Confused and Discouraged - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Lizzy8 · 07-01-2009, 09:02 AM

Hi -my name is Liz and I feel as if I at the end of the road - gastric bypass or lapband seems only solution. I do not have a long history of weight loss programs, but I have tried over and over to lose weight and last meeting at Weight Watches I knew this was no longer the answer.

I have researched a number of physicians and I am on a waiting list to be interviewed. At this point I find quitting smoking 3 months before surgery is mandatory. It all seems so hopeless.

I have never used a website like this, with "threads" etc. I tried to find relevant info so I would not be asddressing an issue that has been discussed many times before.

Thanks

UndercoverDiva · 07-01-2009, 09:24 AM

Nothing is ever hopeless, Lizzy. Sometimes things just take hard work and discipline. Quitting smoking is not only beneficial for your health, it reduces surgical complications, as well. To find relevant information, use the search function. You should be able to find all kinds of info/advice. Good luck!

poet_kelly · 07-01-2009, 09:51 AM

Surgery is a huge committment. You'll have to change the way you eat, forever. You'll have to take up exercising. If you have gastric bypass, you'll have to commit to taking a number of vitamin supplements for the rest of your life. You have to really, really want it.

And if you want it that bad, you can give up smoking for it. Besides, what's the point of going through major surgery to get healthy if you're going to harm your health with smoking?

Yes, it is a big thing. You can do it. Many have done it before you, and you can do it too.

Kelly

Michie · 07-01-2009, 10:22 AM

If you do choose weight loss surgery, it may be a long road just getting there. Some get to it faster than others, but for me it was 10-11 months from beginning to end. Of course once you commit to the idea that you're going for it, you want the surgery to be YESTERDAY, but you may hit some bumps and obstacles--primarily with insurance. If you do go for it, I hope it's a smooth ride... just remember that if it's not, don't give up hope. Fight for it and have a doctor that'll fight for you. I did, and it all worked out in the end!

I'm 2 weeks post-op and looking forward to my new life. It's like becoming a parent--life-changing and permenant, but well worth it.

JodyGK · 07-01-2009, 04:54 PM

Hi Lizzy -- I know the idea of quitting smoking can seem daunting. My surgeon required 2 months smoke-free before surgery. I had been a 2-pack a day smoker, had smoked 37 years. I was SCARED. I wasn't even sure I could do it. But I had said for years I wanted to quit, and here was the best incentive in the world: preparing for a surgery that I considered necessary to get back some quality of life I'd lost so much of in the last few years.

So I decided to start my quit four months before surgery, figuring the stress of quitting would be far behind me by the time the stress of the surgery itself started up. So January 31st at 2 a.m. I smoked my last cigarette and went to bed. I woke up February 1st a nonsmoker. And guess what! It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be! The first 72 hours are the toughest as you detox from the nicotine, but once through that you just have to concentrate on never having another puff. I found great support and information on quitting at WhyQuit - the Internet's leading cold turkey quit smoking resource which was invaluable to me. The better educated you are, the easier the quit becomes. I also read a book called "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" by Allen Carr. It makes quitting smoking sooooo much easier! Well it did for me anyway.

I just want to caution you not to try to quit using patches, gum or lozenges. All of those things have nicotine in them, and while they may seem to ease you into not smoking, all they're really doing is prolonging the physical withdrawal symptoms from nicotine, like pulling a bandaid off verrrrrrrry slowly. Also, if you're still on any of those nicotine replacement therapies (patches, gum or lozenges) then when the surgeon's office tests you for nicotine you'll come out positive. And trust me, they do test. They tested me. And if you test positive they'll pull you out of rotation and you'll have to wait a few more months til you test negative for nicotine.

There are really good reasons they want you smoke free before surgery, and most have to do with healing properly. And after you've had the surgery, putting all those toxins into your new little pouch can cause all kinds of bad things to happen. Not worth the risk.

But don't be afraid of quitting. It's worth it. I felt better just from doing that. And now that I've had the surgery I'm going to start feeling better and better as I get healthier. It's all good!

Jody

Crimson Kittie · 07-01-2009, 06:12 PM

I was a pack and 1/2 a day smoker. I made the decision to quit nearly 2 years before I decided to have the Bypass surgery. I must have had a premonition

But I just quit cold turkey. I smoked my last cig on December 27th at 5:30 am. It's all mind over matter and you can do it! There will be challenges and it is a huge commitment ... but it can be done. This board is full of people who have done it that didn't think it was possible.

<----- me, me, me

JodyGK · 07-01-2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crimson Kittie

I was a pack and 1/2 a day smoker. I made the decision to quit nearly 2 years before I decided to have the Bypass surgery. I must have had a premonition

But I just quit cold turkey. I smoked my last cig on December 27th at 5:30 am. It's all mind over matter and you can do it! There will be challenges and it is a huge commitment ... but it can be done. This board is full of people who have done it that didn't think it was possible.

<----- me, me, me

<-----me, me, me too!

And isn't it funny how we remember not only the day of our last cigarette but the exact moment! I think I knew I was finally over the hump when one day someone asked me how long it's been and I had to think for a minute before responding. The first couple months we can almost quote in hours and/or minutes how long it's been, if only because of being so proud of ourselves (with good reason)!

Jody

Ms. Readytobehealthy · 07-01-2009, 07:55 PM

Good luck and I hope you quit smoking. I am wishing you well on your journey.

Linda Leffel · 07-01-2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizzy8

Hi -my name is Liz and I feel as if I at the end of the road - gastric bypass or lapband seems only solution. I do not have a long history of weight loss programs, but I have tried over and over to lose weight and last meeting at Weight Watches I knew this was no longer the answer.

I have researched a number of physicians and I am on a waiting list to be interviewed. At this point I find quitting smoking 3 months before surgery is mandatory. It all seems so hopeless.

I have never used a website like this, with "threads" etc. I tried to find relevant info so I would not be asddressing an issue that has been discussed many times before.

Thanks

Liz, keep telling yourself you are worth it. Anything this good is not easy, but soooo worth it.

Miche and Jody, great advice girlfriends!

I'm two weeks post-op, down 15 pounds, and happy! And with all the hassles of insurance, etc. it took me a year to get approved. But here I am, and I'm loving life!

Good luck, and hang in there. If you want it badly enough, YOU will make it happen.

xoxoxo
LL

Sherry_Lynn · 07-01-2009, 10:00 PM

I know how you feel. But, there is hope. Once you get the ball rolling, it goes fast, and with this tool, again, there is a lot of hope. You can quit smoking. Do whatever you need to do to be successful, be it the patch, a support group, gum, whatever. Smoking after Gastric Bypass is bad, lot of complications, serious ones. We are all here for support. Good luck!