swelly belly go away

Hello km_wish_star,

Thanks for the info. It's good to know that the poof will go away. I was stressing out when I saw it after my surgery.

Thats encouraging. I have noticed the buldge looks worse and feels harder in the evening. If I didn't have to stand up I could live with it. It looks pretty good when your laying down!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by cararay Am I supposed to have this swelly Belly with TVH? it's huge ! When I went to the first post-op appt, a young girl who was about 6 months PG asked me when I was due !

I had an abdominal hysterectomy, but I've seen other sisters with TVH post that they also have swelly belly. Although I cannot directly relate to your issue, you are not alone.

I'm so sorry that someone thought you were pregnant. It is very upsetting to say the least, but the swelling will go away.

Dr. Wonderful told me pre-op, when I was still checking out options that TVH is extremely traumatic to the body, so even though you don't get the scar you do get all the other "fun" stuff. Unfortunately, according to him, it can also actually be more painful for a longer time because of all the pulling they have to do and the restricted area they have to work in. I figured with endo and so many cysts I looked like Frankenstein anyway so I gave him the go-ahead to cut me from stem to stern if necessary. Just get that rotten thing outta there!
Hugs to all and a good RESTFUL recovery.

I'm 11 weeks out with a vertical incision.

Swelling still-worse on the left side.

Soreness still and some numbness on that side too.

A snug girdle does help!

Sweet Pea

I will probably completely depress you all. My surgery was in June, and directly after my belly was smaller than it had been in years. Then my dh watched it fill up over the next two days. I'm six months out and its not any better. I'm thrilled not to have pain anymore, but honestly my vanity is killing me. I'm getting more depressed every day. It's hard to mantain a positive outlook when you look and feel like someone else.
i don't know what to do anymore. any suggestions from any swelly belly survivors?


Michele

So sorry! I try the denial thing--or at least not looking at it when I'm sitting down. DH is very helpful in this endeavor with remarks (did I say LIES?) like, "Oh, I'm sure it's smaller today!" "You look just wonderful!" "I believe that swelly belly is almost gone now!" Never says a word about me looking like the Michelin Man when I sit in the beloved bathtub. (Bubbles help hide it too!) Why do I say this sweetheart lies, besides that he's a man and that's what men do? Because my pants say ! It does help me feel better though. It's the thought that counts. The doc PROMISED it will go away in time too. Hang in there.

Little_Pink

Can I ask was Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome is?

Thanks

	Quote:
Originally Posted by latte Little_Pink Can I ask was Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome is? Thanks

I copied this from www.webmd.com in order to give an accurate answer:
"Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome is a rare disorder that develops in females as a result of complications of pelvic inflammatory disease. The disorder is characterized by string-like scar tissue (adhesions) that attaches between the liver and other sites in the abdominal lining (peritoneum). Symptoms can mimic those of hepatitis. Severe pain in the upper right area of the abdomen is usually present. Infection occurs, caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria."

My personal story:
Due to my history and how severe my pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) was when my doctor discovered it, we are guessing that I got chlamydia in childhood and it went untreated for many years. I started having severely painful periods and very heavy bleeding shortly after starting my period at 14 years old. I was 26 1/2 years old having hot flashes and cold sweats before I found a doctor who believed that I had a problem. He diagnosed PID after exploratory laproscopic surgery. My pelvic cavity was engulfed in scar tissue, my fallopian tubes were half the size of my uterus, and the scar tissue was cutting one ovary in half and had wrapped around my descending colon and pulled it toward the center of my body (blocked bowel). I had been relying on enemas for 8 years since NOTHING else would help me have a bowel movement. He said I could have died from the blocked bowel or an ectopic pregnancy. I lost my fallopian tubes, but the doctor was able to free everything else from the scar tissue. Of course the scar tissue grew back and the only solution was a hysterectomy. I was able to conceive one child through in vitro fertilization. I often wonder if my pregnancy did aid in pushing the scar tissue from my pelvic cavity to my abdominal cavity. (My wonderful little boy will be 5 years old in January and he, along with our adopted son who will be 5 in April, are both worth anything I have to endure.) During my hysterectomy my doctor confirmed that I have FHC. In my case, I have three sets of adhesions on my liver and one on my spleen. I am looking into a new therapy called scar tissue therapy that supposedly frees scar tissue adhesions without surgery. I'm hoping it's legitimate. My gynecologist also discovered that I had adenomyosis after the pathology report came back. I'm already feeling like a new woman just four weeks post-op. I can only imagine how wonderful I'll feel by summer!

I realize some sisters might consider this "too much information", but I feel it's important to share our experiences honestly and thoroughly in order to help others.

Certainly there is going to be swelling at the site of surgery which happens with any surgery and to be expected. However, Hystersister Bethel posted a thread a while back indicating that her plastic surgeon said the swelling is also caused by lympathic fluid that has built up in the belly. I totally agree with him. I have suffered from lymphodema since my breast and axially node surgery 5 years ago. I was fortunate enough to live in a town which has a lymphodema expert and she has done amazing things for me through lymphatic with massage. Even made my buffalo hump where fluid had collected go down. Of course somone not experienced with this kind of massage can do more damage than good. I have learned that the two most important lymph nodes for drainage are in the groin area and sinces these have been compromised by the surgery this all makes sense. I am looking foward to when my belly is not so sensitive and the therapist can work on me again. I'll let you know if this does the trick with the swelly belly....