4 months post op and still have swelly belly!

I'm so frustrated and could use a little advice. I am a third grade teacher, so I'm on my feet all day. By the time school lets out, my belly is huge. The O.T. at our school obviously doesn't know about my surgery because she came by my room this afternoon and asked me if I'm pregnant. It's been 4 months! I'm not really overweight. 5'4" and 130 pounds, which I consider pretty good for a 40 year old mom of 2. My dr. told me not to exercise until June. My feelings are so hurt! Is anyone else having this trouble after being on your feet? Any good advice?
Thanks!
Mindy

It has taken a long time for me to completely stop swelly belly- It was not huge, but most days it was there, just that bit more bloated than what would be normal. Out of the blue i had a huge belly one day just a few weeks ago. I looked pregnant just as you say. Goodness knows why- maybe a teacher problem? I'm one too! I have been back to exercise for some time now (since about four months) but that has not impacted the swelly belly one way or another. I have seen on here some sisters mention that it can still be around up to one year! Do not rush back to exercise, it will only get worse if you start too early.
Best wishes

Mindy,

I know how you feel. I am only 5 weeks post op and feel great but this belly is a nuisance. I was told to buy a light girdle which many of the women on this site believe in. It keeps everything "in" and adds support. I am also about your size and this belly makes it hard to fit in jeans or pant suits. I swore I would never wear a girdle, but I think I am going to try. Some post op women said it helped with the swelly belly until it "deflated"

Mindy,
Hi. I had my surgery right about the time you did. I've felt so much better the last week or two. Finally! The swelly belly is persistent though. It's not bad in the mornings, but by late afternoon I feel huge. My weight is the same as before my surgery. But I still feel fat! My best advice is to try & not let people get to you. People say the dumbest things sometimes. When or if I'm really hurting or swollen a heating pad seems to help. Or maybe it's just the laying down. Who knows?? Anyway, good luck and feel better.
Michelle

Hello Ladies,
I had my surgery in August 30th of 2004 and I hate to tell you but I still have the swelly belly. I'm fine in the mornings and by mid-after noon I feel and look pregnant. For me it happens 15 to 30 minutes after I eat or if I’ve been on my feet all morning . I was forced to buy new pants and shorts. I also wear a light girdle and try to eat small meals and cut cokes 100% out of my diet.

Wish you luck.
Maite

I am now over a year post-op and every now and then my belly still feels tender/swelly. Everything has gone back to normal and I have even lost weight since the surgery, however the belly still gets tender from over doing it. It's frustrating sometimes, but for me, an ice pack on the belly and it feels better. The heating pad hasn't worked for me, but I did try it.
I agree with Micehelle, "best advice is to try & not let people get to you. People say the Dumbest things sometimes."
s
Kristi

I am also a teacher and am about 3 1/2 months post-op. I am also still having issues with swelling and tenderness as the day goes on. I have been using the heating pad as well, mostly because it just makes me sit and relax for awhile and because it feels good. I'm not sure that it really helps the swelling. My DR basically said to do what makes you feel better at this point. He also reminded me that our bodies did not read the textbooks, so that if your healing is taking longer than "it should" it is okay, as long as you are seeing improvement overall. He encouraged me to be patient and positive. He did caution that If it feels much worse or is extremely painful, then there might be a serious complication. I am been feeling better about not feeling quite right since I began to view the situation from this perspecitive. Good luck to you all and try to be patient.

I am just over 6 months and still get swelly belly, especially after doing too much. Earlier in my recovery it would just appear daily (not there in the morning, but show up by early afternoon). At least now I understand that when I spend 5 hours working hard in the garden, it is going to swell. It is usually gone by the next morning, but yeah, I think I look 5 months pregnant when it gets bad. I've read it can take a year. Hang in there!

Another teacher here! I still have the old swellybelly late in the afternoon too. It's not really bad, but it's there. I still use my heat pad in the evenings, especially after I do my run. My doc just prescribed progesterone cream for me because of estrogen dominance (still have ovaries) and she said that it would help with the fluid retention in the abdominal region. She was right, I have noticed an improvement in the past few days!

Right along with everyone with the "swelly belly" but not a teacher-a casemanager! I'm seven weeks out and had a LSH. It makes me feel better that I'm not alone! Hey, but at least no more more periods