Question:
Any open RNYs wish they had waited for lap?

The wait in the Dallas area for a lap procedure is really long... long enough to make me wonder if I shouldn't just go for the open and get this thing going, ya know? Any open RNYs wished they had waited for or chosen the lap?    — Beth N. (posted on April 26, 2002)


April 25, 2002
I am happy I did the open. My doctor got a good look inside to tell if I had any problems any where else. And My gallbladder was really worse than they had thought. FOR ME PERSONALLY...I would do the open all over again compared to the lap but you recover faster usually from the lap and it is less pain. However, my pain was not that bad, it was controlled with meds.
   — Oldsoul

April 25, 2002
Well I am a LAP, who waited! I did this because 30% of opens end uup with a hernia, and require another surgery to fix it. I do lots of lifting for work and really didnt want yet another surgery.....
   — bob-haller

April 25, 2002
By the time you wait for the lap you could have your surgery, be healed and on the way to weight loss. Personally I don't see waiting. I had open and I'm very happy. There is also no guarentee it will be lap, I know several who went in for lap but ended up with open because there was a problem or something. but you're the only one who can make the decision... take care.
   — Becky K.

April 25, 2002
I am SO GLAD that I had open. At the time of my surgery my dr did not do Lap, nor would my insurance pay for the lap, but when he had me opened up, he discovered that I have Chrones Disease. It is just the beginning stages, but none the less, I know my symptoms if they should surface and we will know how to deal with it if it ever becomes necessary. I will not have to go through days of tests to diagnose me. I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I HAD OPEN....8 mos post op and down #126....YIPPEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
   — Joi G.

April 25, 2002
Hi, I am 8 days post-op and had open RNY. My incision is 15 inches long and I have no regrets of having open. I have not had any pain meds since Saturday. My stomach was not transected and that made me feel better. In the Lap procedure your stomach is transected and is at a higher risk for leaks. I have had no problems except trying to get in the 64 ounces of fluid in per day. I did 58 ounces yesterday, so I am doing better. No matter which way you go it will be fine. God bless you in what ever decision you make. Lots of love and hugs, Amy
   — Amy H.

April 25, 2002
I waited for LAP. I'm glad I did. I think that less of your insides are open to infection. I also feel that you heal more quickly and it is less of a truma to your body. When your stomach is transected you are less likely to have leaks and staple line disruption. --- Good Luck
   — Robert L.

April 25, 2002
While I was doing my research for this surgery, I was certain that I wanted the Lap procedure. Then as I thought about it more, I came to the conclusion that I really didnt care either way. I asked my surgeon during my inital consult which procedure he would be doing. He explained to me that he has done it both ways and had been doin this surgery since the mid '80s. (He goes to other hospitals and teaches the RNY procedure) He explained that he will no longer do the LAP procedure because he does not feel that it is safe for the patient. Not only because the length of time, but because he can not really see what he is doing. He stated further that it is VERY easy to accidently cut the spleen or liver during the procedure, if you do not acutally have access to it. He felt that the Lap procedure was an unsafe one. That is all it took for me. I am thrilled that I had my surgery open!!!
   — RebeccaP

April 26, 2002
I had the open RNY last year. That was the surgery my surgeon was most comfortable performing, and also he said it was the safest since I was a larger patient (407 lbs.). Anyway, I've emotionally adjusted to the long scar, but now I really wish I had had lap. I had an appendectomy lap a few months ago, and the recovery was a breeze in comparison to my RNY.
   — Terissa R.

April 26, 2002
I wanted whatever I could get as quickly as I could get it. I had open and it went well.
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 26, 2002
I looked into this surgery four years ago and decided I wasn't ready. When I found out I could have it done Lap I reconsidered. I had my LAP RNY 12/21 and really glad that I did. No problems whatsoever.
   — Elizabeth R.

April 26, 2002
Just because you wait for the lap doesn't mean you will wake up with lap. My doctor started my procedure lap but then opened me up because he felt there wasn't enough roon due to my height(5 feet tall). I was really upset at first because the recovery is harder but now I'm just happy I was lucky enough to have it done at all. When I read about so many people having insurance trouble I feel blessed. I would wait for the lap if it was only going to take a month or two longer but if your talking about waiting 6 months just to get lap I wouldn't bother. Get it over with.
   — Alison N.

April 26, 2002
Robert, I'm not sure I understand all your answer. You can be transected with open or lap, since transected has to do with what happens once the dr is inside.
   — Becky K.

April 26, 2002
I had Open RNY my angelette had LAP RNY - her recovery was much more difficult than mine- she had alot of Gas pains- and sha had a drain in for over a week that become sore as time progressed- i did nothave staples, drains and minimal pain with my open procedure- when I called for my surgery consultation - the doctor I chose had sooner opening because he only did opens- I am very happy with my choice! I was off pain meds in 4 days and I was driving in a week.
   — ~~Stacie~~

April 26, 2002
My surgeon offered both procedures but made it clear to me that he PREFERRED to do the procedure open. So I went with the open procedure and am pleased with the results. I had staples in for 13 days (no drains-just staples) and was released to return to work when he removed the staples. My scar is only about 3 1/2" long. Bob mentioned that he went lap because open was more prone to hernias. I've never heard that but it may well be true. My surgeon commented that a hernia makes approval for a tummy tuck or panni twice as easy so...........I guess even a hernia has it's advantages! :) Best of luck whatever you choose.
   — Pam S.

April 26, 2002
I had LAP and it was so easy. Not that it is easy for everyone, but I had a super experience!! I didn't have any of the drains that others speak of. The pain was the same as a sore muscle and I was up walking the halls within 12 hours. With the lap the doctors get an even better view than with the open. The open is with the naked eye. The lap, everything is magnified to a screen that the surgeon views. My scars are like bug bites, only 4, one is hidden inside the belly button. And it is true about the 30% chance of hernias with open. Very rare for lap. But like the prev. poster said, a hernia isn't so bad if your'e needing a tt. If your doc is more comfortable with the open, definitely do the open. Even if he says that he feels 'safer' doing the open. There are some very experienced lap surgeons though. Good luck in your decision!!
   — Cheri M.

April 26, 2002
I had open RNY almost 8 weeks ago. My BMI was too high for lap and I would have had to travel 5 hrs to the nearest Dr. that does lap. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Not all that much pain, I really don't remember much of the first 2-3 days so I guess the drugs really worked. I was a little sor for the first 2 weeks, but I was back to an office job in three weeks and have done great. So far no signs of any hernia's, which is the most common problem after open. From what I have read, there is less likely to have leaks with open vs lap, and some dr's that do laps only staple the stomach instead of transect, which makes it possible to have a staple disruption and then you have to get a revision to fix it, which is not a problem if the stomach transected (cut completely in two).
   — Dell H.

April 26, 2002
I am having open on 7/11/02. I initially wanted Lap but the surgeon I chose (based on his experience and the comments of his patients) only does open. I don't mind. His comment about him wanting to see and FEEL what he is doing makes sense to me. Plus I hear you are under anesthesia for a shorter period of time with the open. Lap takes longer. Whatever you choose to do, GOOD LUCK.
   — Janet S.

April 26, 2002
My surgeon started doing the lap procedure a couple of months after I had my Open RNY. I would have been happy to have this done lap, but its not something that I would have waited extra months for. My incision is small, only 3 1/2 inches, fading dramatically, and I've had no complications whatsoever. The shorter recovery time would have been nice, however...I didn't have much energy until I was about 3 months postop. I was careful about lifting for months after my surgery. I'm not worried about a hernia however, my doctor's stats are much lower than the 30% that gets thrown around. I was very careful about lifting for months postop and figure, if it happens, it happens. Overall, I'm extremely happy and grateful for my whole surgery experience and wouldn't change a thing at this point.
   — Donna L.

April 28, 2002
I am waiting to get my surgery date for an open RnY. I did a lot of reading around this site and a few others.. and my information is completely anecdotal... nothing scientific.. but I found that it seemed... people who had laps had more problems afterward. I don't know if that is true.. but like many have said below..having it all open seems to me a better alternative. I didn't think I wanted to have a complication just because they hit some instrument on an organ that had nothing to do with my surgery. Everyone IS different however, you have to decide what is right for you and you should discuss it in depth with a surgeon. As you can see, many people have GREAT success with the lap surgery. I can't WAIT to have my open RnY.
   — Lisa C.

April 28, 2002
I believe, and this is only my assumption, that within the next five years, most gastric bypass surgeries are only going to be handled through the lap. procedure. It's a quicker healing time and as someone mentioned before, everything they are viewing is through a magnified picture. Lap. procedures have come around 10 fold in other areas and it seems to be the way of the future. I asked a lap. specialist what is the heaviest weight he's ever been able to handle a WLS patient - he said 445 lbs.. I believe it depends on the height of a patient as well as pounds - a shorter 445 lbs. would have to go through an open. Either of them seem to work - look at the outcome of other WLS patients - across the board, open or lap. it is working. I believe it's up to you. I had lap. by the way and I had the drains - so I think even that depends on the doc.. Best of luck on your quest.
   — Lisa J.




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