Open Gastric Bypass

I would love any feedback from people that had to have and open gastric bypass. I will be having open vs. laparoscopic due to mesh from a hernia previously. I have completed all testing and will be meeting with my doctor on April 20th to discuss the surgery and then they will submit to my insurance company. I am blessed to have excellent insurance, my husband is retired from ST of CT and we have Anthem. Doctors office told me they usually get an approval in a couple days! I am really looking forward to beginning this journey but am nervous about having open surgery. 

Thanks in advance! Sue

I had open RNY in 2007 (and knew it would be open going into it).  Open surgery hurts more than lap, of course, and takes much longer to heal, but once you get healed it isn't any different.  Some people actually prefer one longer incision than 5 or 6 scattered all across the abdomen (especially if there is already a midline incision that they can re-use).

There is a greater chance of an incisional hernia (and you are probably at even a somehwat higher risk because of the existing hernia), but the size of your liver matters much less because with open surgery they can more easily hold it out of the way.

Lora

The hernia I had repaired was incisional from a previous surgery. I will have my list of questions when I meet with doctor on the 20th. Thanks for the responce!

I had open bypass 6 years ago (the laproscopic was newer) and I was lucky enough not to have any complications. I've maintained fairly close to goal wait.

So glad I did it!!!!

Who is your doctor in Connecticut?  I had Dr Aranow at Middlesex and had open ten years ago, the plus side is you don't have that excruciating gas pains that can accompany lap surgery.  I have had two abdominal lap surgeries in addition to the open rny and my gallbladder surgery was lap and very painful with the gas, my lap bile duct surgery was not nearly as bad.  Open really isn't so bad, I had no problems and the scar is nearly gone since I had my tummy tuck.

My surgeon is Dr. Valin in New Haven. I really like him. I hadn't thought about not having the bad gas pains. Happy to hear it isn't so bad.

Thanks Sue 

My surgeon is Dr. Valin in New Haven. I really like him. I hadn't thought about not having the bad gas pains. Happy to hear it isn't so bad.

Thanks Sue 

I had Dr. Aranow too, he was great, wish I had the tummy tuck too, but not considered medically necesary, couldn't get approved

I paid for all my plastics and used Yale residency program.  So worth it.  The success rate of postops who get tummy tucks is much higher then the general wls population.

I would love to have one, if you don't mind saying how much did it run though the Yale program, I was quoted 30g's from my plastic guy