Three Weeks Post-Op... New Pictures - Paris, France

I'm now three weeks out - days 10 to 20 were SOOOOO hard... I felt swollen and horrible... I could press on the right side of my belly and feel a sloshing on the left side... just all this liquid. I still have that, but it feels better. I've been more active - going for 40-minute walks (strolls), even tried a couple of plié-style leg exercises... being careful not to do anything that involves my stomach.



Last night I felt like I wanted to sleep without my girdle and that was a huge mistake... my stomach felt tight and I kept waking up (some personal things were keeping me up as well) - and finally in the middle of the night put it back and and felt a lot better. I thought sleeping commando would feel nice, but it's much better with the garment. Went out for New Year's Eve in a lovely jersey wrap dress that I bought last year and never wore (Hugo Boss - a little more than I would want to spend and I kicked myself after buying it because I just didn't like my stomach in it and having that money just sitting in the closet untouched)... so it felt REALLY good to wear it! And feel pretty good in it. I still felt swollen and "poochy", but I think I'm my own worst critic.

Nothing really major to report... just trying to be patient with the swelling...finally sleeping relatively well and comfortably... not waking up at 5am anymore... but VERY VERY anxious to get back to exercising ... my legs and butt feel flabby and LARGER... ugh... I feel like I have some swelling in my legs because things leave an imprint and stay for a long time... but in general, my body is total jello anyway... over the last few months my workouts dwindled to nothing and I just want to get back to working out and toning up. My weight is down about four pounds since the surgery, which is pretty much the fat/skin/etc that was removed... so with all the food I've been eating and the swelling, I feel pretty good about that...that I haven't gained.

Oh, and just more about the swelling... I'm going to try lymphatic brushing and dandelion (in French, "dent-de-lion" or "teeth of the lion) and I've been eating fresh pineapple for the last few days as well as keeping my water intake at about 1.5 liters (min) per day. I think this is helping and am curious to see if the brushing does as well.

Now at Day 10 PO - My stomach feels rounder than a couple of days after the surgery... my clothes feel snug (even though there is more room in the stomach area). I think that when I was reading reviews before my surgery, I was so focused on the potential pain, scars, getting back on your feet part that I neglected to pay attention to the comments on swelling, etc. I just kind of expected that suddenly all my clothes would be hanging off of me!

My result still looks great but I'm just feeling bloated and I haven't done a great job of avoiding salty foods (my appetite can be a little crazy, as well!) Had a big xmas dinner last night - not even really as much as I might have ordinarily eaten (no dessert) but my stomach felt SO TIGHT during the 15 minute walk home and I woke up in the middle of the night completely thirsty...

I'm lucky I have no pain - able to move, walk around (didn't have muscle repair), so that is a blessing. the weather has been quite mild for December so I've tried to do a 30-min stroll around the neighborhood (I live at the base of Sacré-Cœur, it includes some nice long sets of stairs). Spent the rest of my time either sitting in front of the computer (bad for swelling, I know) or on my back on the couch, knees bent, with my legs up on pillow (better for swelling). Watching TONS of TV - thank goodness for Netflix!

I just want to be back exercising - my legs are totally jigglly elephant thighs - even before the surgery I had big legs but I was doing butt/leg workouts (Your Best Butt Fast is one of my FAVORITES) - so things were firmer... now I'm just a big bowl of jello.

I had my bandages off a few days ago and now have Steri-strips. Wearing my compression garment every day - I have a slightly bigger one that I wear at night (I was sized incorrectly before the surgery and now have the same garment in two sizes) and my smaller one I wear during the day.

Nothing really mindblowing to report... just feeling disappointed with the swelling. Posted two new pictures - not the best, but gotta say thanks to my poor friend / official tummy photographer for being a trooper! :)

Happy Christmas and Happy Healing, ladies!