Question:
Bloated or stomach protruding by end of day?

I'm 2 years post-op distal RNY. Lost 120-130 and am maintaining in that range. I'm also 1.5 years post-op lower body lift. Lately, by the end of the day, having changed nothing in my normal, healthy eating routine, both the upper and lower portions of my stomach (above and below the navel) feel extremely tight, bloated, protrude a little and is slightly painful as if I had trapped gas (which isn't the problem). In the morning the discomfort is gone until it builds up again during the day. Anybody else 2 years out with either lower body lift or abdominoplasty done experience these symptoms? Much thanks!    — Vicki S. (posted on July 14, 2005)

July 14, 2005
Vicki, I am 3 yrs post-op and have the same problem as well, but I have traced mine down to what I am eating. If I eat a lot of milk products or drink a lot of milk or eat a lot of sugar free anything my stomach will do that. Some Fruits will make me do that also. Recently I have been doing Barix Clinics Kick start weight loss program. It is a program desined to get your body back into keytoses so it is burning fat for energy instead of carbs, and I am finding that I do not bloat at all. Basically I can only eat protine and very little carbs. I sugest try cutting down on the milk products and sugar stuff if that is what you are eating and see if that helps.
   — Jo_Michalko

July 15, 2005
I have this problem also-but never before abdominoplasty - plastic surgeon advises it is because we are pulled so tight across the abdomen (on me you lierally cannot pinch an inch there) that when we have gas, even a small amount , because there is no "room" for distention, it simply pulls what it can giving that tight feeling, I had TT over a year ago and the area still feels so tight it is uncomfortable!
   — donnalawbabe

July 15, 2005
I haven't had the plastics, but when this happens to me it's because I've eaten too many carbs that have literally fermented in my body.
   — fowlerloriann

July 16, 2005
I am 2yrs PO this month and my stomach is so swollen and bloated all my jeans are tight and im worried if there was ever failure with this surgery im it i only lost maybe total 75 lbs and i dont eat wrong my stomach used to be flat 2 months ago now bloated rolls im ready to just starve to death to get flat abs again
   — Christine H.

July 17, 2005
Most TT and body lift patients will swell for up to a year, although it really decreases over time. Prolonged sitting limits the fluid flow out of the abdominal tissues, and this causes the classic fluid buildup and swelling by the end of the day. Consider a support garment (Hanes BodyShaper, or the one from surgery) during the day, and a lymphatic massage by a good therapist.
   — DrL

July 17, 2005
My stomach does that too, but I am only 4 months out from my abdominalplasty ;)
   — Saxbyd

July 17, 2005
Thanks so much for your question, I am 2 1/2 years out and am struggling with this. I feel like my belly is just huge again. I too was starting to worry about my surgery. However, I do believe it is from eating more carbs and sweets. I have regained 10-15lbs and it has all gone in my stomach. Being thin I have learned you feel only 10 lbs of regain, whereas it used to take 30-50lbs before I felt it! I always feel so much better when I come to this site and get reassurance that others are experiencing the same things. Thanks to all and Good luck to all of us in our WLS journey. RNY 11/02 300/153/140
   — cathy G.