: Re: Larry Young, Dr. Husted & Choosing Your Surgeon

August 13, 2001

If it was recognized before surgery that Larry was at a higher risk

to " throw a blood clot, " why were filters not used?

Again, if your statement is true, the doctor's experience and

judgment again come into question. Again, this punctuates the

importance of knowing your surgeon and his/her abilities.

Nick in Sage

> Ok.. I felt a need to address this real quick.

>

> Everyone has implied that it was the DS surgery that killed Larry..

it

> was surgery.. but not specifically the DS. Larry was 2 weeks out

from

> surgery and doing well, until he threw a blood clot that lodged in

his

> lung (yes, I was told by his angel that the cause of death was

> pulmonary embolism). This complication is NOT specific to the DS..

> this is a risk of ANY surgery- INCLUDING CHILDBIRTH/C-SECTION.. yet

I

> don't see women chickening out on having kids because there is a

small

> risk that they will throw a clot. You must look at the big

picture..

> Larry weighed well over 600 lbs, which further increased his

chances

> of throwing clots. He had limited mobility- again, a predisposal

to

> clots. The guy had the same risk of throwing clots if he'd had a

> Roux-en-Y.. or a coronary bypass.. or knee replacement.. or having

no

> surgery at all (yes, super morbidly obese folk who have limited

> mobility can throw clots without even having surgery.. its another

> reason why we don't want to stay super MO).

>

> My point is this: yes, Larry died after weight loss surgery. But

that

> surgery was not the direct cause of the embolism.. it was a

> contributing factor. , you say you want more children- will

> knowing what I've just told you make you wants kids any less? I

doubt

> it.. It is normal to be afraid of the unknown risks of surgery..

but

> you have to decide if the risks involved in surgery are worse than

the

> risks you face now daily. Knowledge is power, when used in

context.

> Learn everything, learn the probabilities for each risk, compare

them

> to a situation you are comfy with.. if the risks of surgery are no

> worse than other risks you take daily, decide if you feel its a

good

> thing. But don't let 1 unfortunate death put you off weight loss

> surgery because you might die. Because the big picture is that

> chances are, you will not.

>

> Hope this eases the minds of those who are afraid..

> Hugs,

> Liane

>

> > In a message dated 8/13/01 12:15:04 PM, duodenalswitch@y...

writes:

> >

> > << I am definitely leaning towards chickening out after reading

all

> this. I

> > > was very gung-ho, but now I'm not so sure. It's very scary

stuff.

August 13, 2001