Stage 2 compression garment?

Question for LBL post-ops/veterans.  Did you eventually transition to a stage 2 compression garment or did you wear the same stage 1 garment your doctor gave you immediately after surgery? 

The stage 1 gamet I'm in  incorporates an abdominal binder, which is good but it s heavy and bulky so hard to disguise under clothes. 

For those of you who transitioned to stage 2 garments, at what point did you do so?

Thanks in advance....

Michelle

I did not have a binder.... just a compression garment.  No transitioning to another garment for me.  I guess every doctor does it differently.

I had an extended TT, but the first week I was in a binder, at that appointment I tried on compression garments and they were ordered then. By the time they arrived it was 10 days past my surgery date (the office prefered to wait until after the TT to know exactly what size I would need).

The compression garment I use now is not as comfortable as the binder but it helps so much with swelling. And overall the garment is comfortable it is just I am wearing it 23 hours a day (except when I shower). I have two sets so I am constantly washing and wearing.

This is what my surgeon's office ordered for me (not this company-but this is the garment).

http://marenagroup.com/store/product/tabid/199/p-85-1st-stage-girdle-with-short-legs.aspx

Hope this helps.

I started with a stage 1 high waisted marena garment that the PS office supplied me with.  I moved to the same garment but stage 2 at about 3 or 4 weeks.

This is what I used

http://marenagroup.com/store/product/tabid/199/p-36-2nd-stage-body-suit-with-suspenders-and-short-legs.aspx

Transitioned to stage 2 at 6 weeks. Yes it is very hard to disguise under clothes...at least to be cute anyway!

Michelle, I am glad that you asked this question. I didn't realize that there was a 2nd stage for the compression garments as I really didn't ask Agha about these details. I've certainly learned about some good options in this thread should the doc's office not provide a 2nd stage garment.

My doc said once my drains were out I could transition to stage 2 which was at 2 weeks however I did wear the stage 2 once in awhile when I wanted to look really nice but I did not feel it had the support or the compression that the binder had so I still contnue to wear the binder at nite and most of the time in the day unless getting dressed up to go out then I war the stage 2 I think it is just a matter of preference sometimes I wear them both if I feel like I am going to be super active like walking around disnetland all day two days ago. Happy New Year and best wishes to you cheers MO

Thanks for all the input, everyone.  Seems there isn't one set path here.  I'll ask my doc and see what he says.  It would be great to get out of this binder/heavy garment but I won't do so if its not the right time.  Fortunately, I haven't had much swelling yet and would hate to jinx things by switching. 

BTW, here's the contraption I'm wearning now:

Michelle,

Please do let us know what Agha says in reply to your question!

Also, it's funny, the garment he gave me looks very similar to the one you show in the photo, but mine doesn't have the white part sewn onto the front. Another patient in the office who had her appt after me on the day that you and I met showed me hers and it was like yours. I guess I have a mutant garment!

~Cin

P.S. How was your rockin' NYE in bed/recliner? Mine was pretty boring, I ordered a movie On Demand... Hopefully my hot new bod will help me NOT be spending NYE alone in 2010!

Cindy,

Haha re: NYE.  You partied better than I did, at least you treated yourself to an OnDemand movie!  I did some work and then fell asleep at 11 pm.  My thoughts exactly about next NYE... I plan to be (and look good) wearing a very little black dress and dancinig the night away!!! : )

Will let you know what Dr. Agha says about the garment.  You're lucky you got the mutant one!  The connecting binder is what is bugging me and what I can't hide under clothes.  Otherwise I'd be okay with this thing.

Happy New Year!