erica’s abdominoplasty blog

I think I’m losing it! Today I went in to my PS on a whim. My swelling started to look more “fluid” than usual. So I called and they got me in at the end of the day. He tapped at my belly and said “Oh yeah, there’s some fluid in there.” So he took out this huge syringe and needle, laid me on my side and tried to extract the fluid out with the needle. He poked around for about two minutes. This way and that — then that way and this. Nothing. The nurse even helped. Let’s throw a “stab-erica-in-the-tummy-party!” I’ll see him in about another six weeks and we can look at it again then. He explained it could be some edema where the tissues and fat are swelling and keeping in all the fluid. If it doesn’t go down and my body doesn’t absorb it on its own, he might have to go in and fix it. We didn’t talk about exactly say WHAT this work consisted of but he said something about removing the problem tissues/fat under local anesthesia in his office. Revisions are common, so I shouldn’t be surprised that it could happen. I won’t know for a while, so there’s no use in worrying about it for now. I hope my body decides to just “suck it up” before then!

There’s a six week update on my gallery page. (Link also at right side of page.

Just a quick update here for anyone checking in. Everything is going well. I really don’t have many complaints. The swelling is worse lately than it used to be. I get paranoid about trapped fluid and seroma. But I think it’s the standard swelling and I shouldn’t get my panties in a twist about it. The part of my belly above the incision but below my belly button is the worst. I still average about 38″ in the morning and 39 1/2″ by night. But that inch and a half is so minimal, only I can really notice. I’m pretty much binder free at this point. I put it on sometimes at night if I feel I need a little extra support or if I’m feeling a little puffy. But other than that, I go without. I think “needing” it was all in my head. I don’t swell any more or less without it. But it does help reduce the swelling once it’s there.

I can exercise again! That’s the newest and biggest improvement. I went indoor rock climbing this past Sunday and on Tuesday I played on my ultimate frisbee team. Both went really well. Rock climbing was a lot easier than I expected. The stretching didn’t pull on anything, and I didn’t hit my tummy on anything like I was worried about. Frisbee was as hard as I thought it would be. Running at top speed after two months of doing nothing isn’t fun. The only thing I noticed that was strange was a little bit of a tingling in my tummy. I assumed it was just blood rushing to areas that hadn’t done much for a while. Afterwards I wasn’t particularly sore or swollen. I went home and slept in my binder, and that might have helped. I have to say that it feels REALLY good to be back in that grove. The weight issue is still hard, and I want to combat all the BBQ/Graduation/Wedding calories that I’ve been putting in my face. No excuses! Be accountable! So here’s to being the most
healthy I can be!

As always, there’s an update on my gallery page. (Link also at right side of page.)

Look! It’s a belly button. Like a real one. One that isn’t covered by blob of skin hanging over it. As you can imagine, I’m pleased. My old belly button somewhat looked like a hot dog bun taped to my tummy. No joke!

Things are good otherwise. I’m still wearing my binder most of the time. The longest I’ve gone without it was yesterday. I had it off from the time I went to work, until I put it back on when I got home about 11pm. At that point, I felt like the Goodyear blimp. I took my measurement and it was 39 1/2″. So, I guess it feels worse than it actually is. The part that’s uncomfortable is that the scar is inflexible, and when the skin around it swells, it pushes on the incision. But that’s about it!

One concern right now is weight. I weighed in about 152 at WW this week — which is really good! But this morning I was already at 153. Who knows if that’s real weight or swelling, but it concerns me none-the-less. I used to stay around 155, give or take a pound. So, really, I’m on target. If you work in the 3 1/2 pounds they cut off me, that’s about right. But I’m worried that being so inactive is going to creep that number up. I get so worried about being out of control and I tend to freak out. I’m watching my points carefully (TRYING to stick to them…) and have to remember I don’t have the luxury of a splurge because I’m not active right now. I’m soooo looking forward to getting back to sports, I know it will make all the difference. I think I’m going to try rock climbing this weekend, and soon I’ll try the elliptical at the gym. And after about two more weeks, I think I’ll try jogging or frisbee. Wish me luck!

There’s an update on my gallery page. (Link also at right side of page.)

I can’t decide what to do with this binder. The relationship is totally Love/Hate. I feel safer and more held in with it on, but more uncomfortable and bulky. Yesterday was 3 weeks, and Dr. Foley said it was okay to take it off after that long. So I did. I felt pretty good all day, but had a lot more swelling at night. Today I woke up more swollen than normal. I generally measure about 38″ around my hips and largest part of my tummy. By nightime that could easily be 39 1/2″ or 40″. This morning I was already almost 39″. But I still went to work without it on. I feel like I’m relying too much on it, and I have to get used to not having it some time. But just now, in the bathroom I looked huge and puffy. Luckily I have it with so I put it back on. Arg! It’s so hard to know what to do when I’ve never gone through this before.