Marijuana and Life after Bariatric Surgery

[jadama22 110]

Hi Gr33ni3,

Glad to see you are doing well. So just curious - you did not feel immensely hungry after smoking?

[alisawoo22 13]

I'll be the odd one out - I smoke weed on the regular. I also live in Washington state where it's legal and I'm a medical marijuana patient. My doc says I'm to treat it like drinking alcohol. Rare. Avoid if possible.

[Daisy0818 20]

I smoke to help with aniexty, Migraines, and to sleep .. and I've wondered what will happen after wls .. I really hate taking pills - rather smoke to help with pain .. I try to reserve my evening snack after I smoke

[LumpySpacePrincess 594]

As the daughter of a man who manages a legal marijuana dispensary in Washington state and who also had his own legal medical cannabis garden for a few years, I can tell you that different types of marijuana will illicit different responses. I really don't know what is available in New York, but according to my father there are varieties that will not make you hungry, and will give you a nice, mellow high.

That being said, I think if you go into the experience prepared it may not be such a big deal. Have Snacks around that you know you can have, in portions that make sense. If you try to eat too much in the few months following surgery, your body will definitely let you know and you probably won't want to keep going. In my experience, it is best to let it go for the first six months, then maybe start with once or twice per month after that and see how it goes. Our tastes and responses to foods and experiences change in the first six months after surgery, so you might find that the munchies aren't a big deal that far out.

I would not worry about a "transfer addiction" right away. If you notice you start to need to smoke more than once per week, then maybe take a few steps back and analyze what emotions are surrounding the need to smoke the same way you would have analyzed the emotions around the need to eat.

Good luck!

[JLMET 40]

This is something that I am considering. I liked to enjoy my pot once or more a week, depending on my mood. I'd smoke with friends mostly. Not a huge fan of doing it alone. Now, three months post surgery I am not ready to start up again for a couple reasons.

Reason #1) Not sure it's a good idea so soon post-surgery. I have given myself the benchmark of 6 months for anything unhealthy such as booze or drugs. At 6 months your stomach is fully healed and there is no chance of leaks so I feel like if I want a drink (like at the holidays) I can do it after this date.

Reason #2) Pot munchies. I am very nervous about this! But I also think that if I never try it again, I won't ever know. The fact is, nothing in my house is unhealthy so realistically if I get the munchies, I'll be snagging an apple or a sugar-free popsicle, no harm done there. I exercise every day so I'd burn it off pretty quick.

My final thoughts are this, I like smoking pot. I know that eventually I will do it again, when that time comes I will enjoy it and also do my best to continue the mindfulness process I've begun since December (when I decided to start this WLS journey). I feel like everyone has their own process and that we deserve to have fun but I am a food addict so I have to be very careful about the fun I have!

I don't know if this helps or what but those are my thoughts!

Edited July 2, 2015 by JLMET

[harley_quinn25 80]

@@jadama22 how's the pre op going? You have a date yet?

[NinaVSG1124 9]

I really am amazed at some ignorant, judgmental and closed minded people who comment here. MARIJUANA IS A MEDICINE, it's not only used to induce hunger but it relaxes your body, mind and allows for people who need pain management and still keep living without becoming a zombie from prescription medicines. I've been using MJ since I was 26, it helps me find relief. I too was scared that I would overeat with my sleeve. I am a year out, 115lbs lighter, I go to the gym 4-5x a week and if I feel like I need to munch out I do it with carrots, celery or something that will fill me up, after three bites. I also don't over eat, my sleeve is an amazing tool that I appreciate everyday, this is why I control what I eat and when I eat, I also record all my foods to make sure my macros are all balanced. I use everyday and it helped me during my recovery from vsg. It's all up to you and if you can control yourself from the munchies

[jadama22 110]

@@jadama22 how's the pre op going? You have a date yet?

Hi I am 6 days post op and doing well, lot of pain still - especially those from the stomach spasms but I'm on my last bit of Meds and it was made clear that once finished- I will not get anymore so I will be trying some MJ today and see how that works for me.

Will keep you all updated????

[harley_quinn25 80]

@@jadama22 any update?? How are u?

[perk4756 259]

Just read an article that smoking marijuana heals broken bones. How's that for medicinal?

Edited July 21, 2015 by perk4756

[Nickkibear24 33]

Hummm....using pot once a week sounds kind of frequent to me. But then I never smoke pot....why would you want to have surgery to help with an eating addiction and then continue another addiction that is going to make you want to eat?

I would hardly call once a week an addiction? So someone who has a glass of wine or a beer once a week is addicted? Your ignorance and prejudice about Marijuana is showing....

Deal with it babe.

most surgeons force you to do a drug test so good luck. although im not sure why you would want to smoke something that will make you hungry it completely undoes the surgery if you gain weight but to each their own

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

To my knowledge, my surgeon didn't do any drug tests on me.

Just sayin'.

[butterfly23 423]

My surgeon did not drug test me either - and I have not read that it is considered a best practice prior to surgery.

[alisawoo22 13]

Most surgeons do not force you to do a drug test. Just for the record. Lol

[perk4756 259]

They only do a nicotine test I've been reading. And so far I haven't had that. Cause I quit smoking memorial day. Last appt. September 9th for me. Already seen surgeon twice.