Question:
Can I still smoke after an open RNY?

— Karen P. (posted on December 7, 2002)

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December 7, 2002
Hey there, why would you want to continue to smoke when you are trying to improve the quality of your life??? I'm sorry to sound so negative and snotty about the subject, but you know smoking is STUPID!!!!! It has arsnic, formaldahyde(what people are imbalmed with), tar, carbon monoxide, not to mention the drug nicotine. To answer your question. It is not a good idea to smoke after this surgery because the smoke itself breaks down the lining of the esophagus, not to mention the VERY vulnerable pouch. So come on, why get your insurance to pay for a life saving surgery to CHANGE and BETTER the quality of your life, to just start smoking and get lung cancer and die?????Whats the point???
— Leigh G.

December 7, 2002
Wow... the previous answer was certainly direct. However, that answer is sort of like the "Why don't we just push ourselves away from the table and exercise instead of having surgery?" response many of us get when telling others of this surgery. I admit it... I don't smoke... never have... but I know from friends that it's hard to quit. But you really do NEED to try. It really IS bad for you. Besides, you can use all that money you spent on cigarettes on protein powder, vitamins and new clothes! :) Finally (and maybe this is being a bit harsh as well), it may be a bit early in the game to be finding out what limits you can push after surgery. Yes, you can break some of the many "rules" and get along ok, but the closer to you stick to your surgeon's guidelines, the better off you'll be in the long run. Good Luck! Kelly
— Kelly B.

December 7, 2002
There are a few reasons to try and stop smoking. First, it has been known that smoking can cause ulcers in our pouches. I know that you do not want that! Second, it decreases the blood flow to your tissues, that can increase your chances of saggy baggy skin, you don't want that eister, I'm sure. Third, if you have plastics in the future, the surgery can be terribly disrupted because of smoking, and agian, the decreased blood flow is the cause. So, yes, you can smoke, and I am sure that there are tons of people that have smoked and not had any of the above problems, BUT, do you REALLY want ot take the chance. I agre with the second poster, it is very hard, and you need help doing this. Talk to your doc about help quiting.
— Vicki L.

December 7, 2002
I'm sometimes amazed at how harsh people can be on this board...especially when others are reaching out for help. Whatever. Yes. You can still smoke after RNY. As others have said, its not a great idea, but you can. Good luck.
— Tamara K.

December 7, 2002
How is Karen reaching out for help? All that she asked was "Can I still smoke after an open RNY?" not "I know that I shouldn't smoke after my surgery...how can I quit?" I'm going to prove the old adage that ex-smokers are the worst, because I'm going to be on the side of the first respondent. It's a stupid decision to smoke period. And even more so when you are doing something else to save your life. I quit smoking - cold turkey - on October 13, 1986 and haven't smoked since. Never had the desire too. And I probably would not have made it through my Non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 1995 and my pulmonary emboli in January of this year if I had still been smoking. Do yourself a favor, Karen, and do whatever it takes to quit smoking - permanently...JR
— John Rushton

December 8, 2002
Geez gang--Leave the poor girl alone! Of course she can smoke after having weight loss surgery--for that matter she can do IV drugs, ride motorcycles, bungee jump, or eat high fat, concentrated sweet foods. She's an adult, who will pay for consequences of her choices made. None of us haven't oredered every bad choice food and then had the diet drink!!...to pat ourselves on the back for! I give her credit for taking care of this area of her life now...perhaps the smoking she can tackle later. One word of advise dear poster--is that sometimes after major surgery, you don't feel like smoking and that is a good time to quit--otherwise--no pressure here--one major lifestyle change at a time. Good Luck with it all!!!
— Wannabe A.

December 8, 2002
karen, i know exactly what you are going through, i am a smoker and my surgeon said i have to quit before surgery and that is totally understandable. my concern is after surgery. i remember quiting and replacing cigs with food & im affraid that will happen again. and for all the non smokers out there you cant tell us you know how we feel. you dont! although i am doing surgery to better my health i would also love to stay away from smoking. but im really scared. i wish you much luck on your journey. maureen a
— Maureen A.

December 8, 2002
I am going to ask more of a question than give an answer but my successful way of quitting was with Nicorette gum. I thank the heavens for this gum. After many many many attempts over numerous years, it saved me when I quit 7 years ago. I am almost 7 years smoke free and do not anticipate ever smoking again, but can you use Nicorette after surgery? If not, I would definitely recommend trying it before if you never have before!
— susanje

December 8, 2002
Karen... heya hun.. im almost a month post op.. and i have smoked since i was 12.. (24 now).. not as long as some..longer than others.. i started smoking as soon as i left the hospital.. but i noticed that it tasted awful.. and made me sick if i smoked to much.. before wls i smoked about a pack and a half a day.. after wls i smoked maybe 3-5 a day.. so i got sick the other day.. and just knew smoking would make me vomit.. and cough.. and as awful as i felt i just didnt want the cig that bad.. so i decided to quit.. its been about 5 days.. and the craving's are back.. but i figure.. try now.. when its pretty impossible to replace smokes with food.. (im lucky to get in 4 oz a day..) .. so back to your question.. yes you can still smoke.. but you may find its just not for you anymore.. or.. not.. ya never know.. whatever you do decide ..good luck to ya..*huggles*
— johanna F.

December 8, 2002
Of course you CAN smoke after WLS. However, as others have pointed out, this would be a good time to quit. There are a variety of stop-smoking aids out there, gum, patches, a RX called ZYBAN. Also, many surgeons will not operate if you are still smoking and they can do tests the morning of your surgery and tell if you have been smoking or not. In fact, most surgeons who require you to quit want you to do so at least 4 weeks ahead. You do not want to check into the hospital and then have your surgery cancelled because of the smoking, do you?
— garw

December 8, 2002
*hands you a cigarette* You now have all the answers to your question, and then some. Based on that...make your Own decision on what is best you. No one here has a right to throw stones.
— Natalie M.

December 8, 2002
No, I don't smoke.
— Natalie M.

December 8, 2002
I quit smoking in order to have the surgery (doctor's orders) then promptly started back. However, I decided on my 35th birthday to quit again, and with the exception of one (day-long) relapse, have managed to be smoke free for 21 days, 19 hours, 43 minutes and 39 seconds...It hasn't been hard at all (yeah, right!) Of course, I am whacked out on the patch, the gum and the logenzes, but they are helping. And you know what? I am really enjoying not stinking, and I find I have much more energy for crazy things, like exercise. So, smoke if you want, but know that the benefits of nonsmoking really will outweigh the results of smoking, and if you have an arsenal of tools to help, you can do it if you are committed. Good luck!
— rebeccamayhew

December 9, 2002
I'm a very happy smoker....ok I don't like the price (money-wise) but I'm a VERY healthy smoker. Didn't quit for during or after surgery. Good luck in your choice whatever it may be!
— [Deactivated Member]

December 9, 2002
I'm sure someone has said it.. but why would you want to? You're going to start a new part of your life.. make a lot of changes.. why not make that one too? Its one of the best things you can do for yourself... and Ruth.. sorry.. I'm doubtful that you're healthy if you smoke... only smokers would agree with you on that one... how is pulling poisonous smoke deliberately into your body healthy? Something is wrong with that...
— Lisa C.

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