6 month post op

It has been about 6 months since my surgery.

My belly is still tender. If I run into a counter top, or brush against a chair back, push into a shopping buggy, there is a pain.

I am very protective of my belly. When my dog (gsd) has his tail wagging, I get afraid he is going to wallop me.When grandbaby comes running to me, I cover the belly.

Does anyone 6 months or further out with postop have the tender belly, still protective of the belly?

Thanks

Kathy: I am looking forward to being 6 months post-op...but am at the 5 months point. I find that swelly belly is still an issue for me...especially after a physically exhausting day...lots of yardwork, lawnmowing, walking, lifting, moving stuff. Parts of my abdomen are still numb...Wondered if this has been your experience?? And today I noticed after lots of walking and exercise that I have feeling back in the center of my lower abdomen which is kind of new. Had to try on a mother-of-the-bride dress the other day and just could NOT get my stomach to pull in...finally the consultant brought me a special slip but it hurt to wear it. I am not yet back to wearing the belted casual pants I love...I try to avoid anything hanging on my waist or stomach...so I think my answer is yes, my stomach is still tender. I don't know if this is encouraging or not...I feel like I can modify my expectations for where I will be at six months now that I have heard your concerns...Right now, I am just hoping for full recovery by the time of my daughter's wedding next August! Take care. God Bless, : Nancy

hi Kathy

I'll have my one year anniversary in 20 days !!-------- I STILL protect my belly ( though it is not *swelly* anylonger ). I am still careful when leaning against a counter top; but especially careful with opening the dryer door --------- that can still be an ouchy !!!

I'm not sure if we will always have to be careful of the insion site, but at nearly a year, I know I still do

Sending you good wishes and's ........

Thanks for the feed back. Atleast I know the tender belly will be around for awhile.

Guess, it will get less and less tender, but tender for along time. As for being protective, that may take longer.

Nancy, congratulations on your daughters upcoming wedding.

Kathy:

When they do your incision, a lot of nerves are cut in the process. Nerve endings can take a very long time to heal. The skin around any incision (or cut, did you ever have sutures?) is hyper-reactive for quite a while as these nerve endings awaken.

The thing is getting on my nerves too, although I'm not nearly as far out as you guys. I've found that the key to dealing with it, though, is to try and get your feet elevated as much as you can, sit and stand and walk with the best alignment that you can. And as soon as I cannot maintain my alignment, I know it's time to get my feet up.

Your veins and lymphatic system take a great deal of time to recover from this surgery -- they have to build whole new connections to drain not only your belly, but your legs as well (my legs still swell a LOT when I'm on my feet, which is most of the time).

Whenever I do sit, whether at the keyboard or at the dinner table, I have a little footstool that I use. It's not as good as really getting your feet up, but my ankles and belly don't swell quite as much. Getting your feet above your heart is the best. Every once in awhile, I'm tempted to do some of my upside down yoga postures again...but I don't do those any more .

I wish I were back to my old size and shape too <sigh>. But I can't rush physiology (though I wish I could!).

Healing is a lot of factors. Some of them are rapid (skin, mucous membranes). Others, like nerve endings, and lymph node system, and venous drainage take a long time.

But heal they do. And hopefully in enough time for your daughter's wedding, Nancy, although a month is pushing it...

A suggestion about the wedding? Take care of yourself...dancing is good but not if your feet/back hurt. Watch alcohol, salt (especially) and that wedding cake. With a little care, that belly should stay much flatter for you.

Take care, all. I, for one, never will give up my elastic-waist pants.

Audrey

Kathy and Audrey: Thanks so much for your kind congratulations...and for sharing the details of recovery...which sometimes does seem like it happens in very small bits at a time. I think I forgot to say that my daughter's wedding is in 2003! I am so focused on a year from now that I keep forgetting that August 16th hasn't happened this year yet!! I have had lots of people ask in shock, "This August???," when I have mentioned something about the wedding.

Audrey, I am going to try elevating my feet more often. What a great explanation for the nerves and the rebuilding of the body after this surgery. I had no idea that the legs were involved and that swelling would result in them.

Kathy, hope you feel stronger every day. Guess I can only say that I am extremely grateful that I had surgery THIS year...and am hoping for simple "wedding frenzy" next year!
God Bless, : Nancy

Jubilee: Please forgive me for not saying thank you for your insight, too. I have had other surgeries that took me a full year to recover from...so I was glad to hear that the timetable is not unreasonable. Hope I can wear the tight slip next August! God Bless, : Nancy

Hi!

I'm five months post op and feel pretty good, most of the time. Except for the swelly belly, can't wait for that to be gone. I can get in most of my clothes, jean shorts seem to be the worst. I'm hoping the six month mark will be the magic number. We're planning a vacation in two months, so hopefully by then.

The time since surgery has really gone fast, for the most part.

Take care and maybe we'll all be better next month!!

Nancy:

I did think that the wedding was next year by your wording, but then you are one brave woman to buy a dress now for an event a year distant !

Unless it's the act of shopping

Audrey

Audrey: Isn't it nice to even be thinking about shopping instead of recovering??? Thanks for making me laugh!! God Bless, : Nancy