Question:
What is the difference, PAIN AND RECOVERY WISE, of Lap vs Open Surgery?
I am waiting my surgery daTe. I think I want the laproscopy instead of the open. With 2 small children, I need to heal as fast as possible! — BUTTERFLY79 (posted on June 9, 2003)
June 8, 2003
I can't speak for the open procedure, but I did have a lap RNY on 5/29/03.
I was at the grocery store (just for a few things) 5 days post op. In my
opinion the recovery has been better than I expected. I still have a little
soreness, but I get around OK. If I had to make the decision over I would
definitely get the lap again. I think some people just prefer the open (or
they are not eligilbe candidates) because they would rather the doctor have
an open canvas...I guess it is a piece of mind thing. Good luck!
— Felicia J.
June 8, 2003
I've actually had both, a Lap in May of 2002 and an open in July of 2002.
I recovered very well from both. I didn't have a pain pump or pain meds
after either procedure and didn't need them. I was up and walking within a
few hours both times. Everyone is different in their pain tolerance
though. I'm still convinced that the best thing to do is find a surgeon
you have absolute faith in and then go with what he/she recommends. I did
not ask my surgeon how many lap RNY procedures he had done and the people I
knew of who had used him before me had all had open surgeries. I might
(and might is the right word) have been better off if it had been done open
to start with. I'm now almost a year out from the open procedure. I do
not have a hernia. I'm completely healed and have lost 120 pounds. You
can also look in the library for more answers. This question comes up very
often.
— garw
June 8, 2003
Hi! I can only speak for LAP...had surgery 8/28/01. I never really had
"pain" just alot of soreness and being uncomfortable. That
lasted probably a week. I was sleeping on my side at two weeks, and back
to work at three. From what I've been told, LAP vs Open..with LAP, there
is less chance for hernia, less chance for infection, and a faster
recovery, wound/incision wise. Everything else (on the inside) is the
same. Good luck! Denise 316/153
— lily1968
June 9, 2003
A lot of how much pain and how long the recovery is depends on you! You
will find many people here who bounced back very fast from open procedures,
and some who took longer to get back to baseline after lap surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery, in general, has a shorter recovery time. I had lap
RNY because I needed to get back to my job as soon as possible - and I was
back on the 12th day after surgery. Good luck!
— koogy
June 9, 2003
I'm a Mr. Mom (home with 2 daughters ages 4 and 5) and was very worried
about having an open procedure, so I searched for a surgeon who was
committed to performing the RNY LAPAROSCOPICALLY. I was moving around,
doing a little housework and driving the girls to school about 6 days after
surgery (when many OPEN patients would have probably just been coming home
from the hospital). You should also know that I am a wimp-- true blue,
deep down in my soul, six-foot-three-inches of crying when I get a boo-boo
wimp-- and I didn't feel that I was in much pain following the first 24
hours after surgery. But then again, I didn't have an incision across my
gut b/c I had my procedure done LAPAROSCOPICALLY.
All facetiousness (and my usual rants on this issue) aside (as I have
therapeutically set out at http://steverevere.tripod.com), without the
lengthy incision from the open procedure, most patients I've spoken too who
have had LAPAROSCOPIC RNY's experience shorter time under anesthesia and
those related benefits, much faster recoveries, fewer incisional hernias,
less of a risk of wound infections and much less pain; of course, there are
exceptions to every generality, but the odds are in your favor to have an
easier recovery if you find a qualified surgeon who will do the procedure
laparoscopically.
— SteveColarossi
June 9, 2003
I have had both lap and open surgeries in the past and by far, I prefer the
lap. Although surgeons are getting better at open (smaller cuts), the lap
has the smallest incisions, is less invasive, and the quickest recovery
time. The other advantage is less scaring and if you are like me, with
keloid skin, the less cutting the better!
— Cindy R.
June 9, 2003
I had open. I was back at work in 7 days, and driving in 5. Was in the
hospital for 3 days and only took percocet at night when i was released to
home. I did great. Of course, my surgeon does his surgeries through a
laparotomy incision, which is about 4 inches long. So, I did not have the
breast bone to pubic bone incision. All patients are different, and all
docs are different too. There are some laproscopic RNY patients out there
that have Terrible pain at the main site where the big instruments go in
becasue of the amount of manipulation gets. But agian, it depends on the
surgeon, and the patient. This is just one of those things that you have to
research for yourself and make the best decision for you. Talk to patients
of surgeons that you research and see how they did. Good luck to you!
— Vicki L.
June 9, 2003
There really is no answer to this question, it really just depends on you.
I had open RNY on a Tuesday and was out and about by Monday. I have always
been a quick healer with a high pain tolerance. My friend had lap RNY on a
Tuesday and was in pain for almost four weeks after. Good luck on whatever
you deceide.
— Marcy S.
June 9, 2003
Happy LAP here, My surgery was nearly 2 years ago. My profile is VERY
complete on after surgery activities. Monday morning surgery home wednesday
morning, walked 1.3 miles one week after surgery. My surgeon now discharges
most patients 1.5 days after LAp SURGERY.
— bob-haller
June 9, 2003
Happy LAP here, My surgery was nearly 2 years ago. My profile is VERY
complete on after surgery activities. Monday morning surgery home wednesday
morning, walked 1.3 miles one week after surgery. My surgeon now discharges
most patients 1.5 days after LAp SURGERY.
— bob-haller
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