Re: Let's fight about Widemark!

[Guest guest]

I too worried about that....at first, until I realized that if a patient

follows the doctors order's faithfully, they have more blood work and

check-ups within 5 years than most people have all their lives! They

continue to have blood work and regular check-ups for the rest of their

lives. From the research that I have found, those who have serious health

problems develop are those who have gotten lax in their aftercare testing

and suppliments. All the testing is done to catch any problems before they

are life-threatening. I know of two ladies who had the old " J " bypass

surgery. One died, one did not. The one who did not, kept up with her

regular testing and her liver problems were caught and the bypass

reversed...thus saving her life. From what I was told, the one who died had

not been having her regular testing and her liver problems were not caught

in time to stop the progress of the liver failure and she died. It seems

that most doctors recommend testing once a year after the first year or two.

There are those who take responsibility for their own health and have

testing done every 6 months...just to be sure! And then they go on enjoying

life. I look forward to joining those ranks!!

Jerry, Southern Gal from Louisiana waiting on approval.

>From: mkf5t@...

>Reply-To: duodenalswitch

>To: duodenalswitch

>Subject: Let's fight about Widemark!

>Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 01:41:33 -0000

>

>OK! As promised, I'm ready for battle! I'm particularly hoping for

>an attack from Nick's corner, since he seems to have some opinions

>about Sue.

>

>After I read all the good stuff about WLS, I tried very hard to find

>negative information about it, too, especially on the internet.

>Naturally, I ran into Sue Widemark's pages. Here is the one thing

>that she has said that CONTINUES TO HAUNT ME! And, unfortunately, I

>don't think it's an irrational or unjustified fear on my part. That

>is to say, I think she's right in this instance. Here goes, in my

>quicky paraphrase:

>

>There is no REALLY-long-term study that validates the safety of WLS

>over the course of many, many years. There can't be, since it's so

>new, especially the D/S. Yes, we can compare it to similar surgeries

>(ulcer stuff?) of long ago, but those comparisons aren't closely

>related enough to provide REAL information.

>

>The best counterargument to this is usually as follows: " I was so

>close to death anyway, or at least I wouldn't have lived as long as I

>could have being so heavy. So the risk of surgery is less than the

>risk of being obese. Sue says " bull " to this, and in a way, she's

>right. Now, I'm not talking about the 700 pound person who is about

>to have a heart attack any second and is not able to move out of

>bed. But what about the young, 300 pounder who is still very active

>and healthy in most regards? Yeah, that person's health might

>decline over the years, but it might just as well decline in the long

>term after living with WLS after another 30-40 years.

>

>HOW WILL OUR LIFE SPAN BE AFFECTED BY WLS??????????????????????????

>HOW COME NO ONE EVER TALKS ABOUT THIS??????????????????????????????

>

>Waiting,

>

>

>

>

>

>

>----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Personally, I'd rather have 10 years with a high quality of life and

die having done fun things like

.... being able to walk without pain

.... being able to play basketball with my son

.... being able to go rafting

.... being able to go hiking

.... being able to ride horses again

.... being able to go camping

.... being able to ride bikes

.... have energy

.... not feeling like hiding anymore...

than have 20 more years of this existance I've been living.

Rosie

> OK! As promised, I'm ready for battle! I'm particularly hoping for

> an attack from Nick's corner, since he seems to have some opinions

> about Sue.

>

> After I read all the good stuff about WLS, I tried very hard to find

> negative information about it, too, especially on the internet.

> Naturally, I ran into Sue Widemark's pages. Here is the one thing

> that she has said that CONTINUES TO HAUNT ME! And, unfortunately, I

> don't think it's an irrational or unjustified fear on my part. That

> is to say, I think she's right in this instance. Here goes, in my

> quicky paraphrase:

>

> There is no REALLY-long-term study that validates the safety of WLS

> over the course of many, many years. There can't be, since it's so

> new, especially the D/S. Yes, we can compare it to similar surgeries

> (ulcer stuff?) of long ago, but those comparisons aren't closely

> related enough to provide REAL information.

>

> The best counterargument to this is usually as follows: " I was so

> close to death anyway, or at least I wouldn't have lived as long as I

> could have being so heavy. So the risk of surgery is less than the

> risk of being obese. Sue says " bull " to this, and in a way, she's

> right. Now, I'm not talking about the 700 pound person who is about

> to have a heart attack any second and is not able to move out of

> bed. But what about the young, 300 pounder who is still very active

> and healthy in most regards? Yeah, that person's health might

> decline over the years, but it might just as well decline in the long

> term after living with WLS after another 30-40 years.

>

> HOW WILL OUR LIFE SPAN BE AFFECTED BY WLS??????????????????????????

> HOW COME NO ONE EVER TALKS ABOUT THIS??????????????????????????????

>

> Waiting,

>

[Guest guest]

4444444444

All of the above!

Laughing

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

> >

> > Thanks,

> > dee