Must I go open?
My heart has just sunk to my knees…I just read a note from Jane about her
upcoming surgery and how she must have an open RNY instead of lap because she
had her gallbladder out 23 years ago. Is this always the case? I have an
appointment to see a surgeon on July 22nd…but I have my heart set on doing
this
laproscopically. I have had 28 surgeries already… some of them very long
and difficult. I am petrified at the idea of something as drastic as open RNY
and not sure I will have the nerve to do it if I can’t do it lap.
Am I worrying before I should? Do some people who have had their gallbladder
out (mine was 28 years ago) still get to use the laproscopic method? I know
this will be my doctor’s decision, but if it is a given that I won’t be able
to do it this way I need to start gearing up my nerve.
Also, the thing that has really been bothering me is the hair loss issue. I
had chemo 14 years ago and lost over half of my hair at that time. It didn’t
grow back. I am even seeing thinning that my doctor says is natural, and
that required to me start Rogaine. If I lose a lot more hair I may end up
wearing a wig for the rest of my life. (I have decided that’s a small price to
pay
to feel good and be physically healthy, but it is still a concern.) Does
everyone lose their hair? Is there anything I can do to lessen that side
effect?
Maybe this is just cold feet showing up…but I felt like I had things under
control till I realized that gallbladder removal may make me have to deal with
all of this the hard way…
Any feedback will be appreciated 
AquaEyz
April 24th, 2006 at 6:04 am
My surgeon will only do open…………he says he can get in and out a lot
faster with less risk. I was done in the surgery room well under two hours,
and my incision is really beautiful! I had lap once and was so
sore…………for a long time. I have not been sore at all with my open.
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Ann K. Alonso
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April 24th, 2006 at 8:46 am
I had rather the same experience, before I ever found a surgeon I decided I
wanted a lap RNY, and when I found a good surgeon guess what? She and her
partner had stopped doing lap surgeries several months before, because the
anesthesia time was a good deal longer and the results were no better, for
them. Her partner’s been doing WLS for 20 years and although I dreaded the
pain, I knew from working with surgical patients that less anesthesia time
is VERY good.
I had an open nine weeks ago tomorrow and yes, it hurt like hell for a
couple of days, but I’m not sorry. My surgeon is wonderful — talented,
compassionate, and a great technician — and I’m very tough on surgeons
from working with them for so long. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Janie
open RNY 4/28/03
387/348/140
“I have been through alcohol, marriage, and network television. If you
wanna kill me you’re gonna need some kryptonite.” (Aaron Sorkin, from
‘Sports Night’)
April 24th, 2006 at 12:45 pm
I had my surgery done lap. At the time the surgeon told me that there is
always the chance he would have to convert to an open procedure. I also had
my heart set on having a lap after doing much research I felt this was the
best way to go but if I had to have it done lap I would have especially
after seeing the results I’ve had since my surgery. Talk to your surgeon and
see what he/she thinks and go from there. Either way the results are the
same.
Mary