11 DAYS & FREAKIN OUT!!!!!

I ONLY HAVE 11 DAYS AND I THINK IAM GOING TO GO NUTS IN THAT TIME FRAME. I KNOW THAT EVERYONE IS NERVOUS BUT I SWEAR I THINK I AM GOING NUTS! I WORK IN A HAIR SALON AND YOU KNOW HOW EVERYONE THERE LIKES TO TALK. SOMEPEOPLE ARE SO NEGATIVE AND OBVIOUSLY STUPID TO SAY SOME OF THE STUFF I HAVE TO HEAR. HAS ANYONE JUST OUT AND OUT ASK THEIR DR HOW MANY PATIENTS HE HAS LOST? I REALLY WANT TO ASK BUT I DONT WANT TO **** THE MAN WITH THE KNIFE OFF YA KNOW!! HELP!!!! HOLLEY

Hi My name is Christie. My surgery is march 1 and i am really nervous also. Don't listen to all of the negative people just let them talk. Where i work they also talk like that. You just have to be strong and ignore them they are just jealous. One of my friends asked the dr that is doing my surgery in Birmingham DR DeWitt if any one has died that he has done surgery on and he has had 2 and one was over 600 pounds and the other one was already expected to die it was just going to prolong his life. Dont worry i have seen alot of sucess storys lately and i think it is worth everthing you have to go through to be in good health and not to be overweight. Good luck with your surgery . Love Christie

My surgeon offered his mortality rate at the seminar you have to attend. I think it is a fair question. Just have all your questions that you have running thru your head and write them down. The ask them. I am nervous too. I have been eating - duh.

I have gained 5 pounds in the last two weeks or so. This is my typical response to nerved also.

I wondered how you were doing! I asked my doc and he said 3. He went on to give case histories for all 3 (which were each very high risk, but needed the surgery as their only chance to live). I also asked about his clinic's most frequent complication (hernias) and what he and I could do to reduce/eliminate that problem. It is your body--you have the right to ask. Hang in there. Most of this is probably nerves. Focus past the surgery--soon we will be on the losing side. I'll gladly trade a week of hellish experience for a healthier, fuller life on the other side of that week! Joy (3/1)

Hey Holley, You absolutley have every right to ask your surgeon his mortality rate!!! He should give you an honest answer about this and not make any excuses, explanations -- sure, but not excuses. You can also check with the state medical board and see if he has any disciplinary actions against him or complaints filed. There definately are stupid people in this world!!! Just tune a deaf ear to them and remember that they are just stupid!!!!! Whitney

Holley - Like you I think the reality has finally set in. The good news for me is that I was told Tues that my surgery is scheduled for 3/3/04. They actually wanted to know if I wanted it done next week but that was a little to soon. I am petrified about this, but I know that if I don't do it I will die young. To make matters worse, I have no family and friends around me and have had a stressful few months (lost my job etc..). To you question, yes I asked my doctor straight out how many patients passed away after the surgery. He said out of 800 only 1 did not make it, but it was not due to the surgery but a complication from his diabetes. You need to ask those questions, I know I went to one doc in SC that told me that they were so booked up that if they had to do surgery at 3am he would. That is what scared me. You need to go with your instincts, this doctor I have is up beat and well thought of. If you would like, I would enjoy being your penpal in this so we can both support each other Margaret [email protected]