Lap VS. Open ~ Opinions Please

I'm starting my research into WLS. We are getting new ins. this week, and I'm not sure if wls will be covered. So I may have to self-pay. I'm a SAHM of a 4 & 2 year old, so the whole process kind of scares me, but I would also like to be able to play more with them. I would appreciate any information and opinions that you could give me. Thanks, Melissa

Hi! Good luck on your quest for WLS. I had lap 10 weeks ago by Dr. Leah Oman in Springdale, although my surgery was done in Siloam Springs. Read my bio for further details. Having had gall bladder. appendectomy and hysterectomy all done with large incisions abdominal incisions I did not want to do the open RNY. I was told that looking at my incisions more than likely it could be done lap. Thank God it was! I was up and walking within an hour back in my room, home on the 3rd day. Was off the morphine pump the 2nd day and never took anything for pain after I got home. I could have come back to work after the 3rd week but opted not to and I took 4 weeks off completely and 2 weeks at half days. I have 6 little scars and that's all. I feel great, take my meds and have lost 51 pounds since surgery. Again, do a lot of research. Check out your doctors. Springdale Hospital may start their program back up again in September. I highly recommend Dr. Leah Oman and Jack Alston in the Springdale Surgery Clinic. Glenn Gay Springdale Lap RNY 5/25/04

I agree with the last post. I had open but wish I would have saved more money ($5000.00 for the self pay patient) for the lap. I have had multiple surgeries all lap this is the first "open" (other than the 2 c-sections) and it has been more pain than I thought. In my research I believe Dr. Gibbs in Little Rock was supposed to be the best with the lap procedure. But do your homework. Dont kick yourself later like I have been doing.

I had open and had no problems from it. In my opinion, you should choose a doctor that you feel comfortable with and let him do the surgery in the way he is most comfortable. What counts is the outcome. I could have gone back to work at 3-4 weeks after surgery, but chose to take 8 weeks off because I could. I used Dr. Baker in Little Rock and have no regrets at all. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck on your journey. Joy

First off, whomever you choose to do the surgery, please research that person thoroughly. Now, to your question. I had mine done lap. I have had two open surgeries in my past. One surgery as a child on my kidneys and bladder and a hysterectomy. This was the easiest surgery. We were still living in Alabama at the time and I had my surgery on a Friday and came home on a Saturday. The following week my grandmother (in Arkansas) died. So, I rode in the car for 8 hours the following weekend so I could come to my grandmother's funeral. Anyway, the lap was easy and I recovered quickly. Also, do exactly as your doctor tells you. Follow his instructions and this surgery will be a success for you too. Shelly 317/172 and almost 2 years out 5'10"