ONE WEEK POST PLASTICS- ONE QUESTION

It's already been ONE week since I had my Lower body lift / augmentation on August 9th.

 

Everything went GREAT with surgery.  They removed 5lbs of skin.  I was up walking around that night and have made it a point to walk a LOT just not very far distances.

 

The pain is not as bad as I thought it was going to be. 

 

It is SO weird to look down and see my lady bits!!  The apron and the lady sack I had covered it before... now I look down and BAM there it is smiling up at me!  

 

I do have a blister that formed under my belly button and it is an open wound and pretty big.  The doctor said that that is common and to keep it covered and put neosporin on it.  I have 4 drain tubes that I have named Fredrico, Ricardo, Consuelo and Pedro... my amigos haha

 

ONE thing that I do have a question about-  Since yesterday I have had pretty bad swelling / water retention in my legs, calves, ankles and feet.  Is this normal?  DId anyone else have this?  I haven't had this since I was 330lbs and it is concerning.  My doctor said that it is nothing to worry about but wants me to go in to have an ultrasound tomorrow just to be sure.  If anyone has had this also what helped it go away?  I drink a gallon of water a day, I try to keep my feet elevated as much as possible.  Any advice would be great!!

 

THANK YOU!!!!

Hi there

I see you are using the plural legs,feet...so I am guessing it is both. I had sudden swelling in both of my legs at about 11 days out. I went to see my surgeon and he didn't feel it was a blood clot (since it was both legs) but have me the option of an ultrasound. I did not have the ultrasound and have me a water pill to take for a few days.

I swelled on and off after that but nothing like before the pills. I think it is just the disruption to the lymph system.

Hope that helps!!

*gave x2

Sheesh

THANK YOU!!  did the water pill make you pee a TON?  

 

How long after you started taking the pill did you have the swelling on and off?  When was it totally gone?

 

Sorry about the load of questions.

Yes! I peed a ton!!! I had the "swell hell" in the tummy on and off for several months. I am at 9 months out and still can wake up swollen from time to time. But I never became swollen like the time I went on the pills again. My feet looked like balloons and that hasn't happened since...just slight swelling some days.

Yes, my legs blew up.  And when the last drain was pulled, they returned to normal - although that may have just been coincidence.

I was told that upping your protein will help to reduce swelling... Something about the protein molecules attracting water.

Swelling is not unusual at all. An ultrasound is a good idea to rule out a DVT, although unlikely since your swelling is bilateral. I usually give my patients lasix which makes you pee a lot. In the meantime you are doing the right thing by trying to elevate your legs.

Peter Fisher MD

www.mybariatricplasticsurgry.com