2 Important Q's Need Your Help!?!?

Couple Q's I need answers to? 

1) Has anyone suffered from a Plugged up Ear after Surgery?  I had Surgery on Tuesday, came home yesterday and on the way home my Left Ear Plugged up.  I've tried almost everything to Un-plug it.  Sudafed, Ear Wax Cleaner, Popping my jaw, holding my nose and blowing, but it won't un-plug, starting to go {{{crazy}}}!!!

2) I was told I'm suppose to consume a Gallon of Water a day!  How is this even near possible?  I'm having a hard time downing two 20oz bottles, and half of that comes back up when I Burp, is this normal?

Thanks For Your

Rocko~~

Hey Rocko - I'm 3 weeks post-op, and have no idea about the plugged up ear thing, but sounds like a pain. I had RNY, so not sure if it's different for lap-band, but I was only allowed 2 oz of water per hour on days 3 and 4 post-op, then that was upped to 6 oz or more per hour on day 7.   I'm now getting approx 120 oz per day, but my orders are to get "at least 64 oz per day" (and, that is pretty consistent with everything else I've read. Anyway, best of luck with the ear thing- that sucks......... Chuck

Hey Rocko, I get that same ear thing when I fly, sometimes it lasts for days. I hate it and still don't know what causes it or how to fix it. I've never heard of anyone having that problem after surgery.  I'm an RNYer, so I malabsorb 1/3 of what I drink and I'm still only required to drink 64 oz. It's tough to drink a lot right after surgery. It will get easier down the road. Right now, I can drink 32 oz. in about 15 minutes. Give your stomach a chance to heal and the water intake will get better. The LapBand and RNY surgeries are different, but the concepts are similar. The doc makes the food holding part of the stomach smaller, so we'll eat less, then makes the exit from the stomach smaller to hold the food in so you'll feel full longer. The difference is bander's food leaves their new pouch and dumps into the rest of the stomach, RNYers food leaves the pouch, and goes straight to the lower two thirds of their intestines, having "bypassed" the lower stomach. The swelling in your stomach is more than likely why you're having trouble with water intake. Perfectly normal. No worries.  Ronnie

The ear? Not a clue. Sorry. Run down to the local Wally Word and get a Bubba Keg or three. Fill one as soon as you get mobile in the morning, and keep it with you. Drain it twice during the day, and you have your water requirement handled, at least for an RNYer. I have one on my desk at work, and anher for when I'm home.

hey Rocko,

try buying some "Swim Ear". we use it for our dogs when they swim. it heats up the ear and melts what's in there. it always works. as for the water, i hate drinking water. my doc said that tea is a substitute. so maybe you could try that. i drink hot tea all day and night. i'll drink water when i'm on the job site but otherwise it's tea all the time. of course sugar free and no caffine!

Hey Rocko, if there is a Whole Foods or some natural food store near you, have your wife or a friend go and get you something called an ear wax candle.  Now this might be the strangest thing you ever heard and I thought so too at first.  Anyway, the crux of this is there is this big long wax candle.  It looks like a huge doobie.  But is shaped like a cone.  You cut a whole through a paper plate, lay down on your side, stick the tight narrow end of the candle in your ear and then you light the other end of the candle.  The plate is there to catch the ashes.  It is a wierd sensation but the flame heats up the ear way in your ear and any build up.  At the same time it creates a vaccuum and sucks the ear wax out of your ears.  It's a strange sensation because you hear the crackling of the candle like a fireplace because it is focused on your ear like a mini megaphone.  But it works.  Clears up the ears, sinuses, in about 5-10 minutes.   Trust me I'm not some big Whole Foods fan (I probably never would have been on the OH board if I was before), but this works. Hope you feel better. Greg PS.  Get those Flintstones Complete Chewable Vitamins and take one twice a day.  Much cheaper than the prescription ones and taste a lot better. The water is simply drinking like ever few minutes.  A gallon will be tough though.  I'm RNY and lucky I get 64-70 in a day now at 5 months.

Man, you are having a great ride so far,.... Water was 1-2 oz per 5 mins, so 6 oz 30 mins at first. (weeks 1and/or 2) I count 64 oz of water a day as 4 bottles of 16 oz water.  That keeps things in perspective for me. If water is coming back up on you, when you drink it all alone and not with food, your band could be too tight or you have much swelling still.  I would think either should warrant a call to the doctor to confirm if you should be seen. Don't wait till you get so stinkin weak your wife has to haul your butt in the meat wagon. Glad you're home already and feeling well enough to communicate.  Thatis a good thing.  Most just want to sleep.