What? Is he trying to scare the crap out of you? Surely, he must know what sort of imagery that statement conjures up. There is always a way to close. It may not be pretty, but there is a way.

Jan

Thanks Jan, much appreciated.

A little scared for sure!

That was an awful thing for that surgeon to say.  You said "in the past" - so I assume your current surgeon is recommending this?  Since you have had so many, obviously I would be sure you have the very best doc you can find.  You didn't mention why you needed to be opened up again - I had to go through this 3 times.  The full length thing.  I'm so sorry you are going through this - we are hear to listen, support, and cheer you on! Sometimes doctors can be so thoughtless - but they have a really tough job - at least many of them do. (Admission here - first husband - surgeon and anesthesiologist - not particularly fond of him.)  But, docs that have helped me with so many health problems through the years  have been great overall - 80 percent wonderful, 20 percent duds - and when I hit a dud, I moved on!

Obstruction is the reason for this upcoming surgery.  

I have been opened the full length 7 times now.  

I have been opened up abdominally over 15xs on the same site, on the same scar for my pouch...sometimes with only a few weeks in between and others with months or years to heal...often my surgeon was unhappy about having to reopen me up but He Has Never made any such statements to me...and I am a really bad healer...I split open, dehysse, pop and any other expression that you would like to us...I build up fluid behind the scar (infect) and they usually have to leave it open to heal from the inside out...that said, I always do heal.

No alway prettily though.

So I do not get the scare tactics.

You sure that he wasn't trying a very lame attempt at humour? Not funny.

Fear not...Even if you heal with difficulty you will heal.

Sharon

So glad you were able to get back to me. The incision is really tight, there is much skin to pull back together. I am extremely thin. But I am happy that you are ok and that you can offer support. Thank you very much.

Has anyone noticed relief after attending to a stricture?

Sharon - thanks for giving great advice and support to Maddie18.  Maddie18- yes - had to have strictures dilated both without and with anesthesia - it eventually worked!  Hang in there!

I'd get another surgeon. What a horrid thing to say.

OK...in French we say a 'B Flat'...your surgeon commited a B Flat meaning that he hit the wrong key and it made a really bad noise (a clunker or a big mistake)...Before throwing him out with the bathwater (to mix a few metaphores here) ask him why....

Sometimes (granted not that often) the rediculous things that some surgeons come up with can be related to real fears for your health and life...so before you give up completely on him please ask for clarification.

Too skinny? That may just be a problem...so ask if things can be done laproscopically...that would be a real life and time saver...What is the problem...blockages, strictures?  Then yes, some surgeons can fix those without opening you up (most times...Do not forget that they never really know what they are going to find until they get in there).

My K pouch surgeon who is one of the last left standing of the original surgeons, never, ever considered laproscopic surgery on me (for good reason most of the time) but when geography and biology gave me no choice I went with a French expert who has done 6 or 7 procedures on me that way (after having had a stroll inside of me with open surgery while Dr C redid the whole k pouch +valve)...Dr C called that 'greatness'...working outside of the box...

So talk, ask questions, inquire and find out if there is not a Lap surgeon out there who can colaborate with your regular guy...

Hugs

Sharon