swell hell and more recovery questions

hi gang, 

I know it's a sign of healing but how long does the itching last???

And what has been your experience with swelling thighs post - TT/LBL ???

Thanks!
Carolyn

I'm six weeks out and the itching over the last week has FINALLY calmed down. My incisions are looking great and healing super nice.

Even at this point I am still super swollen. My thighs, and lower abdomen is where the swelling is the worst.

I hear we can be swollen up to four months. The swelling gets better every week, but I'm amazed at how swollen I still am.

Hows the healing going otherwise? Are you getting rest? I know even at this point I need a nap here and there. Hope all is well!

Happy Healing!

Hi Elle - I feel better but stil exhausted and sleeping on the sofa...  I notice the swelling when I put my feet up and my thighs look (almost) as big as before I lost weight.  Abdomen is still wearing the binder and incisions are looking good so far. 

Did you have the itching consistently ???
Happy healing to you too : )

Once I started back on my Vit E, it seemed to help the itching, plus Benedryl.  Although, when I'd get out of my garments, I'd scratch above and below where the stitches were, and my stomach.  Lots of lotion after my shower too.  I wore my garments pretty much 24/7 for 3 months, then went to every other day.  Then just when I was swollen.  Since about 6+mo out, I've been wearing my garment every night so that I look good during the day.  Some nights are worst than others, but by morning most of the swelling is back under control.  I'm 7mo out.

Good to know about the Vit E - it sounds very soothing.  Thanks!

Carolyn,
I started the itching at about two weeks and it DROVE ME CRAZY!!!!! I called my Dr and he had me take 50mg of Benadryl every six hours. It worked wonders. I only take it at night, which helps me sleep too. I am still using it, and so glad he told me to try it. The itching was so bad I was loosing sleep!

I was on the sofa for the first three weeks too. Back in bed, but still with TONS of pillows to keep me from laying flat. I agree about the swelling...my thighs look big too. And I have never had really big thighs!

I can't wait till all the swelling is done with and we can really see our new results. I am still having alot of discomfort in my hips too. Seems to be the only place that I would still consider painful. Hows your pain level? Are you still needing meds?

I'm taking 50 mg generic benedryl - I wonder if real benedryl works better. Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmm.  I slept on the bed last night after spending much of yesterday trying to figure out a system of getting up.  I can only sleep on one side (huge relief) and on my back with all my back pillows in place.

And the pain... still very much there and still taking meds every 4 hours. I can't even imagine how long it's going to take to get all these drugs out of my system so I can think straight. It's interesting how the pain seems to move around to different body parts.  I haven't had the hip pain yet because I'm still partially numb.

I love your picture!

I had massive itching while I was in the hospital from the Morphine and they gave me alternating benadryl and Phenagren and it helped (kinda)..

Once I was off the Morphine the all over itching went away, but I still had bad itching reaction to anywhere I had tape. I had all internal stitching, so I didn't have to keep tape over all the incisions, just around the drains.

I would take my pain meds and OTC benadryl and it would help to get me through it (but I did have some spots I scratched raw... oops)

As for thigh swelling - yes I had it.. alot in my right thigh. I found that keeping my feet raised and wearing thigh length spanx-type garments over my binder (buy it 2 sizes larger than your pre-op size) kept it in check. In the beginning I also wrapped my thighs with ACE bandages at night - and that helped as well..

Best of luck and hang in there!

Your back in bed too! I agree...I think the hardest part is getting back out of bed LOL.

Not sure if the OTC Benadryl would make any difference...but worth a try. Hope you keep up on the good recovery.

I still am popping a pain med here and there, usually after a long work week and my hips want to pull apart! Glad your able to keep your pain under control as well.

Your doing great! Can't wait to see post op pics when your feeling up to it!!!