Smoking and affects on lap band

[GipsyGirl 6]

I am ashamed of myself.

I have not been told whether or not to quit - since I do not need to have a nicotine test - they just told me not to smoke 3 days before the surgery.

I have 5 days before my surgery and I am waiting till the last moment to quit. I know I won't be able to smoke after I get banded, but it is so hard to quit right now since I am so nervous about the surgery. And the fact that I smoke makes me even more nervous... so I smoke...

I hate this habit. I wish I have never started. It is so bad for me.

[Fluffy_Gurl 3]

I know just how you feel! My dr wont do the surgery until you have quite smoking for two months. So im on day forty something of no smoking. I quite cold turkey..it was pretty hard but glad i did it before being banded altho i did gain about 6 lbs but thats slowly coming off now and i havent even started the pre-op diet. when i left my dr office i finished my pack and never looked back! I wont lie its hard, i think about it daily...even had dreams about smoking...i just keep thinking about my surgery, and how much easier exercise is now that i dont smoke! you can do it!:smile2:

[BetsyB 9]

Smoking hugely increases the surgical risks. Factor in obesity, and the risk of serious surgical complications such as blood clots, pneumonia and circulatory problems skyrocket.

Wound healing is delayed by smoking, as well.

In the long term, smoking increases the risk of stomach ulceration.

But even things like a smoker's cough can ultimately be problematic as related to the band.

I'm a former smoker, and quitting was the best thing I ever did. Even better than the band---and I think everyone knows how much I love my band.

It's an incredibly difficult addiction to kick. But it's so worth the effort.