post op recovery and smoking

[Audrey]

I am a lite smoker and am wondering how bad the risks are to have even just half a cigarette a day two weeks post op and on the typical post op Estrogen dose. 

[Sandy]

I am a lite smoker and am wondering how bad the risks are to have even just half a cigarette a day two weeks post op and on the typical post op Estrogen dose.

My endo said that he would refuse to put anyone on HRT if they were any kind of smoker.  Granted, he was a bit rabid about it, but there is a point.

Your healing will be delayed some because of the stress you put on your body as a result of smoking.  I can't say how much, of course, I'm not a doctor.  But cigs have poisons that you inhale.  You body will be stressed because of it.

If you can't quit, have you thought of using nicotine patches or gum?  They helped me quite a bit.

-Sandy

[Audrey]

ive decided that its really just not worth the risk, especially since everythings been healing ok thus far.  More than anything im just getting bored as I can't do the usual things to stay entertained.  Oh well I suppose the temporary insanity is just that, temporary.

[Janet_Girl]

In order to have surgery, most doctors want you to quit for at least a month.  I have tried everything to quit, for a variety of reasons.  And even facing SRS, in the future, is a big enough motivator to quit.

Patches work, but caused rashes.  Gum, keep biting cheeks.  Lozenges worked, but expensive.  Hypnosis never worked for me.  Cutting back is just as hard.  Did Chantix, but it only worked while in the non smoking class.

I guess I am doom to die with a cigarette in my hand. 

Janet

[Janet_Girl]

I have not only see the lungs of a smoker, but I have seen the whole autopsy.  And that did not even do it.  I have had three strokes, two major surgeries because of it.

But I am just another addict, drug of choice Nicotine.

Janet

[tekla]

Such scare tactics seem most effect to keep people from starting, but rarely help people quit, for whatever reason.

[lizbeth]

another smoker trying to quit chiming in.    (i'm down to about 10 cigarettes in the last 5 days  )

it's absolutely best for you not to smoke at all and a cigarette everynow again may not hurt you, but it quickly turns into 3 cigs a day and then before you know it you are a pack a day or more.

I've been considering getting one of those ecigarettes. they have some with the nicotine and some that are just flavored water vapor. my coworker has one and it's helped him to stop smoking tobacco cigarettes (albeit only replacing one addiction with another possible addiction).

[V M]

I started smoking a little while after high school due to boredom. My job at the time was full of too much hurry and wait. I've been trying to quit for years. I know this addictive habit will kill me. If I could get srs, I would use that time to quit all together or at least try to. Why use something that will kill you when you are starting a new life?

[Autumn]

e-cigs are miracles, and in the end, a hell of a lot cheaper than buying packs/cartons. Definitely check them out - the few smokers I know who've gotten one swear that it's wonderful.

You get like 5 cartridges for $10, and each cartridge is supposed to be the equivalent to 2 packs I think. You just take a puff or two when you want some nic, instead of smoking down a cigarette.

[Janet_Girl]

Good googly moogly those things are expensive!  I would love to quit.

Janet

[Chloe]

I would love to quit

http: //www. theeasywaytostopsmoking.com/

read this! the only thing that works! (and doesn't cost a penny. check local library!)

[Anonymouse]

When I booked surgery I stopped smoking and never started again. I just didn't need it anymore.

If we ignore the long term health effects and just look at this with regard to sugery. Smoking increases the possibility of a DVT which can a best be extreemly unpleasent and quite possibly fatal. It also reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood and causes the blood vessels to contract. That means you will heal more slowly and are more likely to suffer from necrosis and other complications.

My advice would be don't smoke until you are fully healed. By then you might wonder why you did it anyway.

Ann

[gothique11]

I smoked (and still, do, unfortunately) even with SRS.

I tried stopping right after my surgery, 'cause I was in bed anyway. Although, after two days even Dr. Brassard told me to go have a smoke 'cause the stress of trying to stop at the same time of having my surgery was too much stress on my body.

So, basically, if you're gonna quit, try to do it before you have surgery. Be warned, that after surgery you'll probably have an urge to smoke. I know I did, and smokes tasted really gross with the medications I was on, but the stress of not smoking at the same time was making me really sick -- ironically, smoking made me feel better and I started healing and having less pain. Dr. Brassard said it was related the the stress of the two and a few smokes wouldn't hurt me and would help with the healing.

I know, it sounds weird, but stopping smoking also puts your body through stress. Before surgery, if you can't quit, try to get under 10 smokes a day. I got to around 8 a day. After surgery, just slowly cut down if you can, 'cause cold turkey would put more stress and you'll feel more sick then you would be normally.

I've had no issues with HRT and smoking what so ever. Not that smoking is good for you, but in my case it hasn't been a huge issue. Then again, I'm a light smoker. I smoke lights and always under 10 a day. For HRT I'm on estrace and prometrium.

I'm just over a year post-op.

Anyway, congrats on your surgery. Quit when you are ready. But remember that quitting will also put your body in stress and if you're only two weeks post op, quitting cold turkey would be a bad idea -- if you're only on half a smoke a day, the smog in the air is worse than that.

My only pet-peeve is people who've never smoked before and decide to go on a soap-box and tell me how awful I am, and all of the horrible stuff smoking is going to do to me. Really? Wow? Like I didn't know that already. That's kinda like telling a sinner that they are a sinner and going to hell -- it's not encouraging and it ain't gonna make someone stop. Being a smoker doesn't mean your stupid or dumb.

Quit when you are ready and determined. Don't put yourself down for it. Find daily encouragement. And remember, it's not a bad thing if you start up again, you just try again -- don't beat yourself up over it (or let others beat you up either for it).

I hate it when people soap box me. In fact, I stopped going to the local trans support group because the leader (or what ever she is) and a few others decided to soap box me, tell me sht I already knew, and made me feel like complete garbage. And I thought that it was a "support" group for trans people, not a "beat up the smoker group." I felt so unwelcome I ended up crying after the "support" group. Moral of the story, soap boxing doesn't help.

Anyway, i wish you good luck.

--natalie

[Audrey]

I've been pretty good about abstaining from the cigarettes lately so that good.  Thanks natalie for the post    It is annoying when people get down on you for smoking isnt it.  I usually just blow a big old smoke ring right at em lol.   

Mostly I just smoke to relieve my anxiety before a stressfull event, like my everyday at work lol.  I find it hard to not smoke also when im depressed.  It seems to relax me and cheer me up a little, which can be a big deal for me when im in a depressive state, in location and state of mind .

[Mister]

Will it make your new vag fall out?  Probably not, but healing surgeries require good micro circulation, which smoking destroys.  You'll be better off the longer you can stay without smoking or the least you can smoke if you must.  Try the patch, gum, pill, licorice root, whatever.  you've only got one chance of healing and I implore you to give it the best shot you can.

[tekla]

Or, if you must smoke, find something more fun than tobacco.

[gothique11]

Or, if you must smoke, find something more fun than tobacco.

*big grins!* LOL