"My surgery countdown is on. I have 7 days until "Go Time" Of course, I am reading a whole bunch and getting prepared with the shopping list and mentally as much as I can... But I was wondering if everyone is sent home with an abdominal binder ? I keep coming across it on some the sites that I visit and some people saying that it works really well and helped them. I was wondering if it worked for anyone else ? Also, are you sent home with one or would I purchase this separately ?

I wasn't sent home with an ab binder but I bought one and thank God I did. Was a god send the first few weeks.

I plan to ask my surgeon about this. I think it would help just to hold everything in place. The less movement, the less pain. I remember this after my gallbladder surgery.

My doctor said it would be a waste. He said just to hold a pillow to you when getting up. That worked for me. Pain wasn't there that long.

I've never even heard of this. Good luck!

Never thought it was a 'waste' for me. It helped me when I went walking.

26 minutes ago, sc101071 said:

My doctor said it would be a waste. He said just to hold a pillow to you when getting up. That worked for me. Pain wasn't there that long.

I disagree. I had a pillow and it was only helpful when sitting. I couldn't walk until the nurse wrapped gauze around my belly, and that slipped off easily. I wish I had brought a binder. It would have been a huge help. I'm 6 days post-op, it would still be great to have one. Where can I get one now???

I disagree. I had a pillow and it was only helpful when sitting. I couldn't walk until the nurse wrapped gauze around my belly, and that slipped off easily. I wish I had brought a binder. It would have been a huge help. I'm 6 days post-op, it would still be great to have one. Where can I get one now???

I bought mine online at Amazon

And for me it wasn't for pain it helped with the trapped gas.

I only used a pillow when I started coughing. Never used anything like a binder at all.

I am having surgery tomorrow

My doctor advises the use of an abdominal binder. We are to have it on before we get up to walk for the first time after surgery. He says it is very helpful. He also says that if the nurses forget to get us one, to remind them before we get up lol.

RN on surgical floor and soon to b pt myself, yes abdominal binders are on everyone of our bypass n sleeve pts. Helps hold everything in place to relieve the pressure and pain. A lot of belly drs make their pts wear them.

My surgeon provided one and it was a massive help.

I bought one for myself and found it indispensable the first several days after surgery.

I woke up from surgery with a binder on. For me, it helped when getting in and out of bed or chairs at first. Also, I had a funny sensation that my insides were shifting the first week or so when I walked. The binder helped stabilize my jiggly belly so the incisions wouldn't pull or move.
I decided to remove my binder for good at the end of week two.
Good luck!!