Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Surgery - smoking, vaping and giving up nicotine

31 replies

Bristoluser · 30/03/2024 17:11

OK so I have to have surgery in 2 weeks. I've smoked all my adult life apart from using patches when I was pregnant and moving to vaping last year.

I've moved onto 0% nicotine vapes. I'm literally climbing the wall with craving but please tell me this is enough? I don't need to give the 0% vapes up too? I don't think I'd be able to. I thought I was doing really well - 48 hours in (my husband said even the 0% vapes aren't enough).

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Stressfordays · 25/11/2024 11:59

Everyone is raving about flavoured toothpicks to quit vaping. You can get them on Amazon, quite expensive though. Worth it if you're worried about the vape.

viques · 25/11/2024 11:35

In two weeks time your body will be getting used to no nicotine. That will be the time to remind yourself of

how much money you have saved

how much better your lungs are already

how much less disgusting you smell

how much stronger you are mentally than you thought you were

Good luck with the surgery, and good luck to spending the rest of your life healthier, wealthier and nicotine free.

Ginkypig · 25/11/2024 11:31

Sorry that post was awful due to predictive text on my tablet.

Ginkypig · 25/11/2024 11:23

I went cold turkey for surgery too (no vape just stopped) it was horrible for about a week then it get much easier physically speaking. I never felt I had a handle on the mental difficulties of it but once I got through the the physical aspect I managed fine through the surgery and for over a year afterwards.

the thing you will find hard is the mental aspect which personally I think vapes don’t help at all. Most people I know who have used them have been able to give up smoke but then stay on the vales for a long time.

you will do absolutely fine but look at the mental addiction once you get through the surgery because that will be the issue that could make you fail.

good luck with surgery.

SimonJeffreson · 25/11/2024 11:08

From what I know, it’s the nicotine that’s the issue, so if you’re on 0% vapes, you should be good. That’s already a big step, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. When I was trying to quit, I remember the cravings being insane. I switched to thca disposable vapes for a bit since they’re nicotine-free too, and it gave me something to do without making me feel like I was giving up everything at once.

Exhale THCA Vape Disposable - Push Pop Flavor - 2G

THCA Disposable Vape | Shop THCA Vape - Exhale Wellness

Looking for an easy way to reap the benefits of THC from hemp? Check out our THCa Disposable! Take a peek and find your perfect match.

https://www.exhalewell.com/thca-disposables/

Mrsjayy · 31/03/2024 11:20

You can get through this just try and trick your brain you are having a ciggies..

Original poster
Bristoluser · 30/03/2024 19:55

Yup. I asked about patches and gum etc. He said he wouldn't do the surgery if I had any nicotine in me, he said vapes, patches, cigarettes and gum were all equally bad for the surgery. So as far as I'm concerned I'm free of nicotine but obviously I know the 0% vapes are bad in other ways but I think ok for surgery.

OP posts:
aodirjjd · 30/03/2024 18:32

You are in the hardest big op. Hold on!

Mrsjayy · 30/03/2024 18:29

I just googled the Nicotine thing sorry you are right. When I smoked and had an operation the surgeon suggested I had Nicotine gum which I did.

Singingtheraininspain · 30/03/2024 18:22

https://www.who.int/news/item/20-01-2020-smoking-greatly-increases-risk-of-complications-after-surgery
Well done for cutting out the cigarettes and switching to 0% nicotine vapes.
It sounds like this is hard going for you. So I’d concentrate on sticking to the 0% nicotine and worry about trying to cut out vaping completely once those cravings have gone. Your surgeon asked you to stop nicotine and you’re doing it. Take the huge decrease in risk of surgical complications over trying to stop the 0%vape if you think you’re likely to cave and go back to cigarettes without it.

Smoking greatly increases risk of complications after surgery

Tobacco smokers are at significantly higher risk than non-smokers for post-surgical complications including impaired heart and lung functions, infections and delayed or impaired wound healing. But new evidence reveals that smokers who quit approximatel...

https://www.who.int/news/item/20-01-2020-smoking-greatly-increases-risk-of-complications-after-surgery

BobbyBiscuits · 30/03/2024 18:22

There's no nicotine in them so puff away!
I was given patches when I went in for surgery, but I was smoking about 10 a day at the time.
You've done really well to quit nicotine. No need to put pressure on yourself to quit the nicotine free vape. You'll be doing it less if you're in hospital anyway as it's a faff to go outside and back usually.

Greybeardy · 30/03/2024 18:14

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Hohofortherobbers · 30/03/2024 18:09

Every day without nicotine the cravings will lessen, hold tight right for now, tomorrow will be better.

Healingfrommothernarc · 30/03/2024 17:57

Op do something to take your mind off it

Original poster
Bristoluser · 30/03/2024 17:37

Smoking obviously worse for many things but nicotine is the danger for at least some surgery (whether vapes, patches or gum etc).

OP posts:
EmpressSoleil · 30/03/2024 17:37

I think firstly, calm down. People have been having surgery for years while still being smokers. They tell you to stop smoking for everything now. It does raise certain risks, I'm not denying that, but it doesn't mean anything will definitely go wrong. It's just advice at the end of the day.

The 0% vaping is fine. You've done really well to not smoke.

Original poster
Bristoluser · 30/03/2024 17:34

You have to be nicotine free because it's 16 times more likely to fail if there's nicotine in your body

OP posts:
Original poster
Bristoluser · 30/03/2024 17:33

No, I thought it was smoking that was bad, not nicotine too. But that is not right. It's the nicotine that is dangerous to surgery.

OP posts:
sorrynotathome · 30/03/2024 17:30

As @Mrsjayy said, it's not the nicotine that's damaging but all the shit in the cigarette smoke and potentially the vape vapour (no-one really knows yet). The nicotine is the addictive substance though, hence you are finding it hard. Why does your surgery require you to go nicotine-free?

Original poster
Bristoluser · 30/03/2024 17:30

I thought the 0% vaping was a pretty big achievement

OP posts:
marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 30/03/2024 17:29

You have.

Look at Alan Carr. Your addiction is psychological, and that book really helps with that.

Redshoeblueshoe · 30/03/2024 17:29

I smoked for 30 years, I gave up using Allen Carr's book give up smoking the easy way. Available from the library. It's not for everyone, but I thought it was great.

Healingfrommothernarc · 30/03/2024 17:28

Try some breathwork techniques, or techniques to xalm the vagus nerve. Type it in on YouTube... breathwork, walking, change of scenery helps me. Im trying to quit too. Its super hard but you got this.

Original poster
Bristoluser · 30/03/2024 17:27

Thank you but I've tried hypnotherapy etc. Tried everything. That's why I'm effectively doing "cold turkey ' but I just want to know if 0% nicotine vapes are OK for surgery

OP posts:
Original poster
Bristoluser · 30/03/2024 17:25

No, in terms of surgery it's the nicotine (not only the tar) so definitely no lozenges etc

OP posts: