Severe Adhesions.............LAP vs Open - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

NYNMD · 04-18-2005, 04:58 AM

I've had multiple abdominal surgeries. Does this play a role when deciding open versus LAP GP. I know it can make the lap procedure take longer. Does anybody have severe adhesions and the doctor decided against lap?

How long did the surgery take? Were you converted to open?

Butterfly · 04-18-2005, 07:29 AM

Hi Sweetie~
Yes. Having had several abdominal surgeries and having scar tissue will play a role in whether or not your surgeon can continue the surgery laparoscopically or not. However, everyone is different.

Our surgeon will begin the surgery laparoscopically, unless he feels it's obvious that it has to be done open. If he goes in and finds that he can't continue this way, he will open you up.

Unfortunately, this is what happened to my husband. He had back surgery 2 years ago, where they had to go through his stomach and back to do a fusion. Dr. Callery did the GBS lap and when he went to make sure that everything was working properly, he found a kink in the bowel intestine, which he decided would be best to fix open vs. lap. Since we had discussed the possibility of him going open, it was something that we were anticipating slightly. Please don't let that worry you though. I had my surgery lap and have had two previous abdominal surgeries via lap.

Regardless of whether or not you end up lap or open, the whole point is that you are now going to be transforming into a healthier person. Bill is getting around fabulously and I know that no matter which way your surgeon ends up doing your surgery, you will do wonderfully.

By the way, you are a very beautiful person. I love your picture!!

pegasus · 02-01-2007, 09:08 PM

I'm thinking I'm going to be in the same boat...... In 1993 I was in a motorcycle accident ending up with a re-attached amputated lower right leg. The reconstructive plastic surgeons had to use some of my stomach muscles to rebuild the leg.
When I recently had my 1st lovely colonoscopy, the Doctor had a tough time getting through because of all the built up adhesions. Even if my WLS tries lap, I'm worried that he will have to switch to open....

Butterfly · 02-01-2007, 10:35 PM

We are fortunate enough to have great technology out there. My husband was not in any pain during his recovery because they had placed an internal pain pump which pumped inside where the incision was. You have to look at the outcome and results of your surgery. Regardless if you are open or lap, it is totally worth having the scar.

I am 2 & 1/2 years post-op and am still losing weight. My husband is in the process of trying to gain weight because he's a bit underweight right now. He's going on his 2nd anniversary this April.

Don't worry about how it's going to be done. The results and your health are what matters in the end.

LisaM · 02-02-2007, 04:59 AM

I had two previous open (bikini-line) abdominal surgeries - fertility surgery in my 20s, full hysterectomy in my early 40s. I did have adhesions, but my GBS surgeon was able to clear them during my laparoscopic surgery. Everyone's different, and I would imagine it would be better to be safe than sorry.

StacyBee160 · 02-03-2007, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaM

...full hysterectomy in my early 40s...

Holy cow! I know this is off-topic but I have to say, I was shocked to see that you'd written this and then to see your age under your pic... I never look at anyone's ages under the avatars but honestly, going by that picture you look 20 years younger than you are. I'd have guessed mid-late 20s. That's awesome!

LisaM · 02-03-2007, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StacyBee160

Holy cow! I know this is off-topic but I have to say, I was shocked to see that you'd written this and then to see your age under your pic... I never look at anyone's ages under the avatars but honestly, going by that picture you look 20 years younger than you are. I'd have guessed mid-late 20s. That's awesome!

What an incredibly sweet thing to say! I'm blushing! I am so thankful that, so far, my face has not gone all Shar-pei on me...

I bless my genes, and the fact that I didn't wait until I was in my 50s or 60s to have the surgery...

veroniquetalk · 02-03-2007, 07:18 AM

I had had several abdonimal surgeries and my surgeon told me have may have to switch to open if there was a lot of scar tissue. I was willing to take the chance since I wanted the surgery very badly. I was lucky and he was able to do everything laproscopically.