Wish I'd thought of this sooner ... Swelling Resolved.
on 2/17/10 12:25 am - Wiesbaden, Germany
I think my flexees are fairly snug and I can still fell the swelling coming on a bad day. Usually I can tell when the it starts feeling really tight and uncomfortable. Of course on those days, I don't dare take it off because then I'll feel like a whale. I might try the ones you are using to see how it feels. I'm afraid if I go any smaller I won't be able to breathe!! LOL
on 2/17/10 4:02 am
It seems you've resolved some of the problems from the swelling but not the swelling itself when you wear a compression garment. Have you considered lowering your daily sodium intake significantly for a few days to see it that is part of the problem? Most processed food is very high in sodium such as Sodium Chloride (table salt) and Mono Sodium Glutamate (MSG) etc. Eating non-processed food that you cooked at home without any salt and adding just a light sprinkle at the table for a few days may significantly reduce the swelling. I hope it helps you.
Skylar
Welcome to this forum!
Many plastic procedures produce what is commonly referred to as "Swell Hell" -- long-standing and uncomfortable swelling of local tissues during healing ** -- and it's a miserable but common side-affect of these surgeries. It has little to do with sodium intake (unfortunately) and a great deal to do with compression garments (yay) and activity level (boo).
For example, I have low BP and low sodium intake. But I happen to have swelling six months post-op, and I'm expecting it to go about a year. Individual "mileage" varies tremendously on the swelling thing.
** I leave it to someone else to come up with a great definition or explanation of "swell hell"