Question:
Is there less pain with a lap or open ?
— Alice D. (posted on October 7, 2003)
October 7, 2003
Less pain with the Lap but a higher risk of complications is what my
surgeon told me. Gotta remember that they are performing surgery through a
"camera" with the lap but with the open they can see everything
they are doing first hand. Also gotta remember on the flip side that Lap
you have 5 little incisions and with the open you are just that cut open.
Hope this helps. Good Luck and God Bless you.
— CARLA C.
October 7, 2003
I had open so I can't comment on lap. But, I had very minimal pain. The
hospital was a blur (morphine drip) but once I was home, I took very little
liquid pain meds. I'm four weeks tomorrow and don't have ANY pain. Good
luck to you, Lisa
— Lisa D.
October 7, 2003
I had an open on August 7. I did not have that much pain. My incision was
3-4 inches long and I thought I would be in much more pain.
— Lisa N.
October 7, 2003
Before my lap RNY I had had a traditional gallbladder surgery with a
7" diagonal incision, as well as two C-sections and an abdominal
hysterectomy, all with vertical abdominal incisions. In comparison, my lap
surgery was simply a "walk in the park". I had one injection of
Demerol the day of surgery, and took Percocet tablets for pain the next
three days. I had surgery on a Tuesday and was discharged home that
Thursday. I was back to work full-time in eight days. It is important to
remember that we all have different pain tolerances and recuperation times.
However, the other four people in my family who have now had lap RNY
surgery had the same experience. Best wishes!
— Diana T.
October 7, 2003
Lap. That's a main reason I insisted on it. That and the short recovery
time.
— mom2jtx3
October 7, 2003
I had an Open RNY and 10 months later a LAP Gallbladder removal. I've had
14 surgeries so far and the Open RNY was the third most painful. However,
I'm still glad I had it Open. Yes I know some here will say they can see as
good with the camera and things are magnafied so much more, ect ect ect.
Well why then is the risk for nicking a bowel so much more great? Does'nt
sound like they are seeing things all that great! No I'd take an Open any
day! The LAP gallbladder was a piece of cake, hardly any pain. However
some duct callapsed and he THOUGHT he had all the gallstones but was'nt
sure. I have had some very strong intermitant pain since then. I don't know
if it is stones moving or an ulcer. But in any case, they really can't be
sure of getting everything or seeing everything in a LAP or the risk for
nicking a bowel would'nt be alot higher. Pain or not, I'd choose an Open
over a LAP. But I perfer "Probable safety" over pain anyday. I
can take pain. God knows I've had enough of it and will continue too. But
I'd rather have what I see as a safer surgery. Yeah I know I'll be flamed
but I have a right to my opinion too. And that is it, an
"OPINION".
— Danmark
October 8, 2003
I had lap and had very little pain and a short recovery. I don't know where
folks are getting the risk for having a nicked bowel is greater with lap.
No one seems to post a source for this tidbit of information. Anyone out
there have some actual statistics? (Other than "my surgeon told
me" - to me that's not an actual statistic!) I had 3 punctures and 2
small lateral incisions - one was about 1" and the other about
2". No drains, no staples, no sutures.
If I could have had my 2 c-sections lap - I would have. LOL!
— koogy
October 8, 2003
My c-sections were worse than my open.
— Rebecca K.
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