Question:
Petrified I will have to have open vs. laproscopic RNY
My surgery date is March 10, pre op March 4. I am really starting to freak out that I will end up not being able to have Laproscopic RNY...I have been exercising and on a lot of protein, have lost some pre op weight...but can anyone comment on this? I had a lapro procedure last year w/no issues (not weight related)... — amanda_g (posted on February 19, 2009)
February 19, 2009
Amanda, I really don't think that you'll have open RNY. Did your surgeon
do the upper endoscopy yet? This will determine if there are any issues.
If there are no issues w/your stomach, I don't see why they would have to
open you up. Stop worrying too much, this will do you harm. If you're
doing your part, that is, exercising, eating right & you're pretty much
in good shape, I think you'll be just fine w/Lap RNY. My surgeon made me
sign something w/regard to that but all was well with my health & I
ended up just having the Lap/RNY. Don't get too crazy or you'll go nuts.
You'll be fine. If I can help in any way, let me know.
Hugs, Ruth
— Ruth M.
February 19, 2009
Even if you have an open rny you will be fine and heal well. Don't freak
out. Most of the time they are able to do the Laproscopic and this is what
they prefer. just relax and ask the doctor what he thinks. He can give you
a good idea of what to expect.
— trible
February 19, 2009
Amanda, I am 25 years old and I had open rny on 1/5/09. It was not bad at
all. I worked myself up for nothing. So, if for some reason you do have
to have open, it will all be ok.
— jackie L.
February 19, 2009
just be careful with this. Working in the medical field myself some
surgeons say they cant do it lap not because they think you will be
difficult but because they are not very skilled at it and open is easier.
I went to a younger doctor who was trained well with laps. I have had 3 c
sections on my abdomen as well as and open gallbladder and a previous open
stomach surgery and he was still able to do it lapro, it was a longer lap
procedure than most lapbands but well worth his effort in the end. Some of
the older doctors don't like to learn new trick. From experience I would
rather have the lap better recovery time and less risk of infection. So if
you are really opposed to the open get a second opinion. Doctors are like
car dealers they are competative and want your buisness. So don't settle
for the first one that tells you yes especially if its not on your terms
— Nurse343
February 19, 2009
Amanda, I had to have open surgery (a VBG - vertical banded gastroplasty)
in April 2000, and it was strictly an issue of how much I weighed -- my
surgeon didn't do lap on anyone who weighed more than 300 pounds, and I
weighed closer to 350. "Open" really isn't that bad, as the
incision runs vertically, rather than horizontally, so there's not a lot of
pulling and whatever when you stand up or move around. To be honest with
you, I'd rather have the open WLS I had than either of my two c-sections or
the tummy tuck I had a year after the VBG -- those made me feel like my
guts were going to fall right out on the floor. But I didn't have any
trouble at all with the open scar -- and now you have to see me naked and
in the right light (which means nobody except my husband) to see it in any
detail. Good luck on the 4th and the 10th ...
— Cheryl Denomy
February 19, 2009
Hi Amanda...Why is the thought of having OPEN RNY making you "freak
out" ?? I chose to have open on Nov. 4th, '08 with NO regrets at
all...
All the very best to you !!
— debz_58
February 19, 2009
Like you, I absolutely did not want a large open incision. Being a real big
person, and also an RN who's watched surgical cases thru my career, I just
made a personal choice that I did not want that type of surgery. In fact
it's the reason I resisted RNY bypass for so long - fear. In any case I was
referred to a superb surgical team that has done over 1400 cases by lap
method. If they can't complete the surgery by lap they stop the procedure,
tell patients they need to go away and lose more weight, then go back in
later. They only convert to open in case of a mid-surgery disaster and if
that had happened, well then I'd have had bigger fish to fry LOL. So if
you are certain that you don't want an open procedure you can find those
surgeons who don't do them, and/or discuss your decisions and choices about
the lap technique. For what it's worth I was 451 pounds on surgery day two
weeks ago. I had to have more incisions than they normally do, and my
surgery took longer than usual too. But I was back in my room by mid-day
and walking to the john within the hour. The last pain med I took was a
Tylenol on Day 2. So for me, my choice to stick with the lap surgery was
the right and only one. I wish you every success. In case you need it, my
surgeon was Dr. Graber (works with Dr. Fitzer) in Utica and you can easily
find that group online. Cheers /Mike
— mountainmike
February 19, 2009
Amanda, my surgeon told me that he may have to switch to open RNY if
something prevented him from completing my lap surgery - also made me sign
a consent form. The surgery was done lap and I even went back the following
year for hernia repair and went through the same warning but again he was
able to complete the hernia surgery as lap. Don't get worked up - it's just
a CYA thing surgeons do. Maureen, Akron, Ohio
— Muggs
February 20, 2009
Amanda I had open RNY July 2003 and all went well and is still well. Don't
worry in the long run its all worth the weight loss.
— emoragas
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