I quit 3 weeks and one day before my surgery because the surgeon would not do my transsternal thymectomy if I didn't. He claimed that they would do blood tests to make sure I had quit, not sure I believed that but couldn't take a chance. The first 4 days were the hardest, after that it wasn't too bad. So, 10 days in the hospital (5 for plasma x change and 5 for surgery) and I went home on Christmas Day. And.... 36 hours later I folded and foolishly decided I deserved a cigarette after all I'd been through. So, 1 1/2 years later I'm still smoking. You are not the only one!!!!