I smoke about 3/4 pack a day, but did cut down to 5 cigs a day for 2 weeks before surgery as requested by my surgeon. I know I should quit completely but am having a hard time doing it. I know I will someday. Just wondering if anyone quit before surgery and then started again after surgery, or if you still smoke the same before and after surgery. I don't drink, do drugs, and can't eat much.....I still need ONE vice.....LOL!!!!

Haven't had surgery yet but I feel your pain! As you can see from my ticker I'm quitting smoking. It has been the hardest thing I've ever done. I haven't been perfect yet either. I find the weekends are hard. I did smoke a couple last weekend and a couple yesterday. But I haven't given up. I too don't do drugs or drink... now I can't smoke or eat what I want. Ugh! I'm hoping I can find a new vice - something healthy like exercise! I just haven't gotten my butt up to doing that one yet!

Anyway, don't give up either. You know you need to quite to get healthy. You don't need me or anyone else to tell you that!

Good luck to you!

I still smoke, too. My doctor didn't tell me I had to quit - which was a good thing considering everything else I had to give up! Like.....chewing! :biggrin:

I have gone from a pack and a half down to about half a pack a day by only smoking outside. I would like to quit completely if I could just find my chantix. I got the prescription about six months ago, and have misplaced it.:biggrin:

P.S. To Losin-in-Texas, I'm in Frisco north of Dallas. Where are you at?

I smoked before and after surgery 4/11/07. Was not told to quit by my dr. I Did stop smoking on March 15th though (yay me). Gained 40 pounds back but have lost 10 of it....so I am back on track! Best of luck to you!

I was close to a pack a day before surgery and was told not to smoke 24 hours before surgery which was difficult (I ended up smoking 3)... the first day and a half wasn't hard because I was resting and it was hot outside (we don't smoke in our house) and I couldn't stand getting overheated... now its almost 2 weeks post op and I have realized that I do smoke alot less (maybe 1/2 pack or less per day)... its hard to quit doing something that you like and frankly I like to smoke... haven't drank in almost a year but never was a big drinker... a night out with friends I might drink 2 beers (I was a cheap date) and I gave that up b/c my son who was 12 at the time asked me to so after my birthday party I just didn't drink anymore... now I've given up double meat double chez burgers and greasy yummy fries so I feel like I've given up 2 outta 3 of the things that I enjoyed and its difficult to give up everything!

I think one day I will just stop smoking and that will be that but until that day comes I'm going to enjoy my one and only vice! lol

Wow I quit smoking 2 and a half years ago. My clinic won't even consider lap band or bypass surgery until you are at least 2 months a non-smoker. They are very strict and do a nicotine test before your surgery to make sure.

One reason you don't heal as well and it takes longer to heal when you smoke and a higher risk of complications including pneumonia after surgery.

We all have our vices - things we should give up. Seems like the guy next door's vice is always worse than your own. You will do it when you are ready - good luck to you!!!! Becky

I smoke about 3/4 pack a day, but did cut down to 5 cigs a day for 2 weeks before surgery as requested by my surgeon. I know I should quit completely but am having a hard time doing it. I know I will someday. Just wondering if anyone quit before surgery and then started again after surgery, or if you still smoke the same before and after surgery. I don't drink, do drugs, and can't eat much.....I still need ONE vice.....LOL!!!!

I smoked right up to the night b4 surgery and had a great surgery experience.....I was a half ass smoker anyway, only with cocktails. my Dr. says it (nicotine) can cause ulceration around band and possible removal.....UGH!...Pain & Misery!........I may give in down the road but so far (Sept. 15) NONE :biggrin: I have a few drinks one night of the wknd. ( I choose) and some Weds. Everything else I am BY THE BOOK. GOOD LUCK! :biggrin: Joy

I still smoke, too. My doctor didn't tell me I had to quit - which was a good thing considering everything else I had to give up! Like.....chewing! :biggrin:

I have gone from a pack and a half down to about half a pack a day by only smoking outside. I would like to quit completely if I could just find my chantix. I got the prescription about six months ago, and have misplaced it.:biggrin:

P.S. To Losin-in-Texas, I'm in Frisco north of Dallas. Where are you at?

I am in Johnson City....about 35 minutes west of Austin. Before moving here we lived in Dallas, off Preston Rd and the tollway.

I was banded on Aug. 18 of this yr. The last smoke I had was right before I entered the doors of the hospital the day of my surgery. If I had it all to do over again, I would have stopped smoking right after I had my first consult with my surgeon, (well, I never would have started smoking actually). No caffine, no smoking, no carbonated drinks, and such a huge cut back on my food, all at 1 time, it really makes everything even harder to do.

Both my husband and I quit smoking this past January using Chantix. At that time, I wasn't even thinking of having surgery. Chantix works.

I still smoke. It's funny how Doctors have different rules about this procedure. I never had to quit, did a 1 week pre-op diet and was told that I didn't have to give up caffine or carbonated beverages. I didn't have to go to a nutritionist, or support groups. The only rule my insurance company had was that I had to stay overnight in the hospital. This procedure has been frustrating at times, but a lot easier than I thought it would be. I gave up Coke, my real vice -at least a 2-liter a day habit. I couldn't get used to diet pop, but I have discovered the wonders of Crystal Lite and sugar free Hawaiian Punch. :biggrin:

The reason to quit smoking is to help healing. Smoking severely inhibits oxygen flow and for this reason many surgeons refuse to perform optional surgeries on smokers.