I am just about a year out (on the 12th of August I think). I had posted on a couple of threads that lately I had gained 5 pounds and that I felt like I was able to eat WAYYY too much. I was planning a trip down to TJ to visit my doctor and get a contrast xray of my sleeve in a week or two.

About 3 months ago I started experiencing some really bad nerve pains in my left arm, one day I woke up with my arm spasming from shoulder to wrist and it turns out I had a herniated disc in my c-spine. The doctor prescribed vicodin for the pain and ibuprofen for the inflamation. It took about 2 months for the arm to feel well enough that tylenol and the ibuprofen alone handled the pain. So I stopped taking the vicodin and HOLY HELL if my body didn't flip out on me. I realized that while I didn't abuse the vicodin and I didn't get a high from the vicodin that my body was in fact experiencing withdraws from not having it. It was the middle of the night and I was having a horrible panic attack and I woke up with my arms flailing and my mind racing and sweating like a pig. I realized immediately that I was having DT's. I had an appt the next day so I popped a half a vicodin and went to sleep about a half hour later and felt fine.

I decided because it was going to be physically difficult and emotionally draining to come off them that I was going to wait until after a couple of family trips we had planned. So I continued to use them (not in excess) for the following 3 weeks. Last week I had a huge panic attack, so bad that I called my mother-in-law who lives next door (we live on a farm) to come over because my hubby was not home. I was freaked out because I thought I was having a reaction to the vicodin. Anyways long story made a bit shorter, I stopped taking them that night. I took some anti anxiety drugs to counteract the anxiety I was having and the withdraws at night and the first 5 nights were HELL. I really have a newfound respect for anyone who has kicked an addiction habit. My mother, mother-in-law and hubby were rocks and kept me feeling safe, secure and loved.

It has been 11 days and I don't feel the withdraws anymore. My head is clearer then it has been in 3 months. I have a little bit of depression going on which I read is normal after coming off opiates but I am getting out and staying busy and getting plenty of sunshine.

Here is the kicker after the 2nd day I realized my hunger had gone back to sleeve norm and I lost 6 pounds over the course of the first 7 days. After reading up more on side effects of Vicodin weight gain is one of the most prevalant. I guess it sort of dulls your sense you dont recognize you are full and it causes you to crave a lot of foods and retain a lot of Water. All-in-all it just is hell for losing weight.

So I don't know if anyone suffers from some sort of chronic pain that they have to take a painkiller like vicodin but keep in mind if you are having a stall or changes in weight if you start taking the meds that it could be because of them that things are not moving along.

Thanks for letting me ramble

Hey girlie! Good to hear from you! I was on pain killers for ankle surgery in 03 and straight got addicted to them as in when I stopped taking them I would go through shakes and sweats and nausea. I stopped taking them but it sure does make you realize a little of what an addict goes through. I gained quite a bit of weight drurring that time too. Keep in touch we miss you!

Wow Southern I just looked at your ticker. You are on a roll! So awesome, you are gonna pass me up real soon! YAYAYAY.

Who knew? Welcome to the other side of that nightmare!! So glad you found the root cause and worked through it. WAY TO GO!

I am so glad you posted this. I've been beating myself up because I haven't lost the last 2 months. Have been taking vicoden and tylenol / alleve for a broken wrist. Yes, I know lack of exercise didn't help - but knowing that there is possibly a chemical reaction as well.... THANK YOU!

Congrats on getiing through the withdrawal and recovery from opiates! That class of drugs is such a blessing and a curse. Been there, done that (pre-sleeve - recovering from shingles in the eye.) Didn't realize it played heck with weight loss - good to know!

Best of luck to you on the rest of your sleee journey.