New Here, Couple of Questions

Hi I am Kali from SI,NY. I just had open RNY on 5/9/07 with Dr. Howard Beaton at Mt Sinai Hospital.  1) Has anyone else who posts here used Dr Beaton? 2) For anyone that had their RNY Open were you given a binder to wear? I was not, and truthfully didn't even know what one was until I saw someone talking about it on one of the other forums. I am thinking maybe each surgeon is different and all don't use them. If I wanted to though, can I buy one somewhere and wear it? What exactly does it help? 3) I've been having on and off for 3 days, these sharp pains that turn into a burning and sort of radiate up for a few seconds on my right side. At first I was thinking I pulled a muscle because it first happened when I reached up to unlock my bedroom window. But it hurt so bad last night I had my surgeon paged to call me, and I brough up internal hernia to him and he said hes not concerned in my case because I don't have pain associated with another symptom like fever or vomitting. But do you always have to have something else associated with pain to have something like an IH or bowel obstruction? Any info is appreciated! Thanks! Kali

I can only answer question #2.  I had open RNY and was wrapped in a binder right after surgery.  I was told to wear it for 2 months.  It helps support your stomach muscles.  I wore it day and night for the first month and wore it during the day and slept without it the second month.  I guess every surgeon has their own way of doing things.  Of course you can buy one and wear it.  Just make sure you leave enough room and don't wear it too tightly so it's uncomfortable.  I had to keep cutting mine down because it kept getting too big.  Hope that helps.

Where can I get a binder? A medical supply store?