and killing yourself but they are still an expensive crutch. Ween yourself off before going down this road. First things first.

Don't be a liability to yourself.

You only get one body.

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Get chantix from your doctor! Best way to quit!

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Hi. I've been a smoker for 40+ years and when i decided to get a weight loss procedure and went to a seminar the Surgeon was the guest speaker. That day he said, I will not perform the surgery if you are a "smoker". I went to my pcp and got chantix and quit smoking over 4 months ago. My bariatric team also requires me to get drug tested twice a month. I am scheduled for my sleeve in 11 days (23rd). I guess each surgeon is different and the requirements to have the procedure done is different. They want you to quit smoking because it really does hurt you for your recovery. This is a major surgery and your body needs oxygen....I do know that you can smoke AFTER the sleeve but you will NEVER be able to smoke after a bypass as it will do damage immediately.

i would call your doctors office and talk to the PA and find out now! You don't want to wait until surgery and get denied or canceled.

Good luck and you can do it. If I CAN DO IT...YOU CAN!!! lol

Rachel

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I am having the VSG on January 19, 2016. I was told no nicotine in any form for 2 weeks prior to surgery. I am taking Chantix to quit. I figure if I am going to FINALLY lose weight for my health, I also need to stop smoking for my health. Smoking is worse for you than the weight in any case.

So today I met the dietician for my preoperative diet. And then I seen my nurse. I was originally supposed to have the bypass and needed to quit smoking but I found out that the doctor submitted for sleeve. I am fine with that but I asked the dudnt nurse did that still mean I needed to have no nicotine in my system before surgery and she said no but I would heal better. I am sill cutting back was just was anyone who was it is a smoker told that they didn't have to quit for surgery, or couldn't use any nicotine substitutions. I just don't want to get on surgery day and be turned around cause I used Patches or gum....please help

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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      1. This update has no replies.
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