Question:
lap vs. open
I am scheduled to have open RNY on 09/26. Can anyone please tell me if open is really worse as far as recovery opposed to Lap? I am thinking about having lap instead. Does anyone know how long the scar is for open rny? Thanks — scamp1908 (posted on September 15, 2006)
September 15, 2006
Hi there- there are many different criteria involved in choosing lap vs
Open- and often times the surgeon will discuss the options with you. So
many things depend on current health, such as age, have you had several
surgeries in the past on the abdomen that will have a lot of adhesions the
surgeon must work around in a lap- your overall health, your initial
surgery size etc. One good criteria to think about is- if you have NO
disabilities for walking and can tolerate a modicum amount of gas pain,
then Lap is good. On the other hand, if you cannot tolerate moderate to
severe gas bubble pain, then open would be the choice. I chose open
because I have walking disabilities, and i Hate severe gas pains. Even
though I walked post op, there was no way I could walk the amount necessary
to break up the gas instilled while undergoing the lap procedure. Its all
a matter of choice, and some surgeons only do lap, others only do open, and
still others make the choice based on the above pre op conditions of the
patient. My open went swimmingly- the incision is about 4 inches long, and
because my surgeon didnt use sutures, rather than the "super
glue" for skin, I have a wonderful fading line, that has had no
problems. I also had no post op gas pain like my counterparts who had
surgery the same day with the lap. The difference is several little
incisions as opposed to one larger one. Do you have a fatty liver? if so
open would be better. Remember those little tiny incisions will have
several surgical instruments in them, and even though the incisions are
smaller, I have noticed many other post ops, and my own patients, complain
of more shoulder, upper torso pain than with open. Its a decision you and
your surgeon needs to make together, for the reasons I listed above. Good
luck on your surgery and your choice of incisional lines. Cindi 3.24.04
-230#
— DollyDoodles
September 15, 2006
Hi..i just had open done 3 weeks ago and my scar is ten inches
long..however i had a plastic surgeon sew me up and i must agree it wont
look bad at all.
I recovered very well from it though and after the second day once i got
home i really began to recover fast. The first couple days were rough for
me but i had plenty of pain meds and came through just fine...
Hope this helps you
Cindys
http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=S1131026751
— kurve
September 15, 2006
My surgeon Dr Philip Schauer president of the ASBS tell us that about 1/3
of opens get at least one incisional hernia requiring a follow up surgery.
This has been backed up for years by reports here. LAP the risk is near
zero.... laps also experience much less pain and recover faster. Best
wishes on your surgery its been over 5 years for me. BEST decision I EVER
made!!
— bob-haller
September 15, 2006
I would never have open if I could help it. I went to great lengths to
find a surgeon to do my hysterectomy laparascopically. My recovery time
was a breeze! I was back at work part time within 3 weeks. I highly
recommend having lap if you are a candidate for it.
— Othin1
September 16, 2006
I had a lap gallbladder surgery several years ago and it was 100 times
worse than my open RNY 2 years ago. The reason was the gas they pump you
up with on the lap....it goes into the joints. For me, with
back/shoulder/neck problems anyway and fibromyalgia, it was intensely
painful for the lap. The open was a piece of cake for me. I took no pain
meds when I left the hospital...none at all. I was shocked and pleased.
My scar look great as far as scars go. He opened me up more than most docs
do nowdays. I was from the bottom of the ribcage to just short of my belly
button. It looks really long when you are heavy, but once you lose the
weight, the length of the incision gets shorter as your tummy shrinks.
— Dinka Doo
September 16, 2006
I was opposite of Dinka Doo. I had open gall bladder and hysterectomy at
the same time and the gall bladder was way more painful. Had my RNY
laproscopic and my healing time was much shorter and way less painful than
the gallbladder. My RNY surgery was August 30, 2006 and feeling really
good within a week!
— deeport
September 16, 2006
My SIL had open - took her at least twice as long as me to recover from Lap
- after being home for 5 days she had to go back in hosp. for 2 days for
abcess in her incision site - which is pretty common from what her doc told
her. She then had to irrigate the incision for several weeks - I on the
other hand was back at work after 4 weeks - her incision is about 7 inches
long - It does depend on medical reasons also - she opted for open. Good
Luck on your decision - whatever it is will be right for YOU!!!
— Kathleen F.
September 17, 2006
One of my docotrs who is also a friend told me not to havew the open
procedure.
— Novashannon
September 17, 2006
Hi, here is a reasons why I choose Lap and not open.
1. I did not want to have a scar going through my chest to my belly
botton.
2. I could only take 2 weeks off from work.
3. I have a small child (at the time 7 month old) who I had to pick up.
With lap you can go back to work as early as 2 weeks post op.
You can pick up more then 5lb after 2 weeks (open 6 weeks)
you do not have huge scar instead you have 5 small ones that are healing
really well. The GAS PAIN IS NOT SEVERE, I am very sencetive to the pain
and I did not feel it except for the recovery room. The next day I was
fine. The big scar would have being a "mental" reminder for me.
I would not have open but it was my personal choice. I also know that doc.
will tell you if you can have lap (but if he doesn't ask). The only
suergeries I had were 2 c-sections which did not interfear with me having
lap. I hope this info will help you. Good Luck and God Bless.
— olga8
September 18, 2006
Hi! I had open RNY in Jan 2006. I have a 5 inch scar....I too had a
plastic surgeon seal me up and you can hardly see the scar. Healing was
great and I never had a problem. I think it depends on how your surgeon
and his expertise.
— Diva4Him
Click Here to Return