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Silly vanity question after resection

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Posted 3/28/2011 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
For the first time after my resection, I put on a pair of jeans today. I picked my biggest pair. I have lost about 18 pounds total, including the month before the resection with a partial blockage. I was expecting my jeans to barely fit, but they weren't loose at all. How is that possible? Could I still be bloated from the surgery 3 weeks ago? These jeans fit before my surgery, but are a boyfriend cut so they are meant to be loose.

I was at a good weight and don't want to buy new clothes, I just expected with an almost 20lb weight loss that my clothes would not fit. I can see the weight loss on me, but it isn't showing in my clothes. weird! I thought I would have to dig out my spare(smaller) clothes bag from the attic, but they are out of style by now. Any explanations?
Posted 3/28/2011 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
You are most likely still bloated/swollen from the surgery. Remember, even if it doesn't look like it from the outside, you had major surgery inside.

My jeans were still tight in the waist when I went back to work 6 weeks after my surgery even though I had lost over 15 lbs. Your scale and your eyes show a big weight loss, your waist will probably get smaller over the next few weeks as you recover from the surgery.
Posted 3/28/2011 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
I think Dagger is so right Zanne. It'll go sweetie (((hugs)))
Posted 3/28/2011 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
You have to remember that after abdominal surgery your muscles are not as fit as they were pre-surgery and some of the abdominal wall is probably letting those bowels sag out a little more until you can tighten things up. So...the inchese are looser for now. So sorry to follow the problems you've been having and hope that things are starting to turn around now.
Posted 3/28/2011 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
I am jealous of all of you that can actually wear jeans! I've been wearing stretch waistband pants for years now (LL Bean has the best ones). Jeans just put too much pressure on my painful abdomen. I doubt I will ever wear them again, no matter how much weight I lose (which I did lose 35 pounds when I first got this fistula). I have put back on about 10 pounds, but I am hopeful that after my surgery, I will lose that 10 again.

But I do remember from previous surgery there is definitely bloating and lack of muscle tone that changes the way clothes fit for a while. Don't worry, you will get your shape back :)

Sudsmom
Posted 3/28/2011 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys. I have 2 events coming up in the next few weeks. Meeting my daughters fiance' family and I have no idea what I will be able to wear. Just one more thing I have no energy to think about. I guess it will be some stretchy outfit even though they are casual parties and I was hoping to wear my loose stylish jeans and look hip and young! sigh!
Posted 3/28/2011 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Zanne- have you thought about wearing a dress like top, with a waist length sweater, over some jeans, with some flats? That would be look stylish, casual, and the longer top or dress would hide your abdomen, with the sweater/cardigan/or jacket slimming you at the waist. :)

JMHO...lol. I hope my thoughts are welcome! I have been trying to find ways to hide my bloating from tummy issues without looking pregnant. Ha! So I saw your post and wanted to offer what has worked for me. :)

Blessings,
-Megan
Posted 3/29/2011 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
I remember the first time I looked at my body post-surgery and thought 'That's not me!!" My abdomen was so swollen. Also, two years later, my abs have never been totaly flat again. I am a size 2 work out and do lots and lost of ab work. (Except right now since I am pregnant.) I think the problem is the position of my scar. I found wearing spanx helps. Good luck.
Posted 3/29/2011 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
I have more than one size of jeans and never know until I try them which will fit. Its a gas .I hate the ones with elastic but they make things easier .
Posted 3/29/2011 12:15 PM (GMT 0)
I only wore the jeans for 45 minutes cause they were too uncomfortable around my middle, especially down my incision. I was just really surprised that they actually stayed up after losing so much weight. I think it will end up being leggings and a long sweater to my parties. Unless something dramatic changes, my incision is not going back into jeans for quite some time!
Posted 3/29/2011 12:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thinking about it Zanne, I'm almost sure it was about 6 mths before my incision allowed jeans!!
Posted 3/29/2011 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with Vicky, it takes awhile. After my recent kidney surgery, I had a similar issue for awhile. Now I am still in my smaller clothes, but the weight is coming back some, so I will probably soon be going to the medium size ones. Hugs!
Posted 3/29/2011 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't worn jeans in years, only loose pants, often maternity cotton pants.
I hope I can put on a pair of jeans after my recovery too.

Zanne, are you feeling a little better now?
Posted 3/29/2011 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
I cant stand the lack of flexibility in jeans, so uncomfortable. Im 2 months post op this week and am only just getting back into normal clothes. But my healing wound doesnt like zippers much. I have a holiday in 3 weeks and need to get into my linen summer trousers all 5 pairs. Oh and ive lost 15lb but stomach still bloaty
Posted 3/29/2011 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
I had a resection of the sigmoid colon, so my incision started above the belly button down to the pubic bone. I could not wear jeans for a long time just b/c of the soreness of my incision. I had to wear very loose fitting elastic pants for at least 8 weeks. I was a little swollen but not all that much. The incision is dark and ugly though. Ugh!
Posted 3/29/2011 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
I had that 4 1/2 hour pelvic reconstruction Dec. 14. I went into the hospital weighing 132. I lost 4 units of blood, replaced with 2, and ate only one piece of toast during the 3 days I was there. I got on the scale the minute I got home and weighed 142! A 10 pound gain in 3 days. The weight came off in about a week.

However, 3 months later, my jeans are still tight in the waist - and I did NOT have any abdominal muscles cut. What I think happened in my case is that they put my intestines, bladder and rectum back in the proper places and that pushed everything upwards.

Frustrating......I totally empathize Suzanne.
Posted 3/29/2011 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
You are right Ides! I never even thought of that. Head slap! The surgeon took everything out and examined it all then put it all back in. Of course it isn't in the same place it was. DUH!

I'm still having more pain every day and I know that is so not right. I have a call in to my GI, but I think the message got lost so I will call again tomorrow. This is just the silly stuff I am trying to focus on instead of the more stressful stuff like "why am I still having more pain every day instead of less". We are meeting my daughters fiance's mother in a 2 weeks and then the next weekend we are meeting the other side of his family. Of course I want to look my best, and so I will probably end up online shopping. There are worse fates!
Posted 3/29/2011 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
Zanne, more pain every day doesn't sound right. I had the odd day that was a little rougher than the day before, but in general, things are getting better every week, in regard to incisional pain and internal pain. The "d" and bowel spasms are pretty bad still.
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