VS a lap procedure? And why? It's a big fear of mine. My open patients are always in so much more pain, and the huge staple line in the belly scares me!!

Yup... I did. Started with lap, converted to open. Not by choice but a medical necessity, yucky long scar from below my belly button to my sternum. It was definitely a difficult recovery. My situation was very rare though.

My surgeon has only ever had one lap to open. That made me feel better, and it was during his fellowship. It worries me too.

Yup... I did. Started with lap' date=' converted to open. Not by choice but a medical necessity, yucky long scar from below my belly button to my sternum. It was definitely a difficult recovery. My situation was very rare though.[/quote']

Scary!!

Op great question by the way.

Yup... I did. Started with lap' date=' converted to open. Not by choice but a medical necessity, yucky long scar from below my belly button to my sternum. It was definitely a difficult recovery. My situation was very rare though.[/quote']

Do you mind saying what happened?

Ruptured Aorta. A very rare (and obviously serious) surgical error. Recovery from that surgery was rough because I had an upper respiratory infection and was coughing and sneezing with this huge incision/dozens of staples in my gut! 8 days in the hospital...NOT fun. I never had the gastric bypass then, (2007). With the help of this forum, I've managed to muster some strength, reason and objectivity and will get the VSG in the next month or two. Again, not meaning to scare anyone, I would just say that it's important to be in a hospital where there are other specialists available- as in my case, I needed a vascular surgeon to repair and graft the artery.

Ruptured Aorta. A very rare (and obviously serious) surgical error. Recovery from that surgery was rough because I had an upper respiratory infection and was coughing and sneezing with this huge incision/dozens of staples in my gut! 8 days in the hospital...NOT fun. I never had the gastric bypass then' date=' (2007). With the help of this forum, I've managed to muster some strength, reason and objectivity and will get the VSG in the next month or two. Again, not meaning to scare anyone, I would just say that it's important to be in a hospital where there are other specialists available- as in my case, I needed a vascular surgeon to repair and graft the artery.

[/quote']

Wow....God bless you...

Ruptured Aorta. A very rare (and obviously serious) surgical error. Recovery from that surgery was rough because I had an upper respiratory infection and was coughing and sneezing with this huge incision/dozens of staples in my gut! 8 days in the hospital...NOT fun. I never had the gastric bypass then' date=' (2007). With the help of this forum, I've managed to muster some strength, reason and objectivity and will get the VSG in the next month or two. Again, not meaning to scare anyone, I would just say that it's important to be in a hospital where there are other specialists available- as in my case, I needed a vascular surgeon to repair and graft the artery.

[/quote']

Oh yes, I read that when u posted on another tread. I then said I was never getting surgery and started the Atkins diet. Failed miserably and I'm back lol

Hang in there! I know we hear about the bad situation. But as one nurse to another, we know that many problems are few and far between. This surgery has changed my life and given it back to me. Keep your head up and go for it!

My Dr has been doing bariatric procedures for over 10 years. When I asked him before surgery how many laps he had to convert to open, he said he had done his first one three weeks earlier. That seemed like a good success rate to me!

Good luck

Ruptured Aorta. A very rare (and obviously serious) surgical error. Recovery from that surgery was rough because I had an upper respiratory infection and was coughing and sneezing with this huge incision/dozens of staples in my gut! 8 days in the hospital...NOT fun. I never had the gastric bypass then, (2007). With the help of this forum, I've managed to muster some strength, reason and objectivity and will get the VSG in the next month or two. Again, not meaning to scare anyone, I would just say that it's important to be in a hospital where there are other specialists available- as in my case, I needed a vascular surgeon to repair and graft the artery.

I also have been "opened". But 8 weeks after lapband surgery. OP what does your surgeon say about his ability to do sleeve laparoscopically or will he have to reopen you because of scar tissue?

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I also have been "opened". But 8 weeks after lapband surgery. OP what does your surgeon say about his ability to do sleeve laparoscopically or will he have to reopen you because of scar tissue?

That was one of my first questions to my current surgeon.. How would he handle it differently this time? Can't go through the same area because of scar tissue so he'll come in from the side. Also will start with a 5 mm laparoscopic tool versus the 10 mm one. Also is consulting with the vascular surgeon who did the graft. I had already spoken to him to be sure that he didn't see any issue with the surgery... He didn't foresee any issues.

My mom did. But she went I knowing that it was a possibility because she has some liver damage. They ended up not realizing HOW bad her liver was and couldn't sleeve her. So really, she was cut open for nothing.

Oh yes, I read that when u posted on another tread. I then said I was never getting surgery and started the Atkins diet. Failed miserably and I'm back lol

So sorry! Didn't mean to scare you. Just because my doctor made a huge mistake, doesn't mean anyone else's will and I wish you the best of luck. I guess I felt the need to share my story because I still am pissed off about it. That doctor never came to see me in the hospital except for one time at the end of my 8 day stay and that was to tell me that my "anatomy was different". Never apologized and I went through hell. Made sure that I have a surgeon now that seems to care more about what happens to me. I'm also realizing that being that mistakes like the one my dr made are so rare that my posts about it don't really help anyone else in coming to terms and making the decision to move forward, which is hard enough as it is...

That was one of my first questions to my current surgeon.. How would he handle it differently this time? Can't go through the same area because of scar tissue so he'll come in from the side. Also will start with a 5 mm laparoscopic tool versus the 10 mm one. Also is consulting with the vascular surgeon who did the graft. I had already spoken to him to be sure that he didn't see any issue with the surgery... He didn't foresee any issues.

Interesting