Question:
how bad is the scar from open rny and are there certain foods that cannot be ate

I AM CONCERNED THAT OPEN RNY MAY CHANGE MY LIFE FOREVER TO THE POINT THAT I MAY FEEL AFFLICTED I AM WONDERING WILL THERE BE CERTAIN FOODS THAT I CANNOT EAT THE REST OF MY LIFE, HOW BAD WILL THE SCAR BE, WILL I HAVE A STINKY ODOR THAT WILL BE WITH ME FOREVER, CAN I NOT TAKE CERTAIN MEDS OVER THE COUNTER SUCH AS MOTRIN, EXCEDRIN, ADVIL, ETC. WOULD DS BE A BETTER CHOICE OR WOULD LAP RNY BE A BETTER CHOICE DO ANYONE KNOW IF DR. GOODMAN FROM NY DO LAP RNY ANY ADVICE GIVEN WILL BE APPRECIATED THANKS IN ADVANCE.    — TANGIE B. (posted on August 17, 2000)

August 17, 2000
Tangie, hang in there. I sense a lot of fear and anxiety, and I can only promise that it will get better. I cannot give you advice as to what type of surgery to have. That is a personal choice and one that you and your surgeon should determine that is best for you. But the other things I can tell you about. As far as not being able to eat certain foods for the rest of your life, this isn't true. I will say that in the beginning (I am 3 months post-op - open RNY), there are certain foods I stay away from because my body can't handle it yet. And re-introducing foods after WLS is a process that takes time and patience. But think of it this way - I suffered for years due to my obesity. Waiting a few months to eat certain foods is not going to kill me. I have not felt at all deprived. The surgery gave me the tool to eat healthier and in much smaller quantities. Even if there are a certain few foods that I will not eat again, it is a small price to pay. Having said that, food has been our best friend for many of us, and grieving for it is normal. If this is your case, I recommend going to a good counselor to work those issues out. When the weight comes off, you'll see a new you emerging - one that is often more active and more adventurous. Instead of using food to fill the emotional gaps, you'll learn to seek out new people and experiences. My scar is not bad at all, but it was never one of my concerns. I never wore a bikini and don't plan to even when I reach goal weight. It's just not my style. Your scar's appearance will lessen over time. You might want to check out a few web sites. I know that some of our members have scar pics posted. I had a "medicinal" smell associated with my incision for a few weeks and then it went away. If the odor is really foul, then that could be a sign of infection, so in that case you would need to follow up with your surgeon. There are certain over the counter meds you should not take, but then there are numerous others that pose no problem at all. I got a good list from one of the member's websites. I have his address at home. Let me know if you want it. Hang in there. This surgery is life-chaging, and it is normal to fear the changes coming. Prior to my surgery I tried to anticipate everything possible, and what I have discovered post-op is that the actual changes are not nearly as bad as the anxiety I had about anticipating them. If you have any more questions, please feel free to e-mail me any time. 65 pounds gone forever. :)
   — Paula G.

August 17, 2000
TANGIE YOUR SCAR WILL ALWAYS BE THERE BUT T WILL FADE SOME. IN THE FUTURE YU WILL BE ABLE TO EAT ABOUT ANYTHING YOU WANT GOOD UCK SHRLEY C, NO ODOR
   — Shirley C.