Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group

Gastric bypass (GBP) is any of a group of similar operative procedures used to treat morbid obesity, a condition which arises from severe accumulation of excess weight in the form of fatty tissue, and the health problems ("co-morbidities") which result. If you are considering gastric bypass or have had it, join the community where we share our experiences and find support.

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becca1960 01/15/2013

Ok... Time to be 100% honest. (I hate this, but it is something I have to do with my friends here)

I quit smoking November of 2011. However, i say that with a bit of trepidation. Anyone who has smoked for half as many years as I have (40ish) knows just how hard quitting is....

So to be 100% honest, I have smoked a few times since "I quit". For example, while out of town the week before xmas, I was out one nite and had a few drinks and a few smokes.

Then my middle son came to stay with us. He smokes. So, near the end of December I had a smoke. Just one that day...

Prior to the times mentioned above, it has been months since I had a smoke...

Today at docs I lied... Not realizing how it might bite me in the butt! Yeah, my doing, my bad... I take 100 and 10% responsibility. Lesson learned..

I told doc in last 30 days I had only been exposed to second hand smoke. Yet, this is not true. As said up there I have smoked one night, then one smoke...

So doc sends me to have lab work done.... One of the tests is "when I smoked last", a requirement of my insurance apparently.

Am I going to fail these tests????????

I know I suck for lying. I know I shouldn't have.... I know! I know! But I did dang it and now there is NOTHING I can do about it except freak out because I did something I know I shouldn't have!

So, now what????? How accurate are the damn tests?

Thank you!

elainyanna 01/15/2013

All I know to say is never lie about this stuff. It can do more harm then you think. Smoking can cause major complications with this surgery. I hope all works out for you in the end. I know I am not helping at all here. I am sorry! Hugs sweetie

deleted_user 01/15/2013

I used to smoke alot. I quit about 2 years ago. You obviously know what happened to me. I dont even smoke and said I did and they stopped my surgery. Just be careful I would really just try your hardest to quit! I know how hard this is. I just dont want what happened to me happen to you. Maybe be honest with your dr now so just in case you go for surgery and tell them you smoke. Its so scary i know! The complications of smoking and surgery are very bad! ALot of people start back up after surgery and think they are fine. One day it will bite them in the butt!

deleted_user 01/15/2013

Becca - I applaud you for being honest here. I'm glad you felt comfortable enough with us all to fess up.

I do not know about the accuracy of the test, so sadly you will have to wait and face the music. I know you are probably thinking what can hurt having one smoke here or there. I think the greater danger is that one will lead to more. After your surgery you will feel so deprived in many ways that the thought of a cigarette will seem really tempting and it can be sooo harmful to your pouch. I'll be honest that I enjoyed a glass of wine or two or three before surgery, but I know that it's something that will be an occassional treat now.

If you fail the blood test, regroup and try again. I hope that you can pass, but either way if you are serious about the surgery you also need to be serious about never smoking again.

Hang in there sweetie. I know that nicotine is more addictive than cocaine and quitting is an uphill battle, but as is so often said on this forum, nothing tastes as good as healthy does.

Hugs, Diana

becca1960 01/15/2013

Thank you for not beating me uo for my error! I know i done did bad :( just hoping the fall out is not too bad! Lesson learned!

roseypeach 01/15/2013

This is the one thing that terrifies me since I am a chain smoker. I have to quit. Not just for surgery but because I have COPD. Been trying to quit on my own for a good while now but no luck.

The friend that I've been talking to says that they will not touch you if you have any nicotine in your system for 3 months before surgery. I don't know what the one will do, as long as you didn't have but the one or two, there has to be some level where they can tell how much, how often...

That said, good luck to you and I pray that you get your surgery on time.

deleted_user 01/15/2013

I feel your anxiety, I quit in Aug 2011 but had one here or there a few times since. I was told nicotine leaves your blood by two -three days after the last one so if they took blood you should be fine as long as you never smoke again :) good luck!

deleted_user 01/16/2013

Becca.. I dunno the answer to that as I have never smoked an dunno if I have ever had that test. But since you have to do the 6 month thing.. then you have that time to officially quit. Make that part of you new lifestyle changes you will be making in those 6 months. Good lick.

deleted_user 01/16/2013

Don't feel bad I did the same thing with my surgeon....thankfully they did not require me to take the test prior to surgery. Although I didn't smoke regularly there was a time or two when I did have one within the 30 days of having my surgery. Now that you have confessed it and had the labs just continue to work on doing your best to be ready when the time comes. Wishing you the best!!

deleted_user 01/16/2013

I quit cold turkey but I was never a heavy smoker a pack would last me a few days anyway I know that nicotine leaves your body after 4 days because I do drug testing for my company and I ask the company we go through but after I have my surgery I will not go back to smoking because it causes ulcers in your pouch. Good Luck

deleted_user 01/16/2013

I wouldn't worry. It is what it is. I know your pain. Everyone makes mistakes. This surgery is important to us all and the stress is something we all feel. If you messed up, you messed up. If it show up surely it won't be that horrible or that much. Just do better from this point forward. Whose to say if you chew the nicotine gum that it wouldn't show? Or the patch. I think the test is ridiculous personally. Good luck!

deleted_user 01/16/2013

Nobody, but NOBODY enjoyed smoking more than I did. I quit for the second time approx 8 years ago using the nic gum. Honesty is always the best policy, especially when it comes to your doc. He is the one who can assist you to finally kick the habit for good. Being around a smoker can make it more of a challange. You have to set up a no smoking zone and restrict smoking in your vicinity especially your home. When I was new at the no smoking thing and would go out with a friend who smoked I would bum a cigarette or two during the evening. Now after several years I am no longer tempted. Fess up to the doc and tell him the difficulty you are having staying smoke free and ask what he suggests to help you. d

becca1960 01/16/2013

Thank you everyone for the support! Believe me! I've learned my lesson!!

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