Abd Binder

[dahliflower]

I am 5 days post op VSG and I am still wearing my abdominal binder. When do I stop wearing it? I did not get a clear answer from my surgeon or the hospital after discharge.

 

[StephT]

I learned that abdominal binder use varies quite a bit by surgeon. The binder is used primarily for comfort and support during the first few days to a few weeks after surgery. Some patients stop wearing it after a few days because they find it uncomfortable, while others continue wearing it for several weeks because it helps reduce soreness and makes moving around feel easier.

My doctor had me wear the abdominal binder for around a month. At first it was not comfortable but the nurse suggested wearing a thin t-shirt under the binder and it made all the difference. I wore it 24 hours a day the first month and only to sleep in for 2 additional weeks. The last 2 weeks were optional but by that time I had become used to wearing the binder and honestly felt strange without it!

 

[dianeseattle]

I am 5 days post op VSG and I am still wearing my abdominal binder. When do I stop wearing it? I did not get a clear answer from my surgeon or the hospital after discharge.

I loved that binder. I had an open procedure, stayed in the hospital for 3 days post-op, and when I went home, I was in tremendous pain without the binder. I remembered that weightlifters wore some kind of binder, so I went to a sporting goods store, where I bought a wraparound binder and I loved it. I wore it for months after surgery, so I could do light weight training at the gym, and anytime I was doing any kind of labor (my usual sort of employment). I grew up during the Fifties and Sixties, when women wore girdles all the time, so it felt very normal to offer abdominal support to my curvy body. You probably could do an Internet search for others who have the same questions you do about it.