Post Op Peeves

[elindoll88 92]

I've been fortunate enough not to experience the more usual difficulties. I've had no pain or nausea. Getting Water down is pretty easy and I'm happy on day 4 of purees.

But my elbow is killing me. Woke up Tuesday morning and it hurt. It hasn't really gotten any better and I'm having a lot of trouble using that arm. Had to brush my teeth with the other hand, which was not easy. I think i strained it by using it for 2 weeks straight to push myself up to get out of bed. Blood clot seems doubtful as the only symptom- pain- goes away when I'm resting.

I also want to ask if anyone else has problems getting their ears to pop. I was out shopping today and all I could hear was my own breathing echoing inside my head. Talked to a cashier and the popping kept going off and on from normal to the terrible echo and back again. It was just maddening!

[CAsleeve 56]

Hello neighbor..well, in the Bay Area any way!

Not sure what the elbow and ear issues you are experiencing are - which seem rather strange, but...congrats on your smooth sailing as far as the sleeve is going. Yeah!

Best of luck with the healing of your maddening issues. :-)

One Love.

[elindoll88 92]

Thanks! I actually ended up in the ER on Saturday. Lost use of my arm Friday and woke up crying from pain in the middle of the night. Fainted Saturday morning when I stood up to walk from the kitchen to the living room.

They think bursitis in the elbow from constantly using it to help myself sit up in bed. I'm putting ice on it; some of the pain is going away and I'm slowly regaining use of the arm.

I think the ear thing might be due to thirst. I've been noticing that it happens when I'm thirsty. Gotta get used to carrying a Water bottle around all the time!

[skane10 64]

Elindoll I'm glad you went to the ER. I have had the ear issue as well I can hear myself talking to people but I feel like my head is under Water. I just attributed it to pollens and cotton trees since I live near Denver. Perhaps I need to focus on more water. It is something I struggle with.

[elindoll88 92]

I had the ear thing in the ER for a little while that morning, but it went away soon after I started drinking ice Water. Had it for a few minutes this afternoon when I walked during my post meal water free hour. I do get it even when I walk and sip water at the same time. I'm definitely going to start a record of what I'm doing and how thirsty I am when it happens.

[skane10 64]

Let me know. This is all very interesting.

[SMP1126 76]

I've had that ear thing too, exactly as you described it. But I've been having it since well BEFORE surgery! Since moving to Texas 2 years ago, I've developed allergies and I attribute the ear issues to that more so than anything to do with drinking. It sometimes drives me crazy but it also seems to clear up as the day goes on. Is that the same with you guys?

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[msvickee 212]

I've had that ear thing too' date=' exactly as you described it. But I've been having it since well BEFORE surgery! Since moving to Texas 2 years ago, I've developed allergies and I attribute the ear issues to that more so than anything to do with drinking. It sometimes drives me crazy but it also seems to clear up as the day goes on. Is that the same with you guys?

Sent from my iPhone using VST[/quote']

I, too, have the ear issue. It was pretty bad Friday and Saturday and subsided Sunday. I think mine is allergy related too AND I live in Texas.

[Bubbaloo10 55]

I've got it too and I thought I was the only one. I've been told it happens when I don't get enough liquids in. There may be some truth to it, but once I get it, it doesn't go away right away when I drink liquids. Sometimes lasts a few hours after. Irritating!!

[Wheetsin 714]

Bursitis can be really, really weird. I got it as a teenager in my elbow. It would only hurt at certain times of the day, so no one thought it was bursitis at first and they kept thinking I was making it up. When it didn't hurt, it was 100% normal and when it did, it was nearly unusable and truly agonizing. Then later the same day, I'd feel fine. It took about 3 weeks for mine to resolve. If you felt fine at night or when not using it, they may not be 100% on the diagnosis but it is possible (as I can attest).

The ear thing - near & dear to my heart. A few things can cause it. Do you flush/irrigate your ears? If you don't, you might want to. Wax can build up and basically close things up from the outside. I get this a lot, and have had to regularly flush my ears since I was about 9. Usually if my hearing comes and goes either during the night, or randomly (with no other symptoms like a clicking/popping sound), it's wax.

Have you had a cold lately, significant congestion, or a "tickling" in your ears (or other signs of drainage)? Fall of last year, following a long string of pretty bad illnesses, I ended up losing my hearing for about 7 weeks. Then over the course of about 4 more weeks it gradually came back. (I'll save the long story of what was wrong and gory details). Really had to just wait it out.

If it is related to allergies, see if you can get an Rx for a nasal steroid inhaler (Nasonex, Flonase, etc.) They can help your eustachean tubes keep the pressure in your ear regulated. I SCUBA and have a hard time with ear pressure (my ears aren't quite normally developed) problems. Equalizing is a lot of work for me. When I was actively diving I'd start Nasonex about 2 days before a dive trip, through it, and for about 2 days after and it significantly recuded problems.

Regular OTC decongestants can help too (though the really good ones aren't around any longer, damn meth labs taking away all the good drugs!), as can NSAIDS.

HTH