I'm due for surgery in T -5 days. I've been desperately trying to quit smoking! It's not required by my insurance nor has it been addressed by my surgeon. But, they did say in orientation that if tested positive, surgery would be canceled.

I finally made it a day without and feeling more determined than ever. 5-6 days before surgery. If they test day of surgery (5 days), might I pass or have I completely sabatoged myself?

I wish I was stronger and managed to get my head straight sooner. I'm disgusted with myself right now.

Stacia, I feel your pain. When told to stop smoking, stop drinking, and essentially stop eating at the same time I was just about over the edge. I was honest with my Dr. and told him that I was doing my best, but was still smoking 2-3 cigarettes a day when I had surgery (Full disclosure, I am still smoking after surgery). I still had the surgery knowing the risks, and knock on wood I didn't have any issues. My insurance didn't require and I wasn't tested, but the doc STRONGLY preferred that I quit.

I would check with your doc and let them know where you stand. Nothing would be worse than showing up for surgery and being cancelled at the last minute.

2 hours ago, MandoGetsSleeved said:

Stacia, I feel your pain. When told to stop smoking, stop drinking, and essentially stop eating at the same time I was just about over the edge. I was honest with my Dr. and told him that I was doing my best, but was still smoking 2-3 cigarettes a day when I had surgery (Full disclosure, I am still smoking after surgery). I still had the surgery knowing the risks, and knock on wood I didn't have any issues. My insurance didn't require and I wasn't tested, but the doc STRONGLY preferred that I quit.

I would check with your doc and let them know where you stand. Nothing would be worse than showing up for surgery and being cancelled at the last minute.

Good advice Mando, thank you for replying. Praying they don't cancel.

Five days is pretty close as far as detecting it in your urine or blood. It’s possible it could go either way. My doctor told me they would test but the definitely didn’t, but don’t let my experience guide you. I had self pay surgery in Mexico and I suspect once I forked over the cash there was little that would have interfered.

Here is what webmd (uhg) says about testing:

“Generally, nicotine will leaves your blood within 1 to 3 days after you stop using tobacco, and cotinine will be gone after 1 to 10 days. Neither nicotine nor cotinine will be detectable in your urine after 3 to 4 days of stopping tobacco products.”

It takes 10 days for the nicotine to get out of your system.

Stacia, I feel your pain. When told to stop smoking, stop drinking, and essentially stop eating at the same time I was just about over the edge. I was honest with my Dr. and told him that I was doing my best, but was still smoking 2-3 cigarettes a day when I had surgery (Full disclosure, I am still smoking after surgery). I still had the surgery knowing the risks, and knock on wood I didn't have any issues. My insurance didn't require and I wasn't tested, but the doc STRONGLY preferred that I quit.
I would check with your doc and let them know where you stand. Nothing would be worse than showing up for surgery and being cancelled at the last minute.

I am also still smoking 2 months post op. Ive smoked for 16 years and don't seem to have the will power to quit. I keep telling myself now that I've got the food under control I am going to quit tho bc theres no point in getting this surgery to have better health if I'm killing myself internally.. then the sleeve surgery becomes simply cosmetic and thats not why i got it..im giving myself grace and working one goal at a time tho this time bc ive always tried to improve too many things at once and speak very critically to myself which causes me to fail at them all. I dont know if it was because i was self pay but my doc didnt test. I did lie and tell them i quit a month before surgery because i was so afraid theyd cancel it. Dont beat urself up. Whats done is done.i genuinely hope it works out for u! i can totally relate. Keep us updated!!

Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I was smoking 3 to 4 packs a day over the last decade, but I actually smoked for 32 years. I was able to quit for the surgery, and it was not painful at all. It is a bigger deal than getting the surgery to most folks who know me. I was a major chain smoker. I decided to buy a vape module (cheap $40 one), and I bought The Pancake House Golden Maple & pancake house Blueberry Flapjacks vape juice with 0% nicotine. When I would get a craving for a smoke, I would puff on my vape. I got the throat hit, warm internal hug of the “smoke” going into my lungs & saw “smoke cloud” coming out of my mouth. It was sweet tasting without carbs or calories, so it also helped with my sweet tooth. I could puff on it through my entire 6 minute craving & not feel like I was deprived. In a week, I was not puffing on it as much unless I got overfill from a meal or stressed.

with that said, I had my surgery on Friday, and we stopped and got me a pack of cigarettes for the hour ride home. I am smoking this coming week, then going back to the vape again. Hope this helps!!!

On 9/27/2020 at 12:56 PM, Soon2BThinKim said:

I was smoking 3 to 4 packs a day over the last decade, but I actually smoked for 32 years. I was able to quit for the surgery, and it was not painful at all. It is a bigger deal than getting the surgery to most folks who know me. I was a major chain smoker. I decided to buy a vape module (cheap $40 one), and I bought The pancake House Golden Maple & pancake house Blueberry Flapjacks vape juice with 0% nicotine. When I would get a craving for a smoke, I would puff on my vape. I got the throat hit, warm internal hug of the “smoke” going into my lungs & saw “smoke cloud” coming out of my mouth. It was sweet tasting without carbs or calories, so it also helped with my sweet tooth. I could puff on it through my entire 6 minute craving & not feel like I was deprived. In a week, I was not puffing on it as much unless I got overfill from a meal or stressed.

with that said, I had my surgery on Friday, and we stopped and got me a pack of cigarettes for the hour ride home. I am smoking this coming week, then going back to the vape again. Hope this helps!!!

Aw congrats on switching to vape! I have like 6 different vapes, but have never switched completely over or taken the nicotine down. I should try 0 nicotine and vape now that my mind is focused more on quitting.