Open vs. Lap, what to expect??

Hi everyone... I am scheduled for an open because of my BMI,but that doesn't mean I cannot have lap. Won't know for sure until THE DAY!! But for my own info, what can I expect with an open? All the people I know personally have had lap, so I kinda know about that. Like for instance, what about the cut? How many staples/stiches, etc... Tell me all, the good, bad and ugly! Drains, tubing??That kind of thing.. Thanks bunches! I dropped my classes because I didn't think I could all the essays and assignments with learning to eat again! Oh yeah, Dr. Proctor is my surgeon... Hugs, Kathy

Hi Kathy, I had BOTH...was scheduled for lap, but due to my liver size, they had to open me. With the open, you have an incision from about 2 inches below the center of your bra, about 4 inches long straight down. It's not very big. Dr. Richard, (Proctor's partner) sews it up with dissolvable stitches on the inside, then uses steri-strips to close the outer skin. From what I understand, Dr. Proctor doesn't use the steristrips, he uses a skin bonding compound on the outer skin. The biggest side effects for open vs. lap, is you run a higher risk of a hernia on an open versus lap, since you basically have a "pre-made" opening ideal for a hernia. Also, you must be much more careful what you lift for 3 months. You don't want to take a chance of tearing your stitches. The worst part is the first 2 or three days, when you are moving yourself in and out of the bed. If you get my favorite nurse at NE Ga. (Linda) she will tell your family that they are not to help you, you have to do it for yourself. She is not saying that to be mean, she just knows the more you go ahead and do for yourself, moving about, the sooner you will start to feel better. (If you DO get Linda tell her I said hello!! She was a LOVE!!) You will notice, after you get home, that one day you go to stand up, and you'll think.."wow..that didn't hurt!" Next thing you know you are out and about. Mind you, you will be very low on energy for a good 3-4 weeks... I went back to work at the end of 3 weeks, but wish I had taken the 4th.. As you can see, I have done ok!! It's not so bad, and it's also good ,cuz the doc can see AND touch the things they wouldn't have been able to touch with the lap...like the gallbladder for instance, and they biopsied my liver..etc... Good luck!! I'll be seeing you at the hospital!!! Take care of you!! -Tami

Kathy I agree with all the info that Tami has given you. I had open RNY in May and have not had any problems. I have not even developed the dreaded hernia. If you do develop a hernia most surgeons that repair the hernia will do a tummy tuck with it or at least my surgeon will. I was up and walking within 4 hours of coming out of recovery with open. The faster you get up and get moving the less pain you will end up having. The main problem I had was I had to sleep in my recliner for a couple of weeks just because it was hard for me to get out of bed. Carolyn