Please tell me it is swelling

I think there's as much variation in PS protocols as with bariatric surgeon protocols! Wear compression, don't wear compression. Take arnica/bromelain, don't take arnica/bromelain. Shower with drains, don't shower with drains. Move after surgery, don't move after surgery.

My surgeon is a wear compression for months guy. Maybe wearing it at night only would help? You're not using muscles then and it might give you some relief.

Like others have mentioned, I work compression 23/7 for 4 straight weeks and then I wore it during the day only (because I hated sleeping with it) for another 2 weeks. Then I wore it whenever I felt swollen for another 2 weeks after that. I think it's been a couple weeks since I've busted out a garment, but I still would if I was particularly swollen and was going to work out or needed to be out of the house.

I was pretty lucky with swelling at first but at about 6.5 weeks I was ok'd to exercise - about 2 hrs afterwards I felt a pulling in my belly button and felt like I was stretching - it was a weird feeling. I looked in the mirror and couldn't believe it! Literally looked pregnant! Hubby thought something was seriously wrong and wanted me to text my surgeon. I thought it looked hilarious and took tons of pics. By morning it was down flat again but since then by mid afternoon I'm swollen again. PS said the same thing - could take up to 6 months.

Increasing my water intake, limiting sodium and wearing a compression garment all helped me.

Good luck!

I think it looks like swelling. Some of us seem to have a lot. I had some, but not a lot. HERE is an old post I made at at the 2 month mark. I was definitely swollen. By the 6 month mark the swelling was gone. My lbl was 7 years ago and my stomach is still flat.

Hang in there!!

THanks...yeah I can see the swelling in your pic, but already you looked so good!

today is a better, more normal looking day...