Abdominal binder?
Good morning. I have surgery in 2 weeks (tomorrow I start the dreaded post-op liquid diet) and have been thinking about buying one of these abdominal binders. Has anyone used one? Do you recommend them? If so, any particular one?
I am getting so nervous! I have two weeks off after the surgery, I hope that is enough time!
Thanks!
Age: 34 / Height 5' 8" / Starting weight July 2015: 446.0 lbs / Surgery Date & Weight: 1/19/16 - 320.4 / Lost pre-op: 125.6lbs / Goal Weight: 180 lbs
I used a binder for about a month. It gave me back support and kept me more comfortable. I got mine at the medical supply store and my insurance paid for it.
Years ago the hospital gave everyone a binder after abdominal surgery. That is not done now due to cost savings. It is well worth getting one. I wore it all day and while sleeping. I had no problems with my incisions.
Real life begins where your comfort zone ends
Let your surgeon decide. Some use them, most don't. They all have valid reasons. If yours thinks that you should wear one, wear it. Otherwise, don't worry about it.
6'3" tall, male.
Highest weight was 475. RNY on 08/21/12. Current weight: 198.
M1 -24; M2 -21; M3 -19; M4 -21; M5 -13; M6 -21; M7 -10; M8 -16; M9 -10; M10 -8; M11 -6; M12 -5.
I didn't need one for the VSG. I did use one for my tummy tuck, but don't think it would be helpful for the VSG.
best wishes,
Carol
Surgery May 1, 2013. Starting Weight 385, Surgery Weight 333, Current Weight 160. At GOAL!
Weight loss Pre-op 1-20 2-17 3-15 Post-op 1-20 2-18 3-15 4-14 5-16 6-11 7-12 8-8
9-11 10-7 11-7 12-7 13-8 14-6 15-3 16-7 17-3 18-3
on 1/4/16 7:48 am - WI
I don't think you will need a binder if your surgery is laparoscopic. Most VSG's are lap surgeries. If your surgery is an open surgery, they would be cutting through a lot of muscle and tissue and a binder might be helpful.
HW 270 SW 236 GW 160 CW 145 (15 pounds below goal!)
VBG Aug. 7, 1986, Revised to RNY Nov. 18, 2010
I wore the binder while in the hospital over night but haven't since. The pre-op liquid diets sucks out loud, the worse is about the first 5 days, after that it becomes a lot easier, at least it did for me, I would speculate the first 5 days were the carb withdraw. What I did was drink my Premier Protein shakes I got at costco, my zero calorie sobe lifewaters and as much sugar free jello as I wanted. I lost 30lbs in 12 days prior to surgery.
My doctor didn't require me to have one after surgery and I felt no need for one.
Having had to use a binder after plastics I can tell you that a binder may actually make things a bit worse for you right after VSG. It can cause gastric reflux to behave a little worse and it can make it even tougher to get food in.
Tracy 5'3" HW: 235 SW: 218 CW: 132 M1: -22 M2: -13 M3: -12 M4: -9 M5: -8 M6: -10 M7: -4
Goal reached in 7 months and 1 week!
Lower Body Lift w/Dr. Barnthouse 7-8-15
I bought a cheap $5 binder that people use when they workout. I only used it when I bicycled or walked. It stopped my tummy from jiggling. I would only wear it for about an hour a day. I was worried that it might do damage to the inside stitches, but the support was great for exercise. I only used it for about 2 weeks.
Age 61 5'4" Consult-6/2/15: 238 SW-8/4/15: 210 CW:145 (6/30/18) M1-16#, M2-17#, M3-14#, M4-10#, M5-6#, M6-5#, M7-1#, M8 -3# Range 133-138 DexaScan 4/16/17 19% body fat---- 2016 wt avg 142-146, 2017, wt. avg 132-136, 2018 avg weight 144-146 bounce back is real.
I was given a binder in the hosp the next day after surgery...I laid down and when I woke up the binder had slipped and rolled up! It was the worse burning pain I had in the hospital...I told my nurse and she tried to help me adjust it to no avail...I wouldn't even try one if I was to have another VSG.
