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smoker questions...

RobertD16

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RobertD16    47

RobertD16
Posted

Well I completed all my requirements, 3 month diet, clearances, psy evaluation and got my insurance approval and surgery is scheduled june 3rd...the problem is my surgeon wants me smoke free for 60 days before surgery...My last cigarette was april 15...I do not know if they have ways to tell or not...I told them I was smoke free as of march 31st...Is there a way they can tell exactly how long its been?

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kmorri    1,689

kmorri
Posted (edited)

I know they can test for nicotine but I have no idea how long it is in your system......congrats on kicking it!!! I quit 9 years ago and have never looked back!

A quick Google search can probably provide that answer for you. Good luck!!

Edited by kmorri

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kmorri    1,689

kmorri
Posted

My program will do a random test to see if you've been using nicotine.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Mine does too.

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Dub    10,022

Dub
Posted

My surgeon tests patients right up until the surgery.

Any in your system is grounds for cancelling the surgery.

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Stellastar85    2

Stellastar85
Posted

I was never told to be smoke free for 60 days prior to surgery but I think that was probably given to help individuals to ween off cigarettes during that time. It was also stated to me that if I were to continue to smoke just stop a day or two before surgery.

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Read2016    658

Read2016
Posted

@stellastar85... I like what your saying about this... I read in the info pack from my surgeon it's 6 weeks smoke free....

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RobertD16    47

RobertD16
Posted

I was never told to be smoke free for 60 days prior to surgery but I think that was probably given to help individuals to ween off cigarettes during that time. It was also stated to me that if I were to continue to smoke just stop a day or two before surgery.

When I first started the process I was told 35 days smoke free for bypass...he told me he changed it because people were still smoking and having problems, I wanted the bypass he told he changed it to 1 year smoke free for bypass patients...60 days for sleeve so I of course opted for the sleeve.

I was never told to be smoke free for 60 days prior to surgery but I think that was probably given to help individuals to ween off cigarettes during that time. It was also stated to me that if I were to continue to smoke just stop a day or two before surgery.

When I first started the process I was told 35 days smoke free for bypass...he told me he changed it because people were still smoking and having problems, I wanted the bypass he told he changed it to 1 year smoke free for bypass patients...60 days for sleeve so I of course opted for the sleeve.

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Read2016    658

Read2016
Posted

Yes I agree it effects the healing... Quitting is the way to go but so much change at once... In reality smokers get surgery all the time, this is a planned surgery. An unplanned surgery would not allow time to quit... Yes I know I need to quit, been cutting back.

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samira05    11

samira05
Posted

Well I completed all my requirements, 3 month diet, clearances, psy evaluation and got my insurance approval and surgery is scheduled june 3rd...the problem is my surgeon wants me smoke free for 60 days before surgery...My last cigarette was april 15...I do not know if they have ways to tell or not...I told them I was smoke free as of march 31st...Is there a way they can tell exactly how long its been?

I smoked most of my life when I was 3 month in they told me I had to stop . When I told them I stopped they drug tested me for the next 4 months randomly. Once you get over the first two weeks. It does get better believe I know it does.

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FrankyG    1,450

FrankyG
Posted

You should be fine as long as you're not doing other nicotine - vaping or patches/gum. That give you a quit date of around 2 months out from your surgery.

Nicotine metabolizes into cotinine. Nicotine can be detected in your saliva, urine and breath (moisture molecules) for up to 3 days after quitting; cotinine can be detected in blood/urine for up to 3-4 weeks. If they do a hair strand test, that can detect back months. But most tests are going to be either blood or urine. And yes, vaping or nicotine patches/gum will count.

Quitting months out from surgery mean much better blood flow, vascular health, healing is faster, and less chance of developing blood clots and lung conditions.

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RobertD16    47

RobertD16
Posted

Well I completed all my requirements, 3 month diet, clearances, psy evaluation and got my insurance approval and surgery is scheduled june 3rd...the problem is my surgeon wants me smoke free for 60 days before surgery...My last cigarette was april 15...I do not know if they have ways to tell or not...I told them I was smoke free as of march 31st...Is there a way they can tell exactly how long its been?

I smoked most of my life when I was 3 month in they told me I had to stop . When I told them I stopped they drug tested me for the next 4 months randomly. Once you get over the first two weeks. It does get better believe I know it does.

Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App

They drug test you for surgery?

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saphfyre14    97

saphfyre14
Posted

Well I completed all my requirements, 3 month diet, clearances, psy evaluation and got my insurance approval and surgery is scheduled june 3rd...the problem is my surgeon wants me smoke free for 60 days before surgery...My last cigarette was april 15...I do not know if they have ways to tell or not...I told them I was smoke free as of march 31st...Is there a way they can tell exactly how long its been?

They can do a nicotine test. But that test will only show nicotine in your blood for the last 12 weeks

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samira05    11

samira05
Posted

Well I completed all my requirements, 3 month diet, clearances, psy evaluation and got my insurance approval and surgery is scheduled june 3rd...the problem is my surgeon wants me smoke free for 60 days before surgery...My last cigarette was april 15...I do not know if they have ways to tell or not...I told them I was smoke free as of march 31st...Is there a way they can tell exactly how long its been?

I smoked most of my life when I was 3 month in they told me I had to stop . When I told them I stopped they drug tested me for the next 4 months randomly. Once you get over the first two weeks. It does get better believe I know it does.

Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App

They drug test you for surgery?
I'm not sure I just went for pre-surgery testing today. My surgery is May 25th. They took 4 tubes of blood. I think they probably would but I'm not worried I am smoke free for 6 months.

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Go To Topic Listing PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

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    • LeighaTR

      LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

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      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

      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. LeighaTR

        LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      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

        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

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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