I had another good day today. I found a very comfortable (for now) reclining position on my bed. I moved around quite a bit inside my condo and also realized I was standing up straight and not feeling any pull or soreness in the ab area. I also find getting in/out of bed pretty easy now. I am still not overly fast in this area (as one would have noticed when I heard a car honk, screaching tires and a crash outside my bedroom window today) but faster than yesterday none the less.
I also learned today some uses of the abdominal muscles. You don’t realize some of their uses til you don’t have them to use, or should I say they are too sore to use :)
One, abs are used for coughing. I was taking a sip of my juice this afternoon when I accidentally took a breath and started hacking up a lung. I am sure my stomach wanted to come up too, as well as my small intestine, large intestine, bladder et al. I was crying by the time I was done, it hurt so much. When you cough, you use your ab muscles. I felt like I was being ripped apart from the inside out. Tears people, excruiating pain.
Two, abs are used for farting. I was sitting here this evening feeling my tummy get all gurgly and bubbly. I have bowel issues on my good days as most of my readers know this, but normally I have no issues releasing gas. However did you know, that one uses their abs to release said gas? Well now you do. What happens if you cannot use the abs? Well it goes back in…and tries again 5 minutes later or so. With each new try I begged my butt to release the gas as it kept getting more and more uncomfortable. I felt I was ready to explode! I got up and walked around a bit, shook my booty, released a bit and took a Ducolax. That will learn you, I said to my butt after swallowing the little pill.
Sure hope I don’t have to use my abs to have a bowel movement…usually with Ducolax I take it and the next morning just happens (cramps and all). I believe I can deal with the cramps, but with my luck folks, I use my abs for that too and just don’t know it…yet. LMAO. Will let you know in the morning :(
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Oh Trish, I’m sorry for the pain you are in, but when you described begging your butt to just release the fart I about died laughing. Your incisions look fantastic! Hope the healing time goes fast for you!
By Jo on 08.07.05 1:40am | Permalink
LMAO@ you doing the booty shake/gas release. I’m sorry for your pain…but that description is too funny. You’re just keeping it real. :)
By Courtney on 08.07.05 10:20am | Permalink
Oh Trish……I feel your pain, girl. My tummy tuck/breast lift (after losing 115 lbs.) was 6 weeks ago. Brace your tummy area with a firm pillow when that Dulcolax “kicks in”. Hang in there; the first 2 weeks are the toughest and then it’s all good. Sneezing and choking/coughing was really rough; also, I tried to watch a Chris Rock DVD and laughed myself into some serious pain. Don’t attempt anything too hilarious, at first!
By Noelle on 08.07.05 10:40am | Permalink
LOL i love the Farting research!!!!! So funny…. never knew that … and knowing is half the battle! I’m glad that you’re getting around… and that sense of humor is intact!!! : )
By margie on 08.07.05 12:58pm | Permalink
OMG, so glad I haven’t had my surgery yet! I was laughing so hard!!!
By Julie on 08.07.05 9:22pm | Permalink
Ouch!
Noelle is right, though. If you will cradle a pillow to your tummy when you cough, it seems to limit that I’m-gonna-pop-my-stitches sensation (and some of that pain, too)!
By Gina on 08.08.05 11:48am | Permalink