45 Yo 3 Kids, Tummy Tuck, Lipo, Breast Fat Transfer

Here are 4 week post op pics. Still more swelling on Left hip. The back pain seems to have finally subsided since my first outdoor walk a couple days ago. I can finally fully stand up straight. Before then, I could still feel tightness from internal and external stitches. My abdomen still has numbness especially in lower areas near incision. Most discomfort comes from the pressure I still feel from TT swelling and still having shortness of breath starting around 4-5pm.

Had a total of 4 lymphatic massages so far.
Each one targeting different areas. I must say after each one I feel much better as the swelling has been very difficult to handle prior to today. On week three I was in the last rung of compression garmet and I started to use a back brace with adjustable straps that cinches the waist tighter and that has given me the most relief. I do feel better right after the massages but by the end of the day the swelling increases again and I’m short of breath. Still hard to get a good nights sleep. I’m wondering if it’s too late to start taking arnica. Yesterday I walked the dog for the first time and even though it was slow and difficult to fully walk upright we did 1. 5 miles.
The walk did seem to help a lot so today I did 5 miles! I feel ok but still have a lot of swelling again this evening. The breasts are looking better and perkier since the fat transfer. I am dying to know when this swelling From TT will subside.

POD 20. Back pain is still around and I can’t fully stand up straight. By mid day at work I am exhausted and the back pain and increased swelling really kicks in. Still on the Norco at night to help me sleep they the pain for 4 hours before the pain wakes me up. I don’t know if this is a good thing but when I can’t go back to sleep I’ve been using my knockoff hypervolt on low applying light to medium pressure using wavelike motions to help facilitate fluid thru lymphatic system. It seems to make me feel better the next morning. This seems to especially help on the groin area where it’s really swollen and firm. Sitting at work got even 30 minutes seems to really increase the swelling. And getting up and trying to straighten my back gets harder as my shift gets longer. It is really hard to get thru work even being on light duty as a nurse. I can’t wait for my first Lymphatic massage appointment in a few days. The swelling at work makes me short of breath with increased work of breathing. The only thing I can do to relieve it is lie on my back and try and stretch out as much as possible. Not super easy to do while at work. I hope week 4 will be better because this currently sucks.