Pain Question

[CarmenP 47]

Hello All,

I’m on Day 5 post-op of an Abdominoplasty (minus the muscle tightening).

I have a few questions for anyone who has done this and can maybe help?

1) My compression feels like I’m stuffing 2 pounds of sausage in a 1 pound casing. Should it BE that tight? Hubby says yes, that he made a point of asking the surgeon and then watching them do it while I was in recovery. My sides feel like they BURN (no incision, just like the skin is being rubbed raw!). I put an old cotton shirt under the compression garment, but it doesn’t feel like it’s helping. Could it be something under the skin that feels like it’s irritated or burning? Anyone feel this before?

2) How long did you feel so sore that you couldn’t sleep? The compression garment doesn’t help. It digs and digs - into my ribs, under my breasts, etc... I feel like I want to claw it into a million pieces!

3) I have drains that need to come out - hopefully Wednesday. I am actually terrified of this. Does it hurt? What is the process like? My surgeon only said, “it takes like 4 seconds and doesn’t hurt.” But I’m reading other people say it does and now I don’t know what the heck to believe.

It’s like the easiest part of this is the actual incision area! That barely hurts. But where the swelling is, where the skin is stretched so tight, where the garment rubs and digs, THAT is what hurts! I’m trying to avoid pain meds, haven’t taken them in a few days, but I’m slowly feeling like I *need* them - just to sleep. And I’m afraid of that feeling. Like I’m dependent.

I’m going on 2 days with like 2 or 3 hours of total sleep. And I feel crazy.

Thanks!

[anaxila 479]

The compression garment is supposed to be tight, and you neeeeeed to wear it. I stopped wearing mine too soon, and had complications that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. It sounds like yours is much tighter than mine, though - it was like a tight girdle or Spanx, but not so intrusive that I couldn’t sleep or that was actually painful. I’d talk to the surgeon’s team about that one. As for the drains, there really is nothing to worry about. It’s a small tugging sensation that lasts a couple of seconds at most, with absolutely no pain.

[CarmenP 47]

Thank you! I see the surgeon on Wed, and I’ll be sure to ask him how tightly he wants me bound. There’s got to be a happy middle ground between being stupid and taking it off and this agony. Lololol

[yes_anastasia 34]

Yes, the compression is essential to reduce swelling and avoid a seroma - tight is what you want. I had a compression garment and then also an Abdominal binder and still developed a seroma near the "T" in my tummy tuck/FDL.

Honestly, my breast lift/aug was more painful than the Tummy Tuck (I pretty much had total reconstruction - my surgeon said mine were in the worst shape he's seen in 22 years and that I have unusually thick/strong pec muscles which made things even harder). Just keep on that pain medication and make sure you are taking a stool softener/laxative. My first BM post-op literally ripped me apart.

It gets easier and easier! At 5.5 weeks PO I'm feeling about 90%, just wake up sore. It'll absolutely be worth it! 😃

[Stella S 344]

Mine was tight. Really tight. Swelling will go down. I hated my PS after each surgery. Who said keep eyes on the prize?

[TheRealMeIsHere! 816]

@CarmenP The compression should be tight enough that you feel well supported, but not so tight that it is making you so miserable. Certainly not so tight it rubs you raw! Is it a wrap-around Abdominal binder that can be adjusted? If not, are you much more swollen than right after surgery? That would be worth mentioning to your dr.

One thought, are you allergic to latex? There is probably latex in the compression garment.

Drains: #1 I AM A WIMP!! Drains being removed were not bad at all, kinda weird feeling, as there was more tube inside than I thought, lol! She just clipped the suture holding it & pulled it out.

As far as sleeping, sounds like it's the compression that's keeping you up, not surgery pain. I hope you are able to adjust the garment you have or get something else so you can get some needed healing sleep.

[mousecat88 1,462]

I had a full body compression garment and yes it was insanely tight. I had drains in my neck before and it didn't hurt at all when they pulled them. Not sure about stomach, but if the neck didn't hurt...

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

[Sosewsue61 3,037]

I hopeyou get relief from the pain soon, take the meds so you can at least sleep. Keep us posted.