Re: Re: Let's fight about Widemark!--SITE

[Guest guest]

Hi -

I stuck with her WLS_uncensored group (which is, in fact, heavily censored)

because I can turn off the email. The other site has interesting material

in the archives, none of which makes Sue's points as she claims they do.

It is healthy to fear something as serious as any of the weight loss

surgeries. Our fear protects us from needless risks. I felt my time was

wasted because it initially took time to uncover the lack of factual basis

behind Sue's anti-WLS claims. There are enough real issues to be dealt with

without spending your time watching Sue chase her tail.

Yes, there are problems. DVT, PE, blockages, etc. can be fatal. Sue would

flaunt these statistics as if they were understated and only applicable to

WLS. That is patently false, as essentially the same risks apply to any

abdominal surgery with general anesthesia. Nobody plans to die from a gall

bladder operation. Sue would have you believe that death is just over the

horizon if you have the DS or the RNY. The reality is that the risks are

the same. You have to recognize the realities, put them in perspective and

make your choice.

Sue would have you believe that all WLS surgeons sugar coat these risks.

That surely isn't true for either Dr. Keshishian or Dr. Rabkin. Both have

explained the risks to me, Dr. Rabkin in his groups and Dr. K at my consult.

And . . . these problems DO occur. Fran M., a friend from Texas is in the

hospital right now with a pulmonary embolism. This was anticipated by Dr. K

and a Greenfield Filter was installed. That high level of precautionary

care is what we expect of a competent physician. The fact that it was

installed doubtlessly prevented larger clots from causing even greater

problems.

We also have to be aware that most of the people who fall victim to most of

the more serious complications and risk factors are a). over 600 lbs., .

nonambulatory c). on oxygen and/or d). have other unusual risk factors.

Even at that, the actual current mortality rate actually is probably around

1/2% and not the 2% that is more commonly bandied about. One surgeon told

me that he had more people die awaiting surgery than from any complications.

Best-

Nick in Sage

[Guest guest]

,

I currently subscribe to Sue's group, I also subcribe to another group which is

truley Uncensored since has decided to censor and edit any messages she doesnt

agree with. If you want subscribe to her group...After about a week I can

guarentee that you wont take much of what she says seriously. She miscontrues,

fabricates, changes and outright LIES. Sue has been known to post an " edited "

abstract site. She will interpose her own ideas into the abstract and cite it as

the original....I take Sue's website with a very tiny grain of salt....Having

said that....If you would like some entertainment I welcome you to join her

group Sue now spends most of her days " fabricating stories of post-ops and

posting under several identities she has now earned the nickname of " Sybil " on

her own list.....Just some food for though of course

Lisbeth

mkf5t@... wrote: Dearest Nick and Dee,

Here's Widemark's main website:

http://gastricbypass.netfirms.com/

Nick, have you been all through this site?

Still don't think it was a waste of your time to challenge her views,

otherwise this conversation (that's helping me!) wouldn't be taking

place.

, who's body, but not heart, currently resides in Virginia

> Sue is a fat-acceptance fanatic who doesn't believe in any weight

loss

> surgery as a solution to our obesity. She can be found at

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WLS_uncensored .

>

> I monitored and posted to her site for a couple of weeks and finally

> realized that there really is no point to wasting my time there.

The

> challenge was healthy, albeit time consuming.

>

> Best-

>

> Nick

>

> Re: Let's fight about Widemark!

>

>

> > Who is Sue Widemark and what is her website?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > dee

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >

[Guest guest]

Nick, you wrote:

One surgeon told

> me that he had more people die awaiting surgery than from

any complications.

Of course, it would be difficult to use that statistic in a

discussion about the pro's and con's of WLS because it could

be argued that they died before WLS so it shouldn't be

factored into the equasion. But the cause of death is most

definitely weight related and there's a very high

probability that it might have been avoided with the

surgery.

Do you suppose the insurance people become inured to the

fact that the roadblocks they put up can kill people who are

unable to afford a life-saving surgery themselves? I guess

they must or it wouldn't be a multi-billion dollar INDUSTRY.

Jean.

[Guest guest]

Hi Jean -

I think his point was that the patients at highest risk are likely to die

more quickly than those at lower risk. The conclusion that I drew from his

statement was like yours, that the sooner those people have the surgery, the

more likely their survival.

I'm not one to defend the insurance companies. I, like you, am just cynical

enough to believe that they recognize that treatment denied is money saved.

Best-

Nick in Sage