More Coptergirl Updates - ThinnerTimes

coptergirl · 02-02-2006, 08:19 AM

Like I said before progress is good

I am still waiting for a call back from the scheduling person to confirm 3/7/06 as my date and to lock it in. Something told me to ask about the statute of limitations on the approval since I ws approved in December. Well...most of you will remeber that I kept having problems with the lady that I had to talk to at the office that I lovingly called my "advocate" (who is no longer there due to staff restructuring). Jennifer (the new lady - who I LOVE!) said that my surgery was never even approved!!!! That stupid witch lied to me and told me that I was!!!!! Anyways, Jennifer (did I mention that I love her?!) resubmitted it and called me 3 hours later to let me know it was approved (whew!!), and yesterday faxed over the actual approval that I put in my safe at home.

Yesterday they also went over the fun stuff with me like bowel preps, they gave me my hep kit and will actually give me the meds and syringes upon discharge. They gave me the special stuff to wash with, my spirometer, and I grilled my doc with the questions I have been accumulating. I am very excited!!

However - I need your help guys and gals. He told me without really telling me that he recommends I have it open rather than lap due to my body shape. He said I have great legs, but that I hold all of my weight in my abdomen, which will only sag after surgery. Of course he told me about the hernia/tt that happens after, and also said he automatically takes the gallbladder with open surgery. He said open recovery would be baout 4 weeks vs. the lap at 2 weeks. WHAT DO I DO?! I realize it is a personal decision, but I appreciate opinions and recommendations.

Thanks so much - and sorry this post is so darned long. I need to start saving the drama for my mama

Bypassingme619 · 02-02-2006, 08:31 AM

Whitney I glad that you don't have to deal with that lady anymore(one less person adding stress to your journey). The way your surgeon operates is different, we usually don't get stuff like a spirometer until we are in the hospital. But any-who I think you should take some time out and weight your pros and cons about Lap vs.Open. I mean yeah Lap may seem easier but for most it isn't, mainly if you need your GB removed or have any scar tissue around abdominal area. I don't know your medical history or your actually body shape so that is something that is on your plate. What does your husband think? Sweety either way was cool by me as long as I had a seat on the Loser train. I just hope we can get you that 3/7/06 date.

Tawanda · 02-02-2006, 09:44 AM

Holy camole, Whitney!

What a decision! My surgeon says that he will always try lap first, if possible. He said the stress on the body is less with quicker healing time. However...he says that once he starts if there are too many problems, he'll convert to the open during surgery, so basically...I don't HAVE a choice. I'll find out when I wake up.

I can't understand why your body shape would make any difference. I mean, it seems that without debate, several incisions with less invasion would be more desireable no matter how you look at it. Of course, I'm not the expert. Maybe you should just flat out ask him what he would do??

I'm glad you found out about the dips**t that didn't get the approval for you. Imagine how frustrating it would have been to find that out the day of surgery??

Here's hoping your guardian angel keeps on watching out for you....

twodogsmom · 02-02-2006, 11:51 AM

I was planning to have lap and the night before my surgeon called to tell me she had to do it open-for various reasons, not really relevant here. the scar healed beautifully and quickly and was never painful at the incision site, except itching as it healed. I had no bandages at all, just the stuff they used to close the incision which gradually just fell off. (not steri-strips, sort of a fuzzy goo). Of course, I was in the hospital for 2 weeks since I developed pneumonia, but once I was home I had not movement or driving limitations, and I needed no pain meds. Even in the hospital, I had very little pain meds. Altho I was disappointed at first at not having lap, as always, God works out the details. BTW, lap surgery takes about twice as long as open, while you are under anesthesia-a point to be aware of.

VanessaSFL · 02-02-2006, 01:06 PM

I am glad your approved!!!

I am surprised your Dr is just now talking options.I have heard about "body type" being a reason for open.I think it also depends on what the dr.does best,understand?

The only thing you need to worry about is what "Flavor" chapstick you will bring to the hospital.

I'm so excited.

Van

Gina in NY · 02-02-2006, 04:10 PM

And everyone he works on seems to do very well. My friend was back at work in 3 weeks. He used to do lapricopic surgeries, but so many ended in opens, he just decided to go that way so patients would be prepared. It would be awful to think you were getting lap and wake up to open, don't you think?

My other thought? I want the surgeion to be happy - if he likes open better - then I like open better! I don't want him cursing and complaining through the procedure that he can't see or something.

I'd be more concerned about him taking the gall bladder for no reason! Why does he want that if there is nothing wrong with it?

sUzYzPLaCe · 02-02-2006, 04:34 PM

First of all congrats on getting it approved after all that crap. And second look at it this way... doing it open is probably safer when they don't have the room to move with the laporscope. That's what they mean by holding all the weight in the middle. Dr C did mine lap, I just said do it the safest way possible, andi f you gotta go in do it! Suzy

Quote:

Originally Posted by coptergirl

Like I said before progress is good

I am still waiting for a call back from the scheduling person to confirm 3/7/06 as my date and to lock it in. Something told me to ask about the statute of limitations on the approval since I ws approved in December. Well...most of you will remeber that I kept having problems with the lady that I had to talk to at the office that I lovingly called my "advocate" (who is no longer there due to staff restructuring). Jennifer (the new lady - who I LOVE!) said that my surgery was never even approved!!!! That stupid witch lied to me and told me that I was!!!!! Anyways, Jennifer (did I mention that I love her?!) resubmitted it and called me 3 hours later to let me know it was approved (whew!!), and yesterday faxed over the actual approval that I put in my safe at home.

Yesterday they also went over the fun stuff with me like bowel preps, they gave me my hep kit and will actually give me the meds and syringes upon discharge. They gave me the special stuff to wash with, my spirometer, and I grilled my doc with the questions I have been accumulating. I am very excited!!

However - I need your help guys and gals. He told me without really telling me that he recommends I have it open rather than lap due to my body shape. He said I have great legs, but that I hold all of my weight in my abdomen, which will only sag after surgery. Of course he told me about the hernia/tt that happens after, and also said he automatically takes the gallbladder with open surgery. He said open recovery would be baout 4 weeks vs. the lap at 2 weeks. WHAT DO I DO?! I realize it is a personal decision, but I appreciate opinions and recommendations.

Thanks so much - and sorry this post is so darned long. I need to start saving the drama for my mama

Realtor Linda · 02-02-2006, 04:48 PM

Whitney, i would say do what your DR. thinks is best....not what may be better for vanity. So many people have had open and things worked out perfectly. I had lap and had problems. So, again, your surgeon is the boss....at least for the surgery.

Dara · 02-02-2006, 04:59 PM

Whitney:

I actually preferred open because Dr. Callery said he looks around while he's inside for anything abnormal. I really liked the idea of him checking out everything "under the hood." He told us that he's found ovarian tumors during surgery!

I understand that some surgeons take out the gallbladder during WLS because gallstones are so common after such drastic weight loss. A perfect example is Melanie Hirschorn. She had a very healthy gallbladder at the time of her WLS and then developed gallstones three years later. In fact, she just had her gallbladder removed laparoscopically.

Of course, only you can decide what you want to do about your surgery. I have heard that patients who carry the majority of their weight around the middle present more difficulty with a lap surgery. But, the choice is yours to make.

I'm so thrilled for you, Whitney. You're such a great person and your surgery is wayyyyyyy overdue!

melanie hirschorn · 02-02-2006, 09:14 PM

go with the open and get your gallbladder removed if he'll remove it. I just had gallbladder surgery and was off work for 2 weeks. the surgeon told me having gastric bypass surgery assures a gallbladder removal later on. it sure did happen with me. dara saw my stones. i had a lot. get it over with now. i had to have open for the gbs for the same reason as you because of my shape. he was afraid it would have been an obstructed view. good luck,
melanie