Six Weeks Post Abdominoplasty/brach/mastopexy/ etc
I started pushing in the exercise this week. I find that activity burns more than exercise, so I have been cleaning and organizing the house and shopping a lot although I still dare not buy any pants! I walk a mile or two a day, fast-- working my way back to three. I do a weight circuit at my gym, but no core muscle work, and light hand weights for now.
The purple patches at the elbows and hypertrophic scars are probably because I can't just lie around. I'm using CVS' store brand silicone gel strips and I think they're softening my worst scars a bit.
My elbows hurt but I have become used to it. The hole in my left hip is cleaning up well and is now the size of a pencil eraser-- it was silver dollar sized. There's a crunchy scab at the top of my pubis (where the incisions come together) but hopefully that'll fall off eventually. The sutures on the left of my mons bleed a little from time to time because it's where my underwear hits me. I have full range of motion in both arms but go easy when I raise them because they are still very tight.
I don't wear compression garments of any type. If I am going to be out late in the day I wear shapewear. I do my own version of a lymphatic massage with lotion every night at bedtime-- seems to help. I drink a lot and am getting in 1700 cals and over 170g of protein a day-- that and the exercise seem to be serving me well.
I'll have a check up next Monday. Between now and then, it'd be nice to lose more water!
"Oh sweet and sour Jesus, that is GOOD!" - Stephen Colbert Lap RNY 7/07-- Lap Gallbladder 5/08--
Emergency Bowel Repair 6/08 -Dr. Meilahn, Temple U. Upper and Lower Bleph/Lower Face Lift 12/08
Fraxel Repair 2/09-- Lower Bleph Re-Do 5/09 -Dr. Pontell, Media PA Mastopexy/Massive
Brachioplasty/ Extended Abdominoplasty (plus Mons Lift and Upper Leg lift) / Hernia Repair
6/24/09 ---Butt Lift and Lateral Thighplasty Scheduled 7/6/10 - Dr. Ivor Kaplan VA Beach
Total Cost: $33,500 Start wt: 368 RNY wt: 300 Goal wt: 150 Current wt: 148.2 BMI: 24.7
Renee
I
My DS SW/263 CW/136 GW/150
"Oh sweet and sour Jesus, that is GOOD!" - Stephen Colbert Lap RNY 7/07-- Lap Gallbladder 5/08--
Emergency Bowel Repair 6/08 -Dr. Meilahn, Temple U. Upper and Lower Bleph/Lower Face Lift 12/08
Fraxel Repair 2/09-- Lower Bleph Re-Do 5/09 -Dr. Pontell, Media PA Mastopexy/Massive
Brachioplasty/ Extended Abdominoplasty (plus Mons Lift and Upper Leg lift) / Hernia Repair
6/24/09 ---Butt Lift and Lateral Thighplasty Scheduled 7/6/10 - Dr. Ivor Kaplan VA Beach
Total Cost: $33,500 Start wt: 368 RNY wt: 300 Goal wt: 150 Current wt: 148.2 BMI: 24.7
The swelling is what literally drives me crazy... Last Wednesday my final drain was removed (after 23 days but who was counting.. LOL) and that day I was approved to not wear the binders I was given as long as I wore some kind of 'compression' garment. I find that if I'm not in my binder, because of the spandex in any of the compression garments I still swell a bit. So I've been wearing my binders when not in the pool (when I was lounging by the pool I purchased a torso compression garment to wear that is better and lighter than my binders)....
I just wish that after 4 weeks I'd start to see the scale moving more in the right direction. I'm still hovering at my surgery weight despite the fact that 11 lbs were removed. Since today is so humid I can only imagine how much water I'll retain today even though I'm drinking drinking drinking..... I can't wait for Fall.... :)
Lisa... HW/ 314.7 SW/ 280 CW/ 180ish
RNY ~ 01/25/2008 Terrence Clarke (Ellis Hosptial Bariatric Center).... Lower Body Lift with butt lift and upper thigh lift ~ 07/14/2009 Sanjiv Kayastha (K Plastic Surgery) -- LOVE IT !!!!
"Oh sweet and sour Jesus, that is GOOD!" - Stephen Colbert Lap RNY 7/07-- Lap Gallbladder 5/08--
Emergency Bowel Repair 6/08 -Dr. Meilahn, Temple U. Upper and Lower Bleph/Lower Face Lift 12/08
Fraxel Repair 2/09-- Lower Bleph Re-Do 5/09 -Dr. Pontell, Media PA Mastopexy/Massive
Brachioplasty/ Extended Abdominoplasty (plus Mons Lift and Upper Leg lift) / Hernia Repair
6/24/09 ---Butt Lift and Lateral Thighplasty Scheduled 7/6/10 - Dr. Ivor Kaplan VA Beach
Total Cost: $33,500 Start wt: 368 RNY wt: 300 Goal wt: 150 Current wt: 148.2 BMI: 24.7
"Oh sweet and sour Jesus, that is GOOD!" - Stephen Colbert Lap RNY 7/07-- Lap Gallbladder 5/08--
Emergency Bowel Repair 6/08 -Dr. Meilahn, Temple U. Upper and Lower Bleph/Lower Face Lift 12/08
Fraxel Repair 2/09-- Lower Bleph Re-Do 5/09 -Dr. Pontell, Media PA Mastopexy/Massive
Brachioplasty/ Extended Abdominoplasty (plus Mons Lift and Upper Leg lift) / Hernia Repair
6/24/09 ---Butt Lift and Lateral Thighplasty Scheduled 7/6/10 - Dr. Ivor Kaplan VA Beach
Total Cost: $33,500 Start wt: 368 RNY wt: 300 Goal wt: 150 Current wt: 148.2 BMI: 24.7
I've really enjoyed following your latest PS journey. I see that you are back to working out and wanted to ask you a question..
I am addicted to Pilates and wondered how long you think it will take for you to be able to do hardcore core work again? I was happy to see you are doing weights, but how long will you feel it necessary to avoid your core?
Thanks in advance!
Jillian
I do everything BUT abdominal exercise on my machines, at 6 weeks out. I had a rough hernia repair (they got mah belly button!) and a lot of pain in the belly so I am not about to tweak it just yet.
Walk a lot. It'll help move the water around. Anything that raises your heartrate or is weight bearing's not a great idea for a while.
"Oh sweet and sour Jesus, that is GOOD!" - Stephen Colbert Lap RNY 7/07-- Lap Gallbladder 5/08--
Emergency Bowel Repair 6/08 -Dr. Meilahn, Temple U. Upper and Lower Bleph/Lower Face Lift 12/08
Fraxel Repair 2/09-- Lower Bleph Re-Do 5/09 -Dr. Pontell, Media PA Mastopexy/Massive
Brachioplasty/ Extended Abdominoplasty (plus Mons Lift and Upper Leg lift) / Hernia Repair
6/24/09 ---Butt Lift and Lateral Thighplasty Scheduled 7/6/10 - Dr. Ivor Kaplan VA Beach
Total Cost: $33,500 Start wt: 368 RNY wt: 300 Goal wt: 150 Current wt: 148.2 BMI: 24.7
I am sure I will find my way, there are lot's of other types of exercises I can do to help with swelling and for posture, etc. I just think I might go into withdrawals without my Pilates for a while. At the same time, I don't see myself going back at it after six weeks. Time will tell, I suppose.
Thanks for the response, it's really been helpful for me to be able to follow your progress!
Jillian
