Tips to reduce swelling?

mandi78 · October 5, 2007

Does anyone have any tips for reducing the belly swelling post-op? It's driving me crazy! My pants are tighter than before! How long will it take to go down?

StrawberryGrl · October 5, 2007

Most everyone would tell you to WALK WALK WALK! And they are right! Walking really does help cut down on all the bloating you're feeling, so do it as much as possible. Even if you start at only 15 minutes a day, it's better then nothing at all! I also found it helpful to put an ice pack on my stomach at night.

Hope this helps!

Iluvharleys · October 5, 2007

It usually goes down in a week or so. I second the walking, it helps more than anything else does.

TulipStar · October 5, 2007

Mine didn't go down until 3 weeks po (this week). It was soo frustrating to have tight pants after I lost 15lbs.

You can also try a natural swelling reducer called bromelain. They have it at the Vitamin shoppe or any other health food store. I took it for another surgery I had to reduce swelling.

Candle · October 5, 2007

walk walk walk to get rid of the bloating from gas

ice ice ice to get rid of the surgical swelling. I had an ice pack on my stomach every time I laid down for the first week. I had very little discomfort - even at the port site - and I think all that ice had a lot to do with it.

faithmd · October 5, 2007

I still have some swelling down in the fascia where it was manipulated to sew the port in place. The PA in my surgeon's office says she sees that from time to time.

My post-op swelling from the gas, etc. was almost four weeks. Walking, walking, walking and ice packs.