I'm sure this topic has been brought up Serval times, but I'm seriously having major anxiety about this.

I need this surgery, but I'm afraid I won't be approved because of these damn cigarettes ugh.

Heres my questions if y'all can answer

My first meeting with the surgeon is 12/13/18 and I'm still smoking, will I be tested for smoking that day or at a later time and will the test be done blood or urine?

I'm trying really f**king hard to stop, but my god ive been smoking since I was 14 and I'm 36.

How long does nicotine stay in your urine or blood please help if you can

Hi there! Former smoker here. I had to quit for the surgery as well.

To clarify, is this the beginning of your surgical insurance period? I knew I had to go through a six month program to get approved, so I was still smoking when I first met my surgeon in March, knowing I'd quit before the end. I quit June 1st, and was blood tested for nicotine before I could be approved for insurance (at the end of the six months, in September). That meant I also had to be off nicotine supplements in time for that test, aka the gum I used to quit.

If this is your first meeting and you have a similar program, I doubt it will be a problem; they'll just explain that you need to quit. If, however, you are in a different situation and are meant to have surgery soon, they will likely test you beforehand and reject you if it is in your system.

Best of luck; it's never easy, but it is worth it!

6 minutes ago, linlew said:

Hi there! Former smoker here. I had to quit for the surgery as well.

To clarify, is this the beginning of your surgical insurance period? I knew I had to go through a six month program to get approved, so I was still smoking when I first met my surgeon in March, knowing I'd quit before the end. I quit June 1st, and was blood tested for nicotine before I could be approved for insurance (at the end of the six months, in September). That meant I also had to be off nicotine supplements in time for that test, aka the gum I used to quit.

If this is your first meeting and you have a similar program, I doubt it will be a problem; they'll just explain that you need to quit. If, however, you are in a different situation and are meant to have surgery soon, they will likely test you beforehand and reject you if it is in your system.

Best of luck; it's never easy, but it is worth it!

I'm not a smoker, but someone in my pre-op surgery classes was and he was just required to stop smoking by the time they submitted to insurance—so similar to what is described above.

Good luck quitting! Someone else in my surgery group said that she used Chantix and that it helped a lot, but another person in the group said that she quit cold turkey and that it worked for her.

I was a very former smoker when I started my program and was an active e-cig user. By very former, I mean I quit January 1st and had my 1st appoint at the end of January. My husband badgered me into quitting and then once I quit I realized the surgery was an option I could pursue. Like you, I started at 14.. so quitting just seemed like it was impossible. I was 33 when I managed to quit. I’ll be a year smoke-free this New Years. Not one single cigarette in that time. They say if you make it a year without a cigarette, your chances of staying quit increase drastically. So I’m just pushing myself to that.

My program tested for nicotine through a urine test and this was meant to be done at my pre-surgery testing, but they forgot so I had to pop into the office to do it.

Since I was an active e cig user, I did a bit of testing of my own (you can order urine test strips on amazon for about 5 bucks). After about 8 days, I tested negative.

I really recommend you call and ask when they test. I have heard of some programs that won’t even accept you in if you’re a current smoker. So it’s best to know ahead of time. Honesty is the best policy, as perhaps they can prescribe something to help you kick the habit!

Once I decided to have the surgery I quit the next day. I knew I had to be smoke free for 30 days or I couldn't have the surgery. I am so glad I did. I am only 17 days post op, but feeling great.

@ sunshine and lollypops, love your pen name BTW, remember the Lesley Gore song. I hate to be a nagging old Grandma, but please please please do stop your smoking. Lesley Gore died of lung cancer a year or so back in New Jersey, please don't make us lose YOU too when we are just getting to know YOU!

18 hours ago, linlew said:

Hi there! Former smoker here. I had to quit for the surgery as well.

To clarify, is this the beginning of your surgical insurance period? I knew I had to go through a six month program to get approved, so I was still smoking when I first met my surgeon in March, knowing I'd quit before the end. I quit June 1st, and was blood tested for nicotine before I could be approved for insurance (at the end of the six months, in September). That meant I also had to be off nicotine supplements in time for that test, aka the gum I used to quit.

If this is your first meeting and you have a similar program, I doubt it will be a problem; they'll just explain that you need to quit. If, however, you are in a different situation and are meant to have surgery soon, they will likely test you beforehand and reject you if it is in your system.

Best of luck; it's never easy, but it is worth it!

Yes, so far I have only been to the seminar. Now my next appointment is to meet the surgeon, but im not sure if they are testing me that day or not for nicotine and also is it a blood test or urine test?? My next appointment is Dec.13th by the way. The nurse said it takes 3 weeks to get out of your system, but I've read different things like less time so I don't know. I know one thing for sure is that I do need this surgery so if this is going to interfere I'm done like tomorrow ugh HELP MEEEEE

Stop stop, drink plenty of fluids to wash things out, stop, stop. Now help me down off the soapbox before I fall!

It is required that you quit, yes. That seems pretty universal among all surgeons. However, per my original post, I don't know whether you have to quit before they'll take you as a patient. Mine did not work that way, but as others mentioned above, some do. No matter what, the sooner you quit, the better, of course. Again, best of luck with both! Neither are easy, but both are hella worth it!!