Smoking e-cigs after surgery?>

[Medic313]

I just had nasal reconstructive surgery this morning and I'm still recovering. I need to wear a gauze on my nose and replace it frequently to stop the bleeding.

I took a couple puffs from my e-cig. During pre-op the doctor said it's good that I smoke e-cigs over real ones and you're not supposed to smoke tobacco after or before surgery but they never mentioned e-cigs or vapor.

Can it have a negative effect? I know nicotive effects blood circulation but could it do anything bad to me for my healing? Thoughts?

Right now I'm really craving my e-cig and choosing to believe it's not going to have very much of a negative effect. lol

 

[player30]

For your safety, you need to ask your doctor how nicotine might affect the bleeding.

Best wishes!

 

[dormouse]

You probably should ask the doctor since nicotine is a vasoconstrictor - it may be the nicotine he is concerned about?

 

[Medic313]

Grrr.... Well I'm going to bleed regardless for a few days. Do you think the nicotine will cause more bleeding than usual or slow the healing or something?


I tried to research this on google but I couldn't find anything.

 

[Medic313]

Hey you nicotine addicts. I need some reassurance here! =)

 

[Rosa]

Sorry I can't reassure you, nicotine will cause at least a longer healing time if not complications due to improper healing.

Hey, I'm not saying I wouldn't be vaping right there with you, but it's better to be informed anyway.

Ps: especially on your nose, fingers, toes....

 

[Medic313]

Grrrrr....rrr I don't care. I'm vaping anyway. Just not as much as I normally would. A couple of puffs here and there shouldn't kill me so I'll ....in do it. I'll be ok. lol

 

[Darkwitless]

Well not only does nicotine constrict your blood vessels, but the PG & VG can dry out mucous membranes. I'd be very very cautious. If you can, hold off as long as possible and keep it to a minimum.



If this was bone related I'd definitely tell you to stop! Nicotine has been shown to prevent calcium absorption - my sister's doctor blamed a large portion of her vertebrae fusion failure on her continued use of nicotine.

 

[player30]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

 

[toppur]

Well at least vaping is much healthier than smoking, my grandma smoked the day after her hip surgery with no prob, but the doctors weren't really that concerned with it but recommended her to stop because it could have a negative affect on the healing process

 

[simply me]

I quit smoking and got on the e-cig when I needed surgery on my shoulder. Doc said he wouldn't do the surgy unless I quit smoking. He was happy with the e-cig and did the surgery. That was march 2010. He's still happy with it. Just talk to the doc.

 

[Rosa]

I'm positive its WAY better than smoking.

Hey, I'm addicted to the stuff. IMO is not a choice of whether to do it or not, it's a choice of e-cigs or tobacco cigs, e-cigs are better without question.

 

[RubenX]

I had back surgery back in 2009. I can't begin to describe how painful it was to get out of bed and walk outside for a cig. To most people it would make no sense to endure all that pain for a cancer stick. But I'm addicted, what can I say. I REALLY wish I knew vaping back then.

Like Rosa, for me it is not a question of getting the nic... if how I'm gonna get it.

 

[Hrtbrkr1965]

Just for the fact it's nasal and the nic vapor could get to an open wound I would probably ask my doctor anyway! My main concern would be that it could make you absorb it to quickly?

 

[Medic313]

Just for the fact it's nasal and the nic vapor could get to an open wound I would probably ask my doctor anyway! My main concern would be that it could make you absorb it to quickly?

Hmm... that's a good point.

To be honest I've only had a few puffs since I've had the surgery. Not anywhere near as much as I'd take if I was perferctly fine.

The surgery I had was to remove cartilage that is blocking my airflow, so that cartilage isn't going to be rebuilt or grown again I don't think. It intent of the surgery was to get it out of the way of my air flow.

I never asked my doctor directly if e-cigs are OK after surgery. He asked me about smoking and all he told me was tobacco isn't good before or after surgery because he saw in my documents that I circled "YES" under "do you smoke?" When I told him I smoke e-cigs he told me that those are much better than regular cigarettes but never clarified if it's OK to use them after or before surgery. My only guess is that his answer would be no but you all know as well as I do that I am a nicotine lover and I need a little fix to get me through.

The thought of the vapor going directly to my nasal pipe though is a bit offputting.. considering that is right where the surgery was done.....



what would you guys do in my situation? Would you be able to resist?




for anyone who cares, this was the surgery i had done http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gnxNgP8xO4
What a horrible experience.

 

[Rosa]

I honestly don't think it will make a difference as far as the vapor getting into the wound, I wouldn't worry about that part. The only way I think it would harm your healing is the part about nicotine being a vasoconstrictor. You need the blood to flow into your healing tissues, that's all.

If you told your doctor that you vape and they said that was better than smoking, well, that sounds like a go-ahead to me. I think you'll be fine.

 

[Medic313]

That's true but like I said I only have taken a few puffs since the surgery which was over 13 hours ago and I ran three miles without a stop the day before the surgery. That helps blood flow right? Maybe that will even out with the vaping.

Honestly, I'm just looking for any excuse or person agreeing with me that what I'm doing isn't that bad and won't have any serious risks to my healing. I am that pathetic of an addict. So far the healing process is going very good. Only thing is I am staying up all night because I have a hard time sleeping with my mouth open and not being able to breathe from my nose. Plus the post nasal drip means I have to change my gauze every hour or so.

So I'm not sure how sleeping is going to work.

 

[zorba1]

Well not only does nicotine constrict your blood vessels, but the PG & VG can dry out mucous membranes. I'd be very very cautious. If you can, hold off as long as possible and keep it to a minimum.



If this was bone related I'd definitely tell you to stop! Nicotine has been shown to prevent calcium absorption - my sister's doctor blamed a large portion of her vertebrae fusion failure on her continued use of nicotine.

I had a 2 level fusion done on my neck and kept smokeing 3 packs a day. I fused just fine with no troubles!.

 

[Kufu Kahn]

I smoked regulars after reconstructive surgery on my nose and the operation failed. The exact cause of the failure was undetermined.

What are the risks in your case? Disfigurement, infection, death?

Probably not worth the risk.

Good luck and a speedy recovery.

 

[zapp1982]

If you do vape be careful. Suction could cause your blood clot to come loose and that would restart the healing process. If you have an atomizer with an airier draw it would probably be better for you.