LAP or OPEN

I would like to say that I agree with Kimberly. I too am having surgery with Dr. Ben-Meir in Cleveland. My surgery is scheduled December 15. He is a very good surgeon and he tells you if they run into any major problems during the surgery they will switch to open. Also, at St. Vincent's they always have two surgeons in the operating room. He told me that because of my severe asthma it was a better choice because of the recovery time. I am looking forward to the surgery and have very little anxiety about it at this time. (This may change as the date draws closer.) I did a lot of research before coming to a decision that is right for me. That is the key, the decision must be right for YOU. PS: If your BMI is under 50 St. Vincent's prefers to do lap. If over 50 you can only do open. Good luck on your journey! Mary Beth

I forgot to say something in my last post. Although I have never had this type of surgery before, I have had four knee surgeries in my life. The first one when I was nineteen. My first two surgeries were before they developed arthroscopic so they were open. My third was arthroscopic and the fourth, just 18 months ago was a complete knee replacement. My first surgery was for torn cartilidge (1969) as was my arthroscopic (1984). I spent two weeks in the hospital and was on crutches for six weeks and then moved to a cane. With the arthroscopic, I went home the same day and was off crutches within two weeks. And it was a lot less painful. This may not make a difference in stomach surgery but it is an experience that I consider noteworthy. Mary Beth

I had a LAP done at OSU on 7/3/03 and have lost 79 pounds. I was off pain medications in a week and was driving in 10 days. You also have next to zero opportunities for a hernia with LAP. My surgeon (Dr. Needleman) doesn't use a drain tube for LAP, also.