SMOKING

[saj54539@yahoo.com 8]

I have yet to read anything from anyone regarding the "bad habits". I was a smoker all my life and quit. My surgery is next month. I am wondering if anyone started smoking after your surgery and if so what were the results? I am not saying I would resume smoking cigarettes but I am saying I find myself thinking that sometimes. Any help with this would be appreciated

[Djmohr 6,965]

Honestly I can say that I have not developed any new bad habits, mostly good ones.

I quit smoking 28 years ago and would never go back. The thing is, I gained 70lbs after quitting! Now the lbs are coming off thank goodness!

[SkinnyDown 409]

I was a 30 year smoker. I quit about a year and a half before my surgery. I still want to smoke, all the time. I don't, but I honestly do. I have a friend who had bypass, and she claims it kept her weight down. I believe it, I gained 50 lbs after I stopped smoking. I am hopeful I will continue to remain smoke free. I have found a freedom I never really understood, until now. But...if it's a donut or a cig, I'm probably going to go for the cigarette. lol Just being honest.

[shelleylester 28]

I appreciate the honesty. I too smoked for 30 years snd quit the morning of my surgery. I did start vaping instead. I am on the lowest nicotine level and hope to be at zero eventually. I did take a puff off a cig snd it burned my throat and tasted terrible after 7 weeks... Still off them but still want one all the time.

[jamiemarie_11 18]

I smoked for 18. It's been hard quitting for surgery, however I feel so much better. Keep up the good work

[leag78 469]

I too quick smoking a month before my surgery, and honestly everyday is a struggle. If I'm honest I did smoke a cigarette for my birthday, and I'm 4.5 months post op. It didn't hurt or anything but it didn't encourage me either to buy a pack. I save so much money, and I feel a lot better. I used to get shortness of breath all the time, and massive headaches if I chained smoke, but now I get headaches every now and then and my breathing is so much better. So sometimes I miss puffing on a cig, but what helps me is the benefits of not smoking and that right there is all the motivation I need.

[2006RNYhere 14]

In all honesty. It was suggested to me by my surgeon to quit before surgery but i didnt. I smoked for 20 yrs and I did finally quit 4 years ago which was nearly 4 yrs post op. I gained 20 lbs over the last 4 years but am back on track. To the smokers. Dont give in quit it is the beat thing to do for yourselves.

[shelleylester 28]

Did u have complications from smoking post op

[2006RNYhere 14]

I would definitely not suggest smoking. I did not have complications. Thankfully. I have met someone post op that did have horrible problem with ulcers.

[shelleylester 28]

I have no intention on picking it up again. I'm kinda content now days. But... Miss it sometimes.

[Cervidae 2,389]

The problem with smoking right before or anytime after WLS is the greatly increased risk of ulcers. It seems kind of silly to continue a smoking habit even after knowing it could create enormous, costly, and extremely painful permanent damage to your body. I know it's an addiction, but like any addictive behavior (food included!) it's something that has to be controlled if you want to live a happy healthy life. Best of luck to all of you.