Swelly Belly

Hi all,

I am 7 weeks post op, feeling totally fine, but still getting the so called swelly Belly. I’ve been eating a lot more healthy than before, and the swelling has gone down a lot, but still by the end of the day I have a proper little belly low down. Has anyone else experienced this so long after? Starting to get me down, have to wear ‘comfy’ clothes to work and feel very self conscious.

Dear Ashley87,

I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and loss,

Sadly I am not medically trained so cannot give you specific advice on your symptoms, but bloatedness is a reaction to the operation and the inflammation following this. The length of time it continues varies, but it should settle within six weeks. If it continues for longer it may be a sign that you have some ongoing infection and you should see your GP.

Please ensure you haven’t been doing too much, General advice is that you should take it very easily for about six weeks after surgery. Your body will be using its energies to heal internally. It is normal to feel physically and emotionally exhausted during this time and please do be kind to yourself. Recovery can take time and some days will be better than others, one day you maybe ok and the next you maybe in discomfort or more emotional. This is perfectly usual and the healing process will go back and forth in this way for however long you need. It is important to listen to your body’s signals and pain and feeling tired are your body’s signs to tell you to rest. We suggest keeping a healthy balanced diet, drinking lots of water and resting. Once your wounds have healed, very gentle exercise such as a short walk can help, but please do take this slowly.

Sending much love,

Karen x


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