Belly bands

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Morning all,

I have a very droopy tummy post-op and finding walking and sitting difficult unless I take lots of painkillers (1 week since laparoscopic hysterectomy). If I support my tum with a towel this helps a lot so I wondered whether I should buy a belly band aka abdominal binder. Does anyone have any advice on using these?

Thanks, Dx

  • Hi Dreamweaver,

    A week after your operation isn't long. I think it takes time for everything to settle down. I found it took me about 3 months until my tummy stopped 'niggling', and it certainly has changed shape since the operation!!!! (more saggy) I also had a swelling between my legs which wobbled when i walked!  I asked about that, and was told it was fat!!!!! It gradually went down. I have no experience of a  belly band. xxxxx 

  • Hi Dreamweaver

    Not had the problem myself but if there is such an aid, go for it. My "apron" seemed to be a bit bigger immediately after the op but has shrunk a bit in the last 6 weeks.

    Someone I know who had a hysterectomy years ago mentioned she slept with a pillow to relieve discomfort.

    Hope it gets better, big hugs, Barb xx


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  • Thanks NannyAnny for your wise words - I'm impatient and not giving my body the time it needs to heal. I'm finding all the wind issues hard to deal with (still got pains in shoulders) and I fell down several of the stairs at home today (dratted embolism stockings are so slippy). Luckily, I had a good grip of the banister but twisted my hip. Hopefully, I've not done any more damage ;-)

  • Thanks Barb, I've been sleeping on my back, and keeping my partner awake with my snoring. I'll try the pillow solution and stick with the big knickers for the time being.

  • Hi Dreamweaver,

    Hope you are OK. 

    I fortunately didn't have any of these wind problems everyone talks about. I can remember propping myself up in bed on a lot of pillows so that I was half lying and half sitting in bed. I couldn't lie flat on my back, or lie on my side. I began to walk every day which I'm sure helped. I was given a booklet of do's and don'ts, and that gave me a guide of how far I should walk. Initially it was very painful, and 10 minutes was enough, but gradually got better until I could walk as far as I used to do.

    I went away in our motorhome at 3 weeks, just for a change of scenery. I found bending down to get a pan out of the cupboard was the worst thing!  I had my feet up every afternoon while hubby went walking!  xxxxxx

  • Hi NannyAnny,

    Feeling much better today, thanks. We went out for a walk before bedtime last night and seems to work wonders in the bowel department - how my topics of conversation have narrowed :-) I'm managing now with almost no painkillers and hoping perhaps I'm turning the corner. My CNS said yesterday that the pain in my groin and numbness in thighs is a side effect of laparoscopic surgery, where the nerves are irritated, and this should subside over time. 

    I'm supposed to be going back to work next week (working from home) but may take a further week off to let my brain clear :-)

    Take care, hugs
    Dx

  • Hi Dreamweaver,

    It all sounds good!! I had 'niggles' for ages afterwards, but having had shingles some years before, the sensation was very similar and I guessed it was nerve endings knitting together.  xxxxx

  • It feels a bit like being stung by nettles as you brush past them - seems to have eased a little today thankfilly.

    Take care,
    Dx

  • That's it!!!  If its anything like mine it will get less frequent and wear off eventually. xxxxx

  • That great to know NannyAnny!

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