Trying to go without compression today UPDATE :(

And I already feel the difference. Sigh. I had my TT/lipo on December 30. Then I had the infection surgery on Feb 1. So three months after the 2nd surgery and I am still swelling. Blech. I am going to see what its like after an entire day.

*** It was an exercise in futility. I am swollen and uncomfortable and my jeans went from being baggy in the wait to tight. :( Now my garment isn't even baggy.

I took my garment off last night to sleep...just needed a break.� Gained another pound of fluid and feel it all in my feet....Can't wait to be fully healed.

I shouldn't complain too much....I'm only 6 weeks out and swelling at this point is normal.� Hope that in 4 weeks from now I'm done with it!� Got things to do, people to see, places to go...LOL

Hope you are feeling better soon too.

Arrrghhh. I know I like wearing my garment and I'm also 6 weeks out on Tuesday and I'm ssoooooo tired of not being healed! I am wearing the silicon strips on most places.... but the gelzone wrap makes me so hot, it's like being in a sauna!

I know my surgeon's office said to wean off the garment but I can't yet! 

I also wanted to talk to you about your arms revision. It's now where the swelling has gone down in my arms and they are drooping again. I'm not super happy about that but it seems like he did as much as he did. Do you think that some of us just have too much to make it a full go the first time? I really don't want to do arms again but this sucks to have hanging skin still especially since my biceps really look defined.

Do you still have any spots that have not healed over? I have one on the t junction where the anchor is for my breast and it's wider than a quarter and not at all healed, it looks pretty awful. It was scabbing over, I thought, but about 2 weeks ago it opened up and has not been doing well. My armpit is finally almost healed on the left side - all my troubles have been on the dang left! The right has healed up beautifully.

I know compression garments are not comfortable and are a pain in the @$$ but they do a good job with keeping swelling down and with helping the skin to heal/re-attach to the tissue in a nice way...so I tough it out and were my compression for at least 3 months post-op.  All of my incisions are thin and flat.  Without the compression the skin can stretch a little and that causes wider incisions.

So far as the arms........I think a really good surgeon gets it all the first time.  I've seen MANY people who had really big arms and now have tiny ones. 
The arms are a tough procedure for the surgeons....cut too much you back the arms too tight and healing is a problem.  Do you know Shari?  I think here ID is Jupiter6....her surgeon did a spectacular job on her arms.

Here's the tricky part in all this.....any one surgeon cannot be an expert in all areas.  When I first had my breast reduction/lift done the surgeon happen to be a specialist in breast reconstruction.  Let me tell you, he did an AMAZING job.   My current surgeon does an excellent job on many areas but there is one I think he is weakest in but not bad.

I'm very fortunate that all of my incisions closed and stayed closed.  I had no breakdown of the incisions.  I had one issue on my butt cheek (not the incision area), which has taken forever to heal but I'm finally nearing the finish line....I don't have to pack it anymore.

If the swelling would totally end I'd be the happiest camper but I really don't have any major complaints.

Thanks. I have lost enough and have had fluid go down enough that I need new sizes in compression so I am trying not to go buy any. We'll see. I've had my Veronique and my stage 2 Marena and Flexies. I might need to buy new flexies. I don't know.

Glad you are doing well.

Ahhh... no compression garments, what a nice thought. I can't wait for that day! Wishing you the best on your garment-free endevour. I'll be praying for you for total healing and no more swelling. God bless you Leah.

Hi Leah,

I know exactly how you feel.  I'm still wearing my compression garmets and am almost 5 months out.  My swelling isnt very bad at all when I have it on, but when I take it off I feel uncomfortable and swell.  If I force myself, I can go about 3/4 day without wearing it, but inevitably always want to put it back on.  I've been trying to sleep without it and then start my day without it but carry it with me to work and change mid-day. UGH.  Longing for the day when I'll feel okay without this damn thing ;) 

Hope you're doing well.

Michelle  

Just love the new avatar....you coming back to Agha?

I'm shy of 4 months out and have stopped wearing my compression garment - BUT I did go to Kohls and buy a 1 piece spanx type of garment - and it definitely is better.  My compression garment was getting too big and I couldn't tell the difference. 

I guess I thought I didn't need it anymore and have went without it for a week, and now I'm wondering why my swelling has increased in the past week - DUH!!

I was wearing my compression , and now this one, only at night and not during the day, and that seemed to be working for me. Been doing that for a couple of months now.  I'm going to start wearing it at night again and see if that makes a difference.

Good luck with weaning yourself out of it!
 

 

I just got permission to go without my surgical compression garment two days ago; yesterday was my first day and I was fine until dinner....then, it seemed to happen so FAST. So today I am wearing what I call a transitional garment; not as stiff as the surgical one but still offers support, especially in the lower TT area.

Ugh...I know I'm only a few weeks out but I hate wearing the damn thing!!

Good luck to all who are trying to stay sane in these sausage casings!!