Belly Fat Question

Ok, I'm getting a bit concerned here. I already have quite a large belly. I've been overweight my whole life and the belly is just there. If it swells what in the world will I do? Any reassurance here???? Perhaps I'll just have to hide under the covers until it goes down...how long will it take???

hi Lisa, actually, my belly stayed the same size, it just go kinda hard and tender, It really didn't get bigger. Maybe swollen is a better term, not bigger. Nothing wrong with a little belly fat.....its beautiful.

Lisa
I was wondering the same thing myself. I already have a belly I try to hide and am not looking forward to it being bigger for 6 weeks! I had 2 c-sections and expected it then since I had two 9 pound babies, this time there no excuse! Hopefully we won't be too bad. Good luck.

I look like I'm prego now. I don't need no more belly. I'm scared that the incision will come open at home. Plus I hear so much about not healing properly and infection. HEEEEELLLLLLPPPPP!!!

Autumnsummer

Hi Lisa. I am on the 'fluffy' side with a large tummy. I had a TAH with no problems. The incision is in the bikini line which is under my tummy. As for the swelling...yes, my tummy can be noticeably larger..usually in the evening after a long day on my feet. Sorry.

Hi Rhonda,

So, did your fluffiness cause any problems healing? I'm like Autumnsummer...I'm afraid of the healing and it coming open and all that! Sorry to be so worrisome!

Autumnsummer,

As long as you take care of yourself and rest like the Dr says you should not have a problem with your incision. DON'T drive to early and be care bending over and lifting things. Good Luck!

I am a very fluffy sister who had a TAH and had absolutely no problems with my belly button to pelvis incision. As a matter of fact, a nurse practitioner I saw a couple of weeks ago looked at it and said I healed so nicely she wouldn't have believed I had my surgery in December, that the scar looked alot older than that. Try not to worry fluffy sisters.

As for swelling, I really didn't notice any. Maybe because my belly is as large as it is? (pregnancy weight I never lost)

Hi Otessa. I had absolutely no problems with my incision. This is my fourth abdominal surgery...all with the same incision site...and I had no problems with any of my surgeries. FYI...I was approx 100lbs overweight at the time of this last surgery.

Hi Otessa ,
I am VERY fluffy but lost 50 pounds before surgery. I just had my 2 week post op appointment with the gynecologist and thanked her for not making my weight an issue with this surgery (since my PCP blames EVERYTHING on my weight). I told her I knew that technically, the surgery was more difficult because of my weight. She agreed with that but told me my weight had nothing to do with the problem with my cervix. She then told me what a pleasure it was to work with patients like me who were so motivated to get better. She said, "I can't tell you how many times I have patients who are stick-thin who refuse to get out of bed!" I told her I guess fat people just are used to trying harder!

Because of the panniculectomy, my incision is about 26 inches long, but because of what I learned here at HS, I knew it was IMPORTANT to get out of bed and get walking. Maybe that's why I've had a relatively easy post-op course thus far. Everytime I got out of bed at the castle, it got easier to walk.

So...my answer to you is that it was my personal experience that my weight has not made this experience any more difficult than if I was a normal weight. Also, having the panniculectomy made it easier to care for the wound.

Good Luck!
Lori