I'm wondering if I should purchase an abdominal binder? I will be traveling for my surgery and I'm nervous about my tummy getting bumped in a crowd or shuffling on a plane. Also, would it help with pain? I know some say just use a pillow...

If you can get one from a medical supply store do! It is very helpful the first month post-op. Especially if you have to fly to your surgery. Ask them to put it on you just after if you can. It helps support your muscles that where cut and need to heal. Men was my best friend!

They put one on me after surgery and I woke up in recovery with it! It was amazing. I would definitely recommend one.

I'm wondering if I should purchase an abdominal binder? I will be traveling for my surgery and I'm nervous about my tummy getting bumped in a crowd or shuffling on a plane. Also, would it help with pain? I know some say just use a pillow...

I used one for a week after surgery. It helped with car rides and just getting around the house in general. I also had hiatal and umbilical hernias repaired.

My doctor didn't recommend I use one but I did anyways. It made a world of difference with the pain level

Thanks for the replies. I was at a medical supply store looking at them with my husband and I wasn't going to get it. But he shoved it at me and said "You're getting it!" Now I'm glad I did. Surgery next week!

I was thinking about getting one but what about the tightness? Won't that be too much on our skin?

I haven't had surgery but I think that is why it's supposed to help; it holds stuff in place to prevent pulling. Especially for those of us whose surgeon does the extra deep muscle stitch. I was thinking it would be too hot, but the one I bought at the medical supply store seems pretty lightweight. I'll post in a week or so if it helps me.

Best wishes.

Think I'll stop on the way home tonight and check one out....thanks for the info!

Best wishes - you will do great!

I had a laproscopic hysterectomy and I loved my binder for the first month or so. It really helped with pain. Wishing you all success. My surgery is 5/7.

I wore my binder pretty much 24/7 except when I was in the shower for the first 3 weeks or so. It was the best thing ever. I got 2 of them (they out one on me in surgery and gave me another to take home) which was nice so I clips wash one at a time. If you have em put it on you in surgery, it will get blood sf stuff on it.

They never put one on me in the hospital, however I did buy one for home. It is the ONLY thing that enables me to sleep on my side comfortably. Best $10 I have ever spent.

I really don't understand as I never had much abdominal pain from the surgery..... my doctor used a technique where he injected long acting anesthetic near the insicion sites...(I had laporoscopic surgery) that lasted the first three days..... My Pain however DID settle into my back and was horrendous...... I think the abdominal binder might have helped that possibly I will say that after the long acting anesthetic wore off, my abdomen felt a little sore and felt like i had done a ton of sit ups but the discomfort was really not bad for me at all..... I had other issues from my surgery that overshadowed the abdomenal pain and made it not an issue. My back pain, my head pain, my nausea and vommitting took precedance. I guess I have a high pain tolerance as I live with chronic pain from RA and fibro...... I'm sort of surprised to see that so many suffered so much abdomenal pain...