How soon after surgery have you started to smoke?

[BeGood 22]

How soon after surgery have you started to smoke?

I know I am not allowed to smoke anymore as my Surgeon said, but I'm struggling to quit smoking because I like it.

[Ldyvenus 317]

I switched to vaping 1 year before surgery. It's cheaper and you can lower your nicotine level to 0 slowly. I'm at 3mg now, I started at 12 mg.

[PatientEleventyBillion 851]

45 minutes ago, BeGood said:

How soon after surgery have you started to smoke?

I know I am not allowed to smoke anymore as my Surgeon said, but I'm struggling to quit smoking because I like it.

[Newme17 3,444]

I understand it's an addiction. My sister is a smoker. But if you're off smoking for a period time, why bother? I know you like it, but your body won't in the long run. Hope you make a better decision about taking care of yourself hon. Blessings to you.

[barefoot_gardener 18]

I totally understand the struggle. I was a smoker for 20 years. I was prescribed Wellbutrin and honestly quit in a couple weeks. I wasn't even trying; smoking just didn't sound good anymore. It still doesn't. I've quit multiple times in my life but this was HANDS DOWN the easiest. I would recommend anyone to try it and see if the same holds true for them.

[SleevyNicks 20]

16 hours ago, barefoot_gardener said:

I totally understand the struggle. I was a smoker for 20 years. I was prescribed Wellbutrin and honestly quit in a couple weeks. I wasn't even trying; smoking just didn't sound good anymore. It still doesn't. I've quit multiple times in my life but this was HANDS DOWN the easiest. I would recommend anyone to try it and see if the same holds true for them.

Wellbutrin worked for me too, like a charm. It was prescribed for depression and the quitting smoking was just a side effect.

[Jill_Me 100]

I say this with utmost respect for nicotine addiction. I smoked for 15 years and tried to quit multiple times. You never smoke again after weight loss surgery because the risk to your new stomach is terrifying. Don't be an idiot and ever smoke again. Just don't.

[B.Annie 290]

How soon after surgery have you started to smoke?
I know I am not allowed to smoke anymore as my Surgeon said, but I'm struggling to quit smoking because I like it.

Interesting struggle. I've had friends who were "social smokers" - really only smoked socially because they liked it. I wonder, since you mentioned that's the reason for your struggle, if getting a 0 nicotine vape or ecig would help. It should at least keep you healthier after surgery while still providing the actions one does while smoking.
At some point after surgery you might not like smoking so much. Especially if you don't do it for a period of time. For me, I've been a high stress smoker (only smoking under severe stress) and occasional social smoker. I had a month long bout of severe stress last year where I smoked the most in one period of time than I've ever done in my life combined. When the stress went away, I stopped smoking and after 6 months, I had a high stress day and picked up a smoke and immediately got very ill after the second puff. Just thinking about it makes me feel sick. I haven't picked up a cigarette or vape since. Maybe dropping it for a time and changing your life around with surgery will be your change with liking smoking.


HW: 328 (02/22/17)
SW: TBD
CW: 288

Pounds disowned to date: 40

[teacupnosaucer 445]

My suggestion? Find something new to "like". I'm not in any position to comment on the strength of addiction to cigarettes because I've never been there, but your reason for risking serious ulcers is... kind of lacking in urgency LOL.

I "liked" drinking six cans of Pepsi a day and eating out five times a week, but those likes no longer fit into my new lifestyle and making the most of my surgery and my health. Now I like going swing dancing and I like doing laps in the pool and following them up with a soak in the hot tub, and I like watching hockey with my family and I like going to see vintage movies at our historical movie theatre in town. Give yourself permission to change! One day those things you "like" won't seem nearly so important anymore. I couldn't even imagine my life without my beloved Pepsi and now I barely give a crap.

And if it's less "I like it" and more "I'm addicted to it still but don't want to use that word", then people in this thread have some great suggestions on how to kick the habit. No shame in asking for help!

But if you're looking for permission to start smoking again, AGAINST your surgeon (who is the medical expert)'s advice... I don't know that you're gonna get it from anyone else but fellow smokers in denial!

[LittleLizzieLilliput 919]

I was an almost 20 year smoker. I got really sick 5 years ago at Christmas. By New Years I was down for the count. I didn't recover until 2nd week in January. I went outside and lit-up a smoke. And in that fraction of a second my mind had an entire conversation with me. My brain, and I'm not kidding - it kind of talked to me as if it wasn't a part of me. lol!, my brain said "you are a f**king idiot! You just detoxed from Nicotine and are now free of the chemical addiction!" In that fraction of a second that my brain b***h-slapped me I never even inhaled the smoke, I pushed it out of my mouth with my tongue and the air in my lungs, crushed the cigarette and was done.

But I wasn't planning on quitting, in fact, I quite liked smoking still. But let me tell you all the ways life is better now!!

• Money, money, money!! Saved thousands in my first year alone. 1 pack of smokes is almost 10 bucks over here
• lungs - I stopped using any "asthma" meds...fyi, it's not asthma
• Less sickness!! I stopped being sick so much during the year. And that annual winter cold?? Haven't seen it since
• Time - I have SOO much more time to do things I love
• Friends - my friends no longer have to sacrifice their time so I can go have a smoke break. Don't have to constantly stop on road trips, my friends no longer have to pay the time-price of my addiction
• Smell and Taste - OMG the things you can smell and taste again!! Cigarettes overwhelm the senses so food and fragrances are fantastic post smoking
• Cleaner - my life is SOOO much cleaner. I don't have ashes to clean up, overflowing ashtrays, my clothes don't smell...and all I have to do is spend 15 minutes in a casino and I realize just how smelly I must of have been

I loved smoking, I loved the calm, the peace, the me time, the control, the freedom it gives you to leave something you don't enjoy, there are so many self-soothing things about smoking that are probably very difficult to give up right now, but if you can I hope you do. I hope you give yourself this one last gift.

Edited April 24, 2017 by LittleLizzieLilliput

[Brian B 94]

I switched to vaping, which isn't for everyone, so if your not ready to quit .. because we all know you can't quit something OR lose weight if your not ready to quit, vaping is so much better than smoking.

[geets 44]

I've been vaping for 3years now and I feel that I'm addicted to vaping. Is vaping seriously safer? It's still nicotine which can give you hypertension,I'm hypertensive already. I've halved my nicotine level from 11 to 6 but I seem to be vaping more to get that nicotine hit. I can't believe my bariatric surgeon said vaping was ok,especially when it clearly stated on the paper in front of him that I take 2 types of medication for hypertension. ! Have people found vaping nauseating after band surgery?

[Brian B 94]

I don't think that vaping has been proven to be better than smoking.. lets face it .. its all bad. I don't think the Dr. has the evidence to prove or disprove so for the time being they can't pass judgement.

I do feel like I vape more than I smoked but its hard to count since your not "smoking a pack a day".. I smoke the same amount of juice every week. Also your gear can change the amount juice you use .. so its really not a apples to apples question. You would have to count the puffs you used to smoke vs the draws you take now. Also it makes perfect sense that you might be smoking more if you reduced the nicotine. Your body still craves.

[bellabloom 2,469]

Please don't. Seek therapy etc. it's not worth it.

I am sure you are missing the oral fixation that smoking satisfies but smoking is incredibly dangerous and can truly damage your new stomach.

Vaping is largely unstudied but I imagine still better than light up a cigarette.

[MSinger 348]

I'm another person who can testify to Wellbutrin helping me quitting smoking. It took a few days for the medication to adjust, but after that, I had zero interest. Previously smoked for a decade. It works. I was eventually able to wean off the wellbutrin after 2 years. Never picked up smoking again.

I suggest you talk to your Dr and see what they offer or suggest. Smoking now will slow your wound healing and increase risk for complications.