Hi all - I have my takedown coming up in a few weeks and was wondering if you would recommend using a belly wrap after surgery. If so, which ones have you liked? My surgeon will be leaving the skin on the former stoma site open to heal, and although it will be packed and I'll have a gauze dressing on it, I am concerned about the waistline of my pants rubbing against it. I figured a belly wrap would help protect against any abrasion. Would love to hear your input! Many thanks.
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Although my Canadian surgeon never suggested (other than Montgomery ties a sort of huge band of fabric with shoelaces on the ends that you tie up to keep the midline tight) anything my French surgeon obligied me to wear something that looked very similar to a lumbar support belt.
It was very wide, adjustible and had 3 different velcro attachement belts to adjust the support both around the tummy and over the obliques (diagonal)....I usually use it post op except when I have an open wound...I am alway fearful of causing things to fester and infect...
They say that wear the belts for prolonged periods of time weakens the abdominals because we rely on them to hold us up and don't use them as much...but if you are used to using one of if you need the support then why not...just check that stoma opening regularly and let it breath a bit.
Sharon
You can ask about an abdomnal binder, but it is probably unnecessary. It is sort of like a corset with a velcro closure in front. I used one when I had an open abdominal wound and wanted to hold the dressings in place without a lot of tape. My skin couldn't handle removing tape several times a day.
Here is an example:
http://www.walgreens.com/store...=prod6152379-product
Jan 
