Hi, Can anyone tell me if it is Normal for my stomach to be so large I look pregnant? Someone actually ASKED me today if I was! It is mostly between the top of my pants to under the breasts and I am 6 days post op. I do not feel any pain other than the gas that I am walking on treadmill for but feel so LARGE. Any comments would be appreciated...ty Karen Swan

It took me about 3 weeks post op for the swelling to go down. I even had to go out and buy some elastic banded pants because none of my work pants fit.

Don't worry, the swelling WILL go down. It'll just take a little while. I don't know about you, but my normal stomach position is sucked in all day and when you have surgery you just can't suck it in - which makes it seem that much more huge!

Good luck!

My stomach was also very swollen and I am 9 days post op. Though I do feel it strinking. I told my doc at my 1 week follow-up that my port is my new little baby.

I had "bubble-gut" too. It went down in less than a month. I remember thinking how weird it was that it was so solid. I would put my hand flat on it and it would not give. I am usually squishy, but looked moderately pregnant for more than 2 weeks. I carried my real pregnancy well and I am large enough that I was the only one who noticed. It felt like an NSV when I realized it was gone.

Thank you for your answers. I also can not believe how "Full" it feels. I was beginning to wonder if the whole thing was some kind of hemorrhoid. I will sure be looking forward to having this diminish !

I am so glad I am not the only one. It's so scary to get banded in Mexico, come home and swell up like this. What makes it worse for me is that I have already had a tummy tuck so I am TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT! I pray it goes down very soon. Reading this thread makes me feel a little better.

I asked that very question at my 2 week post-op appointment and was told that it can take 4-6 weeks for all the swelling to subside so hand in there. Better days are coming.

On the same subject, Can you feel your port?

After My op I could feel it very easily, now Im feeling around in the same place and others for that matter and I cant locate it.

Hi, I really don't know how to use this. But my daughter is not here. To answer your question. I was done on the 5 of this month. 11 days ago, I am still waiting to give birth. However, I do feel more like 7 months instead of 9. I had a rough side step after I was done. I met the big guy.. My doctor was wonderful. In this case study starting 1997, I was the first one of their clients to have a bad reaction to the blood thinner. I spent 6 days ICU I needed 5 pts of blood. So I am thinking that because of this I am feeling all bloated. I happy to know it’s normal. I know many people that have this done and they have left me in the dust. Deep breathing walking and getting someone to rub your back while you lean on a counter arms stretched out. Does seem to help. If I had to guess, I would say 3 weeks tops maybe twins. Feel better.

I can see my port.

It was my understanding that they "blow you up" with some kind of air for the surgery, and I remember it taking awhile for that to all disappear too. I kept looking at my port-site and wondering what was wrong, the swelling was huge! For me, seemed the soreness and swelling went away at about the same pace...hang in there, you're still healing, and it will get better soon!!

Thank you all for your comments! I do feel a little better, but am now 12 days post op and sill swollen. To answer another question, yes, I also can feel my port. It sometimes even rises to a small mound (seems this area swells as well at times, at least for me....). Can not wait till the swelling goes down. Feels horrible to have top portion of stomach look so large....(although this is really only problem I have post op, so should be grateful~~~Attempting to stop whining~~~lol)