Recovery after open RNY?

 While I have talked to a few people who had Open RNY, they weren't starting off at anywhere near the size that I am (370, 5'2")
I am a little worried about the weight of my stomach/pannus pulling on the incision. While I know that everyone is different, I am hoping that I could hear how recovery was for some of you who are close to my size.
Thanks!. 

I would look around to see if you could find some type of girdle or support undergarments that will help keep things pulled up to where they're not tugging at your incision site! Spanx makes some great products! :)

 Thanks Celia..I am also hoping that the binder the hospital gives me will help some. 

Hey just FYI many people who get the hospital binder are very skin sensitive to it-- so find an old tshirt you can wear under it if you need too.  Just so your skin doesn't break out while you are trying to heal.
Good luck!
JJ

 JJ....thanks! I never would have thought of my skin being sensitive to the binder...Thanks:)

A good friend of mine had her surgery 7 yrs ago, and she is 5'1 and was 390lbs, and she had open RNY as well. There were no complications and she's still maintaining her weight at 140lbs (actually she's down another 5 thanks to plastics!)

Good luck to you!!

:Danni

I havent had my wls yet but in 2000 I did have a c-section with my daughter with was a virtical cut since they said no bikini cut since i was soo big then I was around 370 at the time and 5'6". When they wanted me to get up and start walking I told them I wasn't moving with out having some kind of binder around to support the incision. With out it felt like it was going to pop open. I later had a doc who said I prolly saved my self a trip back to the or for demanding the binder. Get it use it makes all the difference in how it feels, when you have an incision.

Okay, I am officially annoyed...

I knew three people - personally - all weighed OVER 600 pounds (taller than you, but BMI in the VERY high range) all got their surgeries laproscopically.  Why are they saying you need an open RNY?!

From something sort of similar, I had a hernia repair at the time of my RNY - my belly button has an incision that is a couple of inches long.  My best advice to you, my Dear, is DO NOT DO TOO MUCH TOO SOON!!!  Whether it was my fault (too active) or their fault (no drain tubes?!) or a combination, I had a blow out about ten days after my surgery.  I had seroma - fluid - build up inside my gut, and without a drain tube, the fluid found the easiest way out -- through the incision in my belly button.

Okay, the worst part was staying OUT of the water (swimming) for three months post op!  The second worst was having to pack the wound - which was icky, but not unbearable.  If they tell you stay off your feet - do it.  Had I been told to wear something binding (panty girdle), I would have gladly done it.  I am all healed, no bad infection, but I still feel stupid for it happening.  I feel stupid because I should have done less.

PLEASE ask if they have a surgeon who can do it lap, as being all cut open, that is no fun & healing time is ridiculous.  Most tools today are made for folks as large as 70 BMI - at least from my digging around (I am a lay person, and could be talking out my ear).  Unless there is a reason they must go in so dramatically, I cannot understand why a surgeon would want to risk an open surgery.

HUGS!!!  I hope I am not too worked up -- I apologize if I am...
Brenda : )~

Ooooh..the belly button blowout sounds awful!!!! Glad you healed okay!!

I could have had the RNY done lapriscopically if I went to another surgeon (who is also closer to me), but that surgeon also has less experience with higher BMIs than the one that I am going to. I just feel more comfortable with this surgeon.

 I am hoping we made the right decision...my fiance is having open RNY the week after me! Should be a fun couple of weeks here!

Trust in your surgeon trumps most things - I will keep positive thoughts for your recovery!!!  I hear you, I always want the experienced doc any day of the week ;)  I still think someone dropped their thermo scaple when they worked on my hernia - I had a weird wound that was NOT an incision, but I forgive them!!! 

GET A & D cream before your surgery!!!  My docs office advised me to, and my scars are very pale.  Having surgery so close to each other is kind of cool - you will be going through it together!

Don't worry about your scar, you can probaby get the thing removed when you get plastics, later!!!

HUGS!!!!
Brenda : )~