ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum - View Single Post

cnvh · 08-19-2006, 06:34 AM

It was a requirement for me, and I suspect it would be a requirement for most... I've even heard of patients being "drug-tested" pre-op to see if they still have nicotine in their system!

The reasons for them making us quit smoking isn't just because it's healthier in general-- being a smoker makes us a much higher risk for developing breathing problems while under anasthesia, and it slows wound healing post-op. I don't know about you, but those are two areas where I definitely DO NOT want complications!!!

I also smoked for about 16 years, averaging 1 1/2 packs a day, and I quit a little over a month ago. (DH and I actually quit at the same time, which made things MUCH easier.) I pretty much quit cold-turkey, although I had stopped smoking during my workday about 6 months ago. The first few days were HELL, I'm not going to lie about that... but it DID get easier, and as the time has passed, the cravings are still there but they pass much more quickly... like it gets stuck in my head for a minute or two, and then it's gone.

My advice to you:

1. Look into smoking cessation programs in your area-- most of them are free, and you may even be able to get some free stuff-- like "the patch"

2. Set a quit date, make it a month or more away. Then start NOW to examine how smoking is a part of your daily routine, and make plans for how you will change it. (I knew I would have to keep my mouth and hands occupied, so I went out and bought a TON of chewing gum, as well as tactile things like Koosh balls and stress balls to have something to do with my hands.)

3. Start making smoking inconvenient-- stop smoking in your house or car, stop bringing them with you when you leave the house. This will help you start to cut back.

5. You can buy "the patch" over-the-counter, to help with nicotine withdrawal. If you want a prescription for Zyban (a medication that helps with the cravings-- and for me, it also helps with the food cravings, too) then talk toy our doctor and start taking it NOW, if possible. Many people start taking Zyban and they find that the urge to smoke lessens, making it much easier to quit.

6. When you DO actually quit, START CHEWING GUM. (Sugar-free gum, of course!) This, for me, has been the #1 thing that has made it easier. I never tried the nicotine gum (heard it tastes nasty), but just having to chew something keeps your mouth busy, and obviously you DO NOT want to resort to food. (My jaw actaully got quite ache-y for the first couple of weeks, but it's better now.)

You can do it, Siren... feel free to PM me if you want, I TOTALLY know what you're going through. For me, the surgery is the ONLY reason I quit, as awful as that sounds-- but I want to survive the surgery and heal well afterwards, so for me, it was worth it. I can't promise I won't start back up after surgery, but right now, I need to do everything I can to ensure the best possible outcome post-op.