GIRDLE/BACK BRACES

Ok I am in the stages of getting approval. A very dear friend of mine told me that they knew some people who had the GB surgery and she was told that for months after the surgery a back brace had to be worn by patients as well as some kind of girdle. Any truth to that? If so what kind of back brace and why?

In over 3 years of haunting OH and 4 years of actively researching WLS and GB, that is a completely new one on me. The binder (girdle without leg holes) is pretty common IF you have open bypass surgery, and rare for laproscopic surgeries....but have never heard of anyone needing a back brace. Though, I'd imagine they might if they had severe back issues unrelated to the surgery itself.

Thanks, I have read almost everything I can about the GB Surgery and not once have I seen a mandatory back brace or girdle. I asked a RN that I know, and Nope. I am learning that there will always be somebody who is going to talk against me having it done.

You got it It's like pregnancy...there will always be those with horror stories, and yet they have more than one kid - so how bad could it have been? LOL

A lot of surgeons put an abdominal binder on their patients immediately after surgery. I woke up wearing one---but I took it off on the second day post-op. Some people swear by them, but others, like me, hate 'em. I had an open DS, and either I swelled more than the surgical team anticipated, or they tried to squeeze me into too small a binder---whatever, by Day 2 the d*mned thing was pinching me in two!!! It was rolling down from the top and up from the bottom, and literally cutting into my flesh. My nurse offered to bring me a larger one, but the one she brought wrapped around me twice with some left over---it was impossible to draw it tight enough to do any good. I didn't use one, and I was feeling good by about 3 weeks post-op. I've read posts from folks who DID wear one constantly for several weeks, and were finding it uncomfortable to 'go without' at 8 weeks post-op. My idea is that the less you come to depend on ANYTHING, the sooner you'll feel 'normal' again.

The reason for wearing the binder is to give you support and to prevent a hernia. You are extremely vulnerable to a hernia right after the surgery - particularly if its open but it can happen even to laproscopic patients. My surgeon has his patients with open surgery wear one for 8 weeks. It wasn't comfortable, but a hernia soon after surgery can cause a heap of trouble and might even require an immediate repair. Also, many people who get a hernia stop losing weight until it is repaired. So, I wore the binder to prevent complications and it worked. I have a hernia now, but I am a year post-op and it's not such a big deal. I'll be getting the hernia repaired and a tummy tuck at the same time, courtesy of my insurance company. Ruth S 379/215/175?

Thanks for the responses.

I too woke up from surgery with a binder on... too tight and too big. I cut one row off and that made it better but each time I wear it, my ribs end up killing me so I took it off and said to hell with it! I am very protective of my belly and praying I don't get a hernia but I just couldn't stand the pain in my ribs from the binder.