I got a call from BC/BS today... I started to cry...

Thank you everyone for all your nice responds. It makes me feel really cared about. 

      Now to do my research on how open surgery is done now a days! I had my open surgery many years ago... And believe me it was horrible!!! I thought I would die from the pain!!!

I Pray it is nothing like it was back in 1992. They use to brake your ribs..either that , they accidentally broke mine! Because I had two broken ribs after my surgery..Want to talk about pain!! It was so hard to just try and breath. Broken ribs are no fun! My incision was from under my rib cage down to my belly button. I woke up with a tube down my throat. Tubes and drains were everywhere on me.. 


I was told it is not nearly as bad as it use to be. I Pray that is true...If anyone knows where I can find information about open WLS, please let me know. Feel free to even PM me..I did finally figure out what PM means.. Private message..Thank you so very much for again for all your kindness to me... Alizka

 

How come you are having open WLS and not laproscopic?

Hi Brook, 
     I have to have open because 3 different surgeons said the surgery could have very major complication or could possibly kill me lap. It is much too risky to do me lap.  I have had many open surgery's. And my first weight loss surgery they really messed up on in 1992. 
      I had a mesh around my stomach and it got tangled up in me some how. My staple line came open and the band is messed up too. I never knew a band was used...I also have a large hernia on my lower left side and one in the center of my stomach. Because of all the prior stomach surgeries 7 of them that I can remember, I will have lots of scar tissues and adhesion's too I was told...
      I don't need lap due to my weight. I only weigh 243, and my BMI is 44.4. But I need to get down closer to a 40 BMI before my surgeon will do my surgery too. I am working on this now for sure. I started a protein meal replacement and up-ed my walking too. But I was put on more meds early this week, that my PCP told me it will be hard for me to lose weight taking it and that I may even gain weight!! I know surgery will tell me tough luck! Lose the weight or no surgery! I really like him but he is very strict too. Which is why I choose him.
     My surgeon now is really not for open surgery at all! He has said this repeatedly to us in our meetings..In fact I have met at least 75 of his patients, everyone of them are Lap. 
      Believe I would much rather have lap. I am really terrified of this surgery. But If I don't have it, I know I will be dead from diabetes and other health issues in about 10 years. 
       I hope this helps you understand why I need it open.. Thanks for asking, because now I have a better understanding of why I need to have my surgery lap.
       I am going to post here to see if anyone else has had lap to see how it went.. and what to expect too. I already know one wonderful lady here on OH, who has been a great help to me! She is a real "GEM" She will know who I mean too. Alizka

I didn't know Ameri did open. That said I had open 7+ yrs ago att Brigham and womens. Piece of cake really. The first 48 hours they kept the spinal block in so that by the time I was ready to exit the hospital I had pretty much gotten thru the worst of it.

Hi Stela,
      Do you know Dr. Ameri? Do you have him for a surgeon? I too didn't know he did open surgery. The way he talked about how He is so against open!! And how there is one surgeon who only does open.. Dr. Ameri said that it is too risky to have open RNY, and that there can be too many complications doing it..Such as bleeding, infection risk.. and more..
      So I too was very surprised, When I asked him if I would have Lap? And told me NO!! I don't know why I even asked him...I guess because 2 other surgeons I went too, also told me I would need open surgery. I was hoping 3's a charm and I could have Lap..
     Have you had many stomach surgeries? I was told mine won't be a breeze for sure. I have many issues.
       I'll to ask him about a spinal block...For the most I read here at OH, he doesn't use a pain pump or send you home with pain medicine!!! I'm terrified that he will have the Nurses give me just  Tylenol for pain..
         How are you doing? You said you had your surgery 7 years ago. I will have to read your profile. I Pray everything is going well for you. Thank you so much, for helping me feel some relief at least. Alizka

I didn't have Ameri. I had Dr Robinson at the Brigham. Two of my friends had him and they came home with only a tylenol type pain reliever. I had roxicet but used so little of it I only recently threw away almost the whole bottle. I had ZERO issues. The only abdominal surgery prior to the RnY was gall bladder (open) 20 yrs previously. I think that Ameri is very conservative. Thats good I guess. If you have pain insist on something thats takes care of it. Ask him during a pre-op meeting what he uses as a rule and what he uses in extrordinary cir****tances. The worst thing for recovery in my mind is trying to heal and being completly preoccupied by pain.

Hi Stela,
      Thank you for your fast reply. I'm sorry, I have never heard of Dr. Robinson. But I do know that Brigham is a very good hospital. So I'm sure he is a wonderful surgeon too. Did your friends have open surgery? I'm worried now...
      I'm so happy to hear you had Zero issues, that is great to know..I wanted to send you a private message, but it wouldn't let me go to your profile. I'm sorry. I will ask him pre op about pain med's he'll give me. Thank you for giving me that advice.
      If you like you can PM "Private message" me. My profile is opened for the most part. Thank you for your reply again... Alizka

I also have them .. it took 10 days for approval .. they are great!

congrats!!!!!

Wonderfull news!!    Best wishes and prayers for a speedy recovery  

I am still waiting for the go ahead and am still undecided what avenue to take, The stomaphyx or have the RNY revision    I'm having another EGD done on the 12th and maybe after that we'll have a better pictureof what there is to deal with.      

Hi There,
         Thank you so much.. Things are still dragging along.. I have to do sleep study! Cardiac test thingy and Pulmonary too! I don't even have dates setup for these yet...I am going to call tomorrow and try to get these test all set up. PRAY FOR ME PLEASE!!!! I'm a wreck..

I have my old weight loss surgery papers. I hope there is not a mesh around my stomach! It makes the surgery much harder to do...I have to have open Surgery...Thank you again for your kind words..Alizka