Question:
has anyone out there been near or at the 400 pound mark and had their proc lap?

Hi, I am scheduled to have surgery on Oct 6th and I was just wondering if anyone out there has had lap RNY and has been near the 400 pound mark???    — marian (posted on August 8, 2003)

August 8, 2003
Hi Marian, I had my LAP RNY Distal and my starting weight was at 412lbs. After the surgery was over the Dr told me I was a little harder to do because my liver was bigger than normal because of my size but he did it with no problems. I do have 7 port sites though because they needed a extra one for the camera view because of my size but I would still rather have the 7 ports instead of the open. I have had no problems what so ever from my surgery and have been feeling fine. I had my done on 02/19/03 and have a 154lb loss so far but have stopped for about a week now but it will start again so its no big deal. Good Luck in your new journey and I hope I have helped. Tony
   — tonyskid

August 8, 2003
My daughter weighed 406 lbs. at the time of her lap RNY. Our surgeon routinely performs lap WLS on patients weighing as much as 600 lbs. There were no problems at all with her surgery...two-day hospitalization, no ICU, no tubes or drains, back to work full-time in two weeks. Every patient has different experiences, and there are always risk factors present with any surgery, but there are surgeons who are experienced and skilled in dealing with patients with very high starting weights and BMIs, and that experience is the critical factor. Best wishes!
   — Diana T.

August 9, 2003
I was 370 1 month before surgery. I ate a great deal for that month. I guess I was close to 400. I had lap and now 18 months latter I weigh in at 175 - 180. I am thrilled. Good Lux
   — Robert L.

August 9, 2003
I was 396 when I started all of this at my first consult. By the time I was approved and actually had the surgery, I was 355. I had a LAP RNY with no problems whatsoever. It definately depends upon the skill of your surgeon and mine was excellent. I'm 197 now and in fact he's going to take my gall bladder out next week, LAP as well.
   — Cathy S.

August 9, 2003
I was 378 the day of my lap rny. No real problems with the surgery. My surgeon had said if their were problems he would switch to an open during the surgery, but that didn't happen. I have six 1 inch incisions. I am now 10 months postop and down 124 lbs with 90 lbs to go. This was the best thing I ever did for myself.
   — ckreh

August 10, 2003
It comes down to your particular surgeon and their skills and whether they have the extra long instruments that are required to do LAP on the SMO. I know of people on this and other boards that were even into the 500's and had LAP. Unfortunatley not my surgeon. He won;t even attempt it on someone with a BMI over 50. He just does not want us on the table any longer than we absolutely must be. <p>The size of your liver at surgery is a big deciding factor on LAP or not. If it's too large then they have a hard time getting it out of the way. So eliminate the carbs the two weeks before surgery to increase your chances. Open is not the end of the world. I'd do it over again in a heartbeat.
   — zoedogcbr

August 10, 2003
440 - no problems at all.
   — jen41766