Question:
Need to remain smoke free for surgery got cigarette success stories done cold turkey?
— Tonya M. (posted on January 13, 2003)
January 13, 2003
I am a success story! I quit cold turkey on January 26, 2002. So it has
been almost a year. I will admit the first 3 days were tough. I drank alot
of water to clear out my system. After that it was changing behaviors. It
is hard but if you really want it, and this time I did, you can do it! Good
Luck! I love that I can take the stairs and I am not out of breath, what a
difference -93 pounds and no smokes makes!~StephiAZ~Open DS 08/12/02
— Stephanie B.
January 13, 2003
I stopped cold turkey, just laid them down nearly four years ago. I was a
three pack a day smoker. What did it for me is I am a nurse and know all
the bad things about it but when my daughter-in-law told me she was
pregnant with my first grandchild, I reasoned that I certainly wanted to
live for him and not harm in, either in the womb or out. But to be honest
with you, There are times I could use a cigerette but i just think of my
grandbaby's face. That does it. Good luck. You can do it. If you really
want this surgery you can do it. Dont hurt your self by not stopping
before. It will be really hard on you even if the doc would operate on you.
Most won't.
— Delores S.
January 13, 2003
I was a 20 year 2-3 pack a day smoker. I had bronchitis at least once a
year for the last 10 years, and at least 4 sinus infections a year. I even
smoked while I had pneumonia...that is until they put me in the hospital. I
had my last cigarette on the way to the emergency room, bloody nose,
gasping for air, and I was sucking on a cigarette. I was so sick, the
doctor gave me 2 years to live if I DIDN'T quit smoking. Was it easy? NO! I
officially quit smoking September 10, 2001 by going cold-turkey in the
hospital. I cried for nearly a month. I would stand by smokers and inhale.
I was pitiful! But then one day I noticed that I hadn't thought about a
cigarette all day. Eventually it has gotten easier. I have not had another
bout of bronchitis or pnuemonia since I quit smoking, and my sinus
infections have also cleared up. Do I still miss cigarettes? Yes. Sometimes
I salivate at the thought of having a smoke. But I don't have that
cigarette because honestly...I'm so damned proud of myself for getting off
the marry-go-round, and I know that like an alcoholic...all it will take is
one cigarette to be back on the crazy ride again. So...if I can do it for
my life...I know you can do it for your life. Good luck and God bless!
— Chris A.
January 13, 2003
Yep...quit cold turkey October 13, 1986 and haven't had one since. The
physical addiction to nicotine is gone in 72 hours - the tough one to break
is the psychological addiction. You have to work on staying off of them
through all of those situations where you used to light up.
— John Rushton
January 13, 2003
The 6th time in my life I tried to quit, I finally succeeded. I did it
cold turkey...no gum or patch or meds. BUT, it was on the heels of getting
a report from my doctor that stated my chest x-ray showed mild emphysema.
That scared the living daylights out of me, and was my motivation. I've
been "clean" now a little over 5 years, after smoking on and off
(mostly on) for nearly 25 years. You can do it! I was overjoyed that,
having to lose 10% of my weight before surgery, that I also didn't have to
quit smoking. Hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
January 13, 2003
Cold turkey for Lent in 1996. I was a 2 pk a day Camel smoker. All of my
previous attempts drove me nuts. Prayer
is a powerful thing.... Best wishes to you!
— lessofme170
January 13, 2003
Try the patches...and if you quit for a year (at the price of cigs these
days) you can pay for a tummy tuck...Worked for me and I smoked 3 packs a
day for years.
— Jon S.
January 13, 2003
Hi, I agree with TERESA M., when she said "prayer is a powerful
thing"! Although, I never prayed for me to stop smoking before, I knew
one day I wanted to. Then, one day which was this pass summer, I said to
myself I am tried of smoking -- look at my skin(again, saying to myself), I
hate the way it smells on me and my clothes, and I am always tried-out so
quietly. Maybe I need to pray about it. I did and one week later I just
stopped. God, is so good!!!! EVERYONE SMOKER WHO WANTS TO QUIT, NEEDS TO
PRAY -- IT'S THAT SIMPLE!
— JUNE P.
January 13, 2003
— TRACEY W.
January 13, 2003
There are many things out there to help you. You just need to decide whats
best for you and what you can stick with to quit.
My husband and I had been smokers for about 10 years. One day while at
work he cut his finger down to the tendon. The doctor said that smoking a
cig every 4 hours stops your body from making a substance (hemoglobins, I
think) that allows your body to heal. So, he either needed to quit
smoking, or risk losing that part of his finger. We decided to quit as a
team, cold turkey, and it worked. Thank the Lord, for 2 months later I got
pregnant!
Good Luck with what you choose to do. Many people have done it, and you
are definitely not alone. :o)
— Heidi H.
January 13, 2003
Hi. Try the new lozenges...they really helped me. Good luck!
— rebeccamayhew
January 14, 2003
Tonya,
I quit smoking 7 months ago (almost to the day) and I can say too things
about it: 1) you have to be emotionally/psychologically ready for it and
2)the goal of being thing (WLS) is a wonderful thing!
I started taking Wellbutrin (prescribed by my doctor) 3 days before my
"quit" date. I also prepared by not smoking during habit times,
like in the car, after dinner, when you wake up etc. Practicing to not
smoke I think helped a lot. I think the three things that helped the most
was 1) to have someone present with you the whole day to keep you focused
on not smoking, 2) don't have any smokes in the house because then when you
really want one you can say will I still have this craving after I drive
all the way to the store to buy them? and 3) (most important) the first day
is the hardest (which is why you need a support person), but once you get
past that 1st day remind yourself, the first day is the hardest and I don't
want to that again. After just a week the benefits of not smoking will be
present. Hold out and be strong. And remember that not smoking equals a
thinner healther you.
— mdjacobs
January 15, 2003
I quit on August 19th, 2001 - one day after my 40th birthday. My
motivation was this surgery. I wanted to have a number of months under my
belt before I even went to the doctor. I had my first appointment in March
of 2002, so that sure happened! (I didn't get the nerve to call until
December even though I had made up my mind and had researched for two full
years)...It is still difficult for me and I want a cigarette still from
time to time (I don't have it - I know that I would go right back). The
only thing that I can say is that exercise is MUCH easier because breathing
is much easier and that it was difficult to breathe after the surgery being
a non-smoker. It would have been horrible if I had still been smoking, I
am sure. Best of everything to you. You can do it if I can - believe me!!
:)
— Cathy K.
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