Did anyone have to quit smoking before surgery and how did you do it?

I have a less then 2 months until my surgery. I am seeing my PCP on September 19 and hope to discuss with her options for smoking cessation. I have wanted to quit for years and have tried and failed many times. I am not going to fail this time because I refuse to let this get in the way of my surgery and a better, healthier life I will be having post surgery. Just wondering if any ex-smokers have any advice or any methods that worked for them that I can consider. I smoke about 1/2 pack a day and been a smoker for 15 years. That is really depressing when I look at that number. :( I have considered Chantix but I have mixed feelings on it from information I have read. 

I quit smoking by using Chantix about 2 1/2 years ago. For me it worked really well. It does have some strange side effects though.  The plus side, it completely took away my desire to have a cigarette. I'd think about having one and just say - "nah". Actually didn't want one (and that's from someone that had been smoking for over 30 years). Downside - husband called me "psycho wife" for the whole 6 weeks I was taking it. I was irritable and much MUCH more moody. Up side, that only lasted while I was taking it. With Chantix, I put down cigarettes and have never picked them up again. For me - it was worth it.

Well that is very encouraging. Thank you for that. I am nervous that my poor boyfriend will move out when I'm not home, lol. I usually get very irritable when I quit. I will definitely be looking into this as a serious option. I would love to be forever smoke free. It would be amazing.

I used Chantix and it made me sick to be around cigarettes! You def don't want to smoke! I only took one pill a day instead of the two pills because it was upsetting my stomach. Been smoke free for 2 yrs now! I tried several times before Chantix and failed too but this worked!

yes I did quit smoking, I used a vaporizer/e cig to quit.  it really helped with the hand to mouth need and the fact is that with the nicotine "juice' you can go down to 0 % nicotine.  I was afraid to use chantix

I quit smoking several years ago. I used the nicotine gum for several months, and then weaned myself off that by eating atomic fire balls. Gained a lot of weight from so much candy. That's not much help.

I quit using Chantix just over a year ago.  My husband uses e-cigarettes still.  He wanted me to switch to them but I really didn't like them.  The Chantix gave me crazy dreams and it took 2 tries for it to stick but now even if I think about wanting a cigarette, my throat starts to hurt or I get a headache.  It's kinda weird. Good luck! 

Thank you so much everyone for your feedback. I actually felt a bit ashamed posting this in the first place. It is my one true vice and I have struggled with it for so long. My last real quit for over 8 months I felt so amazing. Slept better, had so much more energy, and was an avid runner. It was also nearly 10 years ago and 120 lbs ago. How I lost control so badly makes me feel very ashamed. I just want nothing more than to succeed. I think this is my biggest obstacle. I can go without certain foods, whatever, this is going to test me. How sad. I hate myself for that but it's my truth. I hope I can do this. Right this second I feel pretty overwhelmed but encouraged by your responses. I am so glad I have this time to get it together. I need it. I need you all. Thank you for being there. I truly appreciate it. 

Alright sweetie, gonna just lay it out for ya. I smoked a pack a day for 40 years. When I was approved by my insurance and my surgeon said I had to quit,...viola, simple, no more questions, no more stress, no more wondering HOW,..I just did it. Stopped, cold turkey it baby. Rough? Yep. Worth it? Yep. Just do it.

I am happy for you that worked but if I want to be honest with myself I need help. I have a serious impulse control issue. I spend a lot of time alone and that is just not going to work for me personally. I appreciate your tough love but in my case it won't work. I know because I have tried that many times before and failed. This time failure is not an option and short of cutting off my arms so I can't reach it to my mouth I need something more. I will succeed. No doubt about it but cold turkey is not an option for me and I will not feel bad about myself because I just can't quit. Not that I think you were trying to make me feel that way but this is not my first time at the rodeo. I dare anyone to say I don't want this bad enough. I know I do. I am also a realist.