Bloating vs swelling?

Okay, had my first cycle since plastics (360 lbl with abdominoplasty). My question is, how can you tell if you're swollen or just bloated?

Before plastics did you get bloated during your cycle? Maybe it's both? Not sure how to tell the difference. I guess I never thought about it. I pretty much lived in yoga pants the first month post-plastics so it did not seem to affect me.

I was always able to tell I was bloated because my pants got tight....when I had my cycle after my TT my stomach felt stretched....and I think that was my bloating....

I never knew what bloating was to be honest! I had 285 lbs on my body that didnt need to be there and it caused so much pain I really didnt notice anything! Also (kind of funny actually) I never knew why people complained about having to poop...now I can feel tummy cramps, cycle cramps, bloating/swelling etc. NOT FUN being a female haha!! Anyhow my cycle is over but I still poofed  up, but this morning my tummy is almost flat, I just dont know at what point it requires going back in to surgeon - my appointment is on the 19th but I'm going to call today :-/

I'm due to start my cycle in the next day or two....this morning I woke up looking like I was 5 months pregnant!!!! Holy crap! I've been wearing my binder all day to help reduce it....but I have had no luck...I guess it's bloating?? So hard to tell!

The scale also went up 2 pounds!