40 Y/o Woman, One Child, Several Abdominal Surgeries, Tummy Not Responding to Diet and Exercise - Plano, TX

So, to update...last Monday was Day 5 and the pain started. It started as stabbing pain, then searing pain then just PAIN PAIN PAIN like when you burn your hand on the stove but the pain is your whole abdomen. At first Advil helped, then it didn't. The pain just got worse and worse and worse over the course of Monday and Tuesday. The only time I was not suffering was when I had 3 ice packs on me. I had the ice packs on me at all times--sleeping, driving, at the office, etc. Any moment without a fresh ice pack was very painful.

Then on Wednesday morning, day 7, the ice stopped relieving the pain so I went back to Ideal Image and they called in a prescription for Gabapentin. The Gabapentin worked by Wednesday night and I was aware pain was happening but I was no longer debilitated by it. I was able to resume my regular activities and even did another 25 mile bike ride on Friday.

On Saturday, day 10 since the procedure, I forgot to take the Gabapentin and I was very busy all day, but I felt no pain. On Sunday, I had no pain and went for another 25 mile bike ride and even made good time/fast pace.

Today is Monday, day 12 since the procedure. I haven't taken any pain medication since Friday and I have no pain. I am a little sore but its nothing compared to the pain last week. AND...I am 2 pounds lighter than the day of the procedure AND...I haven't measured yet but 4 people told me today I look thinner (they are assuming its only due to cycling and diet--ha!) My clothes are fitting looser and I can see a difference in the mirror.

I'm very glad the pain is gone and I'm saving the rest of the Gabapentin in case I do more cool sculpting in the future. To anyone who gets the debilitating pain after this procedure: don't be stoic and wait 48 hours to get Gabapentin, go get a prescription as soon as the pain starts. Narcotic and OTC pain meds will not touch the bad pain if you are unlucky enough to experience it.

I am 5'8" and I wear a size M everywhere except my tummy, where I wear an L or XL. I've changed my eating habits, working with a physician and nutritionist over the past 2 years. I exercise and lift weights 3 to 5 times/week. The rest of me is strong and toned and the tummy is just, ugh...

I have been going to Ideal Image for laser hair removal for 6 months and I like the staff and feel comfortable with them. I researched cool sculpting for several months and then signed up for 5 treatments to my tummy when they had a special.
I had the treatments done last Wednesday, all on my tummy. They did 4 treatments like a diamond shape around my belly button, then one treatment across the middle where a waistband would lie. It took 5.5 hours, 1 hour per treatment area then a few minutes for massage of the 'butter stick' of each treated area. It was a long day.

The treatments hurt initially for the first few minutes and then I was just bored. I took a xanax when I first got there so I slept during most of the first 2 treatments, then played on my phone or responded to emails during the last 3 treatments. The massaging of the frozen flesh did not hurt as much to me as the initial suck and grab did. In fact the pain of the suck and grab for the 4th treatment was so intense I was afraid I would throw up, but the pain went away and then I was better. I left Ideal Image and went home, took 2 tylenol and then slept for 3 hours afterwards. I got up, went out to dinner with my family, felt ok, then went home and went to bed. I did not feel pain physically that day (I was mentally exhausted b/c I was anxious about how painful the treatment might be).

Thursday I woke up with no pain. I put on spanx and went to the office. My tummy seemed bigger than usual and i felt very vulnerable. I had no pain on Thursday.

Friday I woke up with no pain. I put on spanx and went to the office. My tummy was definitely bigger than usual. I felt pretty good though so after work i went for a 25 mile bike ride with no problems and I actually made pretty good time/cycling pace.

Saturday still no pain, just some numbness. I went to a pool party during the day but did not get in the pool as I felt bloated/too big to take off my swimsuit coverup. Saturday night I went to a play in the park and I was able to help carry the chairs and cooler with no problem or pain. I had no pain on Saturday.

Sunday I woke up not in pain but very tired. I made breakfast then took a morning nap. Sunday afternoon I went to Costco and was able to lift the heavy items but was careful about it. Sunday evening I went swimming with my family. I had no pain on Sunday.

Today is Monday so it is day 5 since the treatments. I woke up at 2am in PAIN. I got up, took 2 advil, then had fitful sleep til I got up again at 6am and took 3 advil. The pain was gone by 6:30 so I got dressed (no spanx) and went to the office. At 9:45 the pain started to return so I took 3 more advil and it went away. The pain feels like being stabbed with a knife--it is sharp, sudden and strong. Thank God advil makes it go away. Most of the pain is on my upper abdomen areas and it occurs in a line along where the flesh was treated. I think much of my lower abdomen is permanently numb after several abdominal surgeries. I will post updates and photos later. I do not regret doing this but I know I am in the painful part of the process right now.