Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: Jellyb on October 28, 2016, 08:31:23 AM

Title: Apron - question
Post by: Jellyb on October 28, 2016, 08:31:23 AM
Hi
I've seen a couple of ladies on here refer to the fact that "their apron has dropped".
Sorry to be a bit thick, but what does that mean?
Thanks.
Title: Re: Apron - question
Post by: Tinkerbell on October 28, 2016, 09:22:25 AM
Stomach overhang ;)
Title: Re: Apron - question
Post by: Ju Ju on October 28, 2016, 09:28:39 AM
I'm not sure if this is what you mean. When I had 2 large babies close together, the skin and muscles of my abdomen dropped permanently and was referred to as apron. Fortunately, I was able to have restorative surgery. I suspect that with age the abdomen muscles are weaker and there is a tendency to put fat on around the abdomen, which put more strain on the muscles, thus the stomach droops like an apron, though hopefully not as dramatically as I experienced.
Title: Re: Apron - question
Post by: CLKD on October 28, 2016, 11:41:31 AM
Medically speaking the 'apron' is the area below the breasts, i.e. tummy - which can be taut when we are younger but moves southwards as oestrogen levels drop off and muscles become lax.  I noticed mine went south about 2 years ago so from above I look fat  :-\ …….. but I'm not!
Title: Re: Apron - question
Post by: Jellyb on October 28, 2016, 12:39:58 PM
OK, thanks for clarifying. :)
Title: Re: Apron - question
Post by: CLKD on October 28, 2016, 04:58:24 PM
Clear as mud?  ::)
Title: Re: Apron - question
Post by: Hurdity on October 28, 2016, 07:31:51 PM
It's not a medical term surely?! It sounds like a funny nickname and always cracks me up when I read about it as I imagine women in their pinnies suddenly round their ankles  ;D

OK I've just looked it up and it sounds disgusting! It's a term for the front skin from obese people and not most of us:

"abdominal apron A layer of fat covered by skin on the anterior abdominal wall of obese and formerly obese patients, which, when it hangs over folds of skin, can form a site for fungal growth."  :o :o

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/abdominal+apron

Yuk!

Hurdity x
Title: Re: Apron - question
Post by: CLKD on October 28, 2016, 07:38:40 PM
 ::) - it's a medical term for …… etc., etc., etc. (ex-Med Sec. ……. ). 
Title: Re: Apron - question
Post by: Hurdity on October 28, 2016, 07:52:24 PM
In that case CLKD you don't have one to drop as you're not obese!!!!!

Hurdity x
Title: Re: Apron - question
Post by: Ju Ju on October 29, 2016, 01:05:59 PM
The op I had in 1986, could be done for people who had lost a lot of weight and had the apron of skin. I suppose I had lost a lot of weight too! 10lb baby carried in front on a slim frame! Apparently didn't look pregnant from behind. I had it done on the NHS, for which I shall always be grateful. To give you an idea of the problem I was asked when my baby was due, when my son was 5 months old. I didn't have a problem being referred for the op, but was told they didn't like doing it for people who had lost a lot of weight as they may put the weight back on. I had to ensure I couldn't become pregnant again. Stellajane is probably right that it is difficult to get the op done under those circumstances. I wonder if I would have been able to have this op now without funding it myself,  despite the discomfort, need for physical support and obvious emotional impact.
Title: Re: Apron - question
Post by: CLKD on October 29, 2016, 03:27:11 PM
Nowt to do with being obese  ::) - in my case it's the drop of oestrogen = laxity of muscles which include those in the tummy region.  Which makes me appear bigger  >:( when I look downwards …… as well as slightly floppier than previously.  A bit like a jelly ……..
Title: Re: Apron - question
Post by: CLKD on October 29, 2016, 03:48:08 PM
Apparently although some ladies have lost weight with the help of various NHS support systems, the NHS won't remove the large amounts of muscle/fat that are left !!!!  ……… so demoralising.

I look fine when I'm in bed with the blankets over me  ;D  ;)
Title: Re: Apron - question
Post by: cubagirl on October 29, 2016, 09:56:30 PM
I was fine until around my mid 40's. Seemed to happen overnight. I was distraught. Not huge, but unsightly. I spoke with a fellow work colleague & she, like me, had C sections. I had two C sections, an ectopic pregnancy & hysterectomy all done in approximately same area of abdomen. So guess my muscles were screwed. Weight loss hasn't made a bit of difference. I'm a bit overweight, but certainly not obese.