quit before surgery started up after surgery

I just wondered if anyone was a smoker before surgery and quit and then started back up at anytime after surgery and had any complications. I quit before 2 weeks before my surgery 3/15/04 and have not started back up but there are some days i have thought about it but i heard some people had complications afterwards with there esophegus if anyone could help out let me know.

My surgeon strongly suggested no smoking after surgery. Smoking increases the chance of ulcers, and with such a small pouch, an ulcer could be very severe. I can't say anything about the esophegus, except that my dad smoked which caused the blood vessels in his esophegus to become brittle and break when he coughed, and he eventually bled to death - called esophigial verices. Be strong - everytime that urge comes on, try to divert your attention. Drink some water, or pop a SF mint into your mouth. Hopefully the urge will lessen as time goes on. You've been through so much already with this surgery, you can get through this as well. mgm

thank you so much for that information that really helps skc

I was a smoker before surgery. I also had surgery on the 15th of March. I did not quit until the day before. It is hard not to have one. I will admit I have smoked after surgery. I also told my Dr. He said it is not good, but we are only human. (he is a smoker too so he understands). I know that is it not good for me....but if it relaxes the stress just a little bit...it is better than eating something that I am not suspose to eat then throw it up causing damage also..... Marissa

I will onfess, I smoke. I did quit before surgery but oMG if you had my family you'd smoke too. I started back 2 weeks out. I look at it this way either i smoke or eat. LOL so i will smoke. I will admitt, i smoke less.

IMHO - Don't do it!! My dd had wls almost 2 years ago and started smoking - well she developed an ulcer and had problems because of it. The surgery alone makes us prone to ulcers and the smoke sort of clinches it. Louise

I smoked for 16 years before my surgery on March 8 quit 3 days before and havent had a cigarette since!!! And I will not start smoking either, even though I have wanted one. I figure whats the sense in going through this surgery to be healthy and then developing lung cancer later on!! I am a non-smoker now and thats the way I like it!! ~Nicole

I smoked my last cig the day before my surgery. I had not thought about quiting, i just haven't wanted a cig since i've been home and now it has been 3 weeks and i figure if i can go three weeks without then i might as well keep going. If you have the willpower to have not smoked this long you should keep up the great work. I am proud of you You can do it.