Jaelzion

I had a similar experience. The Norco I was prescribed did not handle my pain and I had to go back to my surgeon. Like you, I take pain medication daily anyway, for unrelated conditions. So I probably had a certain amount of tolerance built up and taking the same med after surgery just wasn't sufficient. Oxycodone did the trick, however. And after about two weeks the pain eased up. I agree you should go to the ER to rule out any kind of severe complication. If they say you're okay, you may need a different med from the one you take daily, or a higher dose. Sorry you're going through this, I hope it gets resolved quickly. I remember what that pain was like and it was really tough to deal with. Hang in there.🤗

Having the doctor say "You're overweight" out of habit and being able to say "No I'm not." 😂

The middle seat on an airplane is no longer the disaster that it used to be. ✈️

I'm closing in my surgery date for my Tummy Tuck. I've had all the pre-op work-up and it appears I have a green light! I'm nervous, excited, scared, and happy all at the same time!

No, I'm self pay (courtesy of BitCoin 😉).

This is good, I'm stealing this!

I agree - "why" is a key question. I expressed it this way in an earlier post:

It's normal to have questions and second thoughts. It's a big decision a life-altering experience. It's good to get first hand testimonials, but remember that we're all different, so someone else's experience may be different from yours.
Here are my answers to your questions:
1) How long will we struggle to drink Water? I've read that even after healing completely it may take 15 minutes to drink even half a teacup of Water without vommiting, is this true?
I struggled with drinking for the first two weeks. In week 3 the swelling subsided, the pain eased up and I was able to sip without difficulty. And from there it just got easier. Two and a half years out, I can now chug about two swallows of water, LOL.
2) I've seen that some people say they will almost always vomit after eating or drinking? Is it really that common?
I did not have this experience. I only really threw up once - the first and only time I overate. It happened because I didn't recognize what "full" felt like with my new tummy. After that, I knew when to stop.
3) I am on quite a few meds which my cardio says I need to start the day after the surgery. Will I be able to swallow the meds?
Swallowing meds is hard at first. In the early days I crushed those that could be crushed and managed to get down the two that couldn't. It gets easier as the swelling goes down.
4) Will we feel tired and impaired due to the limited food and water we can take? I'm on my pre-op liquid diet now and I just feel so weak and hungry, is this the constant feeling to expect after surgery?
No, it's totally different after surgery. The surgery leaves you with a much smaller stomach and it also affects the hormones that case hunger. Many of us have very little appetite in the early months and then appetite usually returns gradually. There's no guarantee that you'll NEVER be hungry, but constant hunger and weakness is uncommon, IMO.
5) I was made to understand from the doc that dumping isn't common for the gastric sleeve, yet I've read quite a number of accounts that say otherwise. Is this something common as well?
I've never experienced it - I've heard it's possible but much less common than for bypass patients.
6) I currently do not have GERD, but is this something I should expect to occur after the surgery? I've read some people can't even lie down without getting acid reflux.
I didn't have GERD before surgery and I still don't. The sleeve can make GERD worse for people who have it, so they are usually recommended to have the bypass instead. And it does happen that people who didn't have GERD develop it after getting the sleeve, but a lot of people (like me) don't.
I hope that helps. Don't be afraid to ask your surgeon these questions as well. You should be able to go into this with all your questions addressed (although actual outcomes aren't guaranteed). Best wishes!

Well said.
I also generally agree with your overall point @Creekimp13. Self-starvation is harmful, non-sustainable and counter-productive in the end. And my experience taught me that SPEED of loss is not as important as continuing to lose. It took me almost two years to reach goal and toward the end I was losing only about 1-2 pounds per month. But even that slow loss adds up over time and I got where I wanted to be!
But as @BayouTiger said, we really are all different. For instance, you said:
This may often be true, but I am currently in maintenance and eating about 1000 calories per day. I'm not restricting myself to that number, I eat about six mini-meals per day and plus small Snacks whenever I am hungry. And I am exactly maintaining on that intake (besides normal fluctuations). I track my food pretty carefully, so my calories counts tend to be pretty precise. Some days I may have what I call a "munchie" day and eat more - I don't fight it. Some days I'm uninterested in food for some reason and I'll eat less - I don't force it (besides trying to hit my Protein goal). But it averages to about 1000 calories per day. I'm short at 5'1", I've lost more than half my body weight, and I'm guessing I have a fairly low BMR.
So the assumption that everyone eating 1000 calories a day or less is crash dieting for quick results is not always valid. As @BayouTiger said, I know your heart is in the right place and someone out there probably needs to read what you wrote. But you can't lump everyone together.

That's so funny, it bothers me too! I have absolutely no idea why, but I never use it.

It's normal to have questions and second thoughts. It's a big decision a life-altering experience. It's good to get first hand testimonials, but remember that we're all different, so someone else's experience may be different from yours.
Here are my answers to your questions:
1) How long will we struggle to drink Water? I've read that even after healing completely it may take 15 minutes to drink even half a teacup of Water without vommiting, is this true?
I struggled with drinking for the first two weeks. In week 3 the swelling subsided, the pain eased up and I was able to sip without difficulty. And from there it just got easier. Two and a half years out, I can now chug about two swallows of water, LOL.
2) I've seen that some people say they will almost always vomit after eating or drinking? Is it really that common?
I did not have this experience. I only really threw up once - the first and only time I overate. It happened because I didn't recognize what "full" felt like with my new tummy. After that, I knew when to stop.
3) I am on quite a few meds which my cardio says I need to start the day after the surgery. Will I be able to swallow the meds?
Swallowing meds is hard at first. In the early days I crushed those that could be crushed and managed to get down the two that couldn't. It gets easier as the swelling goes down.
4) Will we feel tired and impaired due to the limited food and water we can take? I'm on my pre-op liquid diet now and I just feel so weak and hungry, is this the constant feeling to expect after surgery?
No, it's totally different after surgery. The surgery leaves you with a much smaller stomach and it also affects the hormones that case hunger. Many of us have very little appetite in the early months and then appetite usually returns gradually. There's no guarantee that you'll NEVER be hungry, but constant hunger and weakness is uncommon, IMO.
5) I was made to understand from the doc that dumping isn't common for the gastric sleeve, yet I've read quite a number of accounts that say otherwise. Is this something common as well?
I've never experienced it - I've heard it's possible but much less common than for bypass patients.
6) I currently do not have GERD, but is this something I should expect to occur after the surgery? I've read some people can't even lie down without getting acid reflux.
I didn't have GERD before surgery and I still don't. The sleeve can make GERD worse for people who have it, so they are usually recommended to have the bypass instead. And it does happen that people who didn't have GERD develop it after getting the sleeve, but a lot of people (like me) don't.
I hope that helps. Don't be afraid to ask your surgeon these questions as well. You should be able to go into this with all your questions addressed (although actual outcomes aren't guaranteed). Best wishes!

I agree - "why" is a key question. I expressed it this way in an earlier post:

I can relate to most of your fears. I was 54 when I had my surgery. I also worried that the surgery would not work for me, that I'd fail, that it would end up just like every other attempt to lose weight. But my outcome was a happy surprise.
Regarding cravings, the surgery did not eliminate, but seriously dampened the intensity of my cravings. It's much easier to tell myself "no". Actually since I am in maintenance now, it's more like "not right now". Because I do indulge in a treat now and then, since I'm no longer actively trying to lose. I know the surgery doesn't have that effect on everyone, but it did for me.
Surgery also completely defanged my hunger. Yeah, I do get hungry if I go too long without eating, but it's not that raging, insatiable hunger I had before surgery. I'm just aware that I need to eat, but I can delay it if I have to. It's a really different experience.
When it comes to loose skin, I have a LOT. I'm scheduled for plastic surgery this summer to have a Tummy Tuck since that's where most of my extra skin is. Here's a recent picture of me - when clothed, the loose skin is not noticeable. But there's enough of it that I have to buy a whole size bigger to accommodate the stomach! Obviously, there's some stuff I don't wear, but any 56 year-old can say that, LOL.
Honestly, I do look a little older since losing all the weight (my neck especially) but I wouldn't go back to being 250 pounds for anything. Only you can decide if surgery is right for you, but hopefully, our experiences will help.

I take one Norco a day (10/325) for chronic pain and I continued after my sleeve surgery. I take Senna when I get constipated. You and your doctor will have to figure out what's best for you, since we're all different. Best wishes!

I lost 15 pounds my first month. I don't know why your surgeon would be acting like 21 pounds in a month is disappointing. You're off to a good start!

I lost 15 pounds my first month. I don't know why your surgeon would be acting like 21 pounds in a month is disappointing. You're off to a good start!

I'm closing in my surgery date for my Tummy Tuck. I've had all the pre-op work-up and it appears I have a green light! I'm nervous, excited, scared, and happy all at the same time!

It’s been ongoing for quite a while, getting the full stomach sensation, yet my hunger has not caught up, getting that uncomfortable blotted feeling, it take a while to get the head fixed, after the stomach is fixed, a work in progress, this support group has opened to me that it’s another eating disorder that I have to address……Si

There are a lot of reasons why we eat, and satisfying physical hunger is only one of them. When you still feel the urge to eat after you are no longer hungry, ask yourself why? Your stomach can't hold anymore, so what is it you are looking for in more food? What's going on in your life? Are you looking for emotional comfort? Your tummy is full, so what part of you is it that wants more food?
I posted this a while back, when I was dealing with a craving. As others have said, therapy can help you dig into those questions. But until then, you can start by asking your "Why do I want more food? What is it going to do for me?" Sometimes you can identify the cause, as I did in the story below.

Yes, it's very common.There's a lot of swelling and inflammation in there right after surgery. It's basically a full-time job to get enough Water one sip at a time, to stay hydrated. The good news is, the swelling will go down and the pain will lessen and then fade away. I know it hurts, but keep taking tiny sips. Dehydration is the last thing you need right now. Hang in there, it gets better!

YAY!!! I'm 5'1" also - I started at 250 pounds and my current weight is about 122. I can relate to everything you've said! I'm really happy for you, enjoy the fruits of your success. There's a (smaller but real) learning curve to successful maintenance too, but I'm sure you've got this and this forum is here to provide all the advice you could ask for! Congratulations.

Yes, it's very common.There's a lot of swelling and inflammation in there right after surgery. It's basically a full-time job to get enough Water one sip at a time, to stay hydrated. The good news is, the swelling will go down and the pain will lessen and then fade away. I know it hurts, but keep taking tiny sips. Dehydration is the last thing you need right now. Hang in there, it gets better!

Yes, it's very common.There's a lot of swelling and inflammation in there right after surgery. It's basically a full-time job to get enough Water one sip at a time, to stay hydrated. The good news is, the swelling will go down and the pain will lessen and then fade away. I know it hurts, but keep taking tiny sips. Dehydration is the last thing you need right now. Hang in there, it gets better!

10 pounds a month is nothing to sneeze at. If you maintain that rate, you'll be at goal in no time!

My standard response when I was still losing was "We'll see". It worked pretty well - inoffensive but it kind of ended that line of discussion, LOL.