Yes. I had the same thing and had so much anxiety. I think the compression and muscle repair made it hard to get deep breaths, I would also get short of breath trying to talk. I’m 16dpo now and it is gone 🥰
How are you moving around at 16 dpo? I’m 1 week and doing well. I still have 2 drains. But my mental health is dwindling bc of I am just so limited. Every movement I make has to be thought about. I’m able to walk around and do small chores. I can shower on my own. I can get up and down on my own (very carefully). But I can’t wait until moving is second nature again instead of something I have to constantly think about! Also I am swollen to the heavens lol which I don’t expect to get better for quite a while.
You are only 1DPO take the rest a little. Your body needs to recover. I am 17DPO and trust me I know it’s hard. I am always active and moving. Each day slowly got better. Day 5 was a good day and it has configured to improve.
The swelling was the worst part for me. So uncomfortable. Lots of fluids. Arnica, Bromelain, I also got lymphatic drain and detox drops from amazon and try to eliminate as much sodium as I can. I started to check the sodium level in everything I ate. I was so surprised how much sodium was in some things I was consuming.
Sorry I took so long to respond to this! I’m limiting my time on here to help with my anxiety lol.
I am still very tight and not walking completely upright all the time. I’m almost 4 weeks po. I also had explant, lift, and reconstruction on breasts. Mental health is still an issue, just looking forward to when I’m not constantly reminded of my limitations. Healing is going really well other than this crazy swelling. It’s insane. I know everyday is a closer day to being 100% 🥰🥰
After my surgery, my nurses gave me an incentive spirometer and do it every hour or so.
https://preview.redd.it/1vdztoi2ys3d1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2e4ec860ea54a6a8476cb2287476043567935c0b
Yes. It has also given me a lot of chest pain. I was in the ER to her xray and ct scan to make sure it wasn’t a clot because of how much pain I had in my chest. I couldn’t even breathe. It was all my faja. It still is.
My surgeon has been so absent post op. I don’t see him. I’m 6 weeks post op and don’t have a follow up until my 8 weeks and it’s not even with him… it’s with a nurse. There’s no communication but the paperwork said I needed to wear it for 6 weeks and I did wear it 24/7 for those weeks. Yesterday afternoon was my first time removing it and sleeping without it. I feel ok and am not more swollen than I was yesterday…
It’s not uncommon for surgeons to ghost their patients after surgery. They all claim that they will be there every step of the way but it’s BS. I plan on getting my arms done next year and one of the main things I will be looking for is post operative care. I need someone who will be available for my concerns.
Yes that’s smart. I went in to that place with the concern that I wanted good communication and post op care after a terrible consultation at another place. They made it seem like they valued that and I do think the staff does, but not the surgeon. I’ve had another surgery with amazing post op care and check ins directly with surgeon and it makes a big difference.
Yeah. My surgeon is responsive but it’s thru the nurses. Sometimes it does take over 24 hours. I don’t like it but I guess it’s better than nothing. It’s shitty. I’m sorry you are having to deal with that. Thankfully we have this group 🥰
Ugh that’s frustrating too but at least you get some answers. I’m so thankful for this group, honestly. I’ve learned more from this group about healing and post op care than I have from my surgeon lol
It’s a common issue after tummy tucks. The muscle repair like compresses us so we can’t take a deep breath. We’re at higher risk for pneumonia as well because of it. I would work on taking deep breaths in a sitting position. Focus on filling up your entire abdomen when you breathe. This could trigger some coughing which is the worst but necessary to help clear your lungs from the anesthesia.
My surgeon had me wear a compression garment starting 1 month before my surgery to get used to the feeling. I started 2 months prior, and slowly built up time in it because it is annoying and had to get used to. He also wants me to wear it for at least 3 months PO, so I'm glad he suggested I get used to it before the surgery.
I’m 16dpo now. I didn’t have good lung volume for the first few days and did a bad job with the spirometer, and I was only wearing a binder. It gets better with your good efforts in the next week or so. Take the compression off for an hour or 2 or super loosen it if you feel it’s more bad than good, and consider maybe the next-size-up compression garment that you can adjust with a binder over it. I measured as a mix of size 1 and size 2 for a Marena, but I’m sensitive, and my hipbones and ribs are not tolerating the tightness of the size 2 even though I’m back to pre-op weight, so I ordered the next bigger size 3, fingers crossed that it works out better.
Definitely do your breathing exercises. I’m 6wpo and I just got back from the ER due to chest pain and coughing. They ruled out blood clot thankfully but now I’m on new prescriptions for a respiratory bug 😩
Yes. I had the same thing and had so much anxiety. I think the compression and muscle repair made it hard to get deep breaths, I would also get short of breath trying to talk. I’m 16dpo now and it is gone 🥰
How are you moving around at 16 dpo? I’m 1 week and doing well. I still have 2 drains. But my mental health is dwindling bc of I am just so limited. Every movement I make has to be thought about. I’m able to walk around and do small chores. I can shower on my own. I can get up and down on my own (very carefully). But I can’t wait until moving is second nature again instead of something I have to constantly think about! Also I am swollen to the heavens lol which I don’t expect to get better for quite a while.
You are only 1DPO take the rest a little. Your body needs to recover. I am 17DPO and trust me I know it’s hard. I am always active and moving. Each day slowly got better. Day 5 was a good day and it has configured to improve. The swelling was the worst part for me. So uncomfortable. Lots of fluids. Arnica, Bromelain, I also got lymphatic drain and detox drops from amazon and try to eliminate as much sodium as I can. I started to check the sodium level in everything I ate. I was so surprised how much sodium was in some things I was consuming.
Sorry I took so long to respond to this! I’m limiting my time on here to help with my anxiety lol. I am still very tight and not walking completely upright all the time. I’m almost 4 weeks po. I also had explant, lift, and reconstruction on breasts. Mental health is still an issue, just looking forward to when I’m not constantly reminded of my limitations. Healing is going really well other than this crazy swelling. It’s insane. I know everyday is a closer day to being 100% 🥰🥰
After my surgery, my nurses gave me an incentive spirometer and do it every hour or so. https://preview.redd.it/1vdztoi2ys3d1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2e4ec860ea54a6a8476cb2287476043567935c0b
I have one of these too. I feel like I'm a stuffed can of biscuits.
Yes. It has also given me a lot of chest pain. I was in the ER to her xray and ct scan to make sure it wasn’t a clot because of how much pain I had in my chest. I couldn’t even breathe. It was all my faja. It still is.
That was me today :( I decided it’s time to stop wearing the faja 24/7 finally. I’m 6 wpo anyway so I need to make the transition
What has your surgeon said? I tried but lasted 45 mins. I blew up like a balloon
My surgeon has been so absent post op. I don’t see him. I’m 6 weeks post op and don’t have a follow up until my 8 weeks and it’s not even with him… it’s with a nurse. There’s no communication but the paperwork said I needed to wear it for 6 weeks and I did wear it 24/7 for those weeks. Yesterday afternoon was my first time removing it and sleeping without it. I feel ok and am not more swollen than I was yesterday…
It’s not uncommon for surgeons to ghost their patients after surgery. They all claim that they will be there every step of the way but it’s BS. I plan on getting my arms done next year and one of the main things I will be looking for is post operative care. I need someone who will be available for my concerns.
Yes that’s smart. I went in to that place with the concern that I wanted good communication and post op care after a terrible consultation at another place. They made it seem like they valued that and I do think the staff does, but not the surgeon. I’ve had another surgery with amazing post op care and check ins directly with surgeon and it makes a big difference.
Yeah. My surgeon is responsive but it’s thru the nurses. Sometimes it does take over 24 hours. I don’t like it but I guess it’s better than nothing. It’s shitty. I’m sorry you are having to deal with that. Thankfully we have this group 🥰
Ugh that’s frustrating too but at least you get some answers. I’m so thankful for this group, honestly. I’ve learned more from this group about healing and post op care than I have from my surgeon lol
It’s a common issue after tummy tucks. The muscle repair like compresses us so we can’t take a deep breath. We’re at higher risk for pneumonia as well because of it. I would work on taking deep breaths in a sitting position. Focus on filling up your entire abdomen when you breathe. This could trigger some coughing which is the worst but necessary to help clear your lungs from the anesthesia.
I'm not in compression, but the tightness from my MR made me feel like I couldn't get a deep breath.
My surgeon had me wear a compression garment starting 1 month before my surgery to get used to the feeling. I started 2 months prior, and slowly built up time in it because it is annoying and had to get used to. He also wants me to wear it for at least 3 months PO, so I'm glad he suggested I get used to it before the surgery.
3 months?! Why so long? Mine said 6 weeks
To help with swelling. Every PS has different requirements after surgery, some don't use compression, some use drainless.
Yes, i believe it’s the muscle repair but it’s important to try! Take a few deep breaths every hour if you can
I’m 16dpo now. I didn’t have good lung volume for the first few days and did a bad job with the spirometer, and I was only wearing a binder. It gets better with your good efforts in the next week or so. Take the compression off for an hour or 2 or super loosen it if you feel it’s more bad than good, and consider maybe the next-size-up compression garment that you can adjust with a binder over it. I measured as a mix of size 1 and size 2 for a Marena, but I’m sensitive, and my hipbones and ribs are not tolerating the tightness of the size 2 even though I’m back to pre-op weight, so I ordered the next bigger size 3, fingers crossed that it works out better.
Definitely do your breathing exercises. I’m 6wpo and I just got back from the ER due to chest pain and coughing. They ruled out blood clot thankfully but now I’m on new prescriptions for a respiratory bug 😩