knowing the risks, and making our own decisions...

[Guest guest]

i am so sorry to hear about the passing of any person having wls - i

understand too well the desperation that drives each of us to make

our choices regarding surgery, whether it is in deciding which

surgery to have or even if we should have surgery. each one of us

has been through more than any person should ever have to deal with

in several lifetimes, let alone one.

when i first decided 2 years ago that i wanted to have wls, i thought

i knew which procedure i wanted, and where i wanted it done. then i

did more research, and found what i really wanted and who i wanted it

done by. i lived on this site for 18 months, reading every single

post, learning as much as i could from everyone, and making my choice

for the doctor who would change my life. i went into the operating

room the morning of my surgery fully aware i had a good chance of not

coming out alive. i had already given the pastor at my church

information about my services, what songs i wanted sung by the praise

band i sing in and the scripture verses i wanted read. i also knew

that just making it out of the operating room was just the start -

that other things could happen, and i could even die from

complications. these were all risks i was willing to take - i wanted

to be free from my obesity, and i knew that if the surgery didn't

kill me, my obesity would. today, i am thankful that at 3.5 months

out, i am alive and i am on my way to a healthier, hopefully longer

life with my children and my husband.

larry knew the same odds, and larry decided to take the same risk.

since none of us were in the room when the decision was made, nor

when the surgery was performed, nor when larry died, i think that to

second guess what happened, or blame it on an inexperienced surgeon

is irresponsible to say the least. experience has nothing to do with

wound infections or pulmonary embolisms, and even the incomparable

doctors that we all had would tell us the same thing. it is also

irresponsible to accuse the members of this list - to say it is our

fault he died. larry made a choice to have weight loss surgery - he

made a positive move to better his quality of life. whichever one he

had (including the lap-band) could have resulted in the same

outcome. we will never know.

i realize no one asked my opinion - but i am a pushy broad, and i

couldn't keep it in any longer. i am thankful to the members of this

list, and doctors who are willing to give us a chance at a more

normal life.

~amy~

ds - 4/13/01

dr. k

-85 pounds and counting

[Guest guest]

WE love ya Amy.. and your opinions.. )

> i am so sorry to hear about the passing of any person having wls - i

> understand too well the desperation that drives each of us to make

> our choices regarding surgery, whether it is in deciding which

> surgery to have or even if we should have surgery. each one of us

> has been through more than any person should ever have to deal with

> in several lifetimes, let alone one.

>

> when i first decided 2 years ago that i wanted to have wls, i

thought

> i knew which procedure i wanted, and where i wanted it done. then i

> did more research, and found what i really wanted and who i wanted

it

> done by. i lived on this site for 18 months, reading every single

> post, learning as much as i could from everyone, and making my

choice

> for the doctor who would change my life. i went into the operating

> room the morning of my surgery fully aware i had a good chance of

not

> coming out alive. i had already given the pastor at my church

> information about my services, what songs i wanted sung by the

praise

> band i sing in and the scripture verses i wanted read. i also knew

> that just making it out of the operating room was just the start -

> that other things could happen, and i could even die from

> complications. these were all risks i was willing to take - i

wanted

> to be free from my obesity, and i knew that if the surgery didn't

> kill me, my obesity would. today, i am thankful that at 3.5 months

> out, i am alive and i am on my way to a healthier, hopefully longer

> life with my children and my husband.

>

> larry knew the same odds, and larry decided to take the same risk.

> since none of us were in the room when the decision was made, nor

> when the surgery was performed, nor when larry died, i think that to

> second guess what happened, or blame it on an inexperienced surgeon

> is irresponsible to say the least. experience has nothing to do

with

> wound infections or pulmonary embolisms, and even the incomparable

> doctors that we all had would tell us the same thing. it is also

> irresponsible to accuse the members of this list - to say it is our

> fault he died. larry made a choice to have weight loss surgery - he

> made a positive move to better his quality of life. whichever one

he

> had (including the lap-band) could have resulted in the same

> outcome. we will never know.

>

> i realize no one asked my opinion - but i am a pushy broad, and i

> couldn't keep it in any longer. i am thankful to the members of

this

> list, and doctors who are willing to give us a chance at a more

> normal life.

>

> ~amy~

> ds - 4/13/01

> dr. k

> -85 pounds and counting