Open or Keyhole?

[tazwoz]

Hi Guys,

I have to choose a hospital and surgeon that I want to go to for surgery. I originally was definate that I wanted keyhole surgery, but the surgeon that I am really comfortable going to only offers open surgery....I am really torn. I know that keyhole offers quicker recovery which is importnant to me as I am currently doing a demanding degree course which involves physical work experience, which I have to have completed. Also the scar does bother me a little....
Any advice? x

 

[IslandBreeze]

Can't see your age or sex from your profile so this may not be relevant but I'm having keyhole surgery on my stomach in April(it's not weight loss surgery though). I opted for keyhole rather than open as I was told it would be inadvisable to get pregnant ever again if I had open surgery and as I'd like another child, I chose keyhole. Don't know if that applies to you or to your op though.

 

[Cat321]

Can't see your age or sex from your profile so this may not be relevant but I'm having keyhole surgery on my stomach in April(it's not weight loss surgery though). I opted for keyhole rather than open as I was told it would be inadvisable to get pregnant ever again if I had open surgery and as I'd like another child, I chose keyhole. Don't know if that applies to you or to your op though.

I checked this at the time of my consultation with my surgeon and was told no problems at all to get pregnant - was a big concern to me as I'm 28 and wouldn't mind a baby with the next few years.

x

 

[Cat321]

Hi Taz

I've already spoken to you on the other thread and don't want it to seem that I am only waving the flag for open surgery cos I'm not at all. If Mr Pollard had offered keyhole I would have been just as happy with that!!

Just wanted to tell you a little about my recovery though. The first couple of weeks were horrible, not pain wise - I was pretty much okay on that scale once I had left hospital, but mainly cos of the staples he used to 'hold me together' coughing was v.painful and sleeping...oh dear lord!!! You can't lie on your side as it just feels that your belly is pulling everything down so for someone who can only sleep on their side it was pretty bad. Basically two weeks of no sleep!! :cry:
But then I had the staples out and it was fabulous! Still a bit tender and very wary of strectching and stuff but otherwise all fine. I did have 8 weeks off work (plus two for something else) but that was mainly because I sit at a desk all day and my doc didn't think it was a great idea to go back too early.

Hope this gives you a little insight in to what to expect from open surgery...I'm sure not everyones experiences are as straight forward as mine though.

Cxx

 

[fat-girl-slim08]

HiYa,
I had the Gastric Bypass at Manchester Alexandra, and My surgeon was Mr Ammori and I had Keyhole and must say he was brilliant, He dosen't use staples as he hand stitches for a better job.
Good luck with what you decide!

 

[charliegirl]

I dont think I would of had the surgery if it had been open but that is just my opinion. With Keyhole the scars are so small and you can basically forget you have had the surgery....but as some surgeons wont do keyhole I suppose you need to check into it first. I also had Mr Ammori and fought to get him....xx

 

[tazwoz]

I checked this at the time of my consultation with my surgeon and was told no problems at all to get pregnant - was a big concern to me as I'm 28 and wouldn't mind a baby with the next few years.

x

I don't think there is a problem in getting pregnant, more about the way you give birth? I would really like to have a normal birth when the time is right of course and feel that open surgery may cause problems there with the scar? It's something that is really important to me and is my main concern with open surgery, as well as higher risk of infection and recovery time... Anyway I have decided to go to Spire Leeds and my GP is reffering my case now, Spire are sending me some stuff out, they have surgeons who do both procedures so I guess I need to do my research now...Thanks for your help and advice everyone x

 

[tesmaralda]

i dont really have a choice my pct wont fund key hole as the surgeon charges to much (an extra £4,500 more than other surgeons) for key hole.

 

[Silversurfer]

Hi all

Think you'll find that laproscopic bariatric surgery is a specialist field, and limited to not many hospitals due to the cost of the equiptment etc - thats why maybe you only get offered laproscopic in certain places !

I've been reading today about SILS (Single Incision Laproscopic Surgery) where they go in through a single incision in the belly button to place a band, this leaves no scars at all, faster healing time and less chance of any infection.......Its the next step in WLS