RE: I should not have read this site yet

[Guest guest]

,

I know what you're going through! I did the same thing early on in

my investigation and it scared the crap out of me! But, then I

really started looking into the statistics and found out that more

people die waiting for weight loss surgery than die because of the

surgery. Yes, the memorial site is very sad and very frightening, I

cried the entire time I read it. But, it's truly only a very small

portion of the total number of patients who've had weight loss

surgery. And if you went to the same site I did (on obesityhelp.com)

you also need to keep in mind that most of those are RNY patients. I

don't know if that makes a difference in the real scheme of things

but it helped me to feel more secure in my decision to have the DS.

I hope this helps you somehow.

Tracey in Santee (San Diego)

> Well, now I am totally scared out of my mind. I was on another

group

> and they mentioned this memorial site. I had to look jsut to make

> sure to myself that the people who had passed away were in worse

> chape than me, had a higher bmi than me, anything. Many of them did

> fit into this category. But others did not. It was very sad to see

> the list of names of all the people that had passed away. It brings

> to my mind again how this is really not a step you can take

lightly.

> However, with me it makes me all the more afraid of ever taking

this

> step. Who knows if I will ever be brave enough to do it.

>

> Thanks for listening to me, AGAIN.

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I can sympathize how you feel about the memorial page. Most of us have been

there, done that, with the same thoughts and feelings you are going thru

now.

Even if you decided not to have the surgery becuz of that, your co morbities

would get worse over the years if you dont get the weight off and eventually

your health will probably get bad enough to require immediate health

intervention (heart by pass, or any number of other things) or you could

even die. No guarantees you will live and be in good health being obese.

But for the surgery, I believe its only less than 1% chance of you dying

with complications. Our own Joe Frost was one who survived and he would

tell you that he would do it all over again to get to where he is today, but

I do believe that he would opt for the open rather than the lap......as that

may have prevented many of the problems he had last year at this time.

Just take your time, do all the research and try to come to terms with your

life and your decision and go from there.......if you think there is one

more diet you have not tried, then you are better off trying one more time

before deciding on surgery, although we all know diets do not work or we

would not be fat!

Hugs, Judie

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/19/01 2:37:52 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<<

He also said that those who do not survive are most often those who are

unable to walk, are bedridden, & /or are on oxygen.

Also, surgical mortality is a reality for any serious procedure involving

general anesthesia and is not restricted to the DS, RNY, or other WLS.

>>

Another thing that is just as important is to prepare oneself for possible

complications since the odds of experiencing that (a second emergency surgery

due to block/leakage or exploratory surgery to diagnose infection) are

greater than death itself...

I remember talking with one gal who really had it rough --- Her name is

Bridget and she still posts on the lists (she's doing much better last time I

hear, thank God). She had necrosis of her duodenum and had to have a

secondary surgery to remove that tissue. She was in the hospital for over a

month and she lived in Michigan (the surgery was done in New York). She told

me that she was prepared for death but never could have prepared for that

extended hospital stay, second surgery, infection, etc. NOw, of COURSE her

experience is one of the most extreme. Most people may experience nausea,

eating problems and/or low grade fever, etc. immediately post-op over an

outright blockage or leak.

However, it IS good for all pre-ops to know of the possible complications

(other than general surgical complications like pulmonary embolism, possible

development of pnemonia, etc.) associated with the surgery. It was pretty

scary for me because I was an angel and visited many people who had surgery a

month or two before mine and there was a significant amount of people who had

significant problems at that time. So, I had actually seen it firsthand

right before my surgery.

I decided that the surgery WAS worth it and knew what *might* occur and

braced myself for the possibility. Thank God, nothing happened and I had the

smoothest recovery I could imagine. But, seeing them go through what they

did certainly put things in perspective for me.

All the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC

10 months post-op and still feelin' fabu

preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 197 lbs (yahoo!)/bmi 28/size sweet 16 but squeezin' into a 14!~

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/19/01 2:37:52 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< However, if you

visit the hospital and get a look at the MO people who are suffering with

diabetes, heart trouble, etc. that is even more frightening! >>

Jerry: AMEN to that! My mother has suffered from diabetes, arthritis

(exacerbated by the excess weight) and recently suffered a hemmoragic stroke

due to previously undiagnosed high blood pressure. Not to mention she has

high cholesterol.... All these co-morbidities stem from her morbid obesity.

She can hardly move, especially when she's so incapacitated.

It makes me so upset to see her in this condition --- I saw that was my

life's path if I didn't take action NOW and get the DS.

all the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC

10 months post-op and still feelin' fabu

preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 197 lbs/bmi 28/size sweet 16 but squeezin into a 14! LOL

[Guest guest]

,

I did the same thing. I even went to so far as to chart all the pertinent

information from the memorial page into a spreadsheet so that I could

analyze it. I wanted to know the percentages of mortality with each doc

listed, the bmi's, the reason's for death, etc. I was very insistent that I

had as much information as I could. So you could say I was obsessed with

the possiblity that I might die. I also was very scared. Then, a very wise

soul, ( Y in St. Louis) told me to just open up any part of Psalms

whenever I felt overwhelmed and that I would find something to sooth me.

She was so very right. I had my surgery and entered the OR in total peace

that I had made the right decision and whatever happened would be God's

will, since I feel He directed me to this wonderful surgery to begin with.

Good luck in your decision.

M. in KC

I should not have read this site yet

Well, now I am totally scared out of my mind. I was on another group

and they mentioned this memorial site. I had to look jsut to make

sure to myself that the people who had passed away were in worse

chape than me, had a higher bmi than me, anything. Many of them did

fit into this category. But others did not. It was very sad to see

the list of names of all the people that had passed away. It brings

to my mind again how this is really not a step you can take lightly.

However, with me it makes me all the more afraid of ever taking this

step. Who knows if I will ever be brave enough to do it.

Thanks for listening to me, AGAIN.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

I talked to Dr. Rabkin about the question of how many people die from

surgery. He emphasized that in his personal experience, more people do, in

fact, die awaiting surgery.

He also said that those who do not survive are most often those who are

unable to walk, are bedridden, & /or are on oxygen.

Also, surgical mortality is a reality for any serious procedure involving

general anesthesia and is not restricted to the DS, RNY, or other WLS.

Best-

Nick

Re: I should not have read this site yet

> ,

>

> I know what you're going through! I did the same thing early on in

> my investigation and it scared the crap out of me! But, then I

> really started looking into the statistics and found out that more

> people die waiting for weight loss surgery than die because of the

> surgery. Yes, the memorial site is very sad and very frightening, I

> cried the entire time I read it. But, it's truly only a very small

> portion of the total number of patients who've had weight loss

> surgery. And if you went to the same site I did (on obesityhelp.com)

> you also need to keep in mind that most of those are RNY patients. I

> don't know if that makes a difference in the real scheme of things

> but it helped me to feel more secure in my decision to have the DS.

>

> I hope this helps you somehow.

>

> Tracey in Santee (San Diego)

>

>

> > Well, now I am totally scared out of my mind. I was on another

> group

> > and they mentioned this memorial site. I had to look jsut to make

> > sure to myself that the people who had passed away were in worse

> > chape than me, had a higher bmi than me, anything. Many of them did

> > fit into this category. But others did not. It was very sad to see

> > the list of names of all the people that had passed away. It brings

> > to my mind again how this is really not a step you can take

> lightly.

> > However, with me it makes me all the more afraid of ever taking

> this

> > step. Who knows if I will ever be brave enough to do it.

> >

> > Thanks for listening to me, AGAIN.

> >

> >

>

>

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

>

[Guest guest]

I, too, was " shook up " after reading the memorial site. However, if you

visit the hospital and get a look at the MO people who are suffering with

diabetes, heart trouble, etc. that is even more frightening! There is a

lady who attends church with my sister who is in the hospital with diabetes

complications....her legs are turning black and the skin has burst open in

places and she now has open running sores all over her legs. They do not

know if they can save her legs and it may get down to just trying to save

her life if her legs go septic! I had a doctor's nurse tell me that WLS is

safer than any other emergency surgery (like gall bladder removal). The

reason is because with most surgeries you get alittle blood work done and a

chest x-ray. With WLS, they do testing on your blood, heart, lungs, upper

GI, for sleep apnea, your mind and any thing else that they can think of to

be sure as they can that you are prepared for surgery. Made me feel alittle

better to realize that! Hope I helped!!

Jerry, Southern Gal from Louisiana, 1/2 approved!

>

>Reply-To: duodenalswitch

>To: duodenalswitch

>Subject: I should not have read this site yet

>Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 05:41:33 -0000

>

>Well, now I am totally scared out of my mind. I was on another group

>and they mentioned this memorial site. I had to look jsut to make

>sure to myself that the people who had passed away were in worse

>chape than me, had a higher bmi than me, anything. Many of them did

>fit into this category. But others did not. It was very sad to see

>the list of names of all the people that had passed away. It brings

>to my mind again how this is really not a step you can take lightly.

>However, with me it makes me all the more afraid of ever taking this

>step. Who knows if I will ever be brave enough to do it.

>

>Thanks for listening to me, AGAIN.

>

>

>

>

>

>

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

>

[Guest guest]

I agree completely! Just looking at my immediate family medical

history is enough to scare anyone. Between the strokes, diabetes, hip

and knee replacements from osteoarthritis, heart disease, pulmonary

emboli related to weight, hyperlipids causing the heart and

cardiovascular diseases; the list is endless. It was more scary to me

NOT to have the DS.

P

>

> In a message dated 12/19/01 2:37:52 PM, duodenalswitch@y... writes:

>

> << However, if you

> visit the hospital and get a look at the MO people who are

suffering with

> diabetes, heart trouble, etc. that is even more frightening! >>

[Guest guest]

,

Your post was so ironic. Today while I was at work I was thinking of

doing the same thing. I was going to chart them all and analyze the

circumstances surrounding each death. I probably will still do it,

but I am glad that I am not the only " obsessive person out there.

> ,

>

> I did the same thing. I even went to so far as to chart all the

pertinent

> information from the memorial page into a spreadsheet so that I

could

> analyze it. I wanted to know the percentages of mortality with

each doc

> listed, the bmi's, the reason's for death, etc. I was very

insistent that I

> had as much information as I could. So you could say I was

obsessed with

> the possiblity that I might die. I also was very scared. Then, a

very wise

> soul, ( Y in St. Louis) told me to just open up any part of

Psalms

> whenever I felt overwhelmed and that I would find something to

sooth me.

> She was so very right. I had my surgery and entered the OR in

total peace

> that I had made the right decision and whatever happened would be

God's

> will, since I feel He directed me to this wonderful surgery to

begin with.

>

> Good luck in your decision.

>

> M. in KC

>

> I should not have read this site yet

>

>

> Well, now I am totally scared out of my mind. I was on another group

> and they mentioned this memorial site. I had to look jsut to make

> sure to myself that the people who had passed away were in worse

> chape than me, had a higher bmi than me, anything. Many of them did

> fit into this category. But others did not. It was very sad to see

> the list of names of all the people that had passed away. It brings

> to my mind again how this is really not a step you can take lightly.

> However, with me it makes me all the more afraid of ever taking this

> step. Who knows if I will ever be brave enough to do it.

>

> Thanks for listening to me, AGAIN.

>

>

>

>

>

>

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

--

>