Anybody have an open surgery done? Just wondering how much pain you were in post-op and recovery time etc....I'm just wondering how many days post op before I can go for a walk for an hour or so...thanks.:help:

Why are you having open surgery?

I'm not sure what you mean, but I was awake during my first port removal. Anyone know where I can get the drugs they put in my IV that turned port removal surgery into a party? They should have knocked me out because they kept holding my arms down since I was trying to help them. I normally pass out when I see a needle, but if they're doing surgery while you're awake, they'll give you something to chill out.

DeLarla, I think she means an open incision instead of a laporascopic procedure...as in slicing the abdomen open from top to bottom. I think you're talking about sedation with local anesthesia versus general anesthesia.

But as far as the party drugs...has anyone ever noticed that they never tell you the exact name of that drug that feels so good? They just call it the "happy drug." I've seen the docs on Dr. 90210 refer to it the same way. It must be hella addictive or something because it looks like they don't want anyone to know how to get it.

Its the only way my doc operates. He says its a six inch incision from navel to sternum.

That's a little alarming to hear, newbander. Open surgery has much higher rates of complications like infection. Who is your doctor? Where are you? As far as I know, most lapband surgeons use open surgery as a last resort if the laporascopic procedure fails. Have you looked into other surgeons?

Additionally, the "lap" in LapBand stands for laporascopic. Which band is your surgeon using?

Newbander,

I suggest you get "step away from the doctor". This is not how Lap Band surgery is done unless there was a complication when they went in perhaps with lots of previous internal scarring. Who is your doc and how many surgeries has he done?

Chris S.

Its the only way my doc operates. He says its a six inch incision from navel to sternum.

Personally I would never go to a doc that does it open nowadays. Unless its b/c of the patient & problems w/access I would have a very hard time going to a doctor that wasn't laprocopically trained. Please make sure your research thouroughly.

DeLarla, I think she means an open incision instead of a laporascopic procedure...as in slicing the abdomen open from top to bottom. I think you're talking about sedation with local anesthesia versus general anesthesia.

But as far as the party drugs...has anyone ever noticed that they never tell you the exact name of that drug that feels so good? They just call it the "happy drug." I've seen the docs on Dr. 90210 refer to it the same way. It must be hella addictive or something because it looks like they don't want anyone to know how to get it.

The happy drug given in varying amounts is Versed, almost always used for calming. It is used for "conscious sedation" and lasts for from 3-6 hours. The real name is much more complex and is midazalam hydrochloride. I've seen grown men brought to their knees by this drug after telling me "you can't calm me down" .:)

The infection risk is higher mainly for more morbidly obese patients (My BMI is 35 as is my age) especially those having bypass. Although there's a higher risk of infection post op there is also a lower risk of later complications in terms of slippage, correct band placement and erosion which I am more worried about. I'm having the Swedish Band installed in Europe.

there is also a lower risk of later complications in terms of slippage, correct band placement and erosion which I am more worried about. I'm having the Swedish Band installed in Europe.

Where pray tell is this information coming from???:confused: In my nearly 3 yrs of research (9 mnths banded) I have never heard of these statistics. As far as the Swedish band-great! Europe great!! BMI of only 35?? Thats pretty low but I totally can understand still why you would want the band. I just really think an "open:paranoid " surgery isn't the way to go. I wish you luck.:biggrin1:

I agree. I almost sounds like those statistics are backward. You really might want to look into another doctor who does the surgery laproscopically.

As for pain, it is many many times more painful than having a lap surgery. I've had a c-section, and compared to that a lap band surgery is about 1/3 of the pain. I've always heard the open surgery is more painful than c-section because it is up and down and cuts many more muscles.

You really may want to double check your info. If it came from your doctor, you really need to check him out.

"Happy Drug" is midazalam hydrochloride. I've seen grown men brought to their knees by this drug after telling me "you can't calm me down"

I've been calling it Mexican Ecstasy. I've never tried Ecstacy, but it's got to be something like midazalam hydrochloride! I walked out of surgery and started tap dancing down Revolution Ave. Good stuff!

Doing an open surgery on someone with a 35 BMI ?:confused: In 2006?

And the LapBand technique was actually developed in Europe - as exactly that, a LAPROSCOPIC technique. Even with the Swedish band. So the fact that it's done Laproscopically is a huge part of the method - anything else is merely banding.

I mean, my goodness, does he do the fills as open surgery too? OK, that's an exaggeration but I honestly don't see the benefits here.

At your lower BMI, and your age (and assuming you don't have any massive scar tissue or other health issues that would affect a lap surgery) then it seems almost criminal for your doctor to do an open surgery with a 6-inch scar. Your recovery, healing, scarring and infection rates will ALL be higher just because of the method he chooses.

I am flabbergasted.

So if he does use this technique, he can call it whatever he wants but it is not Lap-Banding by any sense of the word, in any country.

Good Luck and Happy Band Journeys to All...

I almost wonder if this is for real.........