Abdominal binder

Did your doctor require you to wear an abdominal binder? For how long? Mine says 2 months and he wants it TIGHT. The nurse says "think Gone with the Wind" tight. I like the snug safe feeling of it but I can imagine alot of people not complying with this. What are the reasons for wearing a binder for 2 months? Im going to ask him on the 6th at my follow up but was wondering if any vets knew.

 I was never told how long to wear it, but it started getting loose on me right away. I wore it until I felt I could sleep on my side comfortabley without it.  Another girl in my support group wasnt even given one, even though we have the same surgeon.  

Mine will never get lose. Its velcro and just clings to itself. I trimmed mine because it was too long though.

 Nope, no binder here. My surgery was laproscopic and yours open, I'm guessing that is the difference.

My surgeon said 6-8 weeks.  They say it supports all the abdominal muscles that were cut and helps to prevent hernias down the road, because those muscles are supported during the healing process.

I was in a binder when I came out of surgery.  It was helpful right after surgery.I was to wear it if I wanted.  It was never mandatory.  Once I got home I did not wear it much unless I went out.  While I had my drain in the first week I wore it to bind my drain bulb flat under my clothes. I don't think I wore it after my drain was removed.  I found it uncomfortable.

I guess I'm weird. I wear it often yet. Course I've had 2 more surgeries, one being a hernia repair recently. It helps me to not be so self conscious about the extra skin. I will wear it tomorrow for sure

I had lapRNY and I had one.  I was not told how long to wear it but it made me hurt soooo much less that I wore it all the time.  Only bad thing...it broke me out!  Bigtime!  My entire midsection was red after a few days of constant wearing.  I had to put on a shirt first and then put on the binder.  I guess it was the latex?

I was given one but I left it at the hospital. I hurt more with it on than I did without it. For my Dr though it was more of a suggestion than a requirement.

I personally find it very odd that surgeons would require binders after LAP surgery.  They don't use them after lap hysterectomies or gallbladder removal, etc, so it's weird when I read of them for lap RNY.  I just don't understand the point of mwearing one at ALL let alone 2 months.  Even after my panniculectomy, I was only told to wear That one (a different design than the one for my RNY... MUCH more comfortable because it had a whole elastic section) for 6 weeks.

I had open RNY and was given a binder, but it was a very stiff one and it was too long for my short torso so it hurt my waist and hips and I never wore it.

Lora