Swell Hell
(deactivated member)
on 1/6/12 10:47 am
on 1/6/12 10:47 am
Jane - I think 99% of us feel that way after PS, no matter what procedure(s) we have done. It's like "what was I thinking?" Especially with the swelling and being unable to stand upright, etc. But as you can tell by the posts, it is worth it and we just have to have patience for our bodies to heal!
I am on my second PS (1 1/2 weeks out) of a LBL revision and lipo. I can honestly say that it is worth it to get the results you want.
Gracie150
I am on my second PS (1 1/2 weeks out) of a LBL revision and lipo. I can honestly say that it is worth it to get the results you want.
Gracie150
Whoa girl! You need to just take a couple of deep breaths and try to calm yourself. Most patients have at least one "freak out" day which is caused by a the release of hormones and the aftereffects of anesthia and having tissues disturbed. According to my plastic surgeon it usually happens around day 4 or 5 post op. I didn't have the freak out day until day 10. Maybe you are having yours now?
Basically this release of hormones and chemicals along with the withdrawal from anastheia can make it seem like you are having the worst possible case of PMS. It, of course, doesn't mean that your concerns are not valid or legitimate. It just means that how you are perceiving things at the moment can be skewed or overblown.
When it happened to me, I cried and cried and cried. I sobbed in the shower because my drains hurt. I cried about my binder. I sobbed about the choice and money spent for the PS. It wasnt until I was crying when I was telling my husband that he probably doesnt even like me anymore that I realized - hey, I am not myself. Hopefully, you will feel better about things tomorrow.
Swelling
I just wanted to make sure that you are understand why you are swelling and why this is totally normal for this point of your healing.
When you had the LBL, the doctor severed your lymphatic system. The lymph system is sort of like another system in our bodies similar to our veins and arteries. We have lymph nodes and in between these nodes we have pathways that connect them. These paths are filled with the lymph. Unlike the circulation system that has a heart to pump the fluid around the body, the lymph system relies upon our muscles and our movement to carry lymph from node to node where it can be filtered cleansing our bodies of microbes and bacteria.
During the LBL, the 360 incision into the tissue severed these pathways. What happens now is that lymph is still circulating but it is dumping into the tissue rather than continuing on to the next node. This is why many people have swelling both above and below the incision. Everyone is different and everyone gets different levels of swelling depending upon their bodies as well as upon how much tissue was removed and how much disruption took place. Your swelling because the body is trying to do its job and is possibly even in overdrive to help you heal causing even more fluid to build up and cause edema (swelling).
One of the reasons we wear the compression garments is to limit the amount of room that is available for additional swelling. The body doesnt swell as much if it doesnt have lots of room for stretching out.
One of the reasons many PS use drains is so that the body these fluids along with blood that is in the repaired area can move out rather of the body rather than pool and wait to be absorbed back by the body.
The good news is that your lymph system will repair itself. It is going to take time but the pathways will reform. This is why you have to take your binder off every day for an hour or 2 (or whatever your surgeon recommends). If the body is too tightly compressed, the lymph system can say "o look, we don't have to make new paths there is no problem".
Say NO to a water pill at this time. A water pill will dry out all of this fluid and may provide you some temporary relief. But it also sends this message to your lymph system implying that it doesnt need to repair itself as there is no extra fluid. You have to heal and that takes time. There isnt any speedy way thru this.
Lizzie25 made several really good posts about this subject. Now if I can just find them for you...
Diuretics, unless prescribed by your doc, are a big no-no. They can totally throw off your electrolyte balance. If you find yourself swelling, drink more water, limit your sodium intake, and don't move around too much. Some swelling is inevitable. I gained a whopping 18lb after my TT. It all slowly fell off over the next 2 weeks. The medications will make you hold onto water. Just let your body take care of it in its own time. Be sure to watch for swelling in your legs and ankles though, if it's uneven or painful or red, get yourself checked out for a blood clot.
O gosh here is another post by her where she does a hell of alot better job than I just did of explaining the lymph system. Scroll down mid way thru the thread to read her explanation.
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/plasticsurgery/4470592/How-long-d id-you-wear-your-binder/#36985774
I know this is a huge wall of text to read in a thread, but I am hoping that by arming yourself with information you will feel better.
Everyone goes thru the swelling thing. From days 5-12, I could barely fasten the compression garment and needed help to squeeze myself into it. I am 2 months out now and I have some swelling in the stomach but now it is mostly in the thighs.
Did your doctor tell you how much skin he removed? You are not getting fat again. It doesnt matter how swollen you are right now. This is temporary. If you know how much got removed, you can take your presurgery weight and subtract the amount removed. That should make you feel better!
This time will pass and you will have the rest of your life to enjoy the results!
Good luck.
Basically this release of hormones and chemicals along with the withdrawal from anastheia can make it seem like you are having the worst possible case of PMS. It, of course, doesn't mean that your concerns are not valid or legitimate. It just means that how you are perceiving things at the moment can be skewed or overblown.
When it happened to me, I cried and cried and cried. I sobbed in the shower because my drains hurt. I cried about my binder. I sobbed about the choice and money spent for the PS. It wasnt until I was crying when I was telling my husband that he probably doesnt even like me anymore that I realized - hey, I am not myself. Hopefully, you will feel better about things tomorrow.
Swelling
I just wanted to make sure that you are understand why you are swelling and why this is totally normal for this point of your healing.
When you had the LBL, the doctor severed your lymphatic system. The lymph system is sort of like another system in our bodies similar to our veins and arteries. We have lymph nodes and in between these nodes we have pathways that connect them. These paths are filled with the lymph. Unlike the circulation system that has a heart to pump the fluid around the body, the lymph system relies upon our muscles and our movement to carry lymph from node to node where it can be filtered cleansing our bodies of microbes and bacteria.
During the LBL, the 360 incision into the tissue severed these pathways. What happens now is that lymph is still circulating but it is dumping into the tissue rather than continuing on to the next node. This is why many people have swelling both above and below the incision. Everyone is different and everyone gets different levels of swelling depending upon their bodies as well as upon how much tissue was removed and how much disruption took place. Your swelling because the body is trying to do its job and is possibly even in overdrive to help you heal causing even more fluid to build up and cause edema (swelling).
One of the reasons we wear the compression garments is to limit the amount of room that is available for additional swelling. The body doesnt swell as much if it doesnt have lots of room for stretching out.
One of the reasons many PS use drains is so that the body these fluids along with blood that is in the repaired area can move out rather of the body rather than pool and wait to be absorbed back by the body.
The good news is that your lymph system will repair itself. It is going to take time but the pathways will reform. This is why you have to take your binder off every day for an hour or 2 (or whatever your surgeon recommends). If the body is too tightly compressed, the lymph system can say "o look, we don't have to make new paths there is no problem".
Say NO to a water pill at this time. A water pill will dry out all of this fluid and may provide you some temporary relief. But it also sends this message to your lymph system implying that it doesnt need to repair itself as there is no extra fluid. You have to heal and that takes time. There isnt any speedy way thru this.
Lizzie25 made several really good posts about this subject. Now if I can just find them for you...
Diuretics, unless prescribed by your doc, are a big no-no. They can totally throw off your electrolyte balance. If you find yourself swelling, drink more water, limit your sodium intake, and don't move around too much. Some swelling is inevitable. I gained a whopping 18lb after my TT. It all slowly fell off over the next 2 weeks. The medications will make you hold onto water. Just let your body take care of it in its own time. Be sure to watch for swelling in your legs and ankles though, if it's uneven or painful or red, get yourself checked out for a blood clot.
O gosh here is another post by her where she does a hell of alot better job than I just did of explaining the lymph system. Scroll down mid way thru the thread to read her explanation.
www.obesityhelp.com/forums/plasticsurgery/4470592/How-long-d id-you-wear-your-binder/#36985774
I know this is a huge wall of text to read in a thread, but I am hoping that by arming yourself with information you will feel better.
Everyone goes thru the swelling thing. From days 5-12, I could barely fasten the compression garment and needed help to squeeze myself into it. I am 2 months out now and I have some swelling in the stomach but now it is mostly in the thighs.
Did your doctor tell you how much skin he removed? You are not getting fat again. It doesnt matter how swollen you are right now. This is temporary. If you know how much got removed, you can take your presurgery weight and subtract the amount removed. That should make you feel better!
This time will pass and you will have the rest of your life to enjoy the results!
Good luck.
HW-345,SW-300, CW-144lbs. DS 5/11/10. First round of plastics with Dr. LoMonaco 11/8/11 LBL, BL. 14lbs of skin removed.
2nd round with Dr. LoMonaco 2/8/12 Brachioplasty, Thigh lift, Breast Implants.
Thank you so much for taking the time to tell me of all this. You and everyone on this site have been so helpful over the past few years. I really appreciate the support. I haven't really told anyone about either surgery. I am not as swollen this morning. So, this makes me see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am hoping it will all be worth it! My WLS certainly was!! Thanks again sooo much.
*Not sure how much was removed. It is on my list of questions for Monday. :)
*Not sure how much was removed. It is on my list of questions for Monday. :)
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