33 Year Old with a Big Ole Belly! -Kansas City, KS

Updated pictures!

So a lovely little lady actually reads my review and stuff and asked for an update. So in the past week (3 weeks post op roughly) I noticed some of the "rubber band snapping" feelings as the nerve endings were healing but all-in-all no pain. The swelling is gradually going down, and as it is I'm actually looking uneven (bear with me here).

As you can see in my Day 17 post op pics I just looked bloated. Well now that a lot of the general swelling is going down it's more obvious the specific areas that are lumpy with fluid. I had a bulge about the size of a small baseball in my lower ab area for a few days that was crazy looking! I was a little bummed but kept telling myself to be patient.

I blamed the fact that I took too much advantage of the "you only HAVE to wear your garment 12 hours a day" after my 1 week post op visit. So I've been alternating my stage 1 and stage 2 garments every other day (stage 2 is still pretty tight) and not wearing it at all when I sleep.

Yesterday was pretty swollen at work, had the stage 2 on and was really uncomfortable. When I got home, I changed into my stage 1 and slept in it and today was SO much better. I'm really pleased with how I'm doing. Down about an inch in my waist and 3 inches in my hips.

I will also say I've been slacking on my water intake and I'm making an effort to keep that up along with walking. I also checked out some self lymphatic massage videos on YouTube and have been doing that every few nights or so. I think it does help! Will post pics when I haven't just eaten dinner :P

Also, I was finally able to shave my legs the other day (gross I know) but since my surgery it hurt to much to bend over in the shower. I was so darn happy, it's the little things ya know!

K, so I know I've been neglecting to update but I'm around to it now :) Let me back up to where I left off: Around day 6 I started getting really swollen. My abs felt like concrete. It wasn't painful, just uncomfortable. I couldn't button my pants or get my shoes on! When I went in for my 1 week post op my nurse said it's normal because your swelling peaks days 7-10. She said I was healing great and encouraged me to keep massaging and walking.

We ordered my 2nd stage garment which I got a couple days ago. I really don't like it, it cuts at my legs and boobs. I'm going to try it after I get smaller. For now I'm staying in my stage 1. She said I only need to wear it 12 hrs a day for 2 months but the more you wear it the better. I've slept 2 nights without it, I wouldn't recommend it. Being uneven, lumpy and swollen without it does not make for a good night's sleep. Sometimes I take it off just to scratch my skin and take a break from it but I always feel better with it on.

I haven't had to take anything for the pain since day 7. I occasionally take some ibuprofen to help with the swelling. Sometimes I wake up and I'm totally flat, other days (like today) I'm really swollen. Try not to be discouraged, it will fluctuate based on your activity level, salt intake, water intake and just how your body is healing. I'm flatter on my waist but they are still really hard. My abdomen is swollen out but softer. Every day is different.

All around I'm feeling good! Pants are still a problem, since my stomach is so hard from the swelling it's hard to button things. I try to wear stretchy stuff or just zip but not button.

Incisions have been closed since last week, you'll be able to see them in my pictures I'm going to put up. Keep in mind when looking at today's pics, I'm more swollen then I have been in over a week. This could be because I finished up my Arnica on Saturday. I'll put more up when I'm having a good tummy day :)

Don't forget to massage! I cannot stress this enough. My nurse said not only does it "tell" the blood to come in and take the lymphatic fluid away it also helps the nerve endings that have been damaged to learn what touch feels like. If you don't stimulate those nerve endings, even the lightest touch could feel like pain. So massage every day, as hard as you can without doing too much, you don't want to re-injure the area!