Why are people dying?

I'm due to have RNY on 16th, and have great confidence in my doctor and chosen hospital. But something has been really bugging me. While I'm prepared for the risks of surgery and I'm obviously prepared to accept those, I seem to have stumbled across more and more cases of people one or two years after surgery, after losing the weight and just beginning to enjoy life, they die. I've seen several of these on this site's memorial page and what worries me is that no one seems to state the cause of death. In their pictures they seem to be slim healthy people. A friend has just sent me this... Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

I'am due to have Lap RNY April 18th and i also have great confidence in my doctor... and i also would like to know this answer.... hmmmmmmmm

I used to look at the memorial pages....but everytime I did it made me so sad. At one point I had went to every person's profile on the memorial page and ALOT of them died from problems not stemmed from WLS. Several have died from cancer, car accidents, heart attacks and so forth. I have also heard that some have died because of not taking their vitamins and eating healthy. If you trust your surgeon and have faith I believe everything will be fine. My surgery is on the 17th.

The one's I looked at - admittedly only a random few - did not state a cause of death, or the cause of death was still pending -years later.

Susan, Don't get all morbid and droopy on us. This surgery is about living. Not just existing. The overwhelming majority of people who have the surgery, do just that. They "get a life". Does that mean we're immortal? No. It means we get a chance to "cure" obesity, and it's related ailments. We're just as suseptible to disease, and accidents, and lightning strikes as anybody else. Certainly, this isn't a surgery without risks. Neither is getting your tonsils out. But, people let surgeons take their kids tonsils out everyday. I suspect your getting "cold feet", just like I am. But, don't talk yourself out of giving the best gift you could possibly give yourself, because some people who've had WLS died. It's irrational. Weigh the risks and rewards, and go into surgery knowing, one way or another, a better life awaits on the other side. DD

It's funny because I just got done reading the memorial page for the first time and then I saw this post. I was feeling the same way... it sorta spooked me out. But I really like what David wrote and I'm gonna hang on to those words. I know there is a risk with any surgery... but it's the after effects of this surgery that can be so difficult to regulate. But if we follow our doctor's orders and do what we are suppose to afterwards and eat the way we should I think we will all do ok. I'm not going to let a little pre-surgery jitters ruin the opportunity to get rid of my hypertension, sleep apnea, GERD & painful joints! I've talked to numerous people lately who are all post-5 years or more and they are doing marvelous! So hang in there everyone and just know that pre-surgery jitters is normal... we will all get through this and be better for it afterwards! GO A-TEAM!!!!

i remember looking at the memorial page before hubby had his RNY and i freacked out then i remeber his surgeon saying u have more chance of dying staying fat then not .. he is 8 mos post and he is doing awesome .. no more diabetes high blood pressure etc ... just remember to walk walk walk after surgery..to avoid blood clots i have surgery on april 18 and i chosse to live not die .. from obesity related deaths. having the surgery inceases my odds of living not dying ..I feel I was told 30 days post your surgery my chance of blood clots greatly reduces and each pound I lose means less likely I will throw a clot i am told .. being fat will kill u .. having the wls males u less likely to die from morbid obesity related death. and just remember it is only natural to have the feeling u r trsut me i had them best of luck be well lisa

I concur with what others have already posted to you. Your odds are not great to die from this surgery - your odds of dying without it may be greater, or at least they are for me. I, too, read the memorial pages one day, then I could not stand it anymore. I just have to know that this is the right thing for me, I will follow my surgeon's rules and one day I will say that WLS was the best thing I ever did for ME! Good luck Susan Inky