Question:
Is there less pain with a lap or open ?

   — Alice D. (posted on October 7, 2003)

October 7, 2003
Less pain with the Lap but a higher risk of complications is what my surgeon told me. Gotta remember that they are performing surgery through a "camera" with the lap but with the open they can see everything they are doing first hand. Also gotta remember on the flip side that Lap you have 5 little incisions and with the open you are just that cut open. Hope this helps. Good Luck and God Bless you.
   — CARLA C.

October 7, 2003
I had open so I can't comment on lap. But, I had very minimal pain. The hospital was a blur (morphine drip) but once I was home, I took very little liquid pain meds. I'm four weeks tomorrow and don't have ANY pain. Good luck to you, Lisa
   — Lisa D.

October 7, 2003
I had an open on August 7. I did not have that much pain. My incision was 3-4 inches long and I thought I would be in much more pain.
   — Lisa N.

October 7, 2003
Before my lap RNY I had had a traditional gallbladder surgery with a 7" diagonal incision, as well as two C-sections and an abdominal hysterectomy, all with vertical abdominal incisions. In comparison, my lap surgery was simply a "walk in the park". I had one injection of Demerol the day of surgery, and took Percocet tablets for pain the next three days. I had surgery on a Tuesday and was discharged home that Thursday. I was back to work full-time in eight days. It is important to remember that we all have different pain tolerances and recuperation times. However, the other four people in my family who have now had lap RNY surgery had the same experience. Best wishes!
   — Diana T.

October 7, 2003
Lap. That's a main reason I insisted on it. That and the short recovery time.
   — mom2jtx3

October 7, 2003
I had an Open RNY and 10 months later a LAP Gallbladder removal. I've had 14 surgeries so far and the Open RNY was the third most painful. However, I'm still glad I had it Open. Yes I know some here will say they can see as good with the camera and things are magnafied so much more, ect ect ect. Well why then is the risk for nicking a bowel so much more great? Does'nt sound like they are seeing things all that great! No I'd take an Open any day! The LAP gallbladder was a piece of cake, hardly any pain. However some duct callapsed and he THOUGHT he had all the gallstones but was'nt sure. I have had some very strong intermitant pain since then. I don't know if it is stones moving or an ulcer. But in any case, they really can't be sure of getting everything or seeing everything in a LAP or the risk for nicking a bowel would'nt be alot higher. Pain or not, I'd choose an Open over a LAP. But I perfer "Probable safety" over pain anyday. I can take pain. God knows I've had enough of it and will continue too. But I'd rather have what I see as a safer surgery. Yeah I know I'll be flamed but I have a right to my opinion too. And that is it, an "OPINION".
   — Danmark

October 8, 2003
I had lap and had very little pain and a short recovery. I don't know where folks are getting the risk for having a nicked bowel is greater with lap. No one seems to post a source for this tidbit of information. Anyone out there have some actual statistics? (Other than "my surgeon told me" - to me that's not an actual statistic!) I had 3 punctures and 2 small lateral incisions - one was about 1" and the other about 2". No drains, no staples, no sutures. If I could have had my 2 c-sections lap - I would have. LOL!
   — koogy

October 8, 2003
My c-sections were worse than my open.
   — Rebecca K.