trying to quit smoking so they will schedule my surgery

Hi everyone. I am so frustrated. There is nothing else more in this world that I want then to have the surgery. But my dr's office will not schedule the surgery with out me being without cigarettes for 6 weeks. Does anyone have any good advice???? I should have been scheduled for Oct 24 but I was supposed to have a nicotine test on the 9th. i didnt because I can't get past the 2 cigarettes a day. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

((((HUG)))) sorry your going thru this. I can understand fully your stress right now. JUSt work at it and you can do it. ITS an important thing to take care of prior to the surgery. HANG in there! and there is no secret easy way to quit. I used to smoke and quit ...so i know its diffcult. I did it well before surgery. BUT i had to do the pre op weight loss thing to get my surgery and it was a struggle but i did it. YOU can too! we believe in you good luck and now maybe its time to rid those last 2 butts!! and stomp them out for good! and focus on the great health not smokeing and this surgery will bring you.

Sheri, I was a smoker WAY back but have not been for many, many years so I guess I can not really offer you much in advice but I know that focusing on having this surgery might just give you enough umphhhhh to work this out! You also can tell yourself this is NOT forever that after you can have a ciggy and maybe at that point, once your feeling so awesome from the weight loss you will NOT want one! Sometimes we need to play mind games with ourselves to work through these things. As I am doing now with the sugary sweets that are around! grrrrrr...... We are here for you hun and please keep your head high and know you CAN DO THIS!!! This is something you are doing for your health! Please keep us posted! Debra P

Thanks for all your words of support. I woke up this morning saying "I WILL NOT HAVE A CIGARETTE TODAY".. Basically yelling at myself. I pray to God that I won't. I have to be clean long enough to go have my test so my surgery can be scheduled. I have made it through months of the waiting, nutrition appts. and now this which is something I had control over... Thanks again guys.

Sheri, I emailed you back ... I quite smoking a while ago ... VERY hard. I just had to stop cold turkey. I had to get myself in the "rtight" frame of mind to do so and I did it. I know you can do it ... We are CHEERING YOU ON! Hugs, Britt

Thanks for the reply.. It is amazing that I could quit smoking while I was pregnant for my daughter but here I am another great reason and I can't... But I have not had one yet today.. That is a good thing. Thanks again everyone.

Are you using anything to help? patches, Nicorette (gum), or Committ (Lozenges)? sometimes it's just to much to ask of our bodies to abruptly take away something without some sort of assistance. I've been a month free myself... I just got a tentative surgery date for 11/14, which will give me 8 weeks free by the time I go in. I've been 2+ packs a day for 20+ years. I believe if I can do it, ANYONE can. I tried about 6-8 times in the past and always failed... usually around the 3-week mark. I've made it past that point and I believe the biggest difference now is MOTIVATION... I WANT and NEED to have this surgery, and I know that if I continue smoking, I won't be able to get it... and even if I found a way around it, I'd only be taking a bigger risk than needed. risks from anesthesia during surgery, slower healing after surgery, and risks of ulcers and other bad stuff after I've finally healed. I don't have to worry about all that... just worry about making sure I get in my required protein, water, supplements, and short frequent walks to keep circulation up... expanding on the walking as I get farther out. I wish you the best in your quitting.... and if you'd like, I'll come and give you a pinch every time you reach for a cig.

I am so glad to find people that understand. I am so nervous about the surgery that I feel that it contributes to my smoking. I am working on it... GOOD JOB SEAN!! 1 month being smoke free. I am not using anything. I thought maybe cold turkey would work. Like it did for you Britt, hey here it is 8:05 pm and no cigarette. Thanks to everyone again... I appreciate the support...

I had to be hypnotized in order to quit smoking. It worked. I was hypnotized in July, 2005 and had my surgery in September, 2005. I honestly didn't go back to smoking until March, 2006 when a lot of stress came into my life-my best friend was getting married in April and the wedding planning was just out of control; weight loss not going fast enough; job; kids-STRESS!! I have to say that I did quit again in July, 2006 (cold turkey) and I've been smoke free since then. I had to go back and remember what I was taught - if you are going to quit then buy a new toothbrush b/c nicotine is on your current toothbrush and when it's in your mouth you'll want to smoke. Brush your teeth after each meal b/c that's a time when your mind will want to have a cigarette and the mint will kill off the craving. I also found that chewing double mint gum helps. The hypnosis guy said that pepermint in any form will help take away the strong craving. Carry a small bottle of Scope w/ you so you can rinse your mouth out when you start craving the cigarette. You really have to be ready in your mind. Put the priorities in order - I know for me I knew that if I was smoking I was not going to be skinny and I wanted to be skinny. Honestly, being a 190 pound non-smoker is a lot nicer than being a 301 pound smoker. GOOD LUCK!!