Tummy-Swelling,Hard,Numb-help

When I came home on 05-21 from TT with Muscle Repair my tummy was flat and when standing I could see my incision. Now I am swollen, tummy is hard and numb. Wearing my binder except while showering, keeping my legs elevated alot, drinking plenty of water and trying to stay as low in sodium as can.
I can't wait for my appointment on the 14th.
How do I know how much swolling is ok and when maybe there is too much swelling? When standing now I can not see my incision. Right above my incision line I have a hard bulge making me not be able to see incsion. Not to mention it is uncomfortable.
Is it normal with swelling that the belly gets really hard? I was sleeping in teh bed but last night moved back to the recliner. I find it to be more comfortable.
I will be 3 weeks out Thursday. As long as the swelling like this is normal then I can deal with it knowing it will eventually leave.
At this point out what did you do besides walk? Did you bend over to pick things up? I was told no restrictions except to not lift anything over 15lbs. I guess I am worried that I will stretch my muscles out before they are healed. I just want to stretch real good. Even getting up and down from bed pulls the stomach muscles. I don't even touch my stomach except to wa**** in shower. I just want to rub it but, it feels so weird to even touch it.  My thighs are swollen as well.
So, if anyone can give me some ideas as to what you did at this stage I would appreciate it. Maybe I am not doing enough. I just don't know but want relief from swelling.
I know I am being anal but please give me some ideas as to what is normal and what isn't.
Thanks,
Jenn

Hey Jenn,

Swelling is totally normal at this stage.  Most people will be done with major swelling after 2 or 3 months, some sooner and other like me...MUCH longer.  I'm almost 5 months out and still swollen!  I work out a lot, and know I swell from that, but I love working out, so I just deal.  I know it will all go away eventually, but it is VERY frustrating!!  I see many others on the boards who had surgery way after me and are already done with swelling.  It just isn't what my body is doing!  Hang in there, you are still early out...it will get better!!  My belly is still hard most of the time from swelling.  It sits right along my hip bones and the incision.  I have worn my garment religiously since surgery !!  So the garment helps...but it doesn't keep it totally away. 

You also should look into getting lymphatic massages.  They made such a huge difference...it really helped my swelling start to go down!!  My surgeon gives you a free one, and I paid for  6 additional ones...totally worth it! 

How do you go about finding someone who does the lymphatic massages?  Does it hurt? I am still so tender that I can't imagine someone touching my belly.
I am walking everyday by the lake. I am not back up to full speed but not slow either. I just feel like I felt so much better a week ago than I do this week.
Thanks for your reply! It helps to read others experiences to help us new ones out.
Jenn

I'm not sure about how to go about finding one.  I know the girl who does them for Dr. Lomonaco, is a lymphatic massage therapist during the day.  I will call and check for you and see if anyone can use her or not and let you know.  She is really good!!  Lymphatic massage is VERY gentle massage.  She uses very light touches and rubs along the incisions.  I was worried about it not feeling good too, but it really really does help and doesn't hurt at all!!

And yeah, the healing process for major surgery like this is so weird.  Some times you feel good and then you'll have a set back.  It seems to be like a roller coaster at times!!  It does get better and things start to settle down!  It's just the FINAL results take SOOOOOO long to finally show up, that it gets VERY frustrating!!  Hang in there!!

Thank you, I live in Iowa and not sure about there being any lymphatic massage therapist around me but will definitely check this out.
Jenn

Hehehehe...well duh on my part!!  I don't know why I thought you lived in Texas..LOL! 

On 4/22 I had an LBL that included a TT with muscle repair. I was told to not lift anything over 10 pounds. This past week is the first time that the swelling in my lower ab/mons area has gone down at all, until now it's been hard as a rock. I still have a hard area right behind the incision line but the rest is pretty much gone in the morning, but back by afternoon.

As soon as all my scabs were gone my PS said to start massaging my belly. He said he didn't care what I used - scar cream, cocoa butter, lotion - just that the massaging helps it to heal. I also had some muscle spasms start around week 3 from wearing compression garments so I quit wearing them and there's no difference (for me) if I wear them or not - same amount of swelling in the afternoon. My PS also said that massaging the skin over the tightening will get it desensitized so the stitches will stop causing spasms. It worked.

Everything you are experiencing is totally normal. You're doing everything right so just be patient. You can call different massage therapists and ask if they have one that is licensed in lymphatic massage. Thanks to a post on here I was able to find one through a chiropractor. I had to call about 8 in my area before I found one that had one that was licensed. My insurance covers 75 visits so I am having one every week. It makes a big difference and they are not painful one bit. I started when I was about 4 weeks out. I will be moving into a different type of massage that will work on massing my incisions to help break up the scar tissue although I've been massaging my own scars for a while now. The massages feel wonderful!

Melissa

Thanks for the encouraging words!! I seem to swell more everyday. So I do worry and in my mind I know it is probably all normal and I do go back to the Dr Monday so I can wait 4 days to hear it is all normal.
I live in such a small area that I am not sure I can find massage therapist that is licensed in lymphatic massage but I am going to start calling tomorrow. So you suggest calling chiropractor's offices? I am 3 weeks today so is that too soon or not? I just feel so miserable. I am walking not quite as fast but same distance each evening by the lake as before surgery. It is 3 miles but of course it is taking a little longer. LOL.
I had my daughter take pics today but have not put them on profile yet.
I have read the posts where people can't wear their clothes. I am in the same boat. I do not want to go out and buy bigger clothes for the summer. This is not how I planned this to be. haha
I know it takes time but I need any ideas to help reduce swelling. I am truly afraid that in another 3 weeks I will still be this swollen or more and not fit into my dress for my son's wedding.
Thanks again for the support! It is greatly appreciated.
Jenn

I started at 4 weeks and was fine. They say you get the most benefit when you are early out from surgery so you should be fine. Just ask your dr if it's okay. I didn't even want to walk 1 mile much less 3 by 3 weeks out. I just didn't have the energy. Maybe the TT doesn't take as much out as a LBL. I really didn't get back to exercising until I was 2 months out. I bounced back quicker with this last round of PS so I was able to exercise sooner. You just have to listen to your body and not push yourself too soon. I took 6 weeks off for my LBL but had to buy smaller clothes by 5 weeks out so I would have something to wear back to work. You should be able to get back to your old clothes soon.