RE: tricare and Lap v. open

[Guest guest]

To add my .02 here, I also had open. I did not really have a choice

because the length of my surgeon's tools were not sufficient for me to

be done laparascopically, however, I would have opted to for the open

procedure anyway. I wanted my surgeon in me 'up to his elbows' if need

be and I didn't want to have to wait while they came out of the little

hole and sliced me open. Yes, I know that the recovery is slower, but I

felt much safer being opened up and having the 'full view' just in case

something went wrong.

A friend of mine was started lap and had to be opened immediately

because when they got into her with the lap tools, they found all her

organs were backwards and had to be reversed. Another friend had a gall

bladder full of stones that didn't show on the x-ray and was about to

rupture. You never know what kind of problem may come up or when. I

just felt safer being opened.

My scar runs from breastbone to belly button, but was fully closed and

healed within two weeks with no infections. I had two little openings

on my scar line but they closed from the inside out and I was completely

closed, as I said, in two weeks. I call the scar my 'railroad tracks'

or my battle scars because being this overweight for as long as I was,

certainly is my battle.

I don't think one way is better or worse than the other. If you have no

choice, then it really doesn't matter, does it? Just wrap your mind

around the fact that you are getting the surgery you want in the manner

in which it is available to you. The end result will still be the same.

And you will not be suffering with the abominable gas cramps and left

side pain that people complain about for weeks following lap surgery

because they don't have to blow up your abdomen with all that air...

There are definite benefits and detractions to each method. Just focus

on getting what you want in the long run and leave the method of

delivery to your surgeon.

I wish you the best of luck.

live each day like it's your last... love like you've never been hurt...

Deb in Hazlet, NJ

" Debbie Dancer "

distal rny

September 3, 2002

386/205/165

BMI 60/30.3/24

-181

-100 "

Angel to Bill, Debbie, Ilene, Roy, and Ro

[Guest guest]

To add my .02 here, I also had open. I did not really have a choice

because the length of my surgeon's tools were not sufficient for me to

be done laparascopically, however, I would have opted to for the open

procedure anyway. I wanted my surgeon in me 'up to his elbows' if need

be and I didn't want to have to wait while they came out of the little

hole and sliced me open. Yes, I know that the recovery is slower, but I

felt much safer being opened up and having the 'full view' just in case

something went wrong.

A friend of mine was started lap and had to be opened immediately

because when they got into her with the lap tools, they found all her

organs were backwards and had to be reversed. Another friend had a gall

bladder full of stones that didn't show on the x-ray and was about to

rupture. You never know what kind of problem may come up or when. I

just felt safer being opened.

My scar runs from breastbone to belly button, but was fully closed and

healed within two weeks with no infections. I had two little openings

on my scar line but they closed from the inside out and I was completely

closed, as I said, in two weeks. I call the scar my 'railroad tracks'

or my battle scars because being this overweight for as long as I was,

certainly is my battle.

I don't think one way is better or worse than the other. If you have no

choice, then it really doesn't matter, does it? Just wrap your mind

around the fact that you are getting the surgery you want in the manner

in which it is available to you. The end result will still be the same.

And you will not be suffering with the abominable gas cramps and left

side pain that people complain about for weeks following lap surgery

because they don't have to blow up your abdomen with all that air...

There are definite benefits and detractions to each method. Just focus

on getting what you want in the long run and leave the method of

delivery to your surgeon.

I wish you the best of luck.

live each day like it's your last... love like you've never been hurt...

Deb in Hazlet, NJ

" Debbie Dancer "

distal rny

September 3, 2002

386/205/165

BMI 60/30.3/24

-181

-100 "

Angel to Bill, Debbie, Ilene, Roy, and Ro