So. I have a confession to make. I quit smoking as of last night and I have been 14 hours without a cigarette. (which doesn't seem like long but I feel like I am dying). Here's my problem: I know I need to quit for the surgery on July 2 but I need some encouragement. I was never a heavy smoker and I am a nurse so I know what it can do to your health. Every time I have tried to quit I have failed miserably. I am getting blood work tomorrow and I know if there are high levs of carbon monoxide in my body it would alert them that I smoke thus probably not doing the surgery. Basically, my anxiety and irritability is taking its toll on me and it doesn't help that my family has decided to be unsupportive at this point. 

If you need it, go get some synthetic nicotine (patches, gum, whatever....). I smoked for 30 years anywhere from 1/2 a pack to a pack a day. I was a confirmed smoker. I found a fantastic hypnotherapist, went for one session and haven't smoked since. No withdrawal to speak of, no freak outs, just some rage issues on the 6th day out. Went in for a tune up session on the 7th day out and haven't looked back since.
Also, maybe see if you can get one of your docs to prescribe Chantix. I've heard it works great! I didn't use it, but my PCP thinks it's very effective.

Good luck! I'm there for you. PM me if you need to chat - I'm happy to talk you through a craving. Just don't give in. I know how hard this is. You're pre op, right? Feed the craving if you need to!

Well you can get all the online support you need right here on OH. When my mother smoked she was always one of those that could stop on a dime and not smoke again for 10 years. I  have find that with most of my friends, they have failed at quitting it because they really weren't ready to quit even though they wanted too.

You now have a reason to quit and a reason to extend your life and live it to the fullest. All you have to do now is just believe in yourself. The stress doesn't help any but you're strong enough now that you can do this. You've made the decision to change your life for the better..don't let something as insignificant as this get in your way. It will be okay and you can do this...I personally have faith in you because to me you have already made the hardest decision in your life...

The decision to live. 

I jus****ched my daddy die from lung cancer. He quit over 25 years before he got cancer. If this isn't enough to make you stop, then nothing is going to be enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aaF-7wlE2M

or try this one

http://youtu.be/dVLtNgAhPRg

 I am so sorry you and family went through that. I can't even imagine. 
I do want to say that that will not cause someone to quit smoking. We are adult and know exactly what the effects of smoking are. It is a true addiction and until someone is truly ready to stop, they won't. 
It really is just like our weight issues. We know what happens when we eat bad or consume big amounts of food about until we are ready to commit, it's not going to happen! 

 I know this is not the best advice, but here is what I did. 


I am 29 and have smoked since i was 16. I have tried to stop so many times. I would be around someone who smoked and then just have "one". That started the cycle all over again. So, when I decided to have WLS, I made a promise to myself that there would NEVER be another cig. after surgery. I did slow down before surgery but didn't quit all together. I was nervous about the surgery and the diet and I had about 3-4 a day until surgery. 

Since the day of surgery, I have not had ONE cig. I was in the hospital for two nights and felt so crappy afterwards that it didn't cross my mind. So, I stopped beating myself up about not quitting completely before surgery, it was just to much for me, but from the day of and after, I have not touched one. 

  You did it!

Sorry you're having these problems and that your family won't help.  I've never been a smoker, but I know the problems with food addiction, so you have my sympathies.  Perhaps not thinking about giving up will help - it's just that you've decided not to have the next one?  Have a chat with a Chemist or your Doctor, they may be able to help, or find someone else who's giving up - misery loves company!!!  LOL.  Best of luck. 

Have faith, my husband smoked from the age of 14 until  little over a month ago at age 39.  It was hell (for both of us  LOL) for the first several weeks but it has gotten better for him.  He has been using the mini lozenges and has preferred them over anything else he has used before including the larger lozenges.  We celebrated a month smoke free on the 1st and he is still using the pills but doesn't need them as much.  Whenever he starts to get a little *****y I just ask if he's had a pill and he takes one but that doesn't happen nearly as much as it did early on and he doesn't feel those physical symptoms and pain he did at first. 

Seeing the videos and knowing that it COULD be you might give you the extra incentive to quit. I know it's not THE answer but when I was a smoker (1+ pack per day), thinking about leaving my husband, children and potential (one day) grandbabies behind was enough to make me think harder about quitting. I wonder though if i hadn't quit if I would have gotten lung cancer and not been able to see my 2 beautiful granddaughters that were eventually born. There's no better time than now to quit. You're having this surgery to make yourself healthier so smoking goes against all the reasons why one would want the surgery. Why not eliminate the fat and the nicotine in one fell swoop. What a huge accomplishment that would be! Good luck on your journey. I hope it's a safe one.

Just don't pick them up.....I know thats hard as i smoked for 30+ years, 3 packs a day. All my smoking got me was COPD and I dont want that to happen to anyone else. I can barely walk across the room between my weight and the COPD. My lungs are at 47% now and they won't get any better but aleast they won't get worse. Now i have spots on my lungs....thank the Lord so far they have not grown and they are thinking maybe its just a deposits. I check here often each day and if ya need someone to talk to about it or just to vent, msg me. So ya know I put them down 9 years ago when i was told I was ill and never picked them back up. As with now and my weight....I wanna live to see my Great nephews and neice grow up. There's alot of life left in me and I want to live it to its fullest !

YOU CAN DO IT !!!!

Missey

I quit last year, in order to have the VSG. I was like you, or most smokers really, I knew the potential damage I was doing to myself. In my case, I just didn't care enough about myself. All the bad things that could and would have happened to me just were not enough of a reason. Then I found out I had to quit in order to have WLS. So, I focused on that, that was my reason. My husband also quit with me, and neither of us have had a cigarette since. I know how hard it is, especially in the beginning. Even at 14 hours though, your body is beginning to detox itself. You can do this. You can also PM me if you need to talk, but mainly just wanted to say, you got this.

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TL2Vh7goJc&list=FL9tAiiKEZ6Do8WY_M_KeoMQ&index=64&feature=plpp_video

 Thank you all so much I really appreciate it. 

I have smoked for over 30 years 1 1/2 packs a day sometimes more.
Last December 2011, my pcp gave me a perscritption for chantix and wellbutrin.
Up until 2 weeks ago, I was down to less than 5 cigs a day. The ones that are the habit were the most difficult..

2 weeks ago i was reading about the complications and healing from vsg and just bit the bullet.
started with step 2 nicoderm patches today I started step 1 in 2 weeks i hope to be smoke free.
The Chantix and Welbutrin have helped ALOT with nicotine craving, anxiety.
 

A friend told me about Mistic e cigarette and they have cartridges with 0 nicotine. Helps me through that morning cig habit and commute home cig. I know I will have to find something else to do with my hands eventually.  I avoid situations and cir****tances that might trigger the urge to smoke. People at work and my home understand my mood swing every now and then, a cry spell here and there, the all just want me to succeed.  Keeping busy helps too..
But for now I am happy with getting off the nicotine.

I nursed my mom during throat cancer, fed her through a tube in her stomach for 2 years, my step dad died 2 years ago from congestive heart failure and emphyzema ( he quit over 20 yrs before he died). I knew I had to quit just a matter of time. I am happy to say my mom is cancer free and has been for over a year. 

My first step in a healthy journey. one day at a time and one step at a time.
Forgive yourself., know it may take more than once brush yourself off and tomorrrow is a new day to try again. Im sorry not much help for tomorrow...
Hopefully some insight to move forward.
I still have about 45 days til surgery.... Cant wait to see my pcp in July and tell her I finally did it.!! Good luck I Hope to catch up with you soon and have helped you in some small way.
Maybe we can even become friends on a similar journey and give you a little support in the process.

Ya know what I did was take a baby food jar, just a little one, and I emptied my ashtray into it. Put the lid on. Carried it around with me. Everytime I wanted a cigarette, I would open it and take a big ol whiff... Got to where I didn't want to open that lid. Made me feel sick, but the association was made. Been off them nasty things for seven years now. Just the thought of smoking one still makes me feel sick.

I quit because my mother needed to she lasted 6 months (probably 3) I'm almost 3 years out I tapered off , it sucks I still want one, I know someone who hasn't had one for twenty years and still gets cravings so that might happen be prepared for everything, I HATED the smell the first year it doesn't bother me now (still stinks but I don't gag) be careful around triggers. Driving, drinking, morning cup of coffee, pooping, family, eating,. You know your smoking habits try to break them and staying off the tabacker will be a little more manageable. I smoked about half a pack or so for ten years but I chained smoked them. (fyi)