Will smoking an electronic cig affect my surgery?

[QuittinGal]

HI!!! I will be having back surgery within the next month or so... possible disc replacement or fusion... doc told me to quit smoking..I never was a heavy smoker maybe 1 to 5 cigs a day (if that)

I took his advice and quit smoking a little over a week ago. 10 days of no smoking so far ....Hard thing to do..but tonight I  broke down and bought an electronic cig. I have had a few puffs of it. It contains a small dose of nicotine but doesn't do anything harmful to your body. has no smoke and no bad toxins etc. Do u think this will affect my surgery?

I feel like it wouldn't affect as if I were smoking a real cig.....does anyone know? Thanks

[renee21243]

They don't tell you to quit smoking for your blood pressure, they tell you to do it cause they say that Smoking over time will actually cause damage to your spine.  I am not sure why but that is what my doctor explained as well as it will slow the healing process greatly.  Additionally the older you are the more likely the dr is to tell you to stop smoking.  I know some people that have had it done and the dr never told them to stop but I know others that were told to stop.  I was 30 and 31 when I had to have 3 surgeries to fix 2 levels of my lower spine.  L4-L5 and L-5-S1.  Ultimately they were fused and had metal rods put in as well.  I was never told to quit smoking.  However like I said I have seen it go both ways so if your doctor recommends it I would listen.

[QuittinGal]

Thank you for the response. I always have good blood pressure..I went int last week for a procedure (when I was smoking) and they said my BP was really good.

[trdofbeingtrd]

I would say that even though the electronic cig doesn't have the toxins a regular one does, not to even risk it. Nicotine can still affect your blood pressure.