PLEASE HELP massive swellling after plastic surgery??????

PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!! I had a circumferential lower body lift with abdominoplasty on Sept 13......so 2 weeks ago. I have had some major complications that have left all my physicians perplexed. I am wondering if anyone out there has experienced anything I am going through????? The Dr. removed 11lbs of tissue and I lost about 650cc's of blood during surgery. Subsequently I lost another 2000cc's of blood and fluid out of my four JP drains which have now been removed. During a totally normal recovery at one week post-op I developed massive + 4 pitting edema in my feet and legs which gravitated all the way up to my chest. I gained 19lbs of fluid in 4 days. I was checked for everything, electrolytes, blood clots, cardiac issues, CT's, etc. The only thing that came back is that I am now anemic...... my hemoglobin is a 9.1(they wanted to transfuse me but I refused) and my calcium is a little low but everything else is fine except for terrible swelling in my legs and feet still 2 weeks later. I cant find any information about this but all the Dr.'s are attributing it to 3rd space interstitial swelling and the fact that my body is trying to make up for what it has lost by swelling. Please anyone who can offer me any help it would be greatly appreciated. I am not taking any medication expect Tylenol. At this point and I am very scared of supplementing with iron since I also ending up with a bowel impaction/obstruction despite daily laxative use post-operatively so I am just doubling up on my vitamins, taking laxatives, restricting fluid intake per the Dr. and eating and iron rich diet. I did use IV Lasix in the hospital which is the only place it worked. The pills didn't work at all and the Dr. was worried about bringing down my potassium so she D/C'd that too. Is this swelling normal and will it ever go away?????? Please if you can offer any help let me know I am so tired of my legs looking like an elephants. By the way my surgery was 7 hours long and I am healthy 33 year old without any complications from my gastric bypass in which I lost 160lbs. Thank you to anyone who can help......and yes I have tried ice and elevation for my legs plus I am wearing my compression surgical garment religiously....at this point I still weigh 3lbs more than I did on the day of surgery. email me [email protected] Wendi Open RNY 9/19/02 post op circumferential lower body lift 9/13/04

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