Hi everyone

I am curious to know how long it takes for the internal swelling disapear.

I am 10 days post-op and 16lbs healthier . I look thinner and my belly looks smaller however when I tried to wear a pant that was fitting normally before surgery I noticed it is a bit tight at the waist, the rest is loose. I was surprised by it? I am not constipated so I am guessing it is internal swelling. Did it happen to any of you? How long for the waist to start getting smaller?

It took me about a month or so for the swelling to go down. I did go through a terrible recovery period. Usually, it's said that the recovery period lasts about 2 weeks. I guess it took me longer because I started at 322 lbs and I didn't really stay down on the couch for long. I tried doing things when I shouldn't have and paid for that mistake.

Well first of all the surgery creates a lot of swelling and most your inital body weight is going to be water. Second we didn't become overweight all at one time.. It takes time to get everything going. Right now you need to concentrate more on healing and getting to the point where you can get to solid foods. Right now you cant even control the amount of calories in your diet. I have only been able to get in no more than about 400 calories a day. I know that I have got to get to around 800-1200 calories a day before I can get my weight going in the opposite direction. Right now I cant get that many with liquids..So don't really be that hard on yourself.. Let yourself heal

Great advice from NFJEF. Just take your time. Take measuring tape measures for the future. Sometimes you lose inches and not pounds. Many people have a stall in the first few weeks too, so consider yourself normal if this happens. Just eat well, drink your water and walk... it will all happen on your bodies own time. I didn't have that much swelling that I could tell, but my waist has gone down around an inch or two in the past 4 weeks.

I measured before surgery and a week after surgery. I gained almost 4 inches in my belly. It took three weeks to get to pre surgery size even though I was losing.

That is an interesting question, my pants were soon falling off except for the waist. I thought it took literally a long time to get it to shrink, maybe like a few months until I really felt I had NO internal swelling.

Interesting!!! I wonder what makes it swollen for so long. Maybe the huge drain hurt some areas inside the belly?

I am 19 days post opt and I have been feeling the same way! I want to see some results in the tummy section.. I know I still have swelling also.. I do notice a part in the upper midsection under my breasts is slimmed a bit.. I visited the Dr. this week and Im down 25lbs since I last visited right before the surgery which is great, but I dont really feel it lol So I guess one thing is we cant really control where the weight is gonna shed from... Hopefully we will be seeing some positive changes in the next month or so!

You had 80-85% of a vital organ removed, stay patient with your body it is incredibly dramatic and swelling is our bodies way of protecting itself. Good luck to you and I hope you feel well soon.

Anna