need tips to help me stop smoking before surgery

hello all wls friends, i am hoping to have the surgery but I have to stop smoking so anyone that has went through the same thing please let me know how u done it and the tips that helped you stop smoking, need help asap, approval is going to be sent in hopefully at end of this month or beginning of dec, so please help, also if u write on here please be nice and no mean cause i have had some people be not so nice before when i started a new topic. all help is appreciated and if u need any friends add me cause i am new to this site and need some friends that have had rny or going to have rny

My husband uses the safe cig.  There's still some nicotine (you can get them without) and it's jus****er va***** smoke.  Worth a try?  He smoked 30+ years and quit July 2nd. 

Look to the goal.  You CAN'T have the sugery without quitting.  Isn't your goal to get healthy?  You can do it!!!!

Thanks for this info!  I had heard of these before, but I didn't realize that you can actually still enjoy smoking without the harm.  I thought it was just a tool to stop.  That's sweet!

Hi Crystal,
I used Chantix to help me quit smoking and it really helped.
It also helped knowing that my surgeon wouldn't do my surgery until I proved that I had really quit.
He tested me several times for nicotine, and that was really a good incentive for me knowing he was going to do it.
Other than having my rny, quitting smoking was the next best thing that I ever did for myself!!
Good luck to you...you're in for one hell of a ride on your new journey.
Karen

I second CHANTIX.  It's worth every penny!  I encourage you to find out how that drug will work after the surgery.  Usually, you would take the pills for 3 months before you would be in the clear to stop.  I only took them for 3 weeks, and had no more urge.  Good luck!

I third Chantix. Quitting smoking was one of the hardest things I have done. I just think about all the money I've saved.

I took Wellbutrin and it really worked for me. Quitting wasn't something I ever wanted to do but now in retrospective I am glad I did it - for me this time not just b/c of pregnancy (that always made me start back up post pregnancy). This time I have been smoke free for over 7 months and haven't missed it since. Gotta tell myself though noot to fall into the just one cig trap. I know if I had a drag I'd be hooked again. All I could do was pick a date and be done with it.

Good luck to you!!!!!!!!!!!

'I did a lot of research on this and I was a almost 3 pk a day smoker (and this was before Chantex)

1.  joined a support group online http://www.quitnet.com
2.  I read 2 deterrents worked  better then one so I got the nicotine patch
      and the nicotine inhaler
3.  I washed my whole house down, walls, curtains, all my clothes


My nickname use to be "chimney", no one ever thought I could or would quit.  The hardest 2 weeks I had after I quit was the 3rd and 4th week then it was smooth sailing, I even surprised myself.  I am now 5 years quit and never get a craving to go back to them. 
Worse part of quitting smoking to me was I lost a lot of my friends since we no longer had that in common.   The smoke breaks were what kept us connected and I still use to go out with them just for the companionship and to keep up on their lives.  It eventually stopped as I could no longer stand the smell of smoke and didn't want to be by it anymore. 

Good Luck, you can do this!!

My husband ued the patches.  It took him about 3 months to stop fully.

My mom quit cold turkey when she had her first stroke.

Don't let it take that. 

P.S.  Not judging cause I never smoked.

Good luck.

Vickie

I was a heavy chimney smoker too.
Chantix didn't work for me.

I suggest Wellbutrin along w/ the patch. Reduction of cravings occur w/in 2-3 weeks, which is plenty of time to taper down on the patch. Disclaimer- Wellbutrin may cause a heightened sense of energy that at times can be euphoric and at times be thought of as hypomania depending on the person. Personally, I was all about it, while I needed it.

Also, take hot showers or get in a sauna to release the toxins out of your pores daily and sometimes 2X a day depending.

Celery sticks are also proved to reduce cravings.

Also, a therapeutic technique is to use a rubber band on your wrist if you have a craving or urge and snap it. Unless your "into" pain, this is what the junkies use or are supposed to do to help what is called "urge surfing."

Remember that smoking is not only addictive due to the nicotine, it's an oral fixation, so make sure you have healthy things that you can put in your mouth, to avoid weight gain.... I sucked on licorice and sugar free candies, sugar free mints, etc... Get a tongue scraper and a favorite toothpaste and mouthwash. :)

Good Luck!