Question:
Anyone else had laproscopic WLS and started out over 500lbs?
I was told by my sister, who is also researching WLS, that most surgeons won't do laproscopic surgery on someone as large as I am (500lbs..maybe slightly over) Not that I wouldn't have the surgery done if I had to go the open route, but would like to have it laproscopically if at all possible. Just wondering if anyone else has run into that problem. — ImANewDee (posted on May 13, 2002)
May 13, 2002
I was told the same as Jenny posted previously. I started at 357 pounds
and my surgeon would not do lap.
— Dona R.
May 13, 2002
Just a thought, but if I'm not mistaken, my surgeon has done lap procedures
on very large patients. I'm not certain how large, and I know sometimes
because of complications he does have to convert to open, but I believe he
said that he has done plenty of lap procedures on "high risk"
patients, including the heaviest. He has TONS of experience with lap
procedures. I see you are in Michigan. I'm not sure how far Saginaw is, but
if you really have your heart set on lap, you may want to check out my
surgeon in Chicago.You can check my profile and use the link to get the
info, or email if you want his info. My surgeon's name is Dr. John Alverdy
at the University of Chicago Hospitals. Good luck! Maria
— Maria H.
May 13, 2002
It really depends on the skill of your surgeon and how your weight is
distributed. I was over 400 at my initial consult and my surgeon said
having lap anything would be no big deal. I was 375 the day of my surgery
and had no complications during the Lap rny, only a couple of red
incisions! I have lost 30 lbs in less than three weeks and my incisions
are almost invisible! Just as a note--my BMI was 67 at my initial consult
about 63 the day of surgery! It can be done!
— jenn2002
May 13, 2002
My surgeon is Dr. J.K. Champion of Atlanta, GA. He is internationally
known for his expertise in the field of laparascopic WLS and has performed
over 1000 bariatric surgeries. He has performed lap WLS on patients
weighing up to 600 lbs. and has the longer instruments required to perform
that level of surgery. As all reputable surgeons should do, he also
informs his patients that there are no guarantees, and that they might wake
up with an "open" incison if he encounters any problems. Four of
us in our family have now had successful and completely uneventful lap RNYs
with Dr. Champion (my daughter weighed 406 at the time of her surgery). If
you are interested in further information, his web site is
www.drchampion.com. Good luck!
— Diana T.
May 14, 2002
Hi...I was 430lbs the day of my surgery...I had it done lap....as of today
I have lost over 100lbs since jan 23 of 2002...no complications...
— tylerswife
May 14, 2002
I was 407 lbs. when I had my surgery. My doctor said I was "too
big" to have it done lap, so I now have a 12" scar down my belly.
Would I do it again? Absolutely! But I would have definitely tried to
find a doctor who could do lap on us super obese people. Depending on the
skill of the surgeon, it is possible, although visibility is not as good on
a super-large person.
— Terissa R.
May 14, 2002
I weighed 436 lbs going in with a BMI of 63 and any surgeons anywhere near
where I live said anyone with a BMI of over 50 weren't eligible for lap. So
i had open 10 weeks ago. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I
have now lost 68 lbs. Laps may be great if that is an option, and according
to below posters, there are a few surgeons capable of doing laps on heavier
people, but if that isn't an option for where you are, I would highly
recommend getting the open as soon as you can. Also, one concern I had with
laps, is that a lot of those getting lap RNY's, the surgeon only staples
accross the stomach instead of transecting (cutting the stomach in two).
The advantage of transecting is that you have zero chance of a staple
disruption, which can be somewhat common where only the stomach is stapled
into 2 compartments, and require additional revision surgery to correct.
— Dell H.
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